Adventure

How Colorado's Arapahoe Basin Is Approaching Ski Season This Year

Slowing ski lift speeds and offering a lotto system may be on the agenda at A-Basin. 
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This story is part of our New Standard series, examining where travel is headed. Read more about how we define the New Standard here.

Most ski resorts closed early last winter and never reopened because of the pandemic. But Arapahoe Basin, a small indie in Colorado known for its long season, expert terrain, and raucous après tailgating, was able to put new safety protocols in place and briefly resume operations in May, upholding its reputation for being open later than any other outfit in North America. When the resort, locally known as A-Basin, hopefully starts its new season in mid-October, it will be with a good sense of what works for skiers and staff. In addition to heightening sanitation measures and mandating face coverings, A-Basin, like others, has promised to transfer season passes to 2021–22 if it doesn't open for this one. Here, more of what you can expect this fall.

Advance planning is a must

This last spring, the resort, which on a typical May weekend averages 3,000 skiers, brought its daily capacity down to 600 and implemented a new reservation-only policy. After demand crashed the online system, it switched to a lottery model that prioritized pass holders while allotting a set number of slots to drop-ins. Season passes won't be restricted during the upcoming season, and the Basin will sell lift tickets everyday—but they'll have to be purchased online in advance. The 600-person limit has been removed, though A-Basin will manage busy periods by limiting daily lift ticket sales, limiting A-Basin season pass sales, and, if need be, restricting the parking lots. Smaller ski-school sizes also will make planning ahead essential.

Spaced out and slowed down

To help people visualize proper spacing while waiting in lift lines, A-Basin will post signs every six feet. Every other line will likely be kept closed to ensure that skiers and snowboarders don't stand too close. And no one will be allowed to ride up with anyone who is not in their immediate party. On certain intermediate and expert runs, speeds may be lowered so that lift operators don't have to physically slow the chairs by grabbing them.

Streamlined service and PB&J

A-Basin's famed post-ski tailgating ritual was banned last May, and won't return anytime soon. Spring skiers also had to do without gear rental, lessons, and lockers, and will have to make do without the latter through the fall and winter, though there will be contactless payments and e-signing for lift tickets, ski-school waivers, and rentals. Resort food will be available, but visitors may want to go old-school and brown-bag their lunches.

This article appeared in the October 2020 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.