After Colorado’s early-season snowfall Tuesday night (parts of the state got up to 10 inches!), it’s time to start planning a weekend getaway. Our vote: Aspen.
It’s arguably the most famous ski resort in the Colorado Rockies, known for the atmosphere of the town, the celebrity clientele and the challenging skiing. For those skiers who are good enough to disappear into the backcountry and contend with a double diamond run, it is heaven on earth. Of the four mountain areas, almost half of the terrain, with the exception of Buttermilk Mountain, is suitable for expert skiers.
DAY 1
Wake up in your cozy room in the Aspen Mountain Lodge, an affordable, family-owned place in the heart of Aspen and enjoyed a filling breakfast.
For thrill seekers, nowhere is more extreme than the dramatic Aspen Highlands, home to North America’s most intense alpine adventure. Start off exploring the Steeplechase ski area, with breathtaking views of the Maroon Bells (a range of mountain summits) from the top of Loge Peak. Work along the challenging double black diamonds, all characteristically steep and bumpy. The newly extended Mushroom trail will test even the fittest mogul enthusiasts. Temerity, between Steeplechase and the Bowl, is the ultimate in tree riding and not for the faint-hearted. The area is sure to produce heroic stories for even the most hardcore skiers and riders.
For a hearty meal, try Merry-Go-Round Restaurant at the top of Exhibition Lift, and chill in the sun on the large, south-facing deck. The extensive international menu has everything from paninis, pastas and fresh salads to an enticing grill menu. If the weather’s a little on the rough side, warm up in the Inferno Café with a cup of organic coffee or coco.
After refueling at lunch, hike to the summit of the Highland Bowl, which will reward you with 2,500 vertical-foot descents down pitches and gullies for an off-piste thrill ride you’ll never forget. With new terrain opening every year, the Bowl offers the steepest untracked descents of any US resort. The terrain is incredibly tough, but for those brave enough to attempt it, the trails could be the most exhilarating of your life. It is monitored extensively for avalanche threats to ensure safe skiing.
Having conquered the Bowl, check out Iguana’s Bar & Grill in the base village, a lively après ski haunt that’s always thriving. Sit on the deck and celebrate the day’s moments of glory with a cool margarita.
For dinner we suggest you head back into Aspen itself and head to BB’S Kitchen, a recently opened restaurant that serves contemporary American home cooking in a casual atmosphere. Using local ingredients and seasonal produce, the menu is packed with old-favorite comfort food, perfect for filling up after a hard day on the slopes. For a little late-night drinking to swap exaggerated stories of dare-devil heroics, head to old time favorite Eric’s Bar, still a local’s hangout. The building is split into three bars, including a top floor cigar lounge where you are still allowed to smoke and a DJ on occasions.
DAY 2
For a change of scenery, try Snowmass mountain; thirty-two percent of the runs are double black diamond, mixed in with daring drops, cliffs, steeps, glades and deep snow providing the advanced ski/snowboarder with a range of gnarly runs to literally take your breath away. A quick journey will take you directly to the bottom of the mountain, where an expanse of free ride terrain awaits. Get an early breakfast in at the aptly named Fuel in town, serving breakfast burritos, bagels, paninis, pastries and the best coffee in town.
For a real adrenaline rush, head to The Cirque for an epic start to the day. A legendary playground of steeps, chutes and striking scenery at 12,510 feet, this is the highest point of any ski area in North America and provides a breathtaking experience. Turn left at the Sheer Bliss Chairlift and head on up to the summit. On a powder day, skiers and boarders wait anxiously for the ski patrol to cut the ropes and open the area. Get there early and be one of the lucky few to bag the first drop into an expanse of thick, untouched powder – truly an unforgettable experience. Try the Headwall, AMF (also known as Adios, My Friend) or Gowdy’s with a huge cornice, narrow choke in the center and a wide open powder field at the bottom, giving copious chances for some big air. Stomach dropping Rock Island is one of the most interesting runs around. A steep jumble of boulders, cliffs and trees, it has been referred to as a “pillow filled odyssey” into the heart of the Gully.
All that adrenaline will ensure you have an appetite by lunchtime. Cruise your way over to Ullhof restaurant at the base of Big Burn and indulge in all-American cuisine. The menu offers a selection of mouthwatering cheeseburgers, hotdogs, homemade fries, salads or soups, and a calorie-busting array of cinnamon buns, pastries and cakes to boost that sugar rush before heading back to the action.
Back on the slopes, those looking for adventure will find plenty in Hanging Valley, a free ride area and the closest thing to backcountry without going out of bounds. A short hike away from ‘High Alpine Chair’ you will find fantastic tree-skimming terrain worth every minute it takes to walk there. After a big snowfall, be sure to check out the local’s secret powder stash: Reidar’s Trees.
If you want challenging steep, tight turns, ski down ‘The Edge’ and drop off to the right hitting ‘Baby Ruth’ and ‘Possible’. These will have your heart in your mouth as you build up speed before both trails empty out into a vast bowl. Lower Glades also has some of the best snow on the mountain.
To wrap it all up, polish of a drink at the best on-mountain après ski joint, the Cirque Bar & Grill. Its vast deck and loud music draw people off the nearby runs. Then catch the shuttle bus back to Aspen Mountain for a great end to the trip.
