Summit County: Arapahoe Basin opens ’Zuma Bowl Tuesday

Following a veritable feast of holiday freshies, skier and snowboarders can prepare for a substantial dessert, as Arapahoe Basin announced it will open parts of Montezuma Bowl today.

According to a press release from the area, the ropes will drop at 11 a.m., with access to 18 trails spreading across 180 acres.

Thanks to bountiful early season snow, the opening is coming about two weeks earlier than expected.

The south-facing terrain on the backside of A-Basin opened to rave reviews for the first time last season.

The 400-acre horseshoe-shaped bowl addition was the biggest terrain expansion the country last year.

Ski-area officials have touted the bowl for its natural high-alpine conditions and the careful consideration of the environment when constructing the lift last year.

Max Dercum, A-Basin’s founder, first contemplated lift-serviced skiing in Montezuma Bowl when he opened the ski area in 1946.

The resort added a high-speed quad chairlift last year, and skiers are allowed to seek powder a short distance below that, so long as they’re willing to hike back up a short distance.