Trip to Aspen, need some info.

K

kootenayklaus

Active member
I figured I may as well ask the locals on this one.

I'm heading out to Aspen Feb 28th to Mar 10th this year, and have a free room to stay in for the week. Yeah, Aspen for a trip, I know, cliche, BUT it's also a father/son reunion, and he most likely will offer to pay for many of the amenities.

What I want to know is which mountains are best on which days? Who has the largest/best park? Which of the quartet is best on days with fresh snow? Which is the least busy? Food recommendations? I don't have much experience with fresh snow as I am from Ontario, but I am a relatively strong skier in all aspects, and love park too, mostly because that is all there is to ski out here.

I know next to nothing of Aspen and the surrounding areas, so any information is truly welcome and appreciated. I have a week and a half to kill, so I am glad to go out and explore the hills as I please.

+K for good responses!
 
OH, I forgot to add. I also am a filmer, and may or may not be looking to film an edit as I am out there. Any one who could connect me with some local shredders would be a huge help! Check my Vimeo page in my sig if you want to see some stuff.
 
Snowmass- awesome mountain, it's huge and literally has everything you could want, from super fun groomer off the alpine springs lift to big cliffs/pillows around the cirque and hanging valley. if you get snow there i would ski some of the stuff off the sheer bliss lift (garrets gulch etc) and then hit up the trees that run out of hanging valley, they're so much fun with snow. if you wanna do bumps at all there are some awesome bump runs off the sam's knob lift and then powerline glades off the big burn lift are always good too. It's got a really good park as well with almost no one ever there which is sick too.

Aspen Highlands- probably my favorite mountain in Aspen. Super low key local type of place, famous for highlands bowl which you gotta do at least once. really good groomers going down the main spine pretty much all the way to the bottom. no park. If you get snow I would say its a toss up between highlands and snowmass, hopefully you'll get multiple days of pow to see for yourself. but the runs going down to deep temerity lift are super steep and will be moguls out in the open if not new snow but i've been able to find fresh tracks in the trees back there even when it hasn't snowed for awhile. Olympic bowl (i think thats what its called) drops off the other side of the main ridge and thats got some really good steep bumps/trees as well, but it can get baked by the sun so make sure you hit it at the right time.

Aspen- good all around mountain, definitely go there at least one day. lots of really good groomers you can just fly down (Ruthie's run) and also a lot of good and long bump runs (look under the gondola and you'll see what i'm talking about). Haven't skied there as much as the other two. enjoy the cougars and/or celebrities that will be around.

Buttermilk- havent skied there since i was like 5 so cant really say much. definitely the most beginner/mellow terrain but it does have a really good park from what i've heard. they do have the xgames there after all

Food- in aspen, johnny mcguires is awesome for sandwiches and shit like that. Big wrap has good wraps. CP burger has good burgers. if you like asian food little ollie's and Asie (more fancy) are both good. for pizza you've got NY pizza and Taster's. NY's slices are a little more expensive but they're also huge. Taster's are smaller but cheaper and still delicious. Little Annie's is definitely a place to check out, and if you've got transportation i would highly suggest going to the Woody Creek Tavern just west of town, super local vibe and the former stomping ground of Hunter S Thompson.

hope that helps, i know a bunch about the area so if you have any more questions don't hesitate
 
and i'd say least crowded to most crowded would be Highlands, Aspen, Snowmass. but as long as it's not a huge pow day on the weekend you'll probably not wait in a single line at any of the places regardless. i was there presidents weekend last year and literally didn't wait in a single line.
 
might as well keep going....if you're into live music you should check who's playing at Belly Up, they've usually got a pretty good lineup. and i'd help you out with bars and nightlife but i turn 21 in a month so i'll have to get back to you on that
 
Extremely informative, I really appreciate the time you put into that post, all information has been noted. Yeah, as for nightlife, I am only 19, which is good enough here in Canada but as for the states.. Can't really be looking into that quite yet aha.

Any other information will be immensely helpful! Any locals?
 
The guy above pretty much hit the nail on the head about everything.

This is only my third season in Aspen but hit pm people a week before you go and they will give the lowdown on the snowpack and a forecast.

The ski bums in this town are friendly and the mountains are sicker than you can imagine.
 
Just watched your video lamp and your gonna have to hit Snowmass and buttermilk for park. The x game jump line should still be open.

Also rumor from the park crew is they want to build another 60foot booter at snowmass like they did last year.

For the amount of time your here you should get at least one good pow day.
 
Highlands- All day, err day. Snowmass has better drops, Aspen has faster Vert, Buttermilk has the park, but Highlands has the best vibe and terrain. Natural fun all day.
 
I hiked the highlands bowl 2 days ago and I can tell you it is worth the 40 minutes of pain. Also, the snow mass park is super nice. Alot of big floaty jumps and some fun rails. I skied snow mass 4/5 days I stayed, and I still didn't ski all the runs. I would recommend taking baby Ruth into the glades, as I found fresh snow a week after the last snowfal
 
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