Only a week to go until Snowmass' best party of the summer--it's the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest!
Want to maximize your Snowmass vertical with the longest possible run? Start at the top of the Cirque, at 12,510 feet (3,813 m) and head down Rocky Mountain High. Bear skier's left and head down Sneaky's. At the bottom of Sneaky's, turn skier's left onto Powderhorn. When you see the bottom of Powderhorn, remember to get some speed—there's a bit of a traverse to the bottom of the Campground chairlift, which sits at 8,223 feet above sea level (2,506 m). That's 4,287 vertical feet in one run (1,306 m). So head back up and do it again... But wait, can you do it without stopping?
Looking for expert terrain? We all know Snowmass is famous for being family-friendly and having miles of cruisers, but did you know that 32% (1002 acres!) of Snowmass' terrain is rated expert? That's more expert terrain than all the terrain of any kind at Aspen Mountain (673 acres). So the tip of the day is: Stick with Snowmass, even if you are looking for expert terrain.
Did you know there is a network of free cross country ski trails in Snowmass Village? The Snowmass Cross-Country Ski Center offers ski rentals, a full range of ski school programs; guided X-C, backcountry, snowshoe rentals, sled rentals, a retail shop, and repair services. Snacks and beverages are available at the Center, in the Snowmass Golf Course Club House. The Ski School offers beginner to expert instruction in both classic and skate skiing. Regularly scheduled and custom tours are also available.
Love to ski fresh corduroy, but you slept late? No worries at Snowmass—we have the "Noon Groomer." The Skiing Company closes off a groomed run in the morning and drops the rope at 12:00 noon. Stop by the Snowmass Village Mall Ticket Pavilion, any on-mountain Guest Service Center, or check the signs at the bottom of each lift to find where the daily Noon Groomer is, and get there early! (I.e. 11:50 a.m., lazy bones.)
If you have never treated yourself (and a loved one) to breakfast at Gwyn's High Alpine full-service, you have been missing out. Without a doubt the best dining experience on the mountain, especially for those special occasions when you want to splurge. Or just have a great, relaxing meal.
Two rescues of out-of-bounds skiers/boarders over the past weekend are a strong reminder that skiing the backcountry can be extremely dangerous. Before you exit the ski area boundaries on any of the Aspen/Snowmass ski areas, know what you are risking and consider the following:
The mahi mahi tacos on the lunch menu at Brothers' Grille--that's all I'm gonna say.
Staying in Snowmass but want to spend a day skiing Aspen Highlands? There is a direct Snowmass-to-Highlands bus that leaves the RFTA stop at the end of the Village Mall at 9:00 a.m. every morning. You can still ride the free skier shuttle to Highlands at other times, but you will need to ask the driver to stop at the roundabout at Maroon Creek Road to transfer to the Highlands local bus.
