Stream Rehabilitation

We are just finishing up a significant project at the junction of Lower Wrangler and the bottom of North Fork. At that location, the stream (North Fork) entered a culvert, ran underneath Wrangler and popped out on the skiers' right side of Wrangler. Over the years that culvert had rusted, degraded, and collapsed and was ready to be replaced. Our initial plan was to replace that culvert, but as we looked closer and closer at the project, we realized we could, simply, return the stream to a more natural setting. Planning and construction tasks included project design, removing  the old culvert steel, regrading the area to a more natural stream channel, lining the channel with local rock and re-vegging the area with native plants. The project involved a lot of people including members from the A-Basin team, Forest Service staff, a civil engineer, a hydrologist, an ecologist, a local excavation contractor and Xcel Energy (of course the stream crossed a powerline). The earthwork is done, the stream is running down the rehabilitated channel and we are entering the re-veg stage. Over the next couple weeks, we will be planting wetland species and that process will continue again next summer.

I think it will be fun to watch the regrowth here and see a more natural stream return over the coming years.

 

Gold and White

It is now officially Fall. The golden aspen leaves will be peaking soon and we will see more and more snowy white dustings up high. The early snow always melts, but eventually and usually sometime in October, the snow starts to stick. The nights get a lot colder and we will be making snow before you know it. We all need to be thinking about getting our final high elevation hikes and bike rides completed soon.

Oktoberfest

We are in Day 1 of Okotberfest at The Basin - one of my favorite events. Hope you can join us. The weather might be challenge later today and tomorrow, but we will make the best of it, moving the fun indoors if we have to. Prosit !!!

Closer To The Top

The trail construction for the last section of "Up At Arapahoe" continues up Norway Face. The trail is now about 100 vertical feet from the Summit. The Trail Crew has crossed the summer road and is preparing for the final push to the top. No doubt we will be battling winter weather  in the coming weeks, but the finish is so close.

Boot Camp

People are starting to think about winter. Saturday we hosted our first "Boot Camp." About 50 skiers and riders came up to The Basin and took part in some serious (and of course fun) ski training. We will see some snow on the Lower Mountain very soon. Almost all of the fan guns are out on High Noon now. In another couple weeks, the snowmakers will start focusing on the temperatures, looking for that first night when wet bulb temps drop below 28 F.

Aspens Starting To Change

Some of the aspens are starting to show their Fall colors

First Snow

No explanation needed.

Fan Guns

The snowmakers are placing fan guns on High Noon. Some of the hydrants have been deployed. We are filling the reservoir. We will be testing pipes, pumps and plugs. The crew is gearing up for a busy few months.

A Nice Stroll

Yesterday afternoon I went for a nice stroll around the base area and a little ways up the Argentine North Fork Trail. The Lift Maintenance crew is busy gearing up for their October annual inspections. The snowmakers are finishing their summer work. I savor these September days with the tall grasses and blooming fireweed. I am wearing a puffy, hat and gloves to walk the dog in the morning. The glorious summer days are winding down.  ..............And you know what that means.

Those Cool Rock Sections

Have you ever wondered how the Trail Crew builds those very nice sections of rock on the trails. The first step is to have the mini excavator operator over excavates a trail through the talus, setting the grade of the trail  (Photo 1). Once that is complete, the operator uses the machine to place large flat rocks in the over excavated section (Photo 2). Lastly, by hand, the Trail Crew staff adds a few more larger rocks and then fills the gaps with mineral soil and smaller rocks creating the final surface (Photo 3).

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

 

Another 1,000 Feet Of Trail

The Trail Crew has opened up another 1,000 feet of the "Up At Arapahoe" Trail. Leaving Steilhang Hut, riders and hikers can now skip another chunk of the summer road. Hard to believe, but it is another sweet section of trail that traverses across Lower Powerline and Lower Norway. From where this new section intersects the summer road, the trail work under construction on Norway Face is clearly visible. Man oh man, do I look forward to the Norway Face section being complete.

Amazing Morning

It was a great morning out on the hill. I rode BMX and hiked "Up At Arapahoe".  Along the way, I encountered a couple dozen people, including some friends, hiking and riding their bikes. Everyone was smiling ear to ear and enjoying the trail. I was eavesdropping on one group and heard one of their bikers describe the trail as "amazingly rideable." It was a fun morning.

And there were about 15 mountain goats hanging on Little Lenawee Peak.

Great Day For A Ride

This morning was a great time for a bike ride at The Basin. With a couple friends, I rode to the Summit and down the Beavers Loop and Wheels Up trails. It was a little chilly, but that made it comfortable for climbing. The rain held off and we had the best time. The views were so dramatic, we forced ourselves to stop and enjoy them. Of course the ride was followed by lunch in the 6th Alley. I'd call it a successful morning.

Via Ferrata Season

The Via Ferrata will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September 22. This is still an incredible way to see A-Basin from a completely new perspective. The climbing route goes up the ridgeline between Willie's Wide and North Pole. Steel foot and hand holds have been installed in the rock to make climbing easier. A cable safety line allows climbers to be "clipped in" at all times. Always exciting and always fun.

Welcomed Rain

We are having a nice, steady rain this afternoon. We savor the summer rain storms. They bring life to the streams and everything that lives on the hill. Sometimes the rain interferes with our plans, but we are always happy to see it come down.

Fireweed Is Peaking

The late blooming fireweed flowers are at their peak. This patch is on Lower Sundance. I think fireweed growth is expanding across the ski area particularly on the Lower Mountain.. Great news for me. I think the flowers are very beautiful and I enjoy seeing the new growth.

Willows Are Turning

It is now officially late August. As I wander around the hill, I am noticing that the willows are starting to turn yellow. We still have five good 3-days weekends of being open, but this is definitely a hint that Fall is coming.

Black Mountain and East Wall

I never get tired of this view. We have a few, but not many, of these summer images left before Fall begins.

Dave Watts and Friends Featuring Members Of The Motet

September weekends are fun around The Basin. The very popular Cirque Series trail running race is September 7 and, everybody's favorite, Oktoberfest is September 21 and 22.

September 14 we are trying something new, A-Basin Boot Camp. Get yourself ready for the season with a free work out, ski and snowboard tunes and live music. Come check out the fun and join us for a special afternoon concert featuring Dave Watts and Friends featuring members of The Motet. Dave and friends are no stranger to Summit County and have been putting on fun and energetic shows for years. Hope you will join us.

The Stuff You Find

Almost 50 people came to The Basin yesterday for our annual "Mountain Cleanup Day." The group wandered down through The Beavers picking up a few seasons worth of trash and other goodies. They even found the skull of one of our native ungulates. Thanks to everyone that chose to spend a day taking care of A-Basin.

From Grizzly Peak

Grizzly Peak, 13,427', is about 1 1/4 miles straight east of the base area.  Check out The Basin from there.

Fat Marmot

Just like every other summer, there are loads of marmots running around The Basin. They are busy stocking their dens and eating as much as they can. By observation, when we first start seeing them in June, they are kind of skinny. As the summer progresses they just get fatter and fatter. They would eat 24 hours a day if they could. They are getting ready for winter.

A Bit Cooler

The middle part of the summer has been warm all over the country. It was even a little warm by A-Basin standards. Recently we have seen some monsoonal type weather moving in and the temps have dropped a bit. Yesterday I woke to a temp of 39 F at my house. That was the coldest temp I had seen in many weeks. Fall is still a few snaps of the fingers away, but it is a little cooler.

Lenawee Re-veg Update

Whenever we do a project on the hill, we try and keep our impact as small as we can. That said, sometimes we still have an impact and as the projects are completed, we try and return the site to as natural of a condition as we can. Installing Lenawee Express in 2022 was a big project. While we used a spider hoe to minimize heavy equipment impacts, there were still disturbances around the lift tower locations. As construction wound down, we re-established and re-seeding those locations, often using mats to hold vegetation in place. 

Earlier this week I was hiking on the Half Moon Trail which brought me close to Tower 6, one of our bigger impact areas. I was excited to see how well the re-veg work was going there. Our growing season is quite short and with only 1 1/2 growing seasons since construction, the vegetation looks really great. In a few more seasons, it will be hard to determine where the disturbance limits were.

Up At Arapahoe Update

We have more good news on the Up At Arapahoe trail. We now have completed trail up to the Steilhang Hut. There is now more stunning, above timberline, alpine trail to hike or ride. Remember this trail is for two way hiking and uphill biking. I can't wait until the team finishes the trail all the way to the Summit. They are currently working on the trail in the Norway Face zone.

During my morning walkabout, I bumped into A-Basin skier and mountain biker Alex, who was having a blast riding Up At Arapahoe.

From Little Lenawee

 Check out the view of the Summit from Little Lenawee Peak

Columbine In The High Alpine

Up above timberline, commonly nestled in talus fields, the columbines are at their peak.

Digger Picnic Deck

If you are doing the full Beavers Loop ride, there is a fine place to take a break and enjoy some quiet time. Just below the Beavers Loop Trail, just at timberline and just east of where the BLT crosses the winter ski trail, Loafer, and at the top of the ski trail Digger you will find the Digger Picnic Deck with a couple tables. On your next ride, bring a little food, bring a book if you are by yourself and bring an urge to soak in this great setting. Check it out.

Bikes, Brews, N' Brats

This Saturday will be paradise. A beautiful Arapahoe Basin summer day. A summer version of the Festival of the Brewpubs. A crazy 4-hour mountain bike endurance race. Bratwurst cooked on the grill in Mountain Goat Plaza. This is a good way to spend your Saturday. Check out  Bikes, Brat, N' Brews

Guided Wildfower Hikes

As I mentioned in a post earlier this summer, we are having a banner wildflower season. Every other Monday we do guided wildflower hikes that include a ride up Black Mountain Express. You might even get some A-Basin insider information out of your guide. For details and to register go to Guided Wildfower Hikes

Cool Riding

Found between the top of Jamie's Face and Lake Reveal, I call this very, very cool riding.

 

New Places On Wheels Up

Our summer trails give us a physical perspective that is very different from what we see in winter. Whether we are hiking or biking, it often feels like we are in a very different place in summer versus winter. No where is that more notable than riding the forested areas of the Wheels Up trail. In particular, where the trail is west of the Pallavicini Lift, the trail switchbacks through The Glen and it feels completely different than skiing in winter. And you won't find the name The Glen on any trail map.

 

Trail Construction Update

Trevor and the Trail Crew continue to work on extending Up At Arapahoe to the Summit. The trail is now complete all the way to Lake Reveal. For the moment they are skipping the zone just above and below the Steilhang Hut. The road is a bit more mellow there. They are carving the trail into Norway Face. This stretch might have people most excited because it will eliminate that nasty, steep final pitch of the summer road. Nobody likes that stretch of road and the new stuff is going to be SWEET.

Black Mountain Lodge Yoga

Tuesdays and Thursdays we host Mountaintop Yoga on the deck of Black Mountain Lodge. You get the bonus of enjoying a chairlift ride on Black Mountain Experess. I am not sure there is a better place to enjoy your Cobra pose. Some people hike down the Argentine North Fork Trail when they are finished. For details and to make a reservation, go to Mountaintop Yoga