I do need a crystal ball. When is Zuma going to open? My guess is we need more than 1 foot of snow and less than 2 feet of snow. The base probably needs to be between 35 and 40 inches deep. The snowcats are making progress and the ski patrollers are deploying snowfences to help catch the white stuff when the wind blows. I'll probably do a product testing down there tomorrow.
Zuma Webcam - With enough money, time, and resources, webcams can be placed anywhere. Realistically for us, we can put a webcam where we have power and communication lines. For Montezuma Bowl, that means the top terminal of Zuma Chairlift. We just ordered another camera. I have no idea about a timeline for implementation yet. The area is a "wee bit" exposed to the elements so we may have a few challenges getting and keeping it running. No promises and no timelines, but we are going to get a webcam up there.
Lastly, early morning race training is done. Uphill Access is allowed throughout the day as long as there are no other special concerns (for example: avalanche control work closures). Each morning the ski patrol updates the "Runs Open" section of our website. At the very bottom of that page is a section indicating whether Uphill Access is open or not for the day. I suggest checking it before you head up here, particularly if it is snowing.
"Beacon Basin is open," reports A-Basin Ski Patroller and former Pro Mogul Tour star, Brian York, AKA "Bumpy." The Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol and Backcountry Access (BCA) have teamed together to run this avalanche beacon training area. According to Bumpy, "people need to practice with their beacons if they expect to be able to use them effectively in an emergency." Beacon Basin offers pre-buried and transmitting devices that allow people to brush up on their beacon finding skills. Beacon Basin is immediately east of the bottom of Lenawee Mountain Lift.
