A-Basin

[highpeaksdrifter]

I know there's alot of A-Basin fans here (me too). Here are some pics I copied from another web site of the new lift they're putting in. It will make a great place even greater. :-D

Midway through the climb
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78127

New Midway Lodge
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78126

It's a lot steeper on a bike
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78128

Montezuma Lift under contsruction
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78129

View down the lift line - the towers are being staged in the parking lot
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78131

New Terrain - You can't see the boundary but there are some great chutes over there
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78130

Steep Stuff looking towards Keystone
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78133

Montezuma Lift looking from Lenawee Trail back towards Ski Patrol Shack
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78132

 

[mattchuck2]

Yeah, I've never skied Summit County . . .

Maybe I'll go there this spring instead of Utah . . .

 

[deadheadskier]

WOW,

I had no idea this expansion was happening. I definitely need to get back out there. A-Basin is by far my favorite area in Colorado as it was.

 

[Talisman]

Yeah, I've never skied Summit County . . .

Maybe I'll go there this spring instead of Utah . . .

Utah is better than Summit County for several reasons less crowded, better parking, closer to the airport, slightly less altitude and better snow.

Of the Summit resorts I liked A Basin the best as it it had great snow, great terrain, cheap and a lack of crowds. I found Breckenridge and Keystone suprisingly crowded (even by East Coast standards) and for such large areas not so much challenging terrain. The cat rides at Keystone for $5 are a lot of fun and access decent terrain.

 

[dmc]

Utah is better than Summit County for several reasons less crowded, better parking, closer to the airport, slightly less altitude and better snow.

To me it's a toss up.. I love Summit County...

 

[Hawkshot99]

That is some awesome terrain!

 

[deadheadskier]

What I'm trying to guage is where the terrain is. Is it off the backside of Leenaway or Palvachini? If it's the latter, are the fingers part of the terrain? If it's the former, isn't the exposure somewhat southern? It's been a solid 12 years since I've skied A-Basin. I'd love to go back.

Anyone considering Summit County, plan on doing the majority of your riding at A-Basin and Loveland, though that's not technically Summit County. If I was a first timer with seven ski days out there, it would be 1 each for Breck, Copper and Keystone and 2 each for A-Basin and Loveland.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

What I'm trying to guage is where the terrain is. .

It's on the back side. People have been skiing it, but once you got to the bottom you get out on your own. Not anymore.:smile:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Anyone considering Summit County, plan on doing the majority of your riding at A-Basin and Loveland, though that's not technically Summit County. If I was a first timer with seven ski days out there, it would be 1 each for Breck, Copper and Keystone and 2 each for A-Basin and Loveland.

I wouldn't do Breck or Keystone at all. I'd do Vail (backbowls) and drive a little further to Winter Park just to ski the Mary Jane area. Well worth a little time in the car.

 

[lloyd braun]

To me it's a toss up.. I love Summit County...

Come to Aspen this winter....Let me show you around....you'll never go back to Slummin County.

 

[dmc]

It's on the back side. People have been skiing it, but once you got to the bottom you get out on your own. Not anymore.:smile:

Wow... No more hitchhiking back...

Not sure how i feel about that..

 

[deadheadskier]

I wouldn't do Breck or Keystone at all. I'd do Vail (backbowls) and drive a little further to Winter Park just to ski the Mary Jane area. Well worth a little time in the car.

Well, I guess I'd just be intrigued by Peak 7 as that didn't exist when I skied Breck and I did enjoy the terrain off of what I think was chair 6. Keystone the intrigue would be the cat skiing now available.

Vail is so large, that I would consider that a separate trip in and of itself. I've only skied there 1 day and was so consumed by making my way all around the mountain to see what it had to offer that I didn't have the most productive day. If I went back, I'd want at least 3 days there.

 

[deadheadskier]

Come to Aspen this winter....Let me show you around....you'll never go back to Slummin County.

yes and no. As a whole I found the Aspen area to have better terrain than Summit County, but as much as I loved Highlands, the cirque and Hanging Valley at Snowmass and Ajax in general, I wouldn't go as far as saying I'd never go back to Slummin County again.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Wow... No more hitchhiking back...

Not sure how i feel about that..

I think people are confused. This lift doesn't access the north-facing Fingers or Beavers area from which you hitched back up Hwy 6. It goes directly off the backside with the southern exposure someone mentioned above.

 

[dmc]

I think people are confused. This lift doesn't access the north-facing Fingers or Beavers area from which you hitched back up Hwy 6. It goes directly off the backside with the southern exposure someone mentioned above.

Cool... i love hitchhiking there... People are always like "YOU SKIED THAT?"

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Well, I guess I'd just be intrigued by Peak 7 as that didn't exist when I skied Breck and I did enjoy the terrain off of what I think was chair 6. Keystone the intrigue would be the cat skiing now available.

Vail is so large, that I would consider that a separate trip in and of itself. I've only skied there 1 day and was so consumed by making my way all around the mountain to see what it had to offer that I didn't have the most productive day. If I went back, I'd want at least 3 days there.

Peak 7 is OK, very exposed and windy. The cat skiing at Copper is free and better then Keystones IMO. Vail is hugh, but when I do a day trip there I just go to the back bowls and work my way to Outer Mongolia and back.

 

[pepperdawg]

Vail is hugh, but when I do a day trip there I just go to the back bowls and work my way to Outer Mongolia and back.

Vail HAS a front side??? - Ha Ha Ha!!!

 

[SkiDog]

To me it's a toss up.. I love Summit County...

I have to agree with DMC here...and I now live in SLC...

Summit is far from airport, but its still awesome...

A-Basin rules, thought I believe the locals are a little worried about what this new lift will do to the BC access....this lift makes it all easier to access.

I love A-basin

M

 

[MikeTrainor]

Come to Aspen this winter....Let me show you around....you'll never go back to Slummin County.

No thanks I plan on A-Basin and Loveland for my 1st trip out west.

 

[MarkC]

I will defiantly be going there at least a few days this winter, and a few more in the spring.