Arapahoe Basin to Open Friday
The Colorado ski resort will be the first resort in the nation to be running lifts seven days a week.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) announced today that they will open the Black Mountain Express chairlift at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 19, 2019. The ski area will offer access to High Noon, an intermediate run. They will be the first ski area in the USA to be open seven days a week.
Thanks to plenty of natural snowfall and cold temps in October, A-Basin was able to supplement its snowmaking prowess to get High Noon open. “With nearly two feet of natural snow combined with the low temperatures for snowmaking, we’ve been able to create a quality base for Friday’s opening,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer, in a press release from the mountain. “We’re excited to get the ski season started.”
Last Friday, Wolf Creek Ski Area in Southwestern Colorado opened for weekend operations only. It was the resort’s second earliest opening of all time, and they opened three lifts for the first weekend.
If the past is any indication, skiers headed to A-Basin’s opening day are going to want to arrive extra early for parking and the initial loading of the Black Mountain Express. Skiers can also buy tickets in advance to avoid standing in queues more than necessary.
Epic Pass Holders will want to make sure they have activated their 2018/2019 pass before arrival. Vail Resorts will have representatives at A-Basin throughout opening weekend and every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until November 9 to help issue Epic Passes and Epic Local Passes. The Keystone Pass office is open seven days a week, and we recommend you head there before A-Basin’s opening day to get your Epic Pass sorted, unless you really, really enjoy standing in line.