Karl Kelman's A-Basin Ski Pictures
A-Basin, February 21, 2008:Standard
Business Must Go On
Arapahoe Basin Back Bowl
More Back Bowl at A-Basin
Still More Back Bowl
Geoff's Commentary:
2-21-08, Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin
February 21, 2008
When’s the last time A-Basin opened some new terrain? Sometime in the 1950s? Oh, wait,
there’s the run Gauthier that opened sometime in the 80s. But that’s just one run. The
addition of Montezuma Bowl increases the size of the formerly diminutive ski area by 80%.
On Thursday, the Mollusk and I skipped work to work out in Colorado skiing’s newest bowl.
The new terrain encompasses about 400 acres and is accessed by a fixed grip quad that rises
about 1100 vertical feet. Double diamonds are on skier’s right, blue cruisers down the middle
and mellow glades on the left. We sampled all three. To get to the ridge from which the double
diamonds fall away, one after another, you have to take off your skis for a short 2 to 3 minute
hike. It’s not much, but probably scares away some fraction of skiers, making the snow on the
double diamond face just a little bit better.
The sun was in and out and we even got snowed on for a few minutes but the wind was calm and the
temperatures in the 20s seemed warm. The Mollusk is turning into a sun worshipper and his run
selection was based mainly on where the sun was shining. The result for him was several high
speed cruisers right down the gut of the bowl. Between the sunshine, the ballroom-like grooming
and the sparse weekday crowd, speeds approaching the sound barrier were easily achievable. A few
times, the Mollusk opted for cruising and few cell phone calls while I did some billy-goating
around the perimeter. After careful analysis from the chairlift, I spied what looked to be the
steepest portion of the double diamond side. It turned out to be quite entertaining and when
I got to the bottom I realized the lower two buckles on one boot had come unbuckled because of
their impact with the slope at its steepest incline. Cool! (No it wasn’t a fall.)
Overall, the steep stuff isn’t quite as good as good ol’ Pallavicini, mainly because it’s
not as long or varied, but the bowl is definitely a great addition to the venerable ski area.
Plus I always like having some new terrain around.
I’ve included a few pictures of the new terrain (and one classic shot from the top of Standard).
Although the Mollusk sometimes got impatient with my photography, I persisted because when the
going gets tough, the tough take a picture. Tomorrow the Mollusk and I are off to see funkmeisters
Porter, Batiste and Stoltz. Thus spake the Mollusk at the end of the day as we were loading
the skis in the car: “We skied ‘til we stunk, and tomorrow it’s funk.
Jackson Hole 2006
Colorado 2007
Loveland
Arapahoe Basin
End of the ski pics