Mountain Review: Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

An in-depth video review of Arapahoe Basin, a ski area located in the Colorado Front Range. Filmed across various dates in December 2021, April 2022, February 2023, and April 2023.
0:00 Intro
0:51 Snow Quality and Resiliency
1:30 Size and Terrain Diversity
1:52 Beginner Terrain
2:20 Intermediate Terrain
3:05 Terrain Parks
3:21 Advanced Terrain
3:58 Expert Terrain
4:37 Hike-to Terrain
4:53 East Wall
5:20 Steep Gullies
5:43 Altitude
6:14 Ease of Navigation
6:49 Lifts
7:26 Crowd Flow
7:53 On-Mountain Facilities
8:18 Mountain Aesthetic
8:54 Spring Skiing
9:17 Move from Epic to Ikon
9:46 Lodging
10:16 Traffic from Denver
10:28 Parking
11:05 Aprés-ski
11:21 The Beach
11:30 Verdict
11:55 Pricing
12:13 Score Breakdown and Rank
Overall Mountain Score: 73/100 - #5 in Colorado
---
Snow: 9/10
Resiliency: 8/10
Size: 6/10
Terrain Diversity: 7/10
Challenge: 9/10
Lifts: 4/10
Crowd Flow: 8/10
Facilities: 6/10
Navigation: 8/10
Mountain Aesthetic: 8/10
See our full resort breakdown and written review for Arapahoe Basin here: www.peakrankings.com/content/...
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Пікірлер: 58

  • @laneblumenfeld7532
    @laneblumenfeld7532 Жыл бұрын

    The legend for a reason

  • @Shamus71
    @Shamus715 ай бұрын

    I’ll be there and Copper next week.. I love your videos.. the last few trips I’d go straight to yours for a little preview

  • @aco2171

    @aco2171

    4 ай бұрын

    How was Arapahoe? I'll be there this Sunday. Really excited!

  • @kurtnemeczek9523
    @kurtnemeczek9523 Жыл бұрын

    Took a 3 day trip to Vail/Breck/A-Basin this past January. A-Basin mid-week with fresh snow and no lift lines was absolutely amazing.

  • @jimbobsluggins

    @jimbobsluggins

    2 ай бұрын

    Well you went to vail and breck. They are fucking Disney world, expect long lines and the highest concentration of shit skiers. The average Ohio skier is probably way sicker than the average breck skier

  • @elliotearles8302
    @elliotearles8302 Жыл бұрын

    I’ve only been once but this mountain blew me away and I can’t wait to enjoy the new high speed chair

  • @b_hunter0066
    @b_hunter0066 Жыл бұрын

    For anyone looking to do the east wall, I would recommend North Pole chute as it isn’t as steep as the other chutes

  • @jimbobsluggins

    @jimbobsluggins

    2 ай бұрын

    I’d recommend 2nd notch because it’ll keep tourists away

  • @waltysalamander
    @waltysalamander Жыл бұрын

    I've been waiting for this for so long. What a sick mountain. I need to get there soon.

  • @jonrosenthal6556
    @jonrosenthal6556 Жыл бұрын

    Love the video❤ I went to a basin last season and I loved it. Can’t wait to go again!

  • @vipahman
    @vipahman Жыл бұрын

    What an incredibly detailed review. I love A-Basin.

  • @Coloradoskifreak189
    @Coloradoskifreak189 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent review of my home mountain.

  • @elguapo6750
    @elguapo6750 Жыл бұрын

    Yup... Very fair video and review. Certainly my favorite in CO, after having lived there for 16 seasons. Well done.

  • @will3057
    @will3057 Жыл бұрын

    Going to vail and making a stop at a-basin for the unmatched colorado steeps. Great video definitely one resort I've been waiting for.

  • @xXBIGSlilXx

    @xXBIGSlilXx

    Жыл бұрын

    A fellow coaster / skiing enthusiast!!! I can't wait to get to both of those mountains next winter. Did A-Basin a few times this year, but my skis were sticking really bad the first time, so I didn't want to push myself and spent most of the day on groomers, then the other 2 days were super late season, so only a few trails were open. I only had the Ikon Pass last year, so no Vail, but I have both Ikon and Epic now and plan on hitting all of the Vail mountains.

  • @will3057

    @will3057

    Жыл бұрын

    @@xXBIGSlilXx shadow chute at winter park looks pretty cool

  • @xXBIGSlilXx

    @xXBIGSlilXx

    Жыл бұрын

    @@will3057 yeah, the entire Cirque is awesome. Some of the best terrain in Colorado imo. The only downside is how difficult it is to get to, requiring 2 lifts plus a cat or long, but flat, hike. Shadow Chute is even worse, requiring all that, but a mandatory decently long hike since it's one of the furthest chutes in the Cirque.

  • @jackbarnhart7394

    @jackbarnhart7394

    2 ай бұрын

    love the profile pic, I305 is my #1 coaster

  • @bobl6139
    @bobl6139 Жыл бұрын

    Great review .I’ve only been injured twice in 25 years both in Colorado and a basin wore me down. I’ll be back someday to complete the blues and blacks

  • @orans_
    @orans_ Жыл бұрын

    100% agree with everything said. Great video!

  • @emperororca9479
    @emperororca9479 Жыл бұрын

    Arapahoe is my favorite mountain in the united states, and I had been wondering if you had missed it. thank you for making this video, and hopefully drawing attention to this hidden gem of a resort

  • @Wanderlust073

    @Wanderlust073

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah please draw more attention to this 'hidden gem' where the parking lots are full and closed every weekend, ticket sales have been restricted for years now due to overcrowding, and there's barely room to breathe same as everywhere else on the front range...

  • @TacticaLLR
    @TacticaLLR Жыл бұрын

    Great vid!

  • @jonrosenthal6556
    @jonrosenthal6556 Жыл бұрын

    I have a couple suggestions for the next reviews: 1. Bridger Bowl 2. Red mountain 3. Grand Targhee. I have more but I can’t think of them. Great vid❤

  • @yournamehere832
    @yournamehere832 Жыл бұрын

    One thing that probably should be mentioned is that a lot of the gladed terrain in the beavers area had all of the lower limbs of the trees trimmed back to allow for a more open tree experience.

  • @proverbalizer
    @proverbalizer6 ай бұрын

    I cinsider hike to teraain a plus at a resort. Its like the safer and more convenient version of backcountry skiing if you're willing to put in a minimal amount of effort for fresh(er) tracks in terain that is still avy controlled and patrolled...but if you dont want to exercise that option you dont have to... therefore it cant be a minus A couple of the most memorable runs of my life were at highland bowl at Aspen Highlands

  • @psalmsurfer1
    @psalmsurfer19 ай бұрын

    Going in Feb or March cant wait

  • @mcdaniels6188
    @mcdaniels61887 ай бұрын

    There's a reason it's called The Legend. Got a nasty hematoma one day, and another day went too far forward thus free falling head first for I don't know how far on Gauthier. Good times!

  • @asajayunknown6290
    @asajayunknown6290 Жыл бұрын

    ABasin is a great place. Reminds me of a smaller version of Alta.

  • @TheRidersChoice

    @TheRidersChoice

    11 ай бұрын

    Actually great to know as a snowboarder because I always thought A basin was lame and was in love with snowbird. I always wondered if I was missing out much but I guess not lol.

  • @asajayunknown6290

    @asajayunknown6290

    11 ай бұрын

    @@TheRidersChoice but ABasin allows snowboards 😎. Chill, retro vibe. Lots of above treeline steeps. There's very little beginner or low intermediate terrain. But no catwalks. No clicking out and walking.

  • @Felix-kd8tn
    @Felix-kd8tn Жыл бұрын

    I think this is the place I wanna go! I'm a big creature of habit so I want to find one resort with long uncrowded blues that I can carve down, and it looks like either here or copper is the place. I love how easy the parking is here, I like going back to my spot rather than the lodge where it's so crowded.

  • @Mtb_5670

    @Mtb_5670

    Жыл бұрын

    For groomed blues copper is a better option but it’s a lot more crowded

  • @jleonas

    @jleonas

    10 ай бұрын

    ABasin is outstanding for expert terrain, but doesn’t have that many good cruising runs.

  • @BlacqueJacqueShellacque_
    @BlacqueJacqueShellacque_2 ай бұрын

    A-Basin is the best managed ski area for REAL skiers in Colorado. Not just my opinion, I've had mountain managers from OTHER ski areas agree.

  • @tootall222
    @tootall2224 ай бұрын

    I made the mistake of going here my very first time skiing. Needless to say it was a very bad decision and i spent the whole day on Molly Hogan. Tried a green at the end of the day and fell 10 times on the way down. Can't wait to go back now that I'm experienced

  • @Johnny-Utah-91
    @Johnny-Utah-913 ай бұрын

    Now that it is a full Ikon resort let's see how it plays out with crowds and parking..

  • @reddottx
    @reddottx Жыл бұрын

    Love this mountain. The Beavers are so awesome. Stayed in Frisco. Super easy drive except for the somewhat aggressive locals who know the road better than I do.

  • @john-michaelsteiner456

    @john-michaelsteiner456

    Жыл бұрын

    Truuuu! I’m local and it’s nuts how aggressive some ppl drive on 170… a few bad apples type situation.

  • @scarface548
    @scarface548 Жыл бұрын

    I always get vertigo in the bowls due to lack of trees and contrast.

  • @Gary-np7hl
    @Gary-np7hl Жыл бұрын

    you can say you've been to a-basin, but you can't say you ski or rode a-basin until you do the east wall. hence i've only been there a half a dozen times. great mountain, great local vibe, the beavs are awesome. it's skiing and snowboarding the way it should be.

  • @djredlantern

    @djredlantern

    Жыл бұрын

    Naaaah no need to gatekeep like this lmao, there are plenty of other great runs at a basin

  • @eddivver3444
    @eddivver3444Ай бұрын

    2 legends cannon east a basin west no frills no hotels condos just hardcore skiers.

  • @rivergewehr4817
    @rivergewehr48178 ай бұрын

    As an New England skiier, hearing 1300 skiable acres get referred to as modest made me laugh considering that’s the same size and some of the biggest mountains for me locally

  • @luckmc2874
    @luckmc2874 Жыл бұрын

    Will there be a whistler video review?

  • @PeakRankings

    @PeakRankings

    Жыл бұрын

    Sadly not before next season, we trouble getting clear footage this winter!

  • @john-michaelsteiner456
    @john-michaelsteiner456 Жыл бұрын

    Profound traffic jams 😂 He ain’t lyin y’all!

  • @Coloradoskifreak189

    @Coloradoskifreak189

    Жыл бұрын

    Tip, avoid I-70 altogether on weekend/holiday mornings. There are, less well known and less direct ways up into the Colorado High Country than I-70 and are longer car rides...when there is no traffic on I-70 which is never on weekends and holidays these days.

  • @john-michaelsteiner456

    @john-michaelsteiner456

    Жыл бұрын

    Such as…?

  • @Coloradoskifreak189

    @Coloradoskifreak189

    Жыл бұрын

    From Denver, Highway 285 to Fairplay to Highway 9 up and over Hoosier Pass to Breckenridge and Summit County. Follow Highway 285 to Antero Junction and head up through Leadville to Copper via Highway 91 or to Minturn to get to Vail and Beaver Creek. From Colorado Springs, Highway 24 up through Woodland Park to Hartsel, then Highway 9 up to Fairplay and Breckenridge to get to Summit County. Go to Antero Junction to get to Vail, Beaver Creek, and Copper. From Fort Collins, Highway 14 through the Poudre River Canyon to Walden then connecting to Rabbit Ears Pass, head west on US 40 to Steamboat, head south on US 40 to Winter Park, or turn south on Highway 9 at Kremmling to get to Silverthorne and Summit County from the north. That's about all I've got.

  • @darinsmith2458
    @darinsmith245810 ай бұрын

    I wish Abasin was in the Epic Pass

  • @blake3474

    @blake3474

    10 ай бұрын

    Use to be

  • @jleonas

    @jleonas

    10 ай бұрын

    No you don’t, parking sucked big time when they were on the pass. Much better experience now.

  • @derekconstantino7759

    @derekconstantino7759

    4 ай бұрын

    F*ck the epic pass. Glad abasin broke up with vail

  • @darinsmith2458

    @darinsmith2458

    4 ай бұрын

    @@derekconstantino7759 i need to be able to afford to ski

  • @ejd1149
    @ejd1149 Жыл бұрын

    I live in Summit County and have skied all over the US and Canada. Arapahoe is a small area, good for one or two days of skiing a year. The back side faces south and gets sun baked so it melts and refreezes. Snow is not very good. New area they opened a few years ago is excellent. I would rate the mountain about a 6 out of 10. The best mountain in Summit county by far is Copper Mountain followed by Keystone and then Breckenridge. Loveland is a great mountain for bowl skiing in the spring, but cold as hell in the winter.

  • @davidclymo7285
    @davidclymo72859 ай бұрын

    Please stop talking about the basin.

  • @poasina

    @poasina

    7 ай бұрын

    ?