Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
warm up enough for large tailgate cookouts and parties in the parking lot. It's the last re-
sort standing in spring, often staying open into mid-June.
Activities
Filled with steeps, chutes and walls,
A-Basin
( 970-468-0718;
www.arapahoebasin.com
; Hwy 6; lift
adult/child 6-14yr $79/40; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, from 8:30am Sat & Sun)
isn't beginner friendly but can't
be beat for thrilling descents. The back bowl, known as Montezuma, is where you'll find
two dozen or so hair-raising (but still in bounds) intermediate-to-expert runs. The
Jump
is
the biggest, baddest run on Montezuma, beginning with a 10ft drop off the mountain's
ledge onto a steep 35-degree slope. The
East Wall
(summit 13,050ft), which includes the
hike-to Shit for Brains run, is A-Basin's other legendary backcountry-style area.
The parking lot at the foot of the mountain, aka the
Beach
, is a major tailgate spot where
people come as early as 6am to stake out their space. Common sights include men in prom
dresses, pole dancing, barbecues heavy with burgers, sausages and ribs, and portable hot
tubs. It's a free-for-all and it's almost all first-come, first-served, except for the first five
spots closest to the lift. Those are available by reservation.
There is no accommodation at A-Basin, though there are several dining options on site.
Getting There & Around
A-Basin is located 80 miles west of Denver. Take exit 205 (Silverthorne) off I-70, and fol-
low Hwy 6 east past Keystone. Going via Loveland Pass is shorter in terms of distance,
though the drive itself is longer and the pass can close in bad weather.
Summit County's free bus service links A-Basin with Breckenridge and Keystone in
winter, on the Swan Mountain Flyer route.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Breckenridge
POP 4537 / ELEV 9600FT
Set at the foot of the marvelous Tenmile Range, Breck is a sweetly surviving mining town
with a vibrant historic district. The down-to-earth vibe is a refreshing change from Color-
ado's glitzier resorts, and the family friendly ski runs and gold-nugget history make it
