Arapahoe Basin opened their new high speed Lenawee Express lift for the first time on Friday, December 16, at around 9am. According to Summit Daily, the lift’s previous nine minute ride has been shortened to four, and the chairs once holding only three people now carry up to six.
This, of course, means Arapahoe Basin’s uphill capacity for the upper half of the mountain has been dramatically increased, but, with Lenawee serving nearly 360-degrees of front, back, and side terrain, overcrowding will more than likely not be a problem. With the opening of the new lift comes a major increase in open terrain, with West Wall, Lenawee Parks, Cornice Run, Powerline, and many more trails becoming available.
The first several people to ride the lift were given some free gear, and free swag will be handed out throughout the day. With Lenawee running, every lift at Arapahoe Basin, excluding Zuma Lift on the backside, is now running.
I’m excited to try this lift out! Part of me is a bit sad that the lift has been given such a major upgrade, as it now means there will be more riding with strangers (not something I’m really against, but sometimes it’s nice to know it’s just you and your buddies) and less time to rip down a sandwich while riding to the peak, but that’s just nostalgia talking, nothing else. Less waiting and more skiing will never be a bad thing, in my mind!
Featured Image Credit: Arapahoe Basin via Instagram