Arapahoe Basin Lifts Remaining COVID Restrictions as Summit County Moves to Level Green
In a signal that things may return to normal across North American resorts next winter, A-Basin has lifted all capacity restrictions and outdoor mask mandates for the rest of its spring season.
Too Many Resorts Have Earned Our Top Rating for Challenge. It’s Time for a Splitter.
Ten resorts—nearly 30% of the resorts we’ve reviewed—currently earn a perfect 10 for challenge in our scoring system. To address the competitiveness here and truly distinguish the most extreme resorts, we’ve effectively split the 10/10 challenge category into two.
Arapahoe Basin to Continue Limiting Tickets and Passes Post-COVID
A-Basin will only release a limited number of tickets and passes for 2021-22, and 10% fewer unrestricted season passes will be available.
Arapahoe Basin Applies to Replace Lenawee Triple and Enhance On-Mountain Facilities
Last week, Arapahoe Basin submitted an application to the USFS to proceed with several resort upgrades. The proposal calls for replacing the existing Lenawee triple chair with a high-speed lift, constructing a warming hut alongside the upper-mountain Lenawee Parks trail, and constructing a food service building adjacent to the mid-mountain Black Mountain Lodge.
State of 2020-21 Resort Operations
With COVID-19 cases continuing to persist across North America, we’re seeing some resorts tighten capacity restrictions or push back openings, either voluntarily or by state mandate. As you debate whether to book a trip this season, we’ve decided to aggregate all we know in one place.
Arapahoe Basin’s New Pallavicini Lift Opens to Guests
This past Saturday, Arapahoe Basin opened its new Pallavicini chair to resort visitors. This new Leitner-Poma fixed-grip double chair, which replaced another fixed-grip double built in 1978, follows the same line as the old Pali lift and now boasts safety bars.
Several Colorado Ski Resorts Forced to Shutter Indoor Dining as COVID Cases Surge
With a substantial and alarming rise in COVID cases over the past few weeks, Colorado plans to move 15 counties into the state’s Level Red (Severe) COVID risk tier. The order goes into effect Friday, November 20 (although Summit County may receive a postponement to Sunday).
Colorado COVID Cases Going up, Prompting Uncertainty Weeks Before Major Resort Openings
Colorado’s Summit County Public Health issued a stay-at-home recommendation due to rising COVID cases today, with infections in the state reaching their highest levels yet. This comes only weeks before the anticipated opening dates for many county ski resorts.
Off Peak Podcast Episode 9: COVID Ops
The team reconvenes from afar to dive into recently released 2020-21 operations plans from around the skiing world. Later, Sam and Nicole offer some valuable advice for those booking trips with children this season.
Alterra Releases 2020-21 Lift Ticket and Ikon Pass Reservation Policies (Many Resorts Don’t Require One)
Alterra released their initial ticket and pass policies for the upcoming winter today. Many Ikon resorts, including the overwhelming majority of unlimited destinations, will not require reservations. However, multi-day pass products for Alterra-owned mountains will be severely limited.