Tailgating at the slopes

November 7, 12:51 PMDC Skiing Lifestyle ExaminerDoug Airel

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Arapahoe Basin as seen from the Early Riser parking lot.

The location - a parking lot in Colorado on a winter weekend.  The grills are lit, the beer is flowing, and the people are wearing crazy outfits.  No, this is not the scene outside of INVESCO Field before a Broncos game; this is "The Beach".  Arguably the most convenient parking lot at a ski resort in the United States, the Early Riser lot at Arapahoe Basin is just steps from the lifts.  Not surprisingly, the front row of the lot is prime real estate and those able to park there take full advantage; they arrive early, stay late, and have as much fan as possible in between.

Located in Summit County, Colorado, Arapahoe Basin is popular with Front Range residents and offers some of the toughest terrain in the state.  The vibe is laid back and very different from resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge, and Keystone which are a stone's throw away and skiable on the same lift pass.  There are no slope side condos and amenities are minimal, but that's not what draws skiers to A-Basin.  All that matters to the visitors is that they can have a good time, and the combination of excellent terrain and an anything goes atmosphere makes that goal easy to reach.

The Beach on a fresh powder day.

The Beach, and the mountain in general, get especially crazy during the spring.  On a typical Saturday late in the season, do not be surprised to see Elvis skiing with a gorilla, stopping every few runs to enjoy a cool beverage bottled in nearby Golden, CO, then taking some time to play fetch with his dog on the resort's little used bunny slope, and finally closing out the day by tying a rope to the back of his truck to pull his gorilla suited friend through the parking lot for some mud skiing.

Unfortunately, this is not a scene that can easily be found here in the Mid-Atlantic.  With their shorter season and limited natural resources, the local mountains have to do their best to be everything to everybody.  Arapahoe Basin can afford to be more of a niche mountain catering mainly to local, advanced, adult skiers and boarders.  The mountains within driving distance of D.C.cater to locals, but beyond that, they must appeal to first timers and long timers, families and singles, and everybody in between.  They cannot afford to have the antics found at The Beach for fear that it would scare off the families.  

If you ever find yourself in Summit County for a few days and want to get away from the weekend crush at the mega resorts down the road, consider a to visit Arapahoe Basin.  The crowds will be smaller, but a lot more fun.  Not to mention that the skiing is excellent as well.