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It’s no secret that one of the top reasons students choose to attend �Թϴ�Ӫ is the easy access it offers to the Rocky Mountains and some of the best skiing in the world. But, as winter comes around, something else becomes clear: Skiing requires significant planning and is expensive, even if you’re going up to the mountains just for the day.��

That’s where �Թϴ�Ӫ’s brand-new Basecamp comes in. Located conveniently at the corner of Asbury Avenue and University Boulevard, this one-stop shop makes skiing accessible and affordable for all students, offering rental ski gear, services like ski tuning and waxing, and a shuttle bus that will run most Saturdays during the winter quarter.

Starting Jan. 17 and continuing through March, students can for just $10. It’s even cheaper if you buy a season pass—$40 will get you up to the mountains eight times, when paired with �Թϴ�Ӫ’s favorite cold-weather tradition, (which includes a trip to Winter Park Feb. 19-22). Full gear packages, including skis, poles, boots, and a helmet, are available for around $25.

The bus, which holds 50 students, picks up passengers on South Race Street, right behind Community Commons, at 6 a.m. and returns by 6 p.m. Because Colorado is home to two popular ski season passes—the Epic pass and the Ikon pass—which are affiliated with different resorts, there are usually two drop-offs at nearby resorts, one Epic (e.g., Vail) and one Ikon (e.g., Copper Mountain).

It's not only convenient but sustainable and safe, says Nathan Page, assistant director of James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus and �Թϴ�Ӫ Outdoors.��

“It's great to see a bus full of students sleeping, safely getting up there by 8 a.m., versus all those same people driving themselves on I-70. It’s a win-win—from both the traffic safety and risk management side, with us being able to check folks in and out, and the sustainability side, with having one bus versus 30 cars.”

Previously, the ski bus was operated by the Alpine Club, but it only ran two or three times a quarter due to limited resources. So, �Թϴ�Ӫ Outdoors offered to staff the bus on a more regular basis, partnering with Undergraduate Student Government and its sustainability committee, which are helping fund the bus and offset costs to keep the fee low for students.��

“Our goal is to make the ski bus a worthwhile investment and a reliable, consistent way for students to get to the mountains,” Page says.

Basecamp, which is housed in two bungalows connected by a covered garage space, will focus on winter sports through March. As the weather warms up in the spring, it will change over to a bike shop and also offer gear for camping, backpacking, and water sports.��

Operated by �Թϴ�Ӫ Outdoors, Basecamp will employ up to 10 students and serve as the hub for the outdoor and wellness community at �Թϴ�Ӫ. Several student clubs—like Alpine Club, Club Climbing, Club Cycling, Club Kayak, Club Ski, and Club Free Ride—will be able to hold meetings and plan trips there. Students can also get information about KMC and other outdoor-related programming, like climbing classes, wilderness first aid, Outdoor Leadership Lab, and Leave No Trace. ��

“We see ourselves as the main connection point for the �Թϴ�Ӫ community between the city and the mountains, between the Denver campus and the Kennedy Mountain Campus,” says Page. “We also want Basecamp to be a fun space where students can just hang out, share stories, talk about trips, and connect with like-minded individuals.”

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