Arapahoe Basin

Infobox ski area
name= Arapahoe Basin
picture=
caption=
location= Colorado, USA
nearest_city= Keystone, Colorado
lat_degrees= 39
lat_minutes= 38
lat_seconds= 30
lat_direction= N
long_degrees= 105
long_minutes= 52
long_seconds= 18
long_direction= W
top_elevation= ft to m|13050|round=0
base_elevation= ft to m|10780|round=0
skiable_area= 900 acres(1.98 km²)
number_trails= 105
longest_run= 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
liftsystem= 7 total (1 quad, 2 triple, 3 double, 1 surface)
terrainparks= 2 (High Divide and Tree line)
snowfall= 350 in/year (9.32 m/year)
snowmaking= Yes
nightskiing= no
external_link= http://arapahoebasin.com|

Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin or simply, the Basin) is a renowned ski area for alpine skiing high in White River National Forest of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Arapahoe Basin is also known for its especially long season - staying open until at least early June, whereas most other northern ski areas close in early May A-Basin is located on the west side of Loveland Pass on US 6 highway in Summit County.

Geography and Climate

The A-Basin East Wall has a summit elevation of 13,050 feet (3977m), making it the highest skiable terrain in North America. Due to its high altitude (at tree line) and its mostly north to northeast face, the Basin remains open for skiing much longer than most Colorado resorts, and often starts earlier as well. Arapahoe Basin is known for a clientele of hardcore, yet relaxed folks that like to simply to ski and avoid the glamour associated with resorts like Aspen. It has been known to stay open until July and opens for the season in mid-October, often making it the first ski area to open in North America.

A-Basin is located just below Loveland Pass. It therefore offers a spectacular view of the Continental Divide (which it borders) from the lifts. From the top of the East Wall and the North Pole there are great views of Lake Dillon, Breckenridge, Keystone, Montezuma and Loveland Pass.

The Basin is located about convert|65|mi|km west of Denver, where Loveland and Eldora are somewhat closer, at 53 and convert|45|mi|km respectively.

ki area information

A-Basin has three 'lodges'. At the base is a full cafeteria, bar, and coffee bar. There is also a grill outside for warm days. At the peak of the Norway and Lenawee lifts is the Snow Plume refuge, a warming hut that sells drinks, snacks, and hot soup. At the top of the Exhibition lift, Black Mountain Lodge sits, serving an Alpine Bistro style menu.

Though it is mostly known for advanced and expert terrain, A-Basin also has runs for the novice and intermediate skier, as well as a children's program. The "Exhibition", "Molly Hogan", and Molly's Magic Carpet lifts service easy runs. The "Molly Hogan" is a slow lift running over the bunny slope, for use by those just learning to ski. "Exhibition" services greens, blues, and two blacks: one named for the lift, and "The Gulch" which runs parallel to "Exhibition". The aptly named "Exhibition" run features bumps, steep terrain, and a fair number of jumps. The "Pallavicini" lift services mostly black and double black terrain on the west side of the mountain, though it is possible to take some difficult blues back to the base. The "Pallavicini" face itself, a group of very steep and seemingly endless mogul runs, is rated double black diamond extreme. The "Lenawee" and "Norway" lifts take skiers to the top of the mountain, where they can access blues, blacks, and the "East Wall". Opposite of the "East Wall" there is a blue called "Cornice Run" where skiers can take leaps from windblown cornices, though sometimes visibility can be a deterrent. Arapahoe Basin opened Zuma lift during the 2007-2008 season which services blue, black and double black trails over the backside of Arapahoe Basin in Montezuma Bowl. The largest terrain expansion in the nation for the 2007-2008 season marks an 80% increase in terrain for Arapahoe Basin. Montezuma Bowl offers everything from groomed intermediate runs to advanced cornice runs.

The "East Wall" contains the most difficult terrain at "A-Basin". The "Lower East Wall" is rated black diamond and can be reached without hiking. Open primarily in late winter and spring, the "Upper East Wall" is rated double black diamond extreme and is only accessible on foot. A hike of approximately 30 minutes will take you to the "North Pole", a very steep descent through rocky terrain over avalanche-blasted territory. Along the ridge prior to the "North Pole" is a group of chutes accessed through notches in the cliff band. One chute actually requires some rock downclimbing to reach skiable snow, an interesting experience in ski boots while holding a pair of skis. These chutes are often only a couple of ski widths wide and require mountaineering skiing ability. Most of the terrain is prone to avalanches and is regularly blasted by the ski patrol before they declare the wall open. The "Lower" and "Upper East Wall" is bisected by the "East Wall Traverse" which is quite long and accesses a lot of difficult-to-reach territory from above and below, leaving prime snow conditions available for those willing to make the trek. The entire "East Wall" is not groomed and should not be taken lightly since evacuation by the ski patrol in this area is a difficult undertaking.

History

Max and Edna Dercum started the Arapahoe Basin ski area along with the Ski Tip Lodge in the 1940s. Since then it has expanded to include 105 trails served by 7 lifts.

A-Basin became the first ski resort in the USA to open for the 2006-2007 ski season when it opened one lift, one run, and its terrain park on October 13. It was the first time in seven seasons that nearby Loveland ski area was not the first ski area open in the United States. [ [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_5064150,00.html Rocky Mtn News: "A-Basin opens with man-made snow"] by News Staff, October 13, 2006] It repeated for the 2007-2008 ski area by opening at 9:00 am on October 10. This was the area's earliest opening in 61 years and the earliest opening in North America for the season. [ [http://origin.denverpost.com/news/ci_7128512 Denver Post: "A-Basin to open Wednesday"] By Steve Lipsher, Updated: 10/09/2007 05:18:27 PM MDT]

During the 2007-2008 season, Arapahoe Basin expanded into Montezuma Bowl, with the largest terrain expansion in the nation for that season. The terrain offers blue, black, and double black trails with all kinds of terrain, including: groomed runs, chutes, glades, and cornice runs. The terrain will be open each season between late December and early January through late April, conditions warranted.

tatistics

Elevation

*Base: convert|10780|ft|m|abbr=on
*Summit: convert|13050|ft|m|abbr=on
*Vertical Rise: convert|2270|ft|m|abbr=on

Trails

*Skiable Area: convert|900|acre|km2
*Trails: 105 total (10% easiest, 30% intermediate, 37% advanced, 23% expert)
*Longest Run: convert|1.5|mi|km
*Average Annual Snowfall: 350 inches

Lifts

*7 total
**1 quad chair
**2 triple chairs
**3 double chairs
**1 conveyor lift

References

External links

* [http://arapahoebasin.com ArapahoeBasin.com]
* [http://geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche Colorado Avalanche Information Center]
* [http://www.hookedonwinter.com/wiki/index.php?title=Arapahoe_Basin ArapahoeBasin at WikiWinter]
* [http://www.3dskimaps.com/index.php?path=arapahoe 3dSkiMap of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dJTsvibKOk Video of A-basin]
* [http://www.skimap.org/skiarea.php?id=513 Historic and current ski maps of Arapahoe Basin]