Black Mountain

Last week Quinn Wolf sent me this beautiful sunrise photo taken from the summit of Black Mountain.

 

Today's Event

It was a fun day at The Basin. From serious to recreational, the mountain bike riders charged up to the Summit this morning. Half a dozen breweries shared their goods at the Summer Festival of the Brewpubs. The weather held off. We had great days in the Aerial Adventure Park and on the Via Ferrata. It was a spectacular

 

It Is Wildflower Season

 ....And it is an excellent wildflower season.

Lenawee Towers

The towers for the New Lenawee detachable 6-person express lift have begun to arrive.

Bikes, Brats, N' Brews

Under a new name, Bikes, Brats, N' Brews is back. Join us Saturday, July 30. The morning starts with a timed mountain bike ascent from the base area to the summit. It is a tough course, but suitable for all spirits of riders from racers to recreational. In the afternoon we will be hosting a beer festival in Mountain Goat Plaza featuring Colorado beverages from Outer Range, Steep, New Belgium, Dillon Dam Brewery, Mile High Spirits, Highside Brewing and Ska.  Of course there will be plenty of brats available and live music from Yesterday's Tomorrow.

It will be an ideal time at The Basin. Come on up for some adventure. Do the bike race, climb in the Aerial Adventure Park, play some Disc Golf, ride the chairlift, go for a hike or just soak in The Basin vibe. The day will be great for mountain bikers. The day will be great for adventure type people. The day will be great for beer drinkers. And the day will be really, really great for mountain bikers and adventure type people that like to drink beer.

For details go to: Bikes, Brats, N'Brews

                             

Beavers Loop - Burger Night

After work yesterday Kay and I took a fantastic mountain bike ride. We headed up the Argentine North Fork Trail to BML. From there we rode the Summer Road and turned right on the Pali Road, riding to the top of  Radical. There, we headed downhill on the brand new Lower Beavers Loop. It is rolling and turn-y and really, really fun. At BML we hopped on Wheels Up and had a beautiful ride all the way to the base area in perfect late day light. It took us about an hour. By next season the Beavers Loop trail will run from the Summit all the way to Black Mountain Lodge via the Beavers. It will be so cool.

After the ride we headed to The 6th Alley for Thursday Burger Night. Splitting a South Chute Burger and Spinach Salad, we soaked the rays out on the deck. What an evening. I'd recommend this for date night, girls night, boys night or any other opportunity when you want to have fun.

Lenawee Trail

The Lenawee Trail leaves Arapahoe Basin near the top of Zuma Lift. Mountain bikers often ride up the front side of A-Basin and head down the Lenawee Trail, dropping 2000+ vertical feet to Peru Creek Road near the town of Montezuma. It is very difficult ride, but some people absolutely love it. Hikers often walk the trail in the opposite direction, climbing into the alpine. 

A buddy of mine took this photo yesterday. Walking or riding, this one should be on your list.

 

Bottom Terminal

The excavation team is hard at work at the bottom terminal of Lenawee Lift. While the top has some minor changes, the bottom is going to be significantly different. The old lift loaded from the back of the terminal. The new lift will load from the side. It will be a contour load very similar to Black Mountain.

 

Green

We have had a pretty moist summer so far with lots of afternoon showers. The early, wet summer makes the alpine tundra incredibly green and loaded with wild flowers. Montezuma Bowl is particularly dramatic.

 

Beavers Loop Bike Trail

Construction of the Upper Beavers Loop bike trail has begun. By Fall, we hope to have a top to bottom single track, one way (mostly down), bike specific trail completed. Generally the route will head down Zuma Cornice from the Summit until it is close to treeline. From there the trail will take a right turn and roughly follow treeline as it crosses Loafer, Beaver Bowl, Marmot, Davis, Thick and Thin, East Woods and the top of the Steep Gullies and Alleys before reaching the top of the Spine. From that point, the trail crosses Third Bowl, Pali Main Street, Pali Lift Line and North Glade before connecting with the existing trail at the top of Radical. The team is off to a good start heading down Zuma Cornice.

This ride will be spectacular.

 

Mountain Goats

I know this isn't a very good picture, but Friday morning when I was on the Summit, there were about 25 mountain goats on the ridge to Little Lenawee. That number included numerous "kids" or babies.

New Top Terminal

The old Lenawee triple chairlift has been completely removed. There are a still a handful of components in the parking lot, but most of the gear has been shipped to Sunlight.

Leitner Poma is off to a good start with the new lift. The excavation is complete at the top terminal. The concrete for the footer has been poured and the rebar and concrete forms are in place. We expect the rest of the foundation to be poured early next week. Shortly following that pour, the forms will be stripped and the foundation will be back-filled.

Goat Without Lenawee

 

Yoga

I think even I can do yoga on this deck.

 

Major Fence Re-build

We are doing a major snowfence re-build in Montezuma Bowl. We are moving the long fence near Tower 13 approximately 40' to the East. As built, the fence has not caught quite as much snow as we thought it should. Our hope is that terrain shape at the new location will more effectively catch snow and create a better skiing surface. Be sure and check it out next winter.

 

Happy 4th of July

 

Via Ferrata Photo

So far this is my favorite Via Ferrata photo.