Aspen

[highpeaksdrifter]

I was reading through a thread and came across one of Lloyd’s posts on his home mountain of Aspen and it got me thinking. I’ve skied quite a bit in Colorado and I’ve never skied there. As far as I know, no one I know has ever skied there. It really doesn’t get a heck of a lot of run in ski forums, even in one like Epic where you would think it would. It’s quite a haul from Denver, I’m sure that has something to do with it.

Besides Lloyd, who else has skied there and what do you think of it?

 

[Greg]

What the hell are we doing here, Harry? We gotta get out of this town!

Oh yeah, and go where? Where are we gonna go?

I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen.

Oh, I don't know, Lloyd. The French are assholes.

I love that movie... :lol:

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Bring your Amex...and fly into Aspen, Denver is a haul! Its a pricey place to be, but there is some great skiing to be had out there for sure...Highlands is my favorite in Aspen, but Snowmass has some great expert terrain as well. I wouldn't put it at the top of my list to hit out west, but if you've got the means and the time, its well worth checking out.

 

[Hawkshot99]

I love that movie... :lol:

Me too.:beer:

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

See what I mean? Out of the 3 replys 2 are about the movie.

 

[lloyd braun]

There are deals.

If anyone from here (AZ) would like to plan a trip out to ski our 4 mountains, please contact me and I would be happy to help you find affordable rooms and restaurants. We have some of, if not the best, uncrowded terrain in CO.


Where else can you ski 40K of vert almost everyday?

Lloyd

PS> Denver is not that far, 3 hrs from the airport. another option to get here is Eagle, EGE( also known as Eagle/Vail) which is 1:15 from Aspen and much cheaper and easier (less cancelled flights) than Aspen

 

[kcyanks1]

I was reading through a thread and came across one of Lloyd’s posts on his home mountain of Aspen and it got me thinking. I’ve skied quite a bit in Colorado and I’ve never skied there. As far as I know, no one I know has ever skied there. It really doesn’t get a heck of a lot of run in ski forums, even in one like Epic where you would think it would. It’s quite a haul from Denver, I’m sure that has something to do with it.

Besides Lloyd, who else has skied there and what do you think of it?

I've skied there - Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Highlands. Highlands is the best of those IMO. It along with Jackson would be my favorite resorts. Aspen Mountain was also fun. Some nice bump runs, some steep runs, and some glades too. But I loved Highlands, and I was last there when they were just opening up the bottom of the Highlands bowl. The terrain has expanded considerably since I was there, so I'm sure it is even better now.

 

[L2RAFO]

ECPH said it all. I've been there a lot for business reasons over the last ten years, but if I had to pick a spot out West for vacation, the Aspen area wouldn't be all that high on my list. Still, if you've got big bucks to spare, and like the whole glitz, and glamour thing then Aspen's your place.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Aspen is not that far, on a clear day with no traffic i made it from denver in just over 3hrs, dont forget the speed limit is 75 out there so 80 is not a problem. I skied Snowmass, i probably didnt enjoy half of the mountain because i was not advanced enough too, they do have some great blue cruisers though, i also like how they put the map on the crossbar of the lift so you dont have to go fumbling around on the lift figuring out where your gonna go.

 

[lloyd braun]

i also like how they put the map on the crossbar of the lift so you dont have to go fumbling around on the lift figuring out where your gonna go.

the guy that came up with that idea lives here. He can do it for all resorts hopefully you'll see it around the NE soon. Oh and that invention became a court battle here, between the ski company and the National Forest, due to the advertisements on the maps

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

the guy that came up with that idea lives here. He can do it for all resorts hopefully you'll see it around the NE soon. Oh and that invention became a court battle here, between the ski company and the National Forest, due to the advertisements on the maps

Im pretty sure Killington had that way before i skied but got rid of it for $$$ reasons, im sure someone in here will chime in on that, but i liked the idea alot, it was very helpful, even with the verizon wireless advertising all over it lol

 

[Geoff]

My mom wintered at Snowmass for a bunch o' years in the 90's. Since it was out the front door, step over the sidewalk, and put your skis on, I didn't get many days at Ajax or Highlands. Aspen is the best ski town in North America. Little surprise that the airport is stuffed full of Gulfstreams. The snow quality ain't AltaBird and the terrain ain't Whistler but there's plenty of whatever suits your fancy. Snowmass is the 2nd best intermediate destination in the world behind Deer Valley. Like Deer Valley, it also has plenty to interest an advanced skier and is a good spot for a mixed ability group. I've always thought Highlands had the best overall terrain and it certainly sees the least traffic so the skiing surface is usually good. It also has the destination resort rythm rather than the Colorado I-70 rythm. Saturdays are pretty empty since it's the travel day for the ski week people. In the front range, Saturdays are jammed with Denver day trippers.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

My mom wintered at Snowmass for a bunch o' years in the 90's. Since it was out the front door, step over the sidewalk, and put your skis on, I didn't get many days at Ajax or Highlands. Aspen is the best ski town in North America. Little surprise that the airport is stuffed full of Gulfstreams. The snow quality ain't AltaBird and the terrain ain't Whistler but there's plenty of whatever suits your fancy. Snowmass is the 2nd best intermediate destination in the world behind Deer Valley. Like Deer Valley, it also has plenty to interest an advanced skier and is a good spot for a mixed ability group. I've always thought Highlands had the best overall terrain and it certainly sees the least traffic so the skiing surface is usually good. It also has the destination resort rythm rather than the Colorado I-70 rythm. Saturdays are pretty empty since it's the travel day for the ski week people. In the front range, Saturdays are jammed with Denver day trippers.

Good post. Even though Breck is a destination resort I definately get what you mean by the I-70 rythm.

In the 80's Breck was still a cool ski town. It's so over developed and plastic looking now it blows.

 

[RISkier]

There are deals.

If anyone from here (AZ) would like to plan a trip out to ski our 4 mountains, please contact me and I would be happy to help you find affordable rooms and restaurants. We have some of, if not the best, uncrowded terrain in CO.


Where else can you ski 40K of vert almost everyday?

Lloyd

PS> Denver is not that far, 3 hrs from the airport. another option to get here is Eagle, EGE( also known as Eagle/Vail) which is 1:15 from Aspen and much cheaper and easier (less cancelled flights) than Aspen

Lloyd, I'd certainly be interested in learning about affordable housing. I THINK we're all set for this year but everything I read about the Aspen area makes me think we'd love it. That said, everytime I price trips to Aspen they look really expensive. I think we can almost do two trips to UT for one trip to Aspen.

 

[riverc0il]

I love that movie... :lol:

Yea. He must work out.

So your saying there's a chance?

Such a great movie.

:beer:

 

[deadheadskier]

I spent 6 days skiing the Aspen areas in mid-March of 01.

Ajax, Highlands and Snowmass all have some pretty kick ass terrain. The combined options are HUGE. Above treeline bowls, steep narrow chutes, big drops, great trees, long fall line cruisers, awesome bumps - it's all there and tons of it. My only wish terrain wise is that I had the opportunity to ski some back country off of Ajax with a local as I hear it's pretty sick. On a good snow day, the whole basin ranks up there with anything I've ever seen in terms of great ski terrain, it's awesome.

Highland Bowl was the highlight for me and honestly, it's a must do experience for advanced skiers. It's just an awesome high alpine experience to hike and ski. Even though the snow was windpack slab, the three runs I did up there were three of the most memorable of my life. It's a true pinnacle of a high steep mountain experience, kind of like how I feel standing on top of Mansfield getting ready to drop into Hourglass.

One thing I will say though is that all three areas have absolutely the WORST lift system I have ever experienced. They have really nice high speed lifts and gondolas, but the layout SUCKS. I'd imagine Highlands in much better now with the new Temerity lift, which oddly is not on the zoomable map on the website even though it was installed two years ago. There is SICK terrain at Snowmass on the Cirque and Hanging Valley Wall, BUT long boring traverses out of the areas that require two lifts to get back to the goods. Highlands I felt the same thing about, though it looks like it's improved with the new temerity lift. Ajax is a total mess that I won't even get into.

I will echo what someone else said in that Aspen is indeed the best ski town I've ever experienced. Better than Vail, better than Breck, better than Stowe, better than Placid, perhaps Park City or South Lake Tahoe has it beat, never been to those locations. There is a TON of glitz there, but there is also a real laid back side too. The place parties like no other and the food options are out of Manhattan.

My take. Killer terrain, crappy lift layout, way below average snowfall for western standards, no crowds on the slopes, more easily accesible than people think, the best party/dining ski town in america.....and.....


....the MOST expensive place to ski bar none. Example. I was visiting a friend of mine at the time (again spring 2001)while out there and she cocktail waitressed at the Regis, perhaps the most swank place in town. I went to pick her up from work, she wasn't quite done with her shift yet, so I asked for a margarita. Basic marg, no special tequila, in a 10 oz glass.

The cost? $14.23 Thank you very much. I'll never forget it.

 

[St. Jerry]

Aspen/Ajax is my favorite mountain! No beginner trails (which keeps it uncrowded), many high speed lifts, and several low-speed lifts that help you catch your breath. The best part is all of the expert terrain with minimal cross-walks to get there. And the mountain is always uncrowded!

Snowmass will be good for the wife as it has lots of groomed intermediate terrain. And usually some colorado sun. Helps keep the tears away!

Pricy yes, but I've never been dissapointed. Aspen = $85/day. Killington = $80/day. Since I don't have a ski pass, the $5 is well worth it.

I just booked flights out there (flying into eagle) for the first week of January. Haven't pulled the trigger on where to stay yet.

Surprisingly, Snowmass has the most affordable slopeside lodging for any major resort in Colorado.

St. Jerry

 

[marcski]

I think I read that Lift tickets at Aspen will be $85 this year.

 

[RISkier]

I think walk up window prices are $87 but what's $2. Of course walk up ticket prices at Stowe and Killington aren't exactly inexpensive either.

 

[bvibert]

I love that movie... :lol:

Agreed, so many funny lines and scenes!