Tin Woodsman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2004
- Messages
- 1,148
- Points
- 63
Aspen is extremely underated in my book. A lot of skiers shy away b/c of the image and such. Make no mistake, if you can find affordable accommodations, Aspen is the perfect destination for an extended vacation. Each of the three hills that matter (I don't count Buttermilk) have a distinct vibe, personality and sweet spot in terms of conditions. All of the hills are connected via a FREE, efficient and well organized bus system - so you really don't need a rental car while you're there.
I like Ajax for bumps and Mach 3 cruising. What I like best about Ajax is that, as with places like Deer Valet, it empties out on a powder day - who wants to get their Bogner messy? You end up with epic powder days all to yourself. Also, with the gondola, you can really rack up the vertical if that's your thing.
Highlands has gotten a little more crowded in recent years, but is still pretty empty even during a holiday week. It's got a little of everything - fantastic and underated cruising in the mid mountain, steep bumps and trees in the mid and upper mountain, and wide open bowls up above. I disagree with whomever said the lift system was lousy. the three main lifts are all lightning fast HSQs and with the installation of Deeper Temerity, you now have a fast and easy way to lap Highlands Bowl/Temerity/Steeplechase without the hellish traverse back out.
Snowmass is known as a great cruising mountain and it deserves the rep for sure. It's also known to have a lousy lift system, and it probably deserves that rep as well. The addition of the new gondi and 6-pack should help move people out of the base better, but that's not what most of you reading this really care about. Regardless, Snowmass is really the hidden gem of the whole area (if a place with over 1 million skier visits can be considered such). The amount of terrain their is staggering, and I've found that the really gnar expert stuff is usually deserted. If you take the time to know your way around the upper mountain (e.g. Hanigng Valley, Cirque, High Alpine, and everything therein), you will be richly rewarded.
I like Ajax for bumps and Mach 3 cruising. What I like best about Ajax is that, as with places like Deer Valet, it empties out on a powder day - who wants to get their Bogner messy? You end up with epic powder days all to yourself. Also, with the gondola, you can really rack up the vertical if that's your thing.
Highlands has gotten a little more crowded in recent years, but is still pretty empty even during a holiday week. It's got a little of everything - fantastic and underated cruising in the mid mountain, steep bumps and trees in the mid and upper mountain, and wide open bowls up above. I disagree with whomever said the lift system was lousy. the three main lifts are all lightning fast HSQs and with the installation of Deeper Temerity, you now have a fast and easy way to lap Highlands Bowl/Temerity/Steeplechase without the hellish traverse back out.
Snowmass is known as a great cruising mountain and it deserves the rep for sure. It's also known to have a lousy lift system, and it probably deserves that rep as well. The addition of the new gondi and 6-pack should help move people out of the base better, but that's not what most of you reading this really care about. Regardless, Snowmass is really the hidden gem of the whole area (if a place with over 1 million skier visits can be considered such). The amount of terrain their is staggering, and I've found that the really gnar expert stuff is usually deserted. If you take the time to know your way around the upper mountain (e.g. Hanigng Valley, Cirque, High Alpine, and everything therein), you will be richly rewarded.
