Twice as much love from A-Basin

Arapahoe Basin, also known as A-Basin, is a favorite ski area among locals due to its great skiing and snow, along with its size. A-Basin is a very small, very localized ski area that is located west of Loveland Ski area and about six miles away from Keystone.

According to the article, "A-Basin looks for higher profile," earlier this year, A-Basin got the OK to expand the skiing area by 80% and opening a lift that takes skiiers and riders to the back side of the mountain. This $3 million expansion will bring 36 new runs and 400 acres to the once-tiny ski area.

I liked A-Basin because of its local feel-- there are no huge lines, no resorts and no tourists. You have to bring your own food and you get to park right at the lifts. I was slightly concerned when I read of the expansion, especially when I saw they added a restaraunt. But the resaraunt is ok--food is important when you are exercising vigorously like that--and they didn't add a resort or lodging of any sort.

For those environmentally conscious, only 1 percent of the trees in the ski area needed to be cut to make way for more terrain, according to the article. The top of the area is open bowls, and the bottom half is tree skiing. And about 50 acres below the bottom of the lift is all backcountry stuff.

And while season passes are sky-rocketing at other resorts, A-Basin's is staying relatively low. Check out A-Basin's website for pass prices, snowfall and more.