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Sidecountry Access off of A-Basin. Many options with most skiing in pine trees.


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Map Key

1.1

Miles

1.7

KM

Ski Line

12,400' 3,779 m

High

10,364' 3,159 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

2,035' 620 m

Down

36%

Avg Slope (20°)

46%

Max Slope (25°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry
Enter through Backcountry Gates at top of Lenawee past the Ski Patrol hut. Other access options are along the A-Basin boundary. A-Basin has updated their Master Plan to the USFS with a proposal to expand into the existing Beavers sidecountry area: arapahoebasin.com/ABasin/mo…

Overview

A well known and traveled side-country area off of A-Basin is a good place to get some good tree skiing in. There are several access points along the A-Basin boundary line with one of the main gates being located above the Lenawee Lift.

Need to Know

While heavily treed, this is still a backcountry area and appropriate gear is necessary. Gate access off of the Pali lift leads to some pretty insane/awesome steep gullies that have a history of deadly avalanches.

Description

The top is always extremely wind-blown and always rocky. Most lines move into the gully, skiers left from the top will move through some nice open areas and steep trees are plentiful. Trees on the south side of the gully can be nice but are prone to sun-baking.

At the bottom of the gully is a prominent ski-shack that is a nice place to take a break and has been in place since I believe sometime in the 90's.

From the shack, if you go hard skier's left you can access nice cliff lines. Otherwise, most people just go past the ski shack down a fun but very well traveled gully.

At the bottom, you cross a small stream and have to boot-pack up a steep embankment to the road. Put on your pretty smile and try to hitchhike back to A-Basin.

Shared By:

Andy Librande

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  3.0 from 1 vote

#650

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  3.0 from 1 vote
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Ski Line Rankings

#276

in Colorado

#650

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Photos

Caitlin Shay finding a cliff in a very snowy Jan 2011 in the Beavers.
Mar 12, 2015 near Keystone, CO
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