• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Sandy_NYC

Getting off the lift
Skier
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
122
It’s official! Arapahoe Basin is the first mountain to open this season. They announced that they will open THIS Friday, October 13th.

Their website states that there is thin cover and no beginner terrain. It says, “You should expect: hidden and unmarked obstacles, variable and thin snow conditions, rocks, logs and other hazards.”

Now comes my question… I happen to have about 10 days off between jobs in late October. Do y’all think it’s worth it to go out there and ski for 8 days? It will be hard for me to take more than two weeklong vacations once this season starts. (I live on the East Coast.) I am an advanced-intermediate skier who is trying to improve and get solidly into the “advanced” camp. I am also willing to get a few lessons if I DO go out there. I have never skied at A-Basin before.
All opinions and insights appreciated! What do you guys think?
 

jmeb

Enjoys skiing.
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
4,489
Location
Colorado
I'm not sure it's worth the trip to only ski. Maybe if you have other things to enjoy doing in Denver or Front Range.

I'd also call A-Basin...just because the lifts are running, doesn't mean the ski school is. Or that it is a good idea to try and take a lesson on the white ribbon of death even if so.

Loveland will very very likely also be open by the last week in Oct. A 4 pack there is pretty inexpensive and the terrain is a bit more suited to doing drills than A-Basin.
 

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
It’s official! Arapahoe Basin is the first mountain to open this season. They announced that they will open THIS Friday, October 13th.

Their website states that there is thin cover and no beginner terrain. It says, “You should expect: hidden and unmarked obstacles, variable and thin snow conditions, rocks, logs and other hazards.”

Now comes my question… I happen to have about 10 days off between jobs in late October. Do y’all think it’s worth it to go out there and ski for 8 days? It will be hard for me to take more than two weeklong vacations once this season starts. (I live on the East Coast.) I am an advanced-intermediate skier who is trying to improve and get solidly into the “advanced” camp. I am also willing to get a few lessons if I DO go out there. I have never skied at A-Basin before.
All opinions and insights appreciated! What do you guys think?

Hmmm you are asking a bunch of skiers..on a skiing forum..most of which have not skied in six months...if you should go skiing...Gee, I don't know...don't you have some yard work you could be doing? Do you have a room that might need repainting? What about rotating your sock drawers, when was the last time you did that?
 

LKLA

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Apr 24, 2017
Posts
1,428
Lift Ticket Prices:
  • Adult (ages 19-69) $79
  • Adult half-day $67
  • Youth (ages 15-18) $67
  • Child (ages 6-14) $39
  • Child 5 & under FREE
  • Semi-Senior (ages 60-69) $74
  • Senior (age 70+) $35
Lifts Open:
  • Black Mountain Express
Operating Hours:
  • Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 

jmeb

Enjoys skiing.
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
4,489
Location
Colorado
I would say -- buy a 4 pack and come mid week. Use it to get your ski legs under you. Personally, I'd choose Loveland over A-Basin.

Loveland has shorter lift lines, and a wider run early season. Bonus is that at A-Basin you get a bunch of drunk bros. At Loveland you get to ski with a bunch of neo-pros.
 

Monique

bounceswoosh
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
10,561
Location
Colorado
It's likely to be one or two runs throughout October. There will be a massive number of people of all ability levels crammed into very little space. Many to most will be going too fast for the situation.

I agree the ski school is probably not open - call and ask.

It could be a great trip if you mix it up with mountain biking or road riding or rock climbing ..... because temps are still pretty warm, and the sun is shining!
 
Thread Starter
TS
Sandy_NYC

Sandy_NYC

Getting off the lift
Skier
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Posts
122
Thanks everyone for the feedback! I will mull it over... I do fear that there will only be one or two runs open. I think I'd get their mid-week pass for $229 if I end up going. Will call them today and ask about ski school. Stay tuned...

Will also do some research on Loveland!
 
Last edited:

Chris Walker

Ullr Is Lord
Skier
Joined
Dec 8, 2015
Posts
739
Location
Denver
It hurts like hell for me to say this, but I don't think it's worth taking a trip to Colorado just to ski A-Basin in October. It hurts because I am jonesing for turns as much as anyone, and A-Basin is one of my favorite places in the world, but the October skiing experience there just doesn't do it for me. The lift line can get amazingly long. The one run that will be open initially is short and not particularly interesting and will be severely overcrowded with such a wide variety of speeds and turn shapes that the 30 second run that you waited 30 minutes in line to take is mostly a frustrating and nerve-wracking experience. If you're in Colorado for another reason is it worth it to stop by for a couple hours for the novelty of skiing in October? Sure. But honestly, I wouldn't make a special trip for it.
 

RachelV

I run TheSkiDiva.com and work at OpenSnow.
Ski Diva Tester
Joined
Nov 8, 2015
Posts
605
Location
Boulder, CO
The ski school is open according to their website. I mean... speaking as someone who used to take trips out west to ski from NYC that others thought were ridiculous, I'd go for sure. I'd plan not to ski on the weekends, probably. I'd split midweek days between Loveland and A-Basin. A-Basin has already moved their guns to Ramrod and the upper mountain, so by later October there should be 1 top-to-bottom run and more variety. I'd maybe take some road rides or go on some hikes/snowshoes on the weekends, or drive a bit west and mountain bike in Fruita or even Moab.

I think if you look at it not strictly as a ski trip, but as spending 2 weeks in the mountains where you'll get to do some early season skiing, it sounds like a wonderful way to spend the time between jobs. I'd go if I were in your shoes. :)
 

Hypergruv

"Suck At the Highest Level"
Skier
Joined
Aug 24, 2017
Posts
29
Location
VAIL
As much as I'm itching to ski, I doubt I'll be participation in the WROD shenanigans this year.
 

Nathanvg

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Oct 29, 2016
Posts
525
No way would I do such a trip. 8 days skiing extremely limited and crowded terrain sounds horrible to me. Skiing the WROD is a novelty worth a few runs, not 8 days.

I know you said you have limited options later in the season but you'd be better off planning an April or May trip.
 

Monique

bounceswoosh
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
10,561
Location
Colorado
I think the consensus is that Colorado is a wonderful idea for a week or two of recreation - but only a handful of those days should be spent at A Basin.

Actually, my plan is to ski the mornings and then mountain bike in the afternoons. I can't deal with more than a few runs with all the madness of early season and only one resort - strike that, only one RUN - open in the state.
 

ski otter 2

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Nov 20, 2015
Posts
2,920
Location
Front Range, Colorado
I'm a dedicated, get-every-day-I-can skier here on the Front Range, and love the WROD mostly. To me the key thing you said was you don't get such chances often. As long as coming out here now isn't taking away from your chances of getting out here again once skiing gets much better, I'd say go for it, perhaps as long as you pace yourself around what your conditioning and body are telling you. I wouldn't want to do eight straight, full days this early. But I'm sort of an old guy. People's suggestions of planning on doing other activities in the mountains also makes a lot of sense to me. (Fishing, biking, hiking, exploring, etc..)

Renting a dedicated frontside ski with a between slalom and GS radius is what I'd do (probably in Frisco, at Precision Sports [lots of choices] or Podium Sports [Kastles], say), if I didn't have such skis plus near race skis already. That way you can control where you are and your speed among all the early season young racers, who will be at either A-Basin or Loveland. And you will get a chance to improve your technique.

As I said, the one drawback I see is that, at least for me, a gradual build up of hours skiing and days per week is best for my conditioning and health. Unless you are in great shape, eight full days before you've had a chance to condition to altitude and skiing both is sort of a trial by fire way of breaking in the season - probably for the young mostly also, not sure.
 

Monique

bounceswoosh
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
10,561
Location
Colorado
Renting a dedicated frontside ski with a between slalom and GS radius is what I'd do (probably in Frisco, at Precision Sports [lots of choices] or Podium Sports [Kastles], say), if I didn't have such skis plus near race skis already. That way you can control where you are and your speed among all the early season young racers, who will be at either A-Basin or Loveland. And you will get a chance to improve your technique.

I've been pondering ski choice. My narrowest is an 84 "carver," anyway. But with highs in the 40s, won't it be slorpy? Or do I remember correctly that the shade early season will probably keep things firm?
 

ski otter 2

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Nov 20, 2015
Posts
2,920
Location
Front Range, Colorado
The low angle of the sun tends to keep things firmer, longer.

But you never know. For the first few hours, at least, things should be good for any ski with a good edge/carve.

I'll be on 67 to 80, but the folks I'm likely to ski with will be on a 98 stiff Salomon Lab, Gotamas, Mantras, Annex 118s, etc., in addition to the narrower types of ski I'll favor.

I was up there today, at Hermann Gulch and Watrous Gulch (one exit east of Loveland on I-70), and for uphill hiking it was tee-shirt and shorts weather (for the benefit of @Sandy_NYC ), at least on southern exposures. Very little snow on that side, mostly. No need for gaiters there yet. That is, up to almost treeline, when the wind picked up and the temp dropped a lot - with a bit of wind-driven snow.

On northern exposures, the white build-up looked good and cold.
 

Monique

bounceswoosh
Skier
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
10,561
Location
Colorado
The low angle of the sun tends to keep things firmer, longer.

But you never know. For the first few hours, at least, things should be good for any ski with a good edge/carve.

Yeah. It's just I never made best friends with those skis. I'm not much at carving (yet!). My The Ski (90 waist, more of an all-around good time gal) is more comfortable.
 

Dave Petersen

Graphic Designer/Social Media Manager
Admin
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Posts
9,875
It hurts like hell for me to say this, but I don't think it's worth taking a trip to Colorado just to ski A-Basin in October. It hurts because I am jonesing for turns as much as anyone, and A-Basin is one of my favorite places in the world, but the October skiing experience there just doesn't do it for me. The lift line can get amazingly long. The one run that will be open initially is short and not particularly interesting and will be severely overcrowded with such a wide variety of speeds and turn shapes that the 30 second run that you waited 30 minutes in line to take is mostly a frustrating and nerve-wracking experience. If you're in Colorado for another reason is it worth it to stop by for a couple hours for the novelty of skiing in October? Sure. But honestly, I wouldn't make a special trip for it.

Just like real Midwest skiing!
 

Ken_R

Living the Dream
Skier
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Posts
5,775
Location
Denver, CO
It’s official! Arapahoe Basin is the first mountain to open this season. They announced that they will open THIS Friday, October 13th.

Their website states that there is thin cover and no beginner terrain. It says, “You should expect: hidden and unmarked obstacles, variable and thin snow conditions, rocks, logs and other hazards.”

Now comes my question… I happen to have about 10 days off between jobs in late October. Do y’all think it’s worth it to go out there and ski for 8 days? It will be hard for me to take more than two weeklong vacations once this season starts. (I live on the East Coast.) I am an advanced-intermediate skier who is trying to improve and get solidly into the “advanced” camp. I am also willing to get a few lessons if I DO go out there. I have never skied at A-Basin before.
All opinions and insights appreciated! What do you guys think?

Do you cycle (Road / Gravel) ? I would come and just ski a few days and cycle every day if possible. The weather has been and is forecasted to continue to be fantastic. Down at lower elevations in the front range area the fall foliage is beautiful right now. Just a great time of year to be outside.

Skiing will be extremely limited. It is still quite warm out (50'-60's) in town and even the higher elevations (40's) are still warm. Winter gets going mid November usually so there is a long way to go.

A-Basin is best when there is lots of snow for the really fun terrain to open. More so this year since they have added the Beavers and other areas.
 

newfydog

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Nov 23, 2015
Posts
834
I had some Australians staying with me in Colorado one fall when Loveland opened a few crappy slopes with abominable snow. They went up just to check it out and loved it. Compared to their local hill it was great. They went back day after day.

I would have lasted about four runs and gone home to rotate the sock drawers or something.
 

Sponsor

Top