Arapahoe Basin - Resort Description

Arapahoe Basin is one of the oldest ski areas in the Colerado rockies. It offers old fashioned high altitude skiing in a "high-alpine" environment, with no snow-making, and no high speed lifts. It is a skiers resort.

Its altitude (14000 feet) at the top mean that it holds its snow later than anywhere else (often staying open until July 4th) but it does mean downright hostile weather conditions at times. Much of the skiing is above the ski line which means real disorientation during white outs.

At the base, there is a short chair lift serving the nursery slope and two double chairs leading up the mountain. One leads to the seriously difficult Pallavacini slop, which is steep, mogulled and has multiple fall lines. The other to the middle of the bowl area in which most of the skiing happens. From there, two more or less parallel lifts lead up to the summit area. The centre of the bowl offers intermediate level slopes, the areas to the East and West gradually get steeper. The East wall is often closed for avalanche control.

Grooming is primitive, so even the intermediate slopes need care.

Arapahoe Basin is owned by the same company that owns Keystone and Breckenridge and is marketed as part of Ski-the-Summit. It takes a lot of snow to cover up the rocks at A-Basin, so it often does not open much before Christmas.

There is no lodging at A-Basin. The lodge offers pretty standard American fast food, ski rentals, ski school etc.