BRIEFLY

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 15, 2006

A-Basin expansion

It's official: Arapahoe Basin will almost double in size when it adds 395 acres of terrain in Montezuma Bowl for the 2007-08 season.

The ski area, known for its long season and killer steeps, won final approval from the U.S. Forest Service in late November.

Montezuma Bowl is an area on the south side of the resort long used by local backcountry skiers. The ski area will build a high- speed quad lift to access the bowl.

'Backcountry lite'

Keystone, which is celebrating 60 years this season, will open its new Independence Bowl on Saturday. The almost-300 acres of expert-only hiking and snowcat ski/ride terrain east of the summit of Dercum Mountain offers an inbounds "backcountry lite" experience.

The addition of Indy Bowl, as locals call it, makes Keystone Summit County's largest resort, with more than 3,000 acres of skiing.

Free day at Cooper

Got a Gems card? Head to Ski Cooper Monday through next Friday and you can ski free. Ski Cooper kicks off its regular season Saturday. Gazette writer Deb Acord is headed up there, so expect an update on the new ski school, childcare center and more.