Ski Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

Ski The Legend! That's Arapahoe Basin's tag line and it pretty much sums up this ski area

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This ski area is rustic and rugged, with a "friendly locals feel", and mostly suited for very experienced skiers. Getting to A-Basin, as the locals call it, is easy -- it's a quick two hour drive west on I-70 from Denver to Silverthorne (exit 205), then 12 miles east on US 6. Once you pass Keystone Ski Resort, the road incline is very steep before you arrive at A-Basin, so be very careful if it's snowing and the road is slippery. If you exit before the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70, you'll have to take US 6 over Loveland Pass at the continental divide -- a harrowing but awesome scenic road, that drops down to the base of the lifts.

A-Basin and its neighbor Loveland, rival to open the season first, typically in early October. The season lasts into early June. The elevation plays to A-Basin's advantage. The last time I skied here a few years ago, it was a cool day in very early June, the snow was slushy, and only a few slopes were open, but it was a memorable day. By the end of the day, 2 inches had fallen around the area and just a few miles lower in the town of Silverthorne, it was raining hard all day.

Although A-Basin boats the highest skiable in-bounds terrain in North America at 13,050 feet, you'll have to ski off the Upper East Wall ridge along the Continental Divide to experience that. Most settle for the Pali chair (nickname for the famed Pallavicini lift that accesses the advanced Pallavicini terrain), which unloads onto a smaller peak on A-Basins western side at 12,125 feet.

The front side offers a few beginner slopes and a good assortment of intermediates. The East Wallthe advanced / expert terrain found on the East side of the front upper mountain usually opens sometime in January and is known for its hiking terrain and powder runs. A few years ago, A-Basin opened up The Montezuma Bowl. This 400 acre expansion increased the ski area terrain to include an additional 36 blue, black, and double black slopes. Here, you'll discover cornices, chutes, glades and wide-open bowls. Hike-back terrain past the lower lift terminal is also available for the adventurous skier or rider who has more interest in experiencing a remote, backcountry feel.

Located near the continental Divide, Avalanches in this back country area are very problematic. If you're skiing out of bounds and in the back country --- make sure you have avalanche gear and you know how to use it! On my last trip to the area this past March (2010), in one week alone there were reports of two major avalanches, with one triggered by a young snowboarder skiing down an area known as The Gully's. Sadly, the young snowboarder died.

Lodging, restaurants, and nightlife are located in and around the three Keystone Ski Resort villages, or the towns of Dillon and Silverthorne. The area is very affordable and has a tremendous numbers of lodging, retail, restaurant, and dining establishments in and around Keystone Ski Resort, Dillon, Silverthorne, and Frisco.

Parking is free and the overnight camping in the upper and lower parking lots is no longer allowed at A-Basin. Camping in the parking lots made it hard on Avalanche control work done around Loveland pass.

www.onlySkiing.com - your adventure starts here...

by:Jack Authors

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