Aerial Adventure Park Opens Saturday

The Aerial Adventure Park will open Saturday. Three of the Five courses will be available. I spent some time in there the last couple days. The Park is so much fun. Fun, I guess, if you like being outside and climbing and scrambling in the woods with your friends and family.  Over the next two and half weeks, the park will be open May 29, 30 and 31 and June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13. It will open seven days a week starting June 25. Check out the website for more details and to make reservations.

May Skiing

Lenawee and Black Mountain Express are open. I took about 10 lift rides this morning. My 10-noon theory is still working. Great skiing in Humbug, Lenawee Face, Cornice Run, West Wall and High Noon.

 

Montezuma Bowl Closed For Season

Montezuma Bowl is closed for the season. Earlier this week, we'd thought it would be open through Sunday. After a morning tour today, we realized it was time to call it a season back there. We will still be going strong with Black Mountain Express and Lenawee Chairlifts into June.

 

The Basin

 

No Mask, No Mas

The State of Colorado and Summit County have come out with new guidance regarding mask wearing.

Masks are no longer required at A-Basin.

The state and county recommend that unvaccinated people still wear masks indoors.

Of course, anyone that still wants to wear a mask, is certainly free to do so.

Getting to this point has been a long, hard journey going all the way back to March 2020. We are so thankful to all of you that helped A-Basin. It has been a monumental effort made only possible by those that put community first. Thank you.

Vaccine Success

The Inaugural Arapahoe Basin Beach Beer Bacon Bloody Mary 6th Alley COVID Vaccination Clinic was a huge success. More than 100 people were vaccinated including a bunch of our employees. Bumpy served a guy that caught the red eye from LA just to be vaccinated, have a Bacon Bloody Mary and be "part of it." Thanks to all the staff and volunteers that made this happen and a very special thanks to everyone that was vaccinated.

 

Stanley Cup - Colorado Avalanche

Congratulations to the Colorado Avalanche for the winning the President's Trophy by having the best record in the NHL this season. I look forward to the Spring charge through the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Certainly one of my favorite A-Basin stories goes back to mid-June 1996. The Colorado Avalanche, in their first season in Denver, won the Stanley Cup. The trophy was brought up to A-Basin to be photographed for the Rocky Mountain News at the top of old Exhibition Lift. The Cup traveled with special security staff. On a wet, snowy afternoon we loaded it into a snowcat and drove it up the hill. All of our guests and employees were shocked when they saw hockey's most coveted prize. I remember a few dozen people chasing the snowcat down the hill after the film shoot.

I know there are taboos about touching the Cup, but I think that is mostly for NHL players. I knew then the chance of me playing in the NHL was remote and, besides, somebody had to load it into the snowcat.

 

Sunday - Last Day for Pali, Molly and Beavers

Sunday will be the last day of the season for the Pallavicini, Molly Hogan and Beavers Chairlifts. The conveyor lifts will also be closed. I know some of that terrain still looks quite good. That said, looking at the forecast for next week, we thinking it is time to shut these lifts for the season. We will still be going strong with Black Mountain Express, Lenawee and Zuma Chairlifts. I have very, very high confidence that The Basin will be open into June.

No matter what we do, that snow always starts melting in Spring.

 

10 to Noon

The last couple of days have been ideal. I skied from about 10 to noon each day. My favorite spring condition is skiing groomers when the snow surface is just barely soft, maybe your skis carve just an inch into the snow. Today and yesterday, late morning, that condition was perfect. I skied the circuit, Sundance, West Wall, Columbine, Loafer and Dorsey's Downhill (that is the groomer that starts at the top of the Cornice Run and connects to Norway). For me, it is spring skiing at its finest.

Dead Snag

Dead Snag is the dead tree below the bottom of The Spine on the ridge dividing Pali Main Street from Mouse Trap. Mouse Trap isn't actually on the trail map, but it is what many people would call the right side of Pali Face. Considering it is May 12, Pallavicini is looking pretty darn good.

 

4 Inches and Corduroy

The first snow squall of the morning has already come and gone and the sun is back out. There will be a few more squalls during the day. We reported 4 inches of new snow this morning. The cat drivers had a good night creating some fine corduroy. Not bad for May 11.

Sunday Funday

Pre-COVID, Sunday afternoons were some of my favorite times at The Basin. After a great day of skiing, we would hook up with family and friends in Marnie's or the 6th Alley for a bite, a beverage and lots of laughs. COVID put a damper on that.

With our new Sunday Funday we are going to bring some of that energy back. Each Sunday for the remainder of the season, we will offer afternoon lift tickets from 2-4 PM for $29. Join us in the 6th Alley for a 15% discount and $5 New Belgium beers. Let's get some of that fun energy rolling again.

All The Weather Today

We have had all the weather today. Sunshine, wind, snow, graupel and blue skies have made an appearance.  As I look out the window right now, it sunny and snowing at the same time. We are in for more stormy weather the next few days.

 

Vaccines, Bacon Bloodies and Beer

Sunday, May 16, Arapahoe Basin will be hosting a ski-in, ski-out COVID Vaccine Clinic in Beach Spot #1 down on The Beach. From noon to 4:00 PM, in conjunction with the Summit County Health Department, there will be 200 FREE Johnson and Johnson vaccines available on a first come, first serve basis.

Anyone vaccinated that day at The Basin will receive a FREE Bacon Bloody Mary, Draft Beer or soda from the 6th Alley Bar and Grill.

This week Summit County took a huge step moving to Level Green. Getting our vaccination rate above 70% is one of our last major hurdles. Today, 62% of us have been vaccinated. We strongly encourage all of our guests, employees and community members to be vaccinated. 

Does it get any better than Ski, Vaccination, Apres'?

 

Level Green At A-Basin

This has been a long time coming. The COVID metrics for Summit have finally dropped to Level Green. This is by far the biggest step to normalcy that we have taken. There are three key impact areas from this change.

-There are no COVID related capacity restrictions at the ski area.

-Masks are no longer required anywhere outside. If you are going to spend more than 15 minutes with someone closer than 6' who is not in your household, masks are still recommended.

-Mask are still required indoors unless you are seated and eating or drinking.

The last 14 months have tested everyone. I am so proud of the great work our team has done to keep the ski area going. Here are some funs things you can look forward to.

-Skiing and riding will be just like the good old days. There are no restrictions on lift riding and no mask required for skiing or riding.

-You will be able to make a Beach Reservation soon.

-You can hang out on the decks of BML or the 6th Alley with your friends.

Thanks for sticking with us.

And More Spring