Arapahoe Basin Opens

Jones No More, the 2006-2007 Ski Season is Here

By Bob Berwyn, 10-13-06

For many of us, it begins with an email, or phone call from a friend, then a frantic head-first dive into the closet to dig out a hat, gloves, goggles, maybe some wax and an edge tool.

That's how Colorado's 2006-2007 winter season began for me the other day, when word came that Arapahoe Basin would be opening one intermediate trail on the bottom half of the mountain on Oct. 13. A Friday, no less, but not unlucky at all if you're a skier or a snowboarder.

That early season strip of man-made snow has sometimes been tabbed – unfairly, in my opinion – as the white ribbon of death, for all the potential mayhem and carnage that can occur when you put several hundred speed-seekers on a patch of snow that's not much bigger than the floor space in one of the McMansions sprouting throughout Rocky Mountain ski country.

But when you've got the Jones, you've got to feed it, right? Besides, I was assigned to cover the event for the Summit Daily News, and that means a couple of hours, at least, on the snow and on the clock.

So even though the last few cottonwoods are still bravely fluttering some tattered gold, I load up the Subaru and point it uphill. It knows the way without much help from me, so I can concentrate on checking out the bighorn sheep browsing on the steep canyon wall.

Up at the Basin, the buzz is on. This is a big anniversary season for one of Colorado's original ski areas, where a loyal tribe of both local and Front Range skiers and riders keeps it real, year after year. For 59 seasons, the lifts have been cranking here, and I feel like I'm at home even before I pull into the parking lot.

My tele boots, a pair of seven-year-old Scarpa Terminators, feel like slippers. And they should. I ski hard and I've put at least 90 days per season on them, so they are broken in, to say the least. Comet, the four-month-old wonder pup, jumps out of the hatch and runs around to make some new friends while I run a stone up and down the edges of my boards.

Up at the lodge, "Eyes of the World" blares from the speakers. This old Grateful Dead hippie anthem rings loud and true on this bluebird day that seems to be born on the cusp two seasons: "Right outside the lazy gate of winter's summer home … "

Tony, a long-time liftie at the Basin, greets us with his traditional "Namaste. Welcome home, Jay, welcome home, Bob," and we line up in the maze; colorful, boisterous, cheeky and full of good vibes.

On this day, the joy is tempered just a bit by the memory of a missing friend. The first chair goes up empty, save for a single white ribbon with the word "Ode" written on it. The chair is dedicated to Brad Odekirk, a long-time photographer with the Summit Daily News who died in an accident this summer.

Brad was a community treasure, showcasing not only the beauty of our mountains, but the spirit of the people who live here. He was a friend and a ski buddy and never missed an opening day, and could more often than not be found waist-deep in powder, camera to his eye and big smile on his face. Beloved by the ski area employees and the many locals who frequent A-Basin, he'll be missed this season and seasons to come.

So after a moment of commemorative silence, the lift rumbles and groans to life. White as the gleaming snow, the ribbon flutters up the hill. Then a cheer goes up as the maze opens. We plunge ahead as one, eagerly anticipating that slippery, sliding, gliding dance with gravity that nurtures us and lets us play, even though we're all grown up.



[End of article]

Isn't it hunting season? Why not make the inaugural season event a biathlete experience with boards, bore, and skinning knife? Go for the vension of the deep.

We beat the hunters by one day this year. General big game season starts Saturday, but thanks for the idea. I'll pass it along to the right people. It is a weird juxtaposition of seasons, that's for sure!

I remember the days when I looked forward to the first snowflakes and made sure that everyone I knew (and didn't know) was apprised to the number of days I skied each year. Yawn, yawn. Don't get me wrong, I understand that early ski resort openings are important media stunts intended to boost ticket sales for thanksgiving and christmas, it's just that I can't read about them without seeing the emptiness and silly festivity. Thanks Bob, but your article is all too typical, representative of the usual skier self absorbed ego lost in a much more complicated world beyond the slopes.

A thoughtful response to a complicated world is only possible if one has some experience of joy in one's life by which to measure the shortcomings of the complicated world. At a minimum, a thoughtful response to a complicated world is impossible if one spends one's time yawning in the face of another's joy or dismissing that joy as empty or silly.

Well, I just got off the phone with a friend from Missoula. He was calling to let me know that I'm an asshole for raining on Bob's parade. Bob, my response was insolent and unnecessary, my apologies. Can I explain myself?

Background:
You see, about a week ago, the Black Diamond catalog came in the mail. Flipping through the pages I was not surprised to see the usual, first descent this, first descent that, "I skinned 4,000 feet this morning just to get to the coffee shop, then my ski day got started" type of bullshit--followed up with the "I'm going to ski every peak north of 35.56 degrees north within the span of one ski season" aspiriations of the current I Will Be First at Something Crowd. So, that had me stewing. Then on New West, I am basically set off by bob's marketing article for A-Basin. Personal jabs aside, it seems most skiers always have to let everyone know how good they are or at least how much or what they ski. My comments here are misplaced and belong somewhere else. So, I'll rant in general.

Soapbox:
I too have skied for many years. I have spent many seasons at Alta and Snowbird letting everyone know how much I ski and how badass my day was and how many thousands of vertical I skinned today. Enough is enough. The Wasatch has been turned into a backcountry theme park, still enjoyable, but has still left a bitter taste.
The whole scene of skiers conquering all parts of the earth and ripping it up makes me feel a bit queasy. So, I am a curmudgeon. But, perhaps, a dose of humility, respect, and a bit of tight-lipped personal satisfaction are due in the ski community. Keep your conquering to yourself, that way, the new skiers and adventurers can conquer it too.

PS: Thanks for the call Ryan. I suppose I just made this worse.

I get a bit queasy and cynical about ski industry marketing hype myself, but I try to leave that at home on opening day. But that's coming from someone who keeps his skis by his bed when it starts to snow hard. I just love to ski, wherever, whenever I can. There was some hype in the air at A-Basin and there was also a lot of just plain excitement and happiness, from long-time, jaded locals to the newbie crop of ski bums starting their first season in the mountains. A-Basin is still the best we have, as far a developed resort. It's small, no big base area development, and they do try to run their operation sustainably and in harmony with the natural environment, to the extent they can. At A-Basin, it's still mostly about the skiing. So yes, I'm more likely to give A-Basin props than some of the big mega-resorts.

I also have some real issues with using excessive amounts of water for early season snowmaking, especially when streams are being dewatered to below minimum instream flow levels set to protect aquatic life.

And your point about skiers "conquering the earth" is well-taken. Seems like even the backcountry is starting to be exploited more and more for commercial purposes.

The issue of ski area and resort expansions as they relate to wildlife habitat has also been high my radar screen for a long time, and the trend is not good.

I've done some consistent, sustained reporting on these topics over the years and I'm sure some of that will show up in one way or another on the snowblog this winter.

I'll keep your thoughts in mind as I do my ski writing - and my skiing - this winter and try to keep a balance. Humility and respect for the mountains are qualities I cherish and I'm glad you're reading and responding. Oh, and I have a pretty thick skin. Usually the jabs come from the other side; the local ski areas, who think I have it in for them, so it was refreshing to hear your point of view.

Dave,

You're still a badass, now quit being humble and tell us about your recent exploits in the Canadian Rockies, please. I would look up your route, but I seem to have misplaced my copy of summits and icefields?

The question seems to be: Where is the line between self agrandizement and "sincere" or "pure" sharing of feelings that, as you know from personal experience, can be amazing/spiritual/filled with joy/sick bra etc.

This line is not easy to draw, particularly in man-made snow, made for show.

I'll let you know how the snow is at a-basin this week as I'll be using my pass while on a house hunting trip ;)

(Please laugh out loud)

Damn, I thought we were talking about opening day! This is the best day of the year, better than birthdays or christmas or any other holiday this is the day that reminds me that it is okay to go to work during the summer because now it is time to clock out early! I threw a party the day A-Basin opened and I live in California!