Fun Climbs Around The World

Sunrise from my cabin in Silverthorne

A friend and I went skiing, both alpine at the areas, and back country, over Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, we skied Arapahoe Basin top to bottom. This early in the season, only the groomed runs, where the snow guns deposited lots of early snow, are open to the public. Riding up teh exhibition lift, we saw the rocky tips of the big boulders dotting the slopes. If  a group of dedicated ski fanatics wen there in summer and removed those big boulders, giving us a grassier base, those runs could open much sooner!

Sunrise from the roof, with skylights showing in foreground

Despite the lack of abundant terrain, we loved the conditions - perfect weather with  clear blue skies,  no wind, and not one cloud in sight. I’ve skied the Basin enought in storms, blizzards, and left after one run in years past, and fully appreciate a rare blue bird day at the Basin - especially this early in fall!

We waited through some lift lines, not because of the huge crowds (as early as Tuesday, they were still traveling), but because of the limited terrain open for skiing. We rode the Exhibition lift up to the Lenawee lift, and then had a choice of going down halfway or to the bottom.

Palavacchini and the Montezuma bowl wait for more snow to open - but once they do, I’ll be out skiing there!