Ski resort offers first-open runs of season
Arapahoe Basin opened its lifts Oct 10, making it the first mountain ski resort to open runs for the 2007 ski season.
Open since 1946, A-Basin is the old man who still skis, participates in marathons and is caught occasionally out on the town.
According to “Arapahoe Basin Legend,” the mountain began as one intermediate mountain, where people took a tow rope in an Army weapons carrier up the slope. A year later, when chairlifts were installed, the mountain had already earned its reputation of being hardcore, and it stuck.
A-Basin now has the highest ski terrain in all of North America according to the A-Basin Web site.
For a ski trip this week, expect mostly man-made and groomed snow with a midway-depth of 18 inches.
Only 10 percent of A-Basin is currently open. High Noon, open as of Oct. 10, is an intermediate run that is available for those who are comfortable on the mountain. Also, the terrain park High Divide is open for those who are ready to show off their new tricks.
An adult lift ticket is $45 for the day, and $259 for the season. Considering A-Basin has one of the longest seasons in the country, opening in October and closing in June, this season pass may be worth it, even for the occasional skier or boarder.
Convenient lodging is available at A-Basin. Popular lodges include the Mountain Vista Bed and Breakfast in Silverthorne as well as the Keystone Resort.
For something comfortable and more reasonably priced, try the Arapahoe Inn. The Inn has the look of a true mountain lodge. The rates average about $65 a night, include an indoor spa tub, Internet access and a shuttle to the lifts.
After a hard day of skiing, locals and tourists alike come together at The Sixth Alley Bar. The classic, cafeteria-style restaurant is a popular place to throw off your hat, dust off the snow and eat some comfort food.
A-Basin is ready for the season to begin, and with affordable prices and plenty of snow with more on the way.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Emily Sturges at emily.sturges@thecampuspress.com.
