⛷️ A-Basin Upgrades Approved!

Good morning, Stoke Crew. The snow’s fading fast, the sun’s sticking around (some days), and summer stoke is in the air. We’ve got your fix of outdoor news and local stories to kick off your Tuesday.

In today's report:

• Local business stoke
• A new CEO for Vail
• A-Basin gets approval

Today’s Stoke Story

⛰️ Building Community One Adventure at a Time

The Report: What started as an "accidental" Facebook post from Ellie Frost looking for ski touring partners has exploded into something way bigger, a 3,000+ member community called Backcountry Beauties that's connecting women across Colorado's outdoor scene. When Ellie went back to school during COVID to get her programming degree, she came out ready to tackle the mountains with fresh energy but realized she needed to find some awesome women to adventure with instead of trying to keep pace with her usual crew. The community went from 300 members in four days to thousands in the first year, and now includes everything from backcountry skiing to rafting trips, climbing groups, and even international adventures. But here's the coolest part, Ellie's developing a "Backcountry Skill Builder" app that combines outdoor skills with emotional intelligence, helping people honestly assess where they're at and connect with others at similar levels. As someone who knows firsthand how game-changing it is to find your adventure tribe, Ellie's mission is simple but powerful: "to enrich the quality of life of as many people as I can and inspire others to want to do the same."

Why It Matters: The genius of Backcountry Beauties is that it's not just about finding adventure partners, it's about creating a supportive community where women can grow their skills, confidence, and connections all at the same time. Ellie is building something that goes way beyond finding ski partners; she's creating a platform that helps people become the kind of partners others can trust in the backcountry. This is exactly the kind of grassroots community building that makes Colorado's outdoor scene so special, proving that sometimes the most meaningful businesses start with someone just trying to find their people!

Ready to find your adventure tribe? Download the Backcountry Beauties app to connect with women across Colorado who are just as stoked about the mountains as you are!

• Download the App - Click here for Iphone
• Download the App - Click here for Android
• Visit the Backcountry Beauties website

Local Stokelight

⛷️ A Basin Upgrades Approved

Arapahoe Basin just cleared a major hurdle in their expansion dreams — the U.S. Forest Service officially accepted their Master Development Plan, setting the stage for some seriously cool upgrades over the next few years! We're talking about game-changing additions like two new gondolas (one from the upper last chance parking to the pedestrian tunnel), plus 400 new parking spaces and a massive 10,000-square-foot skier services building. The summer side gets love too with 10 miles of new hiking and mountain biking trails designed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, complete with berms, rocks, and technical features! They're even planning to build 4 day-use cabins for those who want to basecamp on the mountain, plus an amphitheater and RV accommodations for summer adventures!

More than 50,000 runners from all 50 states and 11 countries splashed through Boulder's foggy streets on Memorial Day for the legendary BOLDERBoulder 10K, and not even soggy shoes could dampen the incredible energy! From runners dressed as Mario and Luigi to a group of bananas and four girls connected as a human caterpillar, the costume game was absolutely on point as participants wound through Boulder's 6-mile course ending with a stadium finish at CU's Folsom Field. The professional race delivered serious drama with three-time champ Connor Mantz from Team USA edging out Kenya's Daniel Simiu Ebenyo by less than one second in a heart-stopping 28:20 finish, while Grace Loibach Nawowuna from Kenya took the women's title in 31:51. But the real magic happened with stories like Ashli Jerado, who ran in honor of her friend Oscar killed in the line of duty, getting emotional at the finish line while celebrating his memory.

The Epic Numbers

• 50,000+ participants from all 50 states and 11 countries
• $23 million economic impact bringing 90,000 total people to Boulder
• 47 participants have run every single year since 1979

The BOLDERBoulder isn't just another race, it's become a very popular running event in the U.S.! What started as a small local gathering in 1979 has grown into this incredible blend of athletic achievement, community spirit, and patriotic remembrance that defines what makes Colorado's outdoor culture so special. Whether you're chasing PRs or running in costume to honor fallen heroes, this race captures everything we love about coming together through sport and celebrating the people who make our adventures possible!

Mountain Briefing

Vail Resorts has a New CEO

In a move that sent shockwaves through the ski industry, Vail Resorts announced that Rob Katz is returning as CEO after Kirsten Lynch stepped down following three and a half challenging years at the helm. Katz, who originally led the company as CEO from 2006-2021 and launched the game-changing Epic Pass, is coming back to steady the ship after a rocky period that included a prolonged ski patrol strike in Park City, missing earnings guidance, and a stock price that plummeted from nearly $375 when Lynch took over to trading below $150 recently. The board cited "a sense of urgency" around re-accelerating revenue growth, with investors frustrated by years of underperformance and public relations nightmares. Lynch, who spent 14 years with the company and oversaw record Epic Pass sales of 2.3 million for 2024-25, will remain as a strategic advisor during the transition. The news sent Vail's stock jumping 19 points immediately, from $151 to $170 per share.

Arizona Snowbowl just pulled off something absolutely incredible, they're extending their season all the way to June 1st, making this their longest season in 87 years of operation at 185 days! The Flagstaff area resort is staying open through Memorial Day weekend and one final weekend in June, thanks to a cold spring and several storms that kept conditions surprisingly good. Marketing Manager Angie Grubb credits their early November opening, strategic snowmaking investments, and dedicated team for pulling off this historic feat. While Taos might get more attention in the Southwest with its massive 12,481-foot summit, Snowbowl's 2,600 vertical feet and access to backcountry terrain on Mount Humphreys and Mount Agassiz makes it a legit desert skiing gem!

Trip Pick

🌲 Grand Canyon's Best-Kept Secret: The North Rim

While nearly 5 million people flock to the Grand Canyon's South Rim annually, fewer than 2% make the trek to the North Rim and they're seriously missing out on something special! Located 1,000 feet higher at 8,000-9,000 feet elevation, the North Rim offers what many consider the three best comprehensive canyon views (Toroweap, Point Sublime, and Cape Royal) without the crushing crowds. The catch? It's only accessible from May 15 to October 15 each year, and getting there requires a 212-mile drive from the South Rim or a beautiful 207-mile journey from Flagstaff through rich conifer forests. The remote location means you'll get to experience the beauty of the canyon without the chaos of the South Rim crowds.

Trailhead Trivia

How many years ago did the Colorado river start to carve out the Grand Canyon?

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Answer!

5-6 million years ago