A Look at A-Basin's New Montezuma Lift

My friend and I biked up the A-Basin service road to Lenawee Trail. Here are some pics of the new lift. The main portions of the lift are complete. Looks like all that is left is to place the towers. They are being staged in the parking lot. This is gonna open up some spectacular terrain. Looks like it's gonna be a great season.

Midway through the climb
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78127

New Midway Lodge
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78126

It's a lot steeper on a bike
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78128

Montezuma Lift under contsruction
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78129

View down the lift line - the towers are being staged in the parking lot
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78131

New Terrain - You can't see the boundary but there are some great chutes over there
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78130

Steep Stuff looking towards Keystone
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78133

Montezuma Lift looking from Lenawee Trail back towards Ski Patrol Shack
http://www.biglines.com/photos_large.php?photo_id=78132

I am so stoked. I can't hardly wait to ski ABasin this year!

Hard to tell from the pix, what's the top elevation of the new lift, if you know, and how much vertical does the lift serve?

Cool looks. Here is some additional views with some elevation stats that we posted a week or so ago:
http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=57905

I feel that I'm working for the basin marketing dept... this should work:

http://www.arapahoebasin.com/?page=s...dcc80b6dfdbf1a

The new lift will expand the ski area by 80 %. I can't wait.. A- basin will be fresh and new and not the same old running I have been sking since the early 80's..

The lift will expand the lift serviced ski area by 80% - weather and snow conditions permitting one has always been able to ski Montezuma Basin. It just means tranceiver not required and one doesn't have to hike out or ski out.

BTW outstanding photos - amazing to see it without snow.

Here are a few pics of the new lift taken on Sept. 7, 2007. Not much new happening.

The crew was hauling the new chairs to the summit. I thought it was interesting they don't have a service road to the bottom of the lift, as I would expect the lift to be a bottom drive. It gets to cold and windy to have the drive at the top. It looks like they still have a long way to go. I will be suprised if this is finished this year. They were preparing the snow makers on the lower mountain when we rode by. I can't possibly see how they can finish this in 6 weeks (normal time for A-Basin to open). Hopefully I am wrong.

Top Station:



Looking down "the line":



Chairs being unloaded at the top of the mtn:



Montezuma Bowl boundry with Thurman's Gulch (looking into Zuma bowl):



More pictures from our ride through Thurman's Gulch are here:

http://www.panoramio.com/user/38332/...ummit%20County

Note that if you click on the pictures on Panoramio.com you can see exactly where the pictue was taken on a Google map.

Apologies for the lack of picture quality (had to use my phone camera). I took my good camera but the batteries died before I could take the first picture!

I might go for the same ride next week, if it doesn't SNOW!! I'll take updated pictures (and I'll bring extra batteries)!

Also, if you live in the area and ride mountain bikes, I would highly suggest riding the Lenawee Trail. It goes from the top of the Basin down through Thurman's Gulch (the bowl behind the East Wall). It's fun as hell. Not super easy, but not super hard either. A few technical parts that can sneak up on you. Even with disc brakes your hands will be tired at the bottom. Probably my favorite section of technical single track in Colorado. The ride up is brutal for a service road (1500 ft up in 2.7 miles), but it's totally worth it for the ride down Lenawee Trail.

that's actually going to be a summit drive, they don't want to bring utilities down the bowl for environmental reasons (that would require a road).

To get the towers installed for this lift would probably only take a day, maybe two max. I'll be open for sure this season.

Cool. I thought the top station looked more like a drive station. I guess once they get the towers, cable and bullwheels installed the rest will come together rather quickly.

Glad to see this lift open...so it will keep more yahoos away from Pali!

i applaud your foresight in buying a seasons pass at the end of last season. Now you "have to" go there so you don't waste it.

Wish I'd been that smart.

THAT was the plan!
You know I won't let it go to waste!!
You can still get the 08 pass for 259.00, which means that you'd have it paid for if you ski there 5 (or 6) times, depending on the day lift ticket rate which is TBD.

I already have Two days in!!!