Arapahoe Basin, CO Submits Plans for Summer Via Ferrata Zones and Increased Hiking/MTB Trails

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a-basin, Arapahoe Basin, Via Ferrata, colorado
Proposed activities. Credit: US Forest Service

Winter has barely begun, yet Arapahoe Basin Ski Areaโ€™s plans to expand its summer on-mountain recreational activities just took a giant leap forward, reports Summit Daily.

The White River National Forest announced on Tuesday that its Dillon Ranger District is now accepting comments on A-Basinโ€™s plans for approximately 10 miles of new trails for hiking and mountain biking and two Via Ferrata routes โ€” one beneath tree line at lower mountain terrain and one above tree line on upper mountain terrain.

โ€œThe hiking and mountain biking trails and Via Ferrata would be designed to highlight A-Basinโ€™s unique National Forest setting, which includes the East Wall,โ€ USFS forest supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams wrote. โ€œCurrently, summer hiking and mountain biking opportunities at A-Basin are limited to the mountain access road and one summer trail,โ€ he continued, โ€œwhich runs between the base area and Black Mountain Lodge at mid-mountain. The proposed action would better meet the expectations of summer visitors by diversifying difficulty, variety and spatial extent of trails available for hiking and mountain biking.โ€

Fitzwilliams added that guests climbing A-Basinโ€™s Via Ferrata would wear harnesses and helmets and navigate under the supervision of a guide. The ski area hopes this new offering will allow guests to experience high alpine, exposed areas in a safe fashion.

a-basin, Arapahoe Basin, Via Ferrata, colorado
Summer hiking trails at A-Basin, CO. Credit: Facebook

A-Basinโ€™s proposed new hiking and mountain biking plan would include trails of varying difficulty levels. Fitzwilliams also added that the proposed trails would integrate well with A-Basinโ€™s existing trail and road network by dispersing guests more effectively throughout the ski areaโ€™s special-use permit area.

If you wish to comment on A-Basinโ€™s proposal, you can submit written or electronic comments to the forest service by a Nov. 4 deadline. If you do, Fitzwilliams asks you to reference โ€œArapahoe Basin Trails and Via Ferrata project.โ€

The comments themselves must be submitted to: Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, c/o Sam Massman, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498-0620.

Electronic comments can be sent to Cara.Ecosystem-Management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=54841.

For more information, visit FS.USDA.Gov/project?project=54841.


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