Wheels Up

I just took a lap on our downhill mountain bike trail. Way fun.  Ride up the Argentine North Fork Trail and down the new one. It is a couple of miles with a 330' ascent and descent. Do it as a warm-up loop for the Lenawee Trail or come do it multiple times for a good ride.

 This trail is the first taste of what is come. Over the next couple of summers we plan on building several additional trails for hiking and biking. Eventually, riders will be able to ride a full loop to the Summit and down on all purpose built bike trails. I get so excited just thinking about.

 

Friday Eve

OK, the young people had to explain to me that "Friday Eve" was actually Thursday afternoon and evening. Starting this Thursday, July 1 thru at least August 12 we will be open to until 8 PM every "Friday Eve". That includes the Aerial Adventure Park, The 6th Alley Bar and Grill, the Disc Golf Course and all the trails. So come on up. Sign up for the AAP, throw yours discs, ride Wheels Up or just enjoy the deck. Think of it as "Locals Day" or maybe just a quieter place than town. But, mostly, just come on up, enjoy yourself and wind down the day.

Open for Summer?

Don't tell Mother Nature we opened for summer on Friday... snow on the peaks and moody skies this morning.  I love summer, but of course, I love snow any time of year. We will take all of the moisture we can get.

Storm Clouds

The storm clouds certainly create brilliant images.

 

Welcomed Rain

This weekend we have had some much needed and very welcomed rain. While there were no immediate fire issues in our neighborhood, Colorado has been a little dry. It rained all night last night and on and off all day long. While this wreaks a little havoc on our recreational activities, it is really good for everyone. It will speed up the wild flowers, soak the ground and put a little more water in the streams. This is very good.

 

Opening Day

Tomorrow, Friday, is opening day for summer operations. It is also the very first day of commercial Via Ferrata for our guests. I had a great morning today climbing with the VF guides. The views up there are stunning and it is so much fun.

On top of the Via Ferrata, the Aerial Adventure Park will be open. The Disc Golf Course is open now. Argentine North, Wheels Up and Half Moon Trails are open. The 6th Alley and Arapahoe Sports will be open. It is time to enjoy the summer.

 

Guide Training

Our brand new Via Ferrata team has had a busy few weeks. The have been training and climbing and climbing and training over and over and over. The next couple of days the team will be guiding employee groups up the rock. And then, Friday is the big opening day. We already have a few reservations, but there are still spaces available. You have to check this out. For more info or to make reservations, go to Via Ferrata

Thomas Beatty shared the photo of the guides on the Summit.

 

Greening Up

The place is really greening up. I just walked the Argentine North Fork, Wheels Up and most of Half Moon Trails. Nearly all of the snow is gone and the trails are almost dry. The 6th Alley and Arapahoe Sports will be open this weekend. Perfect time to enjoy lunch and a beverage on the deck. Starting Friday, June 25, all of our summer operations will be open 7 days a week.

Getting VF Ready

Mike Friedman from Adventure Partners has been with us for the last couple days as we cross the T's and dot the I's on the Via Ferrata before we open. Mike and his team designed and installed it for us over the last two summers. Yesterday, we had the final engineering inspection. The staff is training this week and next. The grand opening will be Friday, June 25. This will offer a side of A-Basin you have never seen before.

For more details, cool photos and to book a reservation go to Via Ferrata.

 

Snow and Via Ferrata

On Friday, Tony C and Via Ferrata Ferrata Manager Paul Schmidt, made the first climb of the season. The rungs and cables are in excellent shape. A bit of the route was still buried with snow. The two kept themselves busy digging out a few spots. The Via Ferrata staff will spend the next two weeks training and getting all of their gear ready. We look forward to an exciting opening June 25.

 

6th Alley

A surprising number of people joined us for lunch at the 6th Alley yesterday. I enjoyed the Caprese Chicken Sandwich. It was awesome. The 6th Alley and Arapahoe Sports will be open again next weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Starting June 25 all summer operations, including Aerial Adventure Park, Via Ferrata and Scenic Chairlift Rides will be open 7 days a week.

 

Hard To Believe

It is hard to believe we were open for skiing 6 days ago. Once we get to the longest and warmest days of the year, the snow can melt in a hurry. High Noon still has a bit of snow, but Ramrod and Sundance are almost bare. It feels like summer around here.

 

Thank You

From all of us at Arapahoe Basin, we would like to thank everyone that joined us this season. You guys make The Basin great. Our team of employees gathered Monday afternoon, let their hair down a bit and celebrated another very special season. The group is fairly skilled at socializing and Monday was another great example of that.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Aerial Adventure Park, The 6th Alley and Arapahoe Sports will be open. There won't be any skiing, but come visit while we watch the last of the snow melt and gear up for a fun summer.

Again, thanks so much for making A-Basin part of your life.

 

Special Closing Day

It was a special closing day. Spirits were high. Lake Reveal was going off. High Five owned Mountain Goat Plaza. The best part of it all was the smiling faces. I think people were really enjoying themselves. The snow was fun although we would have been challenged to stretch more days out of it. The pre-COVID Basin is back. Thanks for a great season.

 

Lake Reveal Emerges

Today was perfect. It was sunny most of the day. The goats were all over the place. The snow was good.  ..........Lake Reveal emerged and skiers and riders made the best of it. I hope you can join us Sunday for closing day. It will be more of the same great stuff. The weather is supposed to be sunny again (most of the day). Come celebrate the end of the weirdest ski season most of have ever experienced.

Lake Reveal is growing by the minute.

 

Family Day

I think the Kelly Family figured out a pretty good way to spend a Spring day together.

 

Old Friends

I know it is almost summer when I start seeing CJ Mueller (former speed skiing world record holder) at The Basin. It is hard to pry him out of Breckenridge, but A-Basin's spring corn usually does the trick. This morning we shared a few really fun Lenawee rides laughing and telling stories all the way. We timed the Cornice Run / West Wall snow perfectly and carved some sweet turns. CJ's passion for skiing is always inspiring for me. Makes my day to catch up with him.

 

Final Week

I had an enjoyable ski this morning checking out Humbug, Lenawee Face, Cornice Run, West Wall and more. The snow was soft and carve-able. A couple mountain goats were hanging out at the top of Zuma Lift. And there isn't much sign of Lake Reveal yet.

Closing day will be this Sunday, June 6. I hope you can make it up one of these last five days.