At the start of March, Arapahoe Basin began offering Guided Tours intended for intermediate and advanced skiers to discover new pockets of the mountain and receive instruction on the steeper terrain available, like the East Wall and Steep Gullies. The A-Basin Guided Tours offer powder hounds a more approachable way to access an entirely new section of the mountain and grant next year’s Ikon pass holders a way to explore The Basin for its first season with unlimited access.
Led by an experienced instructor, the tours can include up to four skiers, snowboarders or even telemark skiers for $1,199 (lift access is not included). Tours will begin at 9 a.m. and are tailored to the group’s schedule and needs. Lunch is also included at any of the mountain’s restaurants: il Rifugio (the highest restaurant in North America at 12,456 feet), Steilhang, Black Mountain Lodge, 6th Alley Bar & Grill and Legends Café.
Earlier this month, on one of those bluebird days, I got the chance to participate in one of the A-Basin guided tours. Upon meeting, our instructor initiated an introduction and briefly asked the group what terrain we were most interested in riding before heading up on the chair. Snowsports instructor Rachel Sowers guided our group across The Basin from 9 a.m. – approximately 2:30 p.m., starting with the Black Mountain Express “BMX” chair for warmup, before progressing to the other corners of the mountain like Lenawee Parks, Montezuma Bowl and The Beavers.
While overlooking the Montezuma Bowl, Sowers pointed out the iconic mountain peaks of Keystone and Breckenridge, as well as Buffalo and Quandary Mountain — all within eyeshot to take in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
With a base elevation of 10,780 feet and a summit elevation of 13,050 feet, the winds can be strong at A-Basin. As this tour was on a cloudless spring day without recent snow, the mountain’s snowpack leaned toward the icier side with snow windblown off the more exposed runs. With Sowers’ experience instructing snowboarding and skiing for over 20 years in Summit County, she was able to expertly guide us around the mountain to find runs with improved snow conditions.
Sowers gave great insight into The Basin, including information on how the resort strategically uses tall fencing to keep the snow in desired places during heavy snowfalls, while also reducing accumulation in a way that may lead to avalanches.
While the purpose of the tours is not for instruction about technique, a few pointers might be given to improve form and style, as the guides are, of course, experienced snow sports instructors. Much of the tours are designed to offer visitors a mountain experience that is not only enjoyable but also appropriately challenging to your skill level, with the added support of a knowledgeable guide.
From the Steilhang restaurant, you can appreciate the scale of the enormous and breathtaking East Wall. It can be daunting to take on a hike and ride the East Wall for the first time, which is why these tours are helpful for those looking for that added level of comfort, security and confidence to shred more advanced terrain. The instructors are happy to open up the world of hike-to terrain, allowing skiers and riders to utilize the mountain to its full depth. They can also take you through The Steep Gullies, for which there is no chairlift. It is a required 30-minute hike back, but worth all the rage to navigate through the steep tree runs.
On Saturdays, guests can participate in a free stein holding competition at 2:30 p.m. at Steilhang, including the beer. Additionally, on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. when il Rifugio opens, the staff rings the “Kor-Bell” to signify it’s time for a free champagne toast.
Tours will be offered this season through April 27, 2025, and are available by booking 48 hours in advance.