Travel Eye on Aspen (Colorado, USA)

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Overview:

Aspen has a reputation for being a star-studded place, expensive and a poseur's paradise. This is partially true, but Aspen can also be enjoyed by those on lower budgets. Aspen's demise as a wealthy Victorian silver mining town preceded its resurrection, half a century later, as the original and arguably still the premier ski-resort in the USA. It boasts all the trappings of a modern, sophisticated American resort, including an attractive pedestrianised shopping mall close to the foot of the slopes and a very efficient transport system (although the compact downtown area, which is about 1¼ mls by ½ ml, is almost entirely flat for walkers). The generally low-rise modern additions blend very well with the carefully preserved buildings and cobbled streets from the days of its first boom period. Glitz and glamour prevail at all times and the town is a popular second home to many established Hollywood movie stars and rock musicians.

Aspen includes 4 mountains in its pass - Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. These combine for 200km of runs, with skiing for just about all standards. It is a relatively expensive lift pass.

The mountains are separate, but linked by an efficient bus system, with Snowmass 12 miles away. Buttermilk suits beginners, but all of the resorts offer a vast array of ski tuition and childcare. Aspen Mountain, which bans boarders, has some fantastic blacks, moguls and tree-line powder. Snowmass also has the biggest vertical drop in the US (1342m). Intermediates will prefer Snowmass and Highlands for cruising, while Buttermilk is excellent for learning to mogul. Boarders are spoilt in the other 3 domains, with half-pipes and specialist parks. There is skiing for everyone, with limited queues, great lifts and friendly staff.

Aspen town is beautifully restored to its Victorian best and there is a fantastic range of restaurants, shops, non-skiing activities, and nightlife. Much of this is expensive, but there are cheaper options, particularly in terms of accommodation. Everything seems to get just a little bit better every year, as the Aspen Ski Company continues to improve on a resort that is already one of the best in the world.

Locality:

Aspen is located in W-central United States, in the W-central portion of Colorado State. 200 mls SW of Denver; 210 mls SW of Denver's international airport. 3 mls SE of Aspen airport. 11 mls E of Snowmass Village. Aspen is set in the heart of the White River National Forest, situated at the head of 12-ml-long Roaring Fork Valley, surrounded by the Elk and Sawatch Mountains.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

The draw card for Aspen is undoubtedly its winter activities which include an ice rink, extensive cross-country skiing, snow-cat tours, dog sledging, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and snowboarding on all 4 mountains; free swimming pool at Snowmass. In the summer: golf, hiking, biking, fishing, horse riding, mountain climbing, white-water rafting, paragliding, helicopter rides and hot-air ballooning; gondola service; light-aircraft trips; wagon rides; skate park for skateboarders and in-line skaters; variety of concerts; food and wine festival are all available. By night there is glamour and glitz at several fine restaurants; cabaret club and some sophisticated nightclubs and discos; Western-style bars; jazz clubs; cinemas, theatre and opera house. .

The Village: 7,937 ft. Highest lifts: 11,835 ft. High altitude and plethora of well-groomed descents on Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands ensure excellent conditions Nov to April; 608 acres of piste covered by snow-making equipment. Aspen Mountain has 76 trails covering 64 mls (36 intermediate runs, 20 advanced and 20 expert). Snowmass has 84 trails covering 137 mls (6 for beginners, 46 intermediate, 15 advanced and 17 expert). Buttermilk has 41 trails covering 21 mls (14 beginners' runs, 16 intermediate and 11 advanced). Aspen Highlands has 131 trails covering 65 mls (26 beginners' runs, 43 intermediate, 22 advanced and 40 expert).

The Silver Queen gondola station, at the base of Aspen Mountain and 100 yds from the small pedestrianised centre, is the main access and ski-school point. Aspen Mountain has 5 primary lifts in addition to the Silver Queen gondola: 1 high-speed quad, 1 high-speed double, 1 quad and 2 doubles; and 2 secondary lifts (1 quad and 1 double). Family-friendly Snowmass (11 mls W of Aspen) has a total of 20 lifts: primary lifts comprise 7 high-speed quads, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 platter pulls and 2 "magic carpets"; secondary lifts comprise 1 double and 1 platter pull. Visitors to Snowmass can ski to 4 different chair-lifts from most properties in the village. A bus or car is required to access the gentler Buttermilk (2 mls NW) and the more distant Aspen Highlands lifts (2½ mls SW). Buttermilk has 1 high-speed quad, 5 doubles and 1 drag-lift; Aspen Highlands has 3 high-speed quads and 1 triple. A 4-mountain lift pass is available entitling use of all 39 ski-lifts. A ski-school is located at the base of each ski-area.