Successful Reverse Enduro

62 riders signed up for this morning's "Reverse Enduro." The 9 AM start allowed riders to beat the forecasted rain. They were rewarded with mostly sunny skies and great conditions. The course was a grueling base area to summit climb. Despite the challenge, the event was lots of fun and the response from riders was very positive. I ssume we will do this one again next year.

Flying Concrete

Helicopter day at The Day. The Verizon crew was flying concrete today for the foundation of the new cell tower. They were using a K-MAX helicopter to take buckets of concrete up to the summit. That machine is certainly the weirdest looking helicopter around. The operation always draws lots of stares bringing all activity around it to a halt.

Cell Service

A few years ago ATT installed cell phone repeaters at BML and the A-Frame. This summer Verizon is installing a cell phone tower on the Summit. That tower will be replacing our current weather station tower. The new tower will look a little, but not wildly, different.  Additionally, you will see a new, small building, that houses most of the equipment, as you head towards Zuma Cornice.

Cell coverage is now so commonplace, it is easy to forget that A-Basin is still kind of out there. We are at the end of the power line and the end of the phone line. We have a microwave set up for our data service. All of our water and waste water treatment facilities are operated by The Basin and not connected to anywhere else. The capacity of all these systems is limited.

With both ATT and Verizon, getting projects through the pipeline has taken years and years primarily due to our remote access to utilities.

Verizon customers will join the ATT gang by having ready phone access when skiing.

Festival of the Brewpubs

One of the things I have missed most through COVID has been the great social gatherings The Basin is known for. We missed Festival of the Brewpubs two years in a row. We are making up for that this Saturday with a Summer version of the Festival. Come join us and sample beers from local breweries and chomp on a bratwurst. Maybe start the day with a hike or a bike ride or some disc golf.  Hobo Village will be rocking the Mountain Goat Plaza. For details go to Festival of the Brewpubs.

Be sure that Oktoberfest, September 18 is on your calendar.

 

Trail Run Series

Come check Race 2 of our Trail Running Series Sunday morning. Check in is at 9 and the race starts at 10. The race can be done virtually also. Details can be found at Trail Running Series

Mushrooms and stuff

With all this rain, I am finding all kinds of stuff growing out there.

 

Getting "Wheels Up" Finished

A couple of summers ago, we made some great headway on the "Wheels Up" downhill bike trail. COVID slowed us down last year, but we are back at it this summer. The IMBA trail building team has been here a couple weeks and, supported by our Trail Crew, is making great progress. Starting at Black Mountain Lodge, they have built Upper "Wheels Up" across the top of Sundance, High Noon, Ramrod and The Gulch. Today they are crossing Exhibition Trail and will get to the top of Lower Standard within a few days. From there they will work their way back east to join the already built portion of "Wheel Ups" that starts about halfway down High Noon. 

This will give us a really fun 4ish mile loop on the Lower Mountain going up the Argentine North Fork Trail and down Wheels Up. The next step for late August and September is to build the downhill trail from the top of Radical to Black Mountain Lodge, making a 5-6 mile loop.

The end game is to build an incredibly fun top to bottom loop that includes a big tour out in The Beavers. At this time, we don't intend to do lift served biking, but do intend to build one of the funnest 12 mile loops anywhere.

 

Bluebells

Just above (and in) the base area, there are loads of "Bluebells." As beautiful and delicate as they look, these plants are quite hardy and seem to grow all over the place. They are a very special summer sight. Just another part of The Basin that makes me smile.

A Soaker Last Night

Compared to some parts of the West, Arapahoe Basin has been a bit lucky this summer. We have seen some fairly decent rainfall. Late yesterday, we had quite the soaker of a rainstorm. While the rain sometimes interrupts our recreation plans, it is always welcome and good for so many reasons. It reduces the fire danger, keeps our plants and animals healthy, keeps our stream vibrant and makes for some beautiful flower shows.

 

The Via Ferrata is Fun

 I had the opportunity of enjoying the Via Ferrata recently, and WOW, it is fun. This is something that is just so different and so cool.  If you have the time, I highly recommend coming up and enjoying it. Our photographer caught me in the moment, and my face says it all.  

Yoga is Back and Better

We have been hosting yoga two times a week for the past few summers, but this summer with the chairlift running 7 days a week we have moved the venue to Black Mountain Lodge. I am not a big yoga guy myself but with the East Wall as the background, I think I might have to take a class this summer. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 - 11 a.m.

 

From Across The Valley

A friend shared this picture taken of The Basin back in May. He was on a little hike across the valley.

Late Day Light

I never get tired of that late day light up on the Continental Divide, Black Mountain and Lenawee Mountain.

 

Base Area Flowers

Master Gardener and Snowsports School Manager, Becky McDill, has all the plants and flowers in the base are looking mighty fine.