Trail Building near Paliwog

The Trail 2 construction crew is moving right along. Eventually, the trail, designed for downhill mountain biking, will go from Black Mountain Lodge to the Base Area. This summer we are building the lower half of it. The crew started at the Banana (gap between High Noon and Sundance halfway down Lower Mountain) working their way downhill and west. The trail surfaces and turns look fantastic. They have crossed beneath Black Mountain Express and Pallavicini Lifts and have reached their furthest west point in The Glen (between Rock Garden and Paliwog). They have completed the first of three switchbacks there. It won't be too long before they finish in the base area at Molly Hogan.

As of now we plan on running our trails as a cross country system. If there is interest and demand for lift served riding, we are open to consider that. As of now, however, we do not have plans for a lift haul.

Over the next couple of summers we have plans to build an exceptional loop on the Upper Mountain.

Season Pass and Elevation Any Day Pass - Buy Before September 5

If you are reading this blog and still haven't bought some kind of pass for this coming season, now is the time. Our season pass is the only unlimited, unrestricted way to ski The Basin. The pass also includes 3 days at both Taos and Monarch. New this year, we also have Elevation 2, 3, 4 and 5 Any Day Passes if you plan on being here just a few days. On top of that, the Ikon and Mountain Collective Passes offer all kinds of great ski opportunities.

The real point of the message is to encourage you to buy now. Prices go up September 5. The earlier you buy, the lower the price.  The season pass price will move from $449 to $499. Check out our website for details on the products.

Sundance Fireweed

The fireweed blossoms have been exceptional this Summer. In particular, Sundance is really stunning right now. Over the last several summers, fireweed has spread across that trail. These flowers are readily enjoyed hiking the Argentine North Fork Trail.

Snowmaking Tower - Lower Sundance

The snowmaking crew is in the process of installing a new snowmaking tower gun on Lower Sundance. We currently make snow on that section of the trail, but it isn't easy. There are no water or electrical lines in the area. Getting fan guns there is also a bit tricky. 

By being taller, tower guns make more snow than conventional fan guns. The water crystals are released much higher in the air and tend to freeze even more completely making more snow. Obviously, we don't want tower guns all over the place, but this gun in this location can probably do the work of 2 or 3 conventional fan guns. It is permanently located and available at any time for snowmaking. The snowmakers will still have to run about 500 feet of hose and power cords, but this new tower gun will help the crew be much more effective and efficient snowmakers.

Tiny Frost

Found a little, teeny, tiny frost on Lower Standard this morning.

First White Stuff

And so it begins. Not sure if it is snow, hail, sleet, slush or what, but the first white stuff of the season was high on the East Wall this morning.

Todd's Ridge

The other new gladed trail out in the Western Territory will be Todd's Ridge. This will be very different than Tinker Toy. Located between Bighorn and Glockenspiel Glade, Todd's Ridge is steeper and much longer. The tree skiing was already good there. Our trail crew really enhanced it further with a tad bit more tree removal and lots of pruning.

The name Todd's Ridge has been around for at least 20 years. Its namesake was Todd Trenchard, an incredibly kind and warm A-Basin local, Keystone Patroller, Alma resident and musician who passed away back in 2011. His infectious smile and spirit is deeply missed.

You will like skiing this one

Summer Basin Scenes