The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
In the winter, my husband and I call Arapahoe Basin our second home. Of our 80ish days of skiing each season, more than 60 are spent at the Basin, mostly lapping Pallavicini (aka Pali) and the Beavers lifts. It’s not hyperbole to say I know pretty much every run on the mountain. And, yet, until last week, there was one area I hadn’t ventured into: the Steep Gullies.
Legit avalanche chutes, the Gullies have intimidated even expert skiers like me since they were incorporated into the ski area in 2018. You can spy the craggy flumes plunging from the ridge when you drive into the resort on U.S. 6, and I’ve yearned to ski them for years—but not without someone who knows how to ski them.
And so, when A-Basin (purchased by Alterra Mountain Company last year) reached out and asked if I’d like to test-run its brand-new guided tours—which cover secret stashes, double blacks, and new-to-you-terrain, all in-bounds—I jumped at the chance. I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
Every guided experience ($1,199 for up to four people, available daily with a reservation) is tailored to each group, its comfort level, and the snow conditions. Intermediate and advanced skiers, snowboarders, and telemarkers ages three and up can partake. (If you’re thinking, Three years old and already an expert? Yep, it’s Arapahoe Basin, home to little rippers who regularly tear up the mountain’s advanced terrain.)
At 9 a.m. on a bluebird day in late February, I met up with my group, led by A-Basin instructor and guide David Singleton. On the way up Black Mountain Express, Singleton, who has been a ski instructor in Summit County since 1991, explained his plan for the day: The first few runs, starting on blues and working up to blacks, would allow him to assess our skill levels, fitness, and comfort on steeps and in moguls and variable conditions. Then, assuming all checked out, we would graduate to the hikeable terrain on the East Wall (accessed from the top of the Lenawee lift), have lunch at a mountain restaurant, and then hit the Steep Gullies from Pali.
After warm-up runs on Lenawee, Montezuma Bowl, and Pali Face, we zipped back up to the top of the mountain. When Singleton pulled up to the North Pole sign and popped off his skis, it meant we were ready to hike the East Wall. The jagged ridge spears the sky at 13,050 feet and fans the entire east side of the resort. Whether looking up at it or down from it, the views are (as the resort’s tagline promises) legendary, and with long, 40-degree chutes, so is the skiing. We heft our skis onto our shoulders and follow a well-defined footpath 10 minutes up to Little Lenawee Peak and then trace the rocky ridge before arriving at North Pole.
The names of the surrounding chutes—1st Notch, 2nd Notch, East Vertical, West Vertical—are far more tame than farther-out, more extreme terrain with monikers like Sex Favors, Hershey Highway, and Booger Snot. All of the easily reachable ones are skied regularly and successfully by a range of skiers, but they’re still no gimmes: Even 2nd Notch, for example, requires a short downclimb via a rope to access the snow.
Of the bunch, North Pole—a couloir that tends to fill in nicely with wind buff—is the easiest to ski, so we pull up above it, click into our skis, and slide into the maw. Singleton checked in with everyone and pointed out our route and the hazards, such as partially hidden rocks and thin snow. After a good look and a deep breath, there was nothing left to do but push off. I went first, with everyone following behind at a decent distance. We regrouped at the bottom.
The key to this type of skiing is strategy; you want to ID your route from above and keep your legs loose and bouncy enough to absorb random bumps and bucks or to quickly pivot if you come up on an obstacle. The other thing: A slow-moving ski is more likely to catch an edge in variable snow conditions (and at 13,000-plus feet, the sunbaked snow is most certainly funky), so you want to link your turns to keep your momentum. Your skis know what to do. Let them ride and, as Singleton reminded us, have fun. And that we did, hooting and hollering the whole way down.
The runs from the East Wall are long, dropping more than 2,000 vertical feet to the base of the Lenawee Express, and my quads were smoldering by the time I reached the bottom and looked back up (straight up!) from where we came. When Singleton announced it was lunch time, I realized that my morning eggs and toast had long since evaporated. The guided tours include a midday meal at any of the on-mountain restaurants, and we were lucky enough to refuel at Il Rifugio, which, at 12,456 feet, is the highest restaurant in North America. While we feasted on the alpine bistro’s overflowing charcuterie board with a selection of cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, fig jam, Marcona olives, and a baguette, we discussed the afternoon’s plans. It was time for the Steep Gullies.
There are eight gullies, all of which lie in quick succession on the west side of the ski area facing U.S. 6, skier’s left of Gauthier off of the Pali lift. We planned to ski Gullies One, Two, and Four. None are serviced by a lift and, once you reach the bottom, each requires a 20-or-so minute walk back to the base. (One and Two offer options to traverse back to the base of Pali midway down).
With Singleton’s guidance, we began with Gulley Two because the entrance is a little more straightforward than the others. As we strategized our routes, he peppered the conversation with some A-Basin history and lore, some from his own memory, as he was on the ground crew that carried in materials and erected the Gullies’ fencing, trail signs, and the boundary lines. He also pointed out a series of Tinker Toy–like towers strung together with cables. (The technology, which remotely delivers avalanche explosives into the hard-to-reach terrain, was dreamed up by A-Basin’s operations team when the resort was first opening the area to the public.)
Finally, we stood at the top of Two, our ski tips dangling in space. We noted any sneaky rocks before shoving off one at a time. Because the Gullies are north-facing, they hold their snow better than many other parts of the mountain. What would have been a firm surface in the morning was now warmed to perfection. Our turns were easy and creamy, and the rush of ripping down a steep chute was nothing short of bliss. When we reached the traverse, I turned to Singleton breathless but grinning and said, “Again!”
This is what Arapahoe Basin’s guided tours are all about: discovery and confidence-boosting. With a little nudge, pockets of the mountain that might have felt unreachable are now open for business. I feel like I have a brand-new mountain to explore. Meet me in the Steep Gullies?
How To Experience Arapahoe Basin’s New Guided Tours
- Do guided tours include lift access? No; you need to either have a pass or purchase a discounted lift ticket.
- How much are the guided tours? Tours cost $1,199 for up to four people (groups can be a mix of skiers, snowboarders, and telemarkers) and include lunch at any on-mountain restaurant.
- When are tours available? Tours are available every day of the week until April 27 in 2025.
- Will the guide assess skiers’/riders’ abilities before heading to the East Wall or Steep Gullies? Tours are not ski lessons; instead, they are designed for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders looking to unlock the secrets of A-Basin. Guides will assess skill and comfort levels before embarking on challenging terrain.
- Are half-day tours available? No; this is a full-day experience. But if your group would like to end early, that’s up to you.
- What kind of equipment should I bring? Skis/snowboard, boots, helmet, poles, goggles, layers, sunscreen, and whatever else you need for a comfortable day out on the slopes. If you need skis or a board, visit A-Basin’s rental shop (book online in advance for the best prices).
- What happens in the case of inclement weather? Typically, if the East Wall is closed due to wind or visibility, the Steep Gullies remain open because they’re lower on the mountain and pretty protected. Tours can be rescheduled up to 24 hours of the start date by calling 970-513-5708 or emailing snowsports@a-basin.net.
- How do I book a tour? You can book online or call 970-513-5708.
- Do I need to make a parking reservation and/or pay for parking, or is that included with the experience? If your tour falls on a day that requires parking reservations, you will need to make a parking reservation ($20/vehicle in Early Riser, High Noon, Last Chance, and Upper Last Chance lots) on these dates in advance. If you purchase a guided tour, you’ll receive a code to ensure you get a parking spot on the day you need it.
- Should I tip my guide? Yes. It’s standard to tip between 10 and 20 percent of the tour’s total cost. If you forget cash, most guides have Venmo.
