ARAPAHOE BASIN — Construction is set to begin this spring on Arapahoe Basin’s $3 million expansion into Montezuma Bowl, a project that will represent the ski area’s largest addition of new terrain in its 60-year history.
The White River National Forest gave A-Basin the final approval last week to construct Zuma Lift, which will provide skiers and riders access to 400 acres of intermediate and advanced terrain in Montezuma Bowl.
Crews will begin work this spring beginning with the installation of the bottom lift terminal, said ski area spokesperson Leigh Hierholzer.
“It will not affect the operations on the front side of the mountain, so we are still going to stay open until early June,” Hierholzer said.
The bowl is located directly south of the top of the existing Norway and Lenawee lifts. The expansion will increase the small ski area’s terrain by 80 percent, resulting in 900 skiable acres.
The new terrain is scheduled to open next season.
“We are very excited to open this terrain to the public,” said Alan Henceroth, vice president and chief operating officer of A-Basin. “We have considered this expansion since our 1982 master plan. It has always been important to us to give the intermediate skier and rider additional terrain and give the advanced skier and rider more variety and diversity.”
The 400 acres of new terrain will feature a smattering of blue, black and double-black rated trails, totaling 34 in all, spread across chutes, gladed runs, open bowls and cornices. In addition, several runs will be groomed each night.
Skiers and riders will also be able to explore 48 acres and 250 vertical feet of advanced terrain beyond the lower lift terminal and can opt to hike back to the bottom of the lift.
As a result of Montezuma Bowl’s inclusion into A-Basin’s developed boundary, the backcountry access point currently on the ridgeline above the Lenawee Lift top terminal will be removed, according to the White River National Forest’s final environmental impact statement on A-Basin’s improvement plans. The Forest Service will add four new access points to provide a gateway to backcountry spots like The Beavers, Thurman’s Bowl, The Rock Pile and areas below Montezuma Bowl, the EIS said. Two access points will be located on the ridgeline, a third will be on the western ridgeline of Montezuma Bowl and the fourth will be about 250 vertical feet below the Zuma Lift bottom terminal.
In addition to building the new lift, A-Basin will also add 50 new parking spots in the High Noon parking lot this summer to help ease congestion on peak days. Right now, A-Basin has 1,450 parking spots. An additional 136 parking spaces are planned in the Lower Overflow Lot, according to the EIS.
Toronto, Canada-based Dundee Realty has owned A-Basin for almost 10 years, and since that time has completed major capital projects like adding snowmaking capabilities in 2002, building the Lenawee triple chair in 2001 and Molly’s Magic Carpet in 2003 and constructing the Snow Plume Refuge at the mountain’s summit in 2004 and the new rental/retail shop at the base in 2005.
The latest development at The Legend - the 8,000 square foot, 200-seat mid-mountain restaurant named Black Mountain Lodge - is slated to open in a few weeks at the top of the Exhibition Lift.
Dundee Realty also owns Bear Valley Mountain Resort in California, as well as lodges in Beaver Creek and Keystone and at Red Sky Ranch.
The company has plans for a ski lodge, pub, outdoor pool, fitness facility, grange hall and mountain homes at the base of SolVista Ski Basin in Grand County.
Zuma lift stats:
•Leitner Poma fixed grip quad
•9-minute ride time
•Summit elevation 12,472 feet
•4,100 feet in length
•1,100 vertical feet
•Uphill capacity of 1,900 people per hour
•147 chairs
Source: Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Posted by:
Jeffery McClintock
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