An Emotional Day at Arapahoe Basin as Ski Area Reopens

Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth marks every six feet for the lift line on reopening day at the Arapahoe Basin ski area May 27, 2020. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)

Sarah May got a little teary-eyed on her first trip up the Black Mountain Express chairlift Wednesday as skiers and riders attended reopening day at Arapahoe Basin following a 10-week shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

May and her boyfriend have ridden their snowboards in the backcountry a few times since Gov. Jared Polis ordered ski areas closed on March 15, but this was different. This felt like a step toward normalcy.

“I got a tad emotional on the chairlift,” May said after her first run down the mountain on mashed potato spring snow that felt nice and cushy under her feet. “We’ve really been working for our turns, hiking for them, but the privilege of being able to ride a chair is amazing, and I am very thankful.”

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