| Ski The Legend! That's Arapahoe Basin's tag line and it | | | | of the front upper mountain usually opens sometime in |
| pretty much sums up this ski area. | | | | January and is known for its hiking terrain and powder |
| This ski area is rustic and rugged, with a "friendly locals | | | | runs. A few years ago, A-Basin opened up The |
| feel", and mostly suited for very experienced skiers. | | | | Montezuma Bowl. This 400 acre expansion increased |
| Getting to A-Basin, as the locals call it, is easy -- it's a | | | | the ski area terrain to include an additional 36 blue, |
| quick two hour drive west on I-70 from Denver to | | | | black, and double black slopes. Here, you'll discover |
| Silverthorne (exit 205), then 12 miles east on US 6. | | | | cornices, chutes, glades and wide-open bowls. |
| Once you pass Keystone Ski Resort, the road incline | | | | Hike-back terrain past the lower lift terminal is also |
| is very steep before you arrive at A-Basin, so be very | | | | available for the adventurous skier or rider who has |
| careful if it's snowing and the road is slippery. If you | | | | more interest in experiencing a remote, backcountry |
| exit before the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70, you'll have | | | | feel. |
| to take US 6 over Loveland Pass at the continental | | | | Located near the continental Divide, Avalanches in this |
| divide -- a harrowing but awesome scenic road, that | | | | back country area are very problematic. If you're skiing |
| drops down to the base of the lifts. | | | | out of bounds and in the back country --- make sure |
| A-Basin and its neighbor Loveland, rival to open the | | | | you have avalanche gear and you know how to use it! |
| season first, typically in early October. The season | | | | On my last trip to the area this past March (2010), in |
| lasts into early June. The elevation plays to A-Basin's | | | | one week alone there were reports of two major |
| advantage. The last time I skied here a few years ago, | | | | avalanches, with one triggered by a young |
| it was a cool day in very early June, the snow was | | | | snowboarder skiing down an area known as The |
| slushy, and only a few slopes were open, but it was a | | | | Gully's. Sadly, the young snowboarder died. |
| memorable day. By the end of the day, 2 inches had | | | | Lodging, restaurants, and nightlife are located in and |
| fallen around the area and just a few miles lower in | | | | around the three Keystone Ski Resort villages, or the |
| the town of Silverthorne, it was raining hard all day. | | | | towns of Dillon and Silverthorne. The area is very |
| Although A-Basin boats the highest skiable in-bounds | | | | affordable and has a tremendous numbers of lodging, |
| terrain in North America at 13,050 feet, you'll have to | | | | retail, restaurant, and dining establishments in and |
| ski off the Upper East Wall ridge along the Continental | | | | around Keystone Ski Resort, Dillon, Silverthorne, and |
| Divide to experience that. Most settle for the Pali chair | | | | Frisco. |
| (nickname for the famed Pallavicini lift that accesses | | | | Parking is free and the overnight camping in the upper |
| the advanced Pallavicini terrain), which unloads onto a | | | | and lower parking lots is no longer allowed at A-Basin. |
| smaller peak on A-Basin's western side at 12,125 feet. | | | | Camping in the parking lots made it hard on Avalanche |
| The front side offers a few beginner slopes and a | | | | control work done around Loveland - your adventure |
| good assortment of intermediates. The East Wall – | | | | starts here... |
| the advanced / expert terrain found on the East side | | | | |