Lifting and Hiking The Beavers

Beautiful, very winter like day out in The Beavers today.

As we designed the layout of The Beavers and The Steep Gullies, we really looked for a mix of both lift service and hiking. Next year, The Steep Gullies will be managed the same way they have been managed this year. That is definitely some intense, double black diamond terrain followed with a bit of a hike. Hiking out of The Beavers this season has been a lot of fun. That said, we look forward to installing the lift this summer and having the ability to share The Beavers with more people. It will be good to spread the skiers around even further. Remember, we are not adding parking, we are adding skiing. Having The Beavers Lift up and running will improve the experience all over the mountain.

Someone asked if we could open The Beavers for a short time to hiking only at the beginning of the season. I don't see us doing that. While it would be fun for a smaller group, we look forward to sharing the place with everyone. Hiking will be available in The Steep Gullies, Bald Spot, Janitor's Only and The Cellar for most of the season. Over the years, some consistent and overwhelming clear feedback that I have received from our guests, is that, if we have the snow to open a lift or a trail, we should open it, and soon.

Skinners' Breakfast This Saturday

Come join us for the "Skinners' Breakfast" this Saturday, April 7 at Black Mountain Lodge. The uphill skiing phenomenon has been extraordinary, especially at A-Basin. We are constantly looking for ways to incorporate skinning into Basin activities. Currently, we do the BML Randonee Dinners and our Rando Race Series. Also many people that attend our other evening functions, tie a little skin in the night.

We thought a Saturday morning breakfast at BML would be fun. Chefs Rybak and Vlass have created another special menu with chorizo enchiladas, braised short ribs eggs benedict, Nutella and banana crepes and much, much more. I will be there talking about the latest news and events at A-Basin. This is your chance to grill me with all your toughest questions. Actually, I love to hear from you guys, what you like what you would like to be different.

For details and to make a reservation go to:

https://www.arapahoebasin.com/event/skinners-breakfast/

April 1st

Another wild weather day at The Basin. For an hour or two after dawn, we saw big, heavy, wet snowflakes coming down. As heavy and as fast as it came down, it stopped and the sun popped out for a bluebird afternoon. It was beautiful. April 1st is a challenging day to work at The Basin. I am always glad to see it in the rear view mirror.

Only At The Basin

Where else, except The Basin, can you find the Easter Bunny climbing and skiing a double black diamond chute at nearly 13,000'?

Beavers Bottom Terminal

The skiing, both tree skiing and Loafer and Davis, out in The Beavers continues to be excellent. The cat drivers groomed Loafer top to bottom last night. Yesterday during the snowstorm, Jager was over the top incredible powder skiing. Today, in the sunshine, a shaded Thick and Thin had deep winter conditions. It feels like being in a private ski area. This year's hiking program is truly unique. I don't see too many people when I am skiing although I usually end up hiking out alongside a few folks. Very fun. Very cool.

Skiing With The Marketing Folks

The Colorado Ski Country USA Marketing and Communications Committee meets 2-3 times per year. Today was A-Basin's turn to host one of the meetings. After getting through the obligatory power point sessions, the crew wolfed down some food and went skiing. We were excited to show off some great powder skiing in The Beavers and The Steep Gullies. It was a beautiful, snowy day and those Marketing/Communications folks love to ski.

Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act

This afternoon I went to a meeting hosted by U.S. Representative Jared Polis. The topic was the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act proposed by Representative Polis and Senator Michael Bennet. The proposal includes protecting nearly 100,000 acres of wild areas in Summit and Eagle Counties. There are multiple protection designations including Wilderness Areas, Recreation Management Areas, National Historic Landscape (Camp Hale) and, specifically, the Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area.The Porcupine Gulch area is just Northwest of The Basin between US Highway 6 and I-70. A-Basin and several other resorts have written letters of support for this proposal. I encourage you to check out the link below for more information and share your support with your local Congressperson.

https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398559

More Upper East Wall Season

More images from Upper East Wall hiking. Typically, snow conditions up there peak in April or early May. The few inches of snow we have been getting a couple of times a week are pointing us in that direction.

Snorkel Nose

2nd Notch