Spring Skiing at its best

Laurette Veres tells you where

Skiing in April? Yes! In fact, some years see skiers in bikinis all the way till June.

Arapahoe Basin, located about two hours from Denver prides itself on being the last mountain open for skiing in Colorado each season. Opened in 1946 by the tenth mountain division from World War II, the original tows were made from old army surplus. The top lift takes skiers to 12,500-foot height and you can hike to 13,000.

You’ll love skiing here. With only one central area to meet, you can easily locate family and friends. The ski school is top notch and also super convenient and easy to find. Recent renovations ushered in 468 new acres of intermediate and advanced runs. Skiers love to tailgate at “the beach” where tents are popped and true tailgating ensues.

Spring in the mountains is the best and reasons to consider spring skiing abound. If you’re not a big fan of freezing cold weather, it can be more comfortable to learn when it’s warm. Ski school sizes are smaller and less expensive. Every Saturday in May, enjoy live music and a food festival.

For the thrill seekers, the adventure park is right off the base, hidden in the woods. The via farrata mountain climbing zone offers half or full day guided climbs. Kids learn here as well. Moose hollow is a display teaching kids about moose.

All of this and more takes place in on National Forest land with no hotels or real estate developments. www.arapahoebasin.com