Forms Are Stripped

The forms have been pulled off the foundations at the top of Molly Hogan. There is a lot of concrete that goes with these lifts. Most of that concrete our guests never see. In a few days, these foundations will be back-filled. The shape at the top is going to change a bit. The actual unload point will be a little further downhill although the elevation of unload will remain the same. The unload ramp and milling area will be bigger as a result, giving people a little more room. A little more room is good for someone learning how to ride.

No Pali Lift

We are in that window when the old Pali Lift is gone and the new Pali Lift hasn't been installed. For those under Pali's spell, it is kind of a weird look.

Aerial Adventure Park Update

The Aerial Adventure Park is nearing completion. The contractor's crew is finishing the very last of their work. We will spend the next 2-3 weeks going through rigorous engineering inspections and regulatory commissioning with the Forest Service and the State of Colorado.  Once completed, our staff will go through a comprehensive training program. I have walked through the park a few times over the last couple of days. It is going to be fun. We anticipate a mid-July opening.

New Pali Carriers

What we all commonly call the "chair" is called the "carrier" in technical lift jargon. All the parts and pieces of the new Pali carriers have arrived at The Basin. The Leitner Poma crew has begun putting them together. The chairs and the towers will have a galvanized finish. Many of us have become accustomed to the old towers and chairs that had been painted black. Very few lifts are installed these days with a painted surface. Over Pallavacini's lifetime, we painted the lift 5 or 6 times. In the years leading up to a re-paint, the surfaces often looked kind of beat. The painting was expensive, a real pain in the neck and short lived. These new towers and chairs will never have to be resurfaced in their estimated 30-50 year life span.

Concrete - New Molly Hogan

The new Molly Hogan quad chairlift construction is well under way. The lift is a fixed quad so instructors can ride the lift with more than one student. The motor room or drive terminal will be at the top of the lift and there will be two towers. The concrete foundations for Tower 2 and the top terminal have been poured.

And, I am back from the river. 

Snowy June 9

David, thank you for the Flaming A on this very snowy June 9.

Thank You

It was a good closing day. Considering conditions, I think today was the right day to shut her down. The skiers enjoyed the sunshine (The weather yesterday was a little rough). The mountain goats kept an eye on everyone from their perch on Little Lenawee Peak. The Ski Patrol just got off the hill. A few stragglers are finishing their lunch and a beverage out on the deck.

The times have been weird. Thanks to all of you that stuck with us. It has been one for the record books. I am looking forward to a good summer. Enjoy and savor the summer. It will be October before we know it.

There is so much for us to talk about. Peace and thank you.

Good Karma

Many of you have skied since the re-opening. Some of you have not. I have a voluntary suggestion that gets you nothing except good karma. For the last drawing this evening (which is to ski Sunday), if you have already skied a day since the re-opening, don't enter the drawing. Give the folks that haven't skied a better chance of being selected. My request is purely voluntary. Again, you get nothing out of this, except helping some of your unlucky A-Basin brothers and sisters. We are all trying to get through this crazy period together.  And it would be very Good Karma.

Summit Sunset

Beautiful sunset last night

Closing Day - Sunday, June 7

The last day of the ski season will be Sunday, June 7. Every season, no matter how hard we try and stop it, the snow still melts. The cat drivers push and pile it for months on end. Even so, the snow still melts. We think Sunday is a good day to close out the season. The snow is almost gone.

No doubt this has been an extremely trying and difficult season for all of us. While glad we squeezed an additional 12 days in before the final snow-melt, I know each of us wanted so much more skiing. I am so bummed that not everyone had a chance to ski.  This season has been unprecedented.

Thank you for your tremendous support. Thank you for helping us get through this worldwide pandemic. Thank you for being part of The Basin. I hope to see you on the hill this summer and again next winter.

Al

Lake Reveal

$10 Pali Chair

Monday, we began our efforts to sell off 100 Pali Chairs. Interest has been high and we are off to a great start there.

Several of you suggested we sell at least one chair for a very low price. We thought that was a great idea. So.......we are going to do one more drawing for a Pali Chair. It will be $20 to enter. One lucky person is going to get a Pali Chair for $10 (plus the $20 entry fee). That drawing is open through June 10.

To enter the drawing, go to:  $10 Pali Chair