THE Aspen/Snowmass / Greater Roaring Fork Valley 23-24 Thread

Today I road Bell, down Knowlton’s and up Gent Ridge. Took like half hour…lol.

I would like to see them take out Gent and Bell and put in a new four pack that goes from the intersection of spar and copper to just above where Gents drops off now.

Would be a great way to release pressure on Ajax express and lap the top half of the mountain.

Also, lapped Hero’s 5 times today. I had not really had a chance to ski it since the last storm gave the necessary coverage for the chutes. Honestly….it is better than I thought it would be. It really adds a lot to Ajax and is sort of a mini DT or hanging valley with a lift.

I know it’s only 1200 vert, but the lift ride is only 4.5 minutes. It is going to be a blast when we finally stack some powder days together. I’m impressed.

The bottom pancake glade kind of sucks though….but subsequent runs where I hooked skiers left for the bottom third made it better.

They also need to sneak in and take out some more trees in some places.


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See page 3….

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd569244.pdf

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Originally Posted by alpinevibes

Good stuff up on Highlands today; got in a couple bowl laps and dipped into Eden. There were lotsa people but still fun skiing and beautiful morning for Po4

White Kitchen lap with my wife:

Attachment 486403

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Eden was skiing really well, didn’t go in from the top but skied one shot over from far skiers right for most of it.

Skied G5 with my daughter’s group and some friends up from the front range, super fluffy up there.


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I got some nice morning laps at Ajax and the 1" report skied soft. Good turns on Pinball, Zoot Chute, S1, Slalom and Bonnie Bell. The techy spots are starting to come in and become skiable. Might have to venture back to Heroes but I'm scared of what's hiding underneath. I agree on the comparison to a shorter DT; the skiers left stuff definitely has that feel

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Originally Posted by grskier

See page 3….

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd569244.pdf

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Yes, I have seen that. That plan doesn’t accomplish what I was suggesting, unless they replace Gent’s with a serviceable lift. Even then, you are stuck riding two lifts. Something needs to be done about Ajax express.

Side note, that page suggests they would grade to make the sundeck accessible from Pandora. It is currently not and unless you want to walk up the hill, you end up heading down and then back up. Also, I understand slowing people down heading out the ridge to the chutes, and it is likely better the way it is….but the choice to make skiers fishbone up to the gate is interesting.


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Originally Posted by gretch6364

Yes, I have seen that. That plan doesn’t accomplish what I was suggesting, unless they replace Gent’s with a serviceable lift. Even then, you are stuck riding two lifts. Something needs to be done about Ajax express.

Side note, that page suggests they would grade to make the sundeck accessible from Pandora. It is currently not and unless you want to walk up the hill, you end up heading down and then back up. Also, I understand slowing people down heading out the ridge to the chutes, and it is likely better the way it is….but the choice to make skiers fishbone up to the gate is interesting.


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It was regraded as much as they could and still get Midnight Mine Road to connect. They'd have to put in a huge culvert like the ridge and lunch line at snowmass.

ETA,
I don't know if they want 4 lifts dumping off at the top of Aspen, already so much of the uphill capacity gets you there.

Would it make laps on Back of Bell more efficient, sure, but it usually skis so well because it is inefficient.

All good points. I just hate how Ajax Express gets so choked up. It’s like the the Aspen Mountain version of alpine springs.


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I’ve found more and more I’m using 3 as a means to get places vs lapping it. So it is annoying when you’re trying to get to the sundeck from pandora’s and it has a random line but worst case you get an awesome t2b run and take the gondola.

I have been really enjoying skiing stuff off couch and then taking hero’s back up to avoid the long ride. Before that it was a better use of time to ski all the way to the bottom vs ride couch, as much as I do love that chair

Bell chairs base has to be low for access from Nell and 1A. If it was a high speed triple to the top, I could live without Gents Ridge.
Hero’s to the Sundeck isn’t much of a walk and that could all change when they redo the Gondi.


I rode up with Max Taam today.
He’s a nice guy, for an animal.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

Bell chairs base has to be low for access from Nell and 1A. If it was a high speed triple to the top, I could live without Gents Ridge.
Hero’s to the Sundeck isn’t much of a walk and that could all change when they redo the Gondi.


I rode up with Max Taam today.
He’s a nice guy, for an animal.

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Redo the gondi?

Silverqueen’s getting old.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

Silverqueen’s getting old.

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They just replaced the haul cable and I haven't heard any mention of it. It's gotta be another 10-15 years out, don't ya think?

Maybe?
I’m hearing it’s on the table.

Didn’t come up last time we talked about the master plan, I know they have a ton of capital need on Snowmass.

I’ll ask next time I chat with those guys. I don’t meet with them as often now that I don’t do permits or roads.


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Originally Posted by grskier

Didn’t come up last time we talked about the master plan, I know they have a ton of capital need on Snowmass.

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Coney Glade went down yesterday.
All the jibbers and unfortunately me,
had to go to the VX about 11.
It’s going to be a total cluster, when they move the base across from the mall.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

It’s going to be a total cluster, when they move the base across from the mall.

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That has been the feedback I've seen reported as well. I would have to imagine that there would need to be some sort of reroute to get folks not crossing there.

It didn’t even occur to me that they would put the bottom of the lift on the other side.

I just assumed it would load just above the mall near where all the ski racks are or out where everyone stands and puts on their skis. Then a second entrance uphill for those skiing down or coming from Adam’s avenue


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Has campground closed for the year?

No, I skied it this morning. It’s pretty good. Last pitch still has a few rocks.

Got a quick couple of inches.

Solid little burst this morning. Ajax still skiing pretty soft at 2:30 all over


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Originally Posted by alpinevibes

Solid little burst this morning. Ajax still skiing pretty soft at 2:30 all over


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Was 1A running and loading general public?


APP still shows closed.
Newly arrived guests say open.

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Originally Posted by Shredhead

Was 1A running and loading general public?


APP still shows closed.
Newly arrived guests say open.

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1A was running when I came out to Slalom at 2:30 but I only saw what looked like a Red Coat riding it. Not sure if it was “open” open

What's the consensus on people using the airport to filter around the backup below the zipper merge on 82? It seems pretty rude and self-centered to me, but coming from Woody Creek I usually don't take 82 into town anyways so I'm not overly bothered by it.

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Originally Posted by One (+) Sentence

What's the consensus on people using the airport to filter around the backup below the zipper merge on 82? It seems pretty rude and self-centered to me, but coming from Woody Creek I usually don't take 82 into town anyways so I'm not overly bothered by it.

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It's rude, but saves anywhere from -1m to +15 m depending on traffic situation. It is hard, sometimes it's slow back to the AABC light, but moving or back that far and not.

I had to stop at the terminal to pick up documents before and pulled in, grabbed a parking spot, when in to the office etc, got back in the car and pulled into traffic in front of the cars I was next to driving up valley last winter....

People do get overly pissed off by folks pulling that maneuver. The SO and County Engineering discussed the situation a few times, but it's just basically a frontage road, so nothing against the law about doing that.

Blower and bluebird at Ajax. Untracked runs at 10am???

And the airport sneak is pretty rude, especially when people drive 1/2 mile up before cutting in. I drive a school bus through there every day at 7:55 and deal with the jokers stacking up the bus lane.


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