Arapahoe Basin is the first ski resort to open for the 2007/08 season, thanks to early fall snowstorms in Colorado.

Arapahoe Basin—or A-Basin, as the locals call it—is legendary for many things. It has the highest skiable terrain in North America (the summit tops out at 13,050 feet). It has some of the steepest terrain inside a resort's boundaries. It has one of the longest ski seasons in North America (usually ending in June, sometimes July). It offers some of the best backcountry and avalanche awareness clinics in North America. Yet it has a relaxed, no-frills attitude—the type of place where few strive to wear matching ski outfits. Regulars affectionately called it The Legend.

Two above-timberline bowls dominate the upper half of the mountain which tops out on the Continental Divide. On a clear day, the view is amazing. But the real gestalt of A-Basin lies to the right of the Pallavicini Lift. The super-steep "Pali" side of A-Basin is for the strong and hardy who brave rocks, bumps and gullies. It's not unusual to see skiers and riders zip along the ridge, launch off the cornice into the bowl and rip big lines till they're out of sight. Making it down Pali is a rite of passage. On the other side of the mountain, the entire East Wall has chutes, gullies and steeps that experts regularly explore, but it requires hiking or a hair-raising traverse. Don't be fooled by the reported skiable acreage, this mountain skis big and A-Basin doesn't count the East Wall.

For the 07/08 season, the long-awaited Montezuma Bowl opened, increasing the skiable acreage by 80 percent. The new wind-powered Zuma Lift accesses the 400-acre bowl, which is the largest expansion in the area's history. Terrain here is a mix of intermediate, advanced and expert cornices, chutes, glades and bowls, and has backcountry areas for adventurers who like to hike. A few runs are groomed nightly, but for the most part the 36 trails remain as nature designed them.

For all its gnarly reputation, A-Basin has excellent intermediate and beginner terrain. With its central base area, kids can't get lost and stress is minimal because it's rarely crowded. The highest chairs, Lenawee Mountain Lift and Norway Lift, serve a slew of delightful intermediate trails. The above-treeline slopes mean runs are wide open and you can let your skis choose your path. A-Basin does a great job of grooming, but there's plenty of ungroomed terrain for those who like it au natural. The beginner trails wind down from the Exhibition chairlift. Wrangler is a very wide, flat trail that builds confidence. Chisholm and Sundance are the next steps up. First-timers start on their own lift at the Molly Hogan Learning Center and the flat, nearly separate area beneath it. You can buy a ticket to use only this lift for $10 and upgrade it to an all-mountain ticket if you feel up to more challenging runs. Here's a trail map.

This is high-elevation territory, with a base at 10,780 feet above sea level, so snow is usually plentiful. One of the best times to visit A-Basin is in the spring when the mountain becomes the "beach" with barbecues and volleyball games providing the ambiance. "Beachin' at the Basin" is a spring ritual in May enjoyed by anyone who loves soft snow, cool bands, hot barbecue and sun.

Not surprisingly, this is a tele-skier's dream mountain. Perhaps it's the laid-back attitude, perhaps it's the proud touting of its purist roots, perhaps it's the terrain that mimics the nearby backcountry. Whatever the reason, 15 percent of A-Basin's guests are telemark skiers.

As for snowboarders: Forget spring break in Mexico. There's nothing like A-Basin's spring corn snow, with a frequent overnight dose of powder. Riding varies from cornice jumps off of the Norway Lift to sweeping beginner and intermediate runs. With a quick hike, the East Wall delivers treeless powder runs with an intermittent jump or two. Bigger air hits can be found in the Rock Garden off of the Pallavicini Lift along with some rowdy, tree-lined chutes. On the lower part of the mountain, North Fork's natural berms and bumps are also worth a diversion. There are no treacherous runouts to avoid as every trail winds nicely back to the base (though sometimes Pali Wog out of the Pali side can be daunting).

A-Basin's main park, Treeline Terrain Park (formerly called Mutha' Hucker) has rails, tabletops, boxes and a Huckster Jump for catching big air. This park—the highest in North America — is usually open into June when it really rocks. Beginners should try High Divide, a new park built on Sundance last season.

The ski area has a respected ski school and classes are small so you'll get plenty of individual attention. For those who consider skiing and riding "more of a passion and expression than a sport," A-Basin offers the High Adventure Series, excellent clinics and seminars on backcountry skiing, skiing the steeps, terrain park, telemarking and avalanche awareness. Children's lessons start at age 4 for skiing, 8 for snowboarding.

A new 7,200-square-foot building houses the rental and repair shop. Look for a new restaurant atop Exhibition Lift around March of '07.

Lift tickets (2006/07 prices until December 15, 2006): Adults, $47; youth (15–19) $41 and seniors (60–69), $43; child (6–14), $22; and 70 and older, $10; ages 5 and younger, free. One child skis free with a full-price adult lift ticket. Prices for adults and youth/seniors are lower during spring. Though Vail Resorts doesn't own A-Basin, it has arranged for Keystone/Breckenridge lift tickets to be valid at A-Basin too.

Lodging information: Summit County Chamber, (800) 530-3099 or (970) 262-0817.