Aspen Backcountry

[andrewjesaitis]

So I am headed down to Aspen in a couple of days and was wondering what the BC situation is down there. I think I'll be mostly be skiing with a guy who doesn't have an AT (or tele) setup , so that definitely limits the possibilities... Is there anything similar to Teton Pass at Jackson or an area that usually has a good boot pack near Aspen? Thanks.

[Lloyd Braun]

There are a couple of areas to ski.

Ajax- off the back side down to midnight mine road. no hiking required but a long jeep/snowmobile road out to a cab or a friend to drive you back to town.

Highlands. Five Fingers area which is quite dangerous in sketchy conditions. but you hike the bowl. follow the ridge out and down the east side to the road to a cab. no skinning required. We had a death in this area last winter. A man on an advance avy course set off a slide.

Snowmass- off the back of the hanging valley wall called willow basin. Tough route finding to get out. people get lost back there all the time.

Our snowpack is in good shape, but I am not sure of the stability right now. BE CAREFUL.