Happy "A-Basin" Halloween

Happy "A-Basin" Halloween

Single Chair Update - Fun Valley

A couple weeks ago I did a post about the original single chairlifts at The Basin expressing my interest in finding one of the chairs. I received a number of messages from people with tips on finding an original or similar chair. Thanks to everyone that sent me a message.



I did learn that one of the chairlifts went to Fun Valley, a small, now closed, ski area just outside Denver on Deer Creek Canyon Road by Homewood Park.  Coloradoskihistory.com posted a 1995 Rocky Mountain News article on the sale of Fun Valley. Then owner, Joe Dorris, sold the chairs as souvenirs. So.....I am still looking for one of those chairs. If this story sounds a little familiar or rings a bell or if it a triggers a thought about a funny looking metal chair in your friend's scrap pile, let me know. Thanks.

Single Chair Update - Fun Valley

A couple weeks ago I did a post about the original single chairlifts at The Basin expressing my interest in finding one of the chairs. I received a number of messages from people with tips on finding an original or similar chair. Thanks to everyone that sent me a message.

I did learn that one of the chairlifts went to Fun Valley, a small, now closed, ski area just outside Denver on Deer Creek Canyon Road by Homewood Park.  Coloradoskihistory.com posted a 1995 Rocky Mountain News article on the sale of Fun Valley. Then owner, Joe Dorris, sold the chairs as souvenirs. So.....I am still looking for one of those chairs. If this story sounds a little familiar or rings a bell or if it a triggers a thought about a funny looking metal chair in your friend's scrap pile, let me know. Thanks.

NEW Arapahoe Sports Opens Today

After a very, very, busy summer, the NEW Arapahoe Sports opens today. Come visit Josie and her crew and check out the fun stuff she has found. You can count on more of what was carried in the past as well as lots of new things. Check out the goods from Patagonia, Marmot, Kuhl, Icelantic (yes, skis), Anon, Smith and more. All the new decks, stairs and ramps will also be open. Thanks for your patience through construction.

NEW Arapahoe Sports Opens Today

After a very, very, busy summer, the NEW Arapahoe Sports opens today. Come visit Josie and her crew and check out the fun stuff she has found. You can count on more of what was carried in the past as well as lots of new things. Check out the goods from Patagonia, Marmot, Kuhl, Icelantic (yes, skis), Anon, Smith and more. All the new decks, stairs and ramps will also be open. Thanks for your patience through construction.

Saturday, Music and Fun

This Saturday will be good fun at The Basin. Of course the day starts with some fun October skiing on High Noon. From 11:00 until 2:00 Down2Funk, with their famous song, "Fresh Powder" will be playing in the base area. We will be serving food and drinks outside. At 4 PM the party moves into The 6th Alley for a Halloween Costume Contest. Good prizes, good music and good fun.

2016 Festival of the Brewpubs

Saturday, Music and Fun

This Saturday will be good fun at The Basin. Of course the day starts with some fun October skiing on High Noon. From 11:00 until 2:00 Down2Funk, with their famous song, "Fresh Powder" will be playing in the base area. We will be serving food and drinks outside. At 4 PM the party moves into The 6th Alley for a Halloween Costume Contest. Good prizes, good music and good fun.

2016 Festival of the Brewpubs

It Might As Well Be Beautiful

If it isn't going to snow.....the weather might as well be beautiful. Today was absolutely stunning. The next several days may just be the same. Next week, the temperatures look much colder. So for now, grab your skis and your sunscreen and come enjoy some very nice weather at The Basin.

It Might As Well Be Beautiful

If it isn't going to snow.....the weather might as well be beautiful. Today was absolutely stunning. The next several days may just be the same. Next week, the temperatures look much colder. So for now, grab your skis and your sunscreen and come enjoy some very nice weather at The Basin.

CAIC Benefit Bash

The CAIC Benefit Bash is another one of Summit County's premier social and fund raising events. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. With prizes, loads of auction items, live music, beer, and dinner by Food Hedz, this is a "must attend" evening. All your ski buddies will be there. The event will be at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center December 3. You can purchase tickets at the link below. See you there.



http://avalanche.state.co.us/caic-benefit-bash/

CAIC Benefit Bash

The CAIC Benefit Bash is another one of Summit County's premier social and fund raising events. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. With prizes, loads of auction items, live music, beer, and dinner by Food Hedz, this is a "must attend" evening. All your ski buddies will be there. The event will be at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center December 3. You can purchase tickets at the link below. See you there.

http://avalanche.state.co.us/caic-benefit-bash/

Uphill Access Program

Around the ski world, more and more people have added uphill movement to their ski and snowboard vocabulary. Many people out there enjoy either hiking, snowshoeing or skinning up the mountain. A-Basin, in particular, has seen a ginormous increase in interest in this activity. While heading up the hill without a chairlift is a fun and healthy activity, there are concerns with integrating it into ski area operations.

We have embraced uphill access and have created a very good uphill access plan. We require people to obtain a "FREE" Uphill Access Pass at Guest Services. Getting the free pass involves reading a page of rules and signing a waiver. We do, at times, close the hill to uphill access. That typically occurs when we are doing avalanche work or there is a special event.

The other notable time uphill access is closed is right now, early season. With snow on a limited amount of terrain and with skiers, snowcats and snowmaking equipment all over that limited terrain, uphill access is not a good idea right now. As more terrain and snow come online, usually by mid-November, we will open the hill to uphill access.

At the bottom of the "Runs Open" page of our website, we post whether uphill access is open or closed.  http://arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/snow-conditions/terrain.aspx

There are now thousands of people enjoying A-Basin for uphill access (me included). If interested, be sure and get an Uphill Access Pass and take the time to understand the rules. This is a great and innovative program, but it only works if the users follow and respect the plan. For those of you that are uphill users, thank you so much for working with us. After mid-November, I will see you on the hill a couple of nights per week.......... after the lifts are closed.

Uphill Access Program

Around the ski world, more and more people have added uphill movement to their ski and snowboard vocabulary. Many people out there enjoy either hiking, snowshoeing or skinning up the mountain. A-Basin, in particular, has seen a ginormous increase in interest in this activity. While heading up the hill without a chairlift is a fun and healthy activity, there are concerns with integrating it into ski area operations.

We have embraced uphill access and have created a very good uphill access plan. We require people to obtain a "FREE" Uphill Access Pass at Guest Services. Getting the free pass involves reading a page of rules and signing a waiver. We do, at times, close the hill to uphill access. That typically occurs when we are doing avalanche work or there is a special event.

The other notable time uphill access is closed is right now, early season. With snow on a limited amount of terrain and with skiers, snowcats and snowmaking equipment all over that limited terrain, uphill access is not a good idea right now. As more terrain and snow come online, usually by mid-November, we will open the hill to uphill access.

At the bottom of the "Runs Open" page of our website, we post whether uphill access is open or closed.  http://arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/snow-conditions/terrain.aspx

There are now thousands of people enjoying A-Basin for uphill access (me included). If interested, be sure and get an Uphill Access Pass and take the time to understand the rules. This is a great and innovative program, but it only works if the users follow and respect the plan. For those of you that are uphill users, thank you so much for working with us. After mid-November, I will see you on the hill a couple of nights per week.......... after the lifts are closed.

Snowmaking Plan

Our next trail to open will be Ramrod. All of the snowmaking guns on Ramrod are in place and will be operating whenever the temps are right. It typically takes about a week to get Ramrod open (assuming temps are reasonably cold). Beyond Ramrod we will get Lenawee Mountain Lift, Lenawee Face and Dercum's Gulch open. Once all that is complete, you will see the crew providing some green terrain, making snow on Molly Hogan, Sundance and Wrangler.

Snowmaking Plan

Our next trail to open will be Ramrod. All of the snowmaking guns on Ramrod are in place and will be operating whenever the temps are right. It typically takes about a week to get Ramrod open (assuming temps are reasonably cold). Beyond Ramrod we will get Lenawee Mountain Lift, Lenawee Face and Dercum's Gulch open. Once all that is complete, you will see the crew providing some green terrain, making snow on Molly Hogan, Sundance and Wrangler.

Day 2 Begins

Day 2 of the 2016-17 season with begins with the morning sun lighting up The Professor. It will be a perfect day to make a few runs, catch up with friends, find one of our Adirondack chairs and enjoy the deck at either "The 6th Alley" or "Black Mountain Lodge." No better place to soak in the Colorado Rockies.

Day 2 Begins

Day 2 of the 2016-17 season with begins with the morning sun lighting up The Professor. It will be a perfect day to make a few runs, catch up with friends, find one of our Adirondack chairs and enjoy the deck at either "The 6th Alley" or "Black Mountain Lodge." No better place to soak in the Colorado Rockies.

The 16/17 Season Has Begun

The season has begun. Today's opening went extremely well. For me, it is always a pleasure to see old friends, make a few turns and get the mountain open. Thanks to everyone that joined in on the fun.

The 16/17 Season Has Begun

The season has begun. Today's opening went extremely well. For me, it is always a pleasure to see old friends, make a few turns and get the mountain open. Thanks to everyone that joined in on the fun.

Test Drive

I took the skis out for a couple of test drives this afternoon. Just wanted make sure everything was alright. 

It was.

Test Drive

I took the skis out for a couple of test drives this afternoon. Just wanted make sure everything was alright. 

It was.

Construction Work

Tyler and PJ are getting the Park ready to go. I am sure they will still be working hard at it well after the sun has gone down tonight. Tomorrow they will be offering three brand new features. Construction is going well and I think there will be plenty of fun to be had.

Construction Work

Tyler and PJ are getting the Park ready to go. I am sure they will still be working hard at it well after the sun has gone down tonight. Tomorrow they will be offering three brand new features. Construction is going well and I think there will be plenty of fun to be had.