Aspen question

I'll be in Aspen from 2/1-2/5 and I'm definitely starting to get fired up for the trip! Anyway, we'll be skiing only three days total, so would like to ski one day at each mountain (I'm assuming we'll skip Buttermilk). One day will be a Saturday. Is there a certain mountain we should pick for that day? I know Aspen is less crowded than many other places in Colorado, so maybe it doesn't even matter, but would like advice from the experts.

I don't think anyone in my group has skied there before so any suggestions are appreciated!

Ajax is always a good call. No beginner terrain, if ya know what I mean.
If it snows, go directly to Aspen Highlands. Highlands Bowl is a must. That would be my plan for Saturday. Get yer hike on, and don't neglect the stuff just to the left of where the Cat drops you off. Too many people go for the full huffer to the top.

I'm sure you will get plenty of great suggestions from the Aspen regulars. Have fun, it is truly one of my favorite spots. Just watch out for the fur crowd.

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Originally Posted by warthog

don't neglect the stuff just to the left of where the Cat drops you off. Too many people go for the full huffer to the top.

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Glad to hear that! The group I'm with might balk a little at too much hiking.

It doesn't really matter. Just don't go to Snowmass on a high wind day.

11" new today.




I am sure some of the locals will chime in after they get off the hill.

The new lift at Aspen Highlands is pretty sweet, especially if it has just snowed. There are a couple of sweet little tree chutes just to the left of where everybody waits for the cat.

Also, a quick eating tip, try Johnny McGuires...hands down, best sandwiches ever...period. God I wish we still had one it Durango.

Highlands is sweet if it's a storm day, but is also the best one a day or two after a storm since there is always good snow in the bowl for a short hike. I might think Ajax on a storm day since it makes for prettyquick laps and the types of people who prefer that mountain are often the types who prefer to wait out a storm.

Here's and Aspen JONG question: Does Highlands Bowl usually open during storms or is it usually the day after?

AD...Doesn't matter which hill. My guess is that snowmass will be the best (crowd wise) on Friday.....Highlands and Ajax are rarely crowded. We got a foot of fresh today, and I only waited one time for the Gondola, and that was at 8:45am this morning......!

as for ROBOKILL's question..The bowl opens when it is controlled, sometimes that morning, sometimes that afternoon, sometimes the next afternoon. All depends on the snow.....!

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Originally Posted by Lloyd Braun

AD...Doesn't matter which hill. My guess is that snowmass will be the best (crowd wise) on Friday.....Highlands and Ajax are rarely crowded. We got a foot of fresh today, and I only waited one time for the Gondola, and that was at 8:45am this morning......!

as for ROBOKILL's question..The bowl opens when it is controlled, sometimes that morning, sometimes that afternoon, sometimes the next afternoon. All depends on the snow.....!

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Thanks. That's what I figured. I might be at Highlands on Saturday and that storm might (anti-jinx) hit Thursday so I'm just wondering what to expect.

I would just skip Snowmass. Snowmass is great for families and easier terrain, but otherwise it sucks...kind of like Vail, you have to traverse all over the place to get anywhere.

Our skiing is killer, you should have a great time.

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Originally Posted by ZG

I would just skip Snowmass. Snowmass is great for families and easier terrain, but otherwise it sucks

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Someone is bound to jump all over this statement! raddam?

My group will want to ski Snowmass regardless. No, we won't be sticking to blue groomers all day, but we don't require absolute balls-to-the-wall terrain, either. Judging from the trail map, though, Snowmass does look somewhat confusing. It looks tough to do laps on the top of the mountain, that's for sure.

Just got in... SICK day at Highlands. A foot last night with seemingly calm winds wise which made the west side unusually good. The Bowl did open today after some control work and it skied the best it has all year.

There arent a lot of lift lines to worry about here... I would perhaps suggesting hitting Highlands on a week day as the weekend warriors tend to stampede it on the weekends. Still no lines to speak of...

Ajax is good any day, as is Snowmass. Grunt through the one long lift line at the bottom of Fanny Hill (or park and go up Two Creeks), and your home free... Go out of your way to find the goods... (Rock Island, The Wall and the Cirque if it's open) The High Alpine chair is the place to be in general.

Have fun.

Just got back from Snowmass...it did not suck today. I lapped the Burn a few times and then headed to High Alpine. Hit the lower chutes as they opened and then hiked the Headwall a few times and got great turns.

Hitting Highlands tomorrow in hopes that there is still some leftover.

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Originally Posted by ZG

I would just skip Snowmass. Snowmass is great for families and easier terrain, but otherwise it sucks...kind of like Vail, you have to traverse all over the place to get anywhere.

Our skiing is killer, you should have a great time.

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Yeah, you know what you are talking about. Pretty clueless statement.

Just my opinion skideeppow. Maybe after the Gandola goes in, I just think its a pain to travel around the mountain.

Clueless...no

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Snowmass is great for families and easier terrain, but otherwise it sucks...kind of like Vail

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Sorry, that couldn't be more wrong. Snowmass has the best terrain in the valley, hands down. Not necessarily the BEST mountain, but certainly not to be missed with good snow. You won't get the kind of vertical you'd get at Aspen or Highlands, but for technical terrain, billy goating, hucking, etc. it's Snowmass by a mile. If that's not your thing, then by all means, don't go there. Funny how so many of the locals bag on Snowmass. And it is NOTHING like Vail, unless you mean E. Vail.

FYI, look for spotty openings of the comp venue on the Burn Cliffs. Tons of snow in there now. Otherwise, like Knockneed said, stick to the High Alpine area, and don't be afraid to take the road less travelled. There is a variety of terrain up there for pretty much everyone.

Also just got in from the sickness that was Aspen Mtn. today. Sweeeet. SDP, pleasure skiing with you as usual. Nice shot in Powder this month!

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Originally Posted by ZG

Just my opinion skideeppow. Maybe after the Gandola goes in, I just think its a pain to travel around the mountain.

Clueless...no

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Definalty a pain in the ass to get around

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Originally Posted by The AD

Someone is bound to jump all over this statement! raddam?

My group will want to ski Snowmass regardless. No, we won't be sticking to blue groomers all day, but we don't require absolute balls-to-the-wall terrain, either. Judging from the trail map, though, Snowmass does look somewhat confusing. It looks tough to do laps on the top of the mountain, that's for sure.

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Snowmass is excellent, totally different than all the other hills. I love them all, they all just have different character ya know?
what is nice about the Mass is how few expert skiers are on the hill. Everyone seems to stay down low.

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Originally Posted by ZG

Just my opinion skideeppow. Maybe after the Gandola goes in, I just think its a pain to travel around the mountain.

Clueless...no

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I agree with you that the lift system sucks, there is nowhere with good steeps on that mountian that you can lap again and again real easily, everything requires multiple chair rides to lap. If you like to huck though, or even like to do smaller drops, it is well worth the time to get to know Snowmass well.

Aspen can be real fun, but is really all about the stashes. For the best skiing thats also the most convienient and easy to find, I'd say Highlands.

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Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

there is nowhere with good steeps on that mountian that you can lap again and again real easily, everything requires multiple chair rides to lap.

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Hence the Vail comparison. I agree. Still a fun mtn, when you figure a good route out.

Bump.

Thanks for the comments so far!

Where are you staying?

Aspen Mountain and Highlands official opening time is 9:00, but if they don’t have control work, they always open 15 minutes early. Both are a series of ridges and gullies, hence you have to know were the traverses are to get the most out of them. Generally you ski the east facing slopes in the morning, the ends of the ridges around noon and the west facing slopes in the afternoon.

Snowmass opens at 8:30 and you want to get up and out of the village early because the ski school mob. I normally ski Sam's Knob for a couple of runs then head to the Cirque or the Wall.

If you can get someone good to give you a tour, that would be your best bet.
I leave on the last day of the X Games or I would show you the goods. Perhaps one of the other Maggots will help you out?

We'll be staying at Lift One condos in Aspen.

A maggot tour would be great, but I've gotten shit in the past for trying to hook up with "internet people" :) This time I figured I'd just try to get some good advice beforehand and not force that issue. If it was just me I'd be all over trying to hook up with some locals.

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Originally Posted by The AD

We'll be staying at Lift One condos in Aspen.

A maggot tour would be great, but I've gotten shit in the past for trying to hook up with "internet people" :) This time I figured I'd just try to get some good advice beforehand and not force that issue. If it was just me I'd be all over trying to hook up with some locals.

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They just know that those"internet people" would make them ski their asses off, and would balk at suggestions of getting to the bar before last chair.

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Originally Posted by warthog

They just know that those"internet people" would make them ski their asses off, and would balk at suggestions of getting to the bar before last chair.

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That's part of it, no question!!