Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen
www.aspensnowmass.com
This mountain looms out of downtown Aspen. Locals call it Ajax and
this is the Aspen areas true performance ski mountain. Don’t bring
you’re game here if you are a beginner; there’s nothing for
you here. But there are plenty of intermediate trails and challenging
black diamonds. The longest run is 3 miles. There is Snowcat skiing on
the back side. Little Nell’s is still the place to gather at the
base. New gondola arrives this winter.
Aspen Highlands
The locals favor this mountain. The Highlands bowl is one of the
great ski experiences if you’re a strong skiier and like a bit
of a workout. Great intermediate and beginner terrain as well.
Buttermilk
The most family friendly of the Big 4 ski resorts. They have mostly
beginner and intermediate terrain. Superb classes for younger kids and
also a popular for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing.
Snowmass
Consistently rated as one of the top ski areas in North America,
if not the world. They are undergoing an expansion of the Base Village
which should provide even more great services to an already splendid
mountain. Snowmass also has one of the most comprehensive ski schools
in the country. Great instructors and frees up Mom and Dad to get in
a few turns with each other. All four ski areas have an almost daily
set of activities for all ages. They also host some of the great winter
events in the country. Visit their website for info.
Hut System
0024 Tumbledown Ln • 925-6618
One of the great treasures in
Colorado. The 10th mountain division huts were originally used as
outposts for soldiers training for winter travel and combat during
WWII. Now there are over30 huts in the 10th mountain system and
over 50 in the entire state. A few of these huts are accessible to the
whole family, but most require moderate to rigorous travel to access. Make
sure to go through a guide if its your first time out or if you
are inexperienced in backcountry travel. www.huts.org Aspen Alpine Guides
These guides have been offering classes and trips for over a decade. All
instructors are certified in Avalanche Rescue, Wilderness Medicine and
Backcountry Winter travel. They offer a number of classes on everything
from building a snow shelter to assessing avalanche danger. They also are
also provide guided trips into the Hut System.
Aspen & Snowmass X-Country
Centers
39551 Hwy 82, Aspen • 925-2145
0239 Snowmass Circle • 923-5700
The Aspen Center is on the Aspen Golf Course and actually connects
to Snowmass Center also on the golf course. Both have excellent mixed
terrain with first rate instructors.
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Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sunlight Ski Area
Ski Area 10901 County Rd 117 • 945-7491
Ski Shop 309 9th St • 945-9425
Sunlight Mountain
Resort is a mountain of fun with priceless flavor and hundreds of
acres of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. The
diversity of terrain features everything from cruising corduroy to
heart stopping steeps all at family-friendly prices. Steep and
deep Sunlight Mountain’s
Extreme challenges skiers and boarders. With a pitch of 52°, the
Heathen is one of the steepest trails in the state. Sunlight is
also home to one of the longest trails. Ute, a cruising beginning
slope, winds more than two-and-one-half miles from the summit to
the base.
Skiing & Snowboarding
Sunlight Mountain offers hundreds of acres of mild green cruisers,
intermediate slopes and black diamond extremes to satisfy skiers
and boarders of all ability levels. Sunlight Mountain Resort features
one of the steepest runs in the state (The Heathen, 52°) and one
of the longest (Ute Trail, 2.5 miles). Rip through the ever-expanding
terrain parks or take in stunning vistas on 29 kilometers of groomed
cross-country/snowshoe trails. Back-country ski tours and guided
snowmobile tours are also available.
X-country & Snowshoeing
The
cross country center offers 29 kilometers of groomed cross country
and snowshoe trails. Beginning, intermediate and advanced trails
wind there way through a gorgeous high valley, flanked by Sunlight
Mountain and the 10,300 foot Williams Peak. Cross Country and Snowshoe
rentals are available at the Sunlight Mountain Ski and Bike shop
as well as on the mountain.
Snowmobiling
Enjoy the beauty and thrill
of riding through the White River National Forest. Take in magnificent
360-degree views of Mt. Sopris, the West Elk Mountains and the
Flattops. see Ad on back page Events & Music
Sunlight Mountain Resort is heating up the winter season with big
on-mountain events and the best in local music après ski all winter
long. Acoustic solo and duos perform at the Last Turn Lounge in
our day lodge on Friday afternoons. Full bands perform at the tavern
in Sunlight Inn on Saturday afternoons. Free.
Kraboolik Dogsledding
4250 Divide Rd., Snowmass • 923-4342
Experience of a lifetime. And great
for the whole family. They have a beautiful area to take folks sledding.
Trips range in time and book fast, so call ahead.
T Lazy 7
3129 Maroon Cr • 925-4614
Ranch Great horsepacking and sliegh rides for
the whole family. They offer short trips and also dinner trips. The
dinner trips are especially fun as you are taken to a hut where you are
fed and listen to live music. A throwback to the Old West.
Redstone Inn
82 Redstone Blvd • 963-2526
The classic Christmas afternoon. This sleigh ride takes you by the
old Redstone Manor and alongside the Crystal River. An excellent
choice for families with young kids. |
