Aspen Snowmass 4/15 to 4/18

[Tonyr]

Resort or Ski Area

Aspen Snowmass

Date

Apr 15, 2022

Snow Conditions

1. Slush or Spring Snow
2. Cord
3. Sticky
4. Moguls

We did our first spring ski trip out west at Aspen Snowmass during the Easter break spending 3 days at Ajax and 1 day at Snowmass. The prime times to ski where from 10.30 am until about 2 pm where you'd want to ski the lower mountain earlier in the day and the upper mountain during the back half as the bottom of the mountain started to get sticky. Both mountains had 90% plus of their terrain opened which was pretty awesome this late into the season. I got to ski Ajax 3 days two December's ago and 3 days this time so I have a pretty good feel for the mountain. There were no lines whatsoever this time the only issue was that some of the deep snow areas on Bell mountain and Gentlemen's Ridge got cementy late in the day and they were crusty early on. I kind of avoided those areas somewhat and skied a ton off of the FIS and Shadow mountain lifts. The expert terrain at Ajax is outstanding if you have never been, your able to lap all the good stuff pretty easily!

(I'll add Snowmass separately) Below are some of the better photos from our 3 days at Ajax.........

 

[Edd]

Man, I loved my trip to Aspen. I intend to return.

 

[Tonyr]

Our 1 day at Snowmass was our first time there. Lot's of great long groomers at Snowmass if that is your thing. The expert terrain is good as well it just takes some work to get to making it not as easy to lap as Ajax, although I was only there one day so I am definitely not an expert on how to get around Snowmass. The other thing I noticed is that the bottom got sticky pretty early there for whatever reason so I skied near the top most of the day. The highlights for me were the Powerline & Sneeky Glades, KT Gully, Baby Ruth, Hanging Tree Glades, and the Cirque Headwall which was extremely windy at the top but the snow was awesome. Here are some of my better photos from the day, I would definitely like to go back during the prime season......

 

[Tonyr]

Man, I loved my trip to Aspen. I intend to return.

Yes it's a great spot. Probably my favorite terrain in Colorado along with Telluride & Crested Butte. The only downside is that all three places are a pain in the butt to get to!

 

[jimk]

Ajax is a pretty burly mtn. It's a lot more challenging than it's glamorous image might imply. Lots of moguls and steep tree shots. You can turn your legs into jelly riding the gondola all day while skiing black diamonds. That gondola is one of the rare lifts in the USA with 3000 vertical and crowds generally so light that most times you could lap it all day long if so desired in walk-on mode! Probably a good venue for someone from a small hill that might want to set their personal "most vertical in a day" record.
I skied Snowmass one day this Feb, after six weeks of skiing Snowbird. I'm not ashamed to admit I enjoyed the heck out of the long, wide, blue-square groomers there. So relaxing for an old guy

 

[Tonyr]

Yes the Gondola is a long ride though, around 12 minutes if I remember correctly so after a couple of rides I'd get tired of sitting on it! I really enjoyed skiing all of the trails off the FIS and Shawdow mountain lifts this time. When I was there last time all of those chutes off of the FIS lift were closed. They were lappable this time and real easy to get to.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed skiing some of the blue squares with the family at Snowmass as well. It would be a nice break from the terrain at Snowbird, I just thought some of the more challenging stuff at Snowmass was kind of a pain to get to. That's not a problem at Snowbird!

 

[deadheadskier]

That's my biggest complaint about Snowmass. They have some decent (albeit short) expert terrain. But the lift layout to access Hanging Valley or the Cirque totally sucks.

Highlands is for sure my favorite of the Aspen areas

 

[Tonyr]

That's my biggest complaint about Snowmass. They have some decent (albeit short) expert terrain. But the lift layout to access Hanging Valley or the Cirque totally sucks.

Highlands is for sure my favorite of the Aspen areas

That was my impression of Snowmass. I have not skied the Highlands yet, it has been closed both of my visits to the area.