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Walking High Noon

Louis and I just took a stroll down High Noon. We have a bit of snow on the ground. The forecast is still showing a big drop in temperature this afternoon. The Snowmakers are here and ready to fire up the guns as soon as the temp drops a touch more.

High Noon Shaping Up

Today has been absolutely gorgeous. High Noon is the whitest strip right down the middle of the photo. It is shaping up. As I said yesterday, we don't expect much out of snowmaking for a couple days, but hang on for early next week. It is going to snow a bit and we are going to make a lot of snow.

Snowmaking Outlook

Last night was another good night of snowmaking with the wet bulb temperature dropping to 21 F. In terms of putting enough snow on High Noon, we are a tiny bit more than halfway there. The outlook for snowmaking the next few nights is not promising, but starting early next week the temperature really drops, maybe to single digits. That is excellent for snowmaking

So, we are looking good today. The next few days will be quiet. By Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, we are going to have a lot to get excited about. You might want to start clearing your calendar for next weekend.

 

Rainbows and Snowmaking

Ski Patroller Jasmine Wieger caught this rainbow a couple mornings ago during snowmaking.

Very Productive 36 Hours

As I write, the sun has cracked the ridgeline, the temperatures are starting to go up and the Snowmakers are preparing to shut down. They had a very productive session on High Noon over the last 36 hours. For a period yesterday afternoon they had to turn off the fan guns near the bottom, but at other times, they had the pumps running at full capacity. Previously, we had a few test and trial runs, but this session is very meaningful. Looking forward, with clear skies and temps below freezing at night, each night this week could have low wet bulb temps and good opportunities for snowmaking. While it is way too early to pick an opening date, we are heading in the right direction and very happy with this snowmaking effort.

 

Plentiful Snow and Snowmaking

Now that was a good night - definitely something to get excited about. The snow stake shows beautiful and plentiful natural snowfall. The snowmakers have had a productive morning. The wet bulb temperature has been in the low 20's. All fan guns on High Noon are operating. The pumps are spinning just shy of full capacity. This is good. Tonight should be another good night for snowmaking.

Snow

We have taken a nice step towards winter.

"Up At Arapahoe" Complete

I am certain this will be the last summer ops post of the year. The A-Basin Trail Crew has completed the "Up At Arapahoe" trail. Hikers and mountain bikers can now ride a purpose built single track all the way to the Summit. And they completed it just in time. Our plan is to close all the summer trails this Monday. With the forecasted weather this weekend, it might be a little snowy up there. If you can sneak your way up here the next couple of days, I encourage to get in one more ride at The Basin.

For many years we have had a goal of a bottom to top to bottom loop. With Argentine North Fork, Up At Arapahoe, Beavers Loop and Wheels Up now all complete and connected, our goal is finished and complete. This has been a big effort between our team and IMBA to make it happen. Thanks to everyone that had a hand in this especially Trevor, our Trail Crew and our chief designer Joey Klein. This is a very fine and very substantial piece of work.

Waiting On The Weather

Waiting for some colder weather. Although today isn't too bad.

 

Chairlift Inspection and Licensing

Last week our Lift Maintenance team met with a Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board (CPTSB) engineer for a couple days of annual inspections. For each lift, (6 chairlifts, 2 conveyors, 1 rope tow) we are required to have an individual license to operate. That license is good for one year. Prior to getting a license, each lift is inspected. There are visual inspections. Every button and mechanism is pushed and tested. There is a thorough review of all maintenance records to ensure we are doing all required tasks to meet the various tramway codes. For this year the inspection phase is complete. We have a few remaining administrative and physical tasks to complete. We should see our first licenses by next week and be approved to operate for another year.

Northern Lights

 From Summit Cove neighbors.

Snowmakers Are Ready

Our snowmakers are ready to go. All the fan guns and hoses and power cords are on the hill. The reservoir is full. Summer maintenance and Fall testing is complete. We will start as soon as the weather gets cold enough to make snow. Looking at the 7-10 day weather forecasts, I don't see snowmaking conditions yet. So, enjoy another weekend or two of hiking and biking Fall colors. We will be making snow just as soon as the temps drop. 

Stream Re-hab Action Shots

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.