Arapahoe Basin Season Pass Deals and Overnight Parking Closure

Arapahoe Basin, CO April 8, 2004 - Arapahoe Basin's 2004-05 season passes are now on sale. The pass holder will be able to use the 2004-05 season pass through the remainder of the 2003-04 ski season. A-Basin plans on staying open until July 4, weather and snow dependent.

Arapahoe Basin Bonus Pass
The 2004-05 Arapahoe Basin Bonus Pass is now selling for $279 and provides skiers and riders unlimited usage at A-Basin plus five non-transferable ski days valid at Keystone or Breckenridge. One of those five ski days can be used at Vail or Beaver Creek. (The Vail/Beaver Creek ski day is not valid on the following days, 11/26 - 11/27/04, 12/27/04 - 1/1/05 and 2/19 - 2/20/05). The five Vail Resorts ski days are applicable for the 2004-05 ski season only. A limited number of these passes will be sold. The pass will be available through May 14, 2004 at this price point and can be used at A-Basin for the remainder of the 02-03 season. Bonus Pass renewals are available for $229.

A-Basin Only Season Pass
The 2004-05 Arapahoe Basin only adult season pass is now selling for $219. This price is valid through May 14, 2004. The A-Basin only pass can also be used for the remainder of the 2003-04 season as well as every day of the 2004-05 ski season. A-Basin only renewal passes are now on sale for $179.

2003-04 Spring Season Passes Still Available
With almost three months remaining in the ski season at A-Basin, now is the time to purchase the A-Basin only spring pass valid until closing 2004. The A-Basin adult spring pass is $179, youth pass (age 15 - 19) is $109, the child pass (age 6-14) is selling at $49 and the senior pass (age 70 plus) is available for $30. These prices are valid through the end of the 2003-2004 ski season.

OVERNIGHT PARKING CLOSURE
Beginning Tuesday, April 13, Arapahoe Basin, with support from the U.S. Forest Service, the Summit County Sheriff's Office, and the Colorado Department of Transportation, has decided to close the Early Riser Parking Lot to overnight parking and camping. The decision was not made easily. "The Beach portion of the lot has a long history as a late night hot spot. Officials have grown increasingly concerned about nighttime activities in the lot. In particular there have been numerous problems associated with campers on snow days.

Arapahoe Basin has decided to close the lot to overnight parking and camping for the following reasons:

Garbage left by campers has increased dramatically over the past fewyears and become a significant issue for wildlife and other natural resources.

There are no restroom facilities open at night and the amount of humanwaste found around the beach area continues to increase.

The number of vehicles coming into the lot during snowstorms has madeplowing the lots extremely difficult and caused a significant reduction in space available for parking. Plowing has become much slower and more difficult. The number of vehicles that become stuck has increased because of the inability to adequately plow the lot.

Located immediately to the north of the Early Riser Lot lies the LittleProfessor Avalanche Path. The slide path leads directly into the parking lot. CDOT and Arapahoe Basin work together controlling the slide path. The lot must be cleared of all vehicles prior to beginning any control work. At times up to 50 vehicles have to be removed to begin avalanche work. This significant extra step has led to delayed control work and increased closure time for US Highway 6.

The late night activity including sledding, property destruction,drinking, and partying has generated significant safety concerns for Arapahoe Basin.

The Early Riser Lot will be closed from 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Vehicles left unattended in the lot will be towed at the owner's expense.

According to Rick Newton, Dillon District Ranger, "We are pleased to see Arapahoe Basin taking these steps to cleean up the Early Riser Lot. The trash and human waste situation has reached an unacceptable level.

Ray Mumford, Region 1 Avalanche Coordinator for CDOT is also pleased with the changes. Mumford states, "Dealing with the campers in that lot has become one of the biggest headaches for our avalanche control program. We have had numerous delays in control work and reopening the highway directly related to those campers.

Summit County Sheriff, John Minor, expressed the following concerns about late night safety issues, "The late night events going on in that lot cause reason for concern. Arapahoe Basin has taken the appropriate step by closing the lot to camping.

Arapahoe Basin officials know the closure will not sit well with everyone. "We are sad to see the camping atmosphere end, but the situation in the parking lot, trash, waste, plowing, avalanche, and safety issues, has to be addressed, stated Alan Henceroth, A-Basin Director of Mountain Operations. "We are concerned about the safety and well being of our guests and we are focused on protecting the environment. The free for all atmosphere after hours in the Early Riser Lot has to change.