Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostCars arrive as the sun rises to get a parking spot for opening day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area became the second ski area to open in Colorado, behind Wolf Creek Ski Area, for the 2021-22 ski season.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers arrive for the opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostChris Atkinson plays with his dog Jackson before heading out for some turns on his snowboard on the opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostFriends tailgate together in the parking lot between runs on opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. They are, from left, Luke Hall, Willie Green, Summit Lynch, 9, Steve Solo, Ziggy Avjean and Brien Ramirez.
Shinji, a 10 year old Shiba Inu, and Archer, a mixed breed, sit by their owner Chris Tobin as they hang out with friends in the parking lot on opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders wait in line for tickets as they arrive for opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders arrive for opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders cheer as they are among the first to get on the chairlift on the opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPhilip Luck of Littleton hoots as he waits in line to get on the lift on opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers wait in line to get on the lift during the opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders cheer as they are among the first to get on the chairlift for opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders make their way down the single run open on the first day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers and snowboarders are among the first to get on the chairlift on opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSkiers walk toward the lifts on opening day of the 2021-22 ski season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. The ski area started the season with a single run open.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostPeople wait in the lift line as skiers and snowboarders make their way down the single run open for skiing on the opening day of the 2021-22 season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostSki club and mug club friends link arms to toast and drink to the first day of skiing at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. They are, from left, Matt Halberg, his wife Quinn, Scott Portnoy, Billy Edwards and Stephen Pavone. The group are members of the A Basin Mug club. Every year only 473 mugs are sold to people.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Cars arrive as the sun rises to get a parking spot for opening day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Oct. 17, 2021. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area became the second ski area to open in Colorado, behind Wolf Creek Ski Area, for the 2021-22 ski season.
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The opening day of the 2021-22 season near the Front Range was bright and sunny at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.
On Sunday the ski area became the second in Colorado to open for the 2021-22 ski season, having been beat by the distant Wolf Creek Ski Area in Pagosa Springs by a day.
Check out The Know Outdoors for more on Colorado’s ski and snowboarding season.
