Maroon
Bells Peak taken from Cloud 9 at Aspen Highlands
Snowboard
Notes:
Skiers
are also permitted in the Terrain Park(s).
There are 20
snowboard shop(s) within 10 miles. Clinics are available.
Snowboard clinics offered 7 day(s) per week, 2 time(s) per
day.
More steeps,
trees, catwalk launchers and lines so tight no skier would
dare follow are at the Highlands. Prospector Trail is known
locally as Grommets Gulch, and is a natural half pipe packed
with hits. Highlands also hosts a multitude of scary steep
pitches, including the newly opened Y Zones. Those willing
to hike the ridge are rewarded with more than a hundred
turns in the heart of the infamous Highland Bowl. Riders
who are not afraid to hike, yet thrive on jump turns that
drop five feet at a time, will become instant addicts to
the wide-open and exposed Highland Bowl terrain.
Ski
School Notes
Free,
groomed track skiing through beautiful meadows and valleys
is available. Instruction, rental and retail shops are located
at the Aspen Cross Country Center, which can be reached
at (970) 925-2145, and the Snowmass Lodge & Club Cross
Country Touring Center at (970) 923-3148.
Privately-owned
Ashcroft Ski Touring is 12 miles from Aspen and offers 18
miles of groomed trails. Rentals and instructors available.
Call (970) 925-1971 for more information.
Getting
There
Aspen's
Sardy Field Airport is only 3 miles from Aspen Mountain
on US Hwy 82. There are up to 16 daily flights out of Denver
International Airport to the ski resort on United Express.
Aspen is 200
miles west of Denver via I-70 to Glenwood Springs, then
Highway 82 south to Aspen. Aspen Highlands is three miles
outside the town of Aspen, next door to Buttermilk and on
the road towards Snowmass.
Area
Information
Ski
Review - by John Hulettt
Parking
is free if you have three in the car. After
parking, we rode an escalator up to the main village
with minimal walking. We were there on a powder
day and the brick pavers were steaming with a heating
system to save on shoveling. The village built
by Hines for Aspen Ski Co resembles Whistler with
the three and four story buildings that have condo's
above and retail shops for window shopping on the
lower level. The high priced tickets were available
at the top of the escalators. Buying discount
tickets previous to arrival would be recommended.
On the Saturday we skied there were no lines.
The high speed detachable quads run the length
of the ridge. From the top of the 1st quad,
we skied a short distance to catch a ride to the top.
Getting down is limited to moderate groomed runs that
follow the lifts up the gentle slope of the ridge,
or from the top dropping off the East or West facing
down steeper terrain to roads that are long and flat
to gain midway lifts. The West exposure provided
the softer snow and was preferred on the day we skied.
Hikes from the top provide better terrain for
those willing to limit the vertical feet skied in
a day. We skied some cool tree lines on the
West face with round fall away bumps. Lower
Stein which is skiers left just above the base area
was fun although it is short.
In summary, Aspen Highlands has excellent lifts that
are located for the intermediate skiers. The
East and West face expert terrain is good for only
about 800 vertical feet before having to ride the
road back around to the ridge. It would be a
better mountain for the expert skiers if their was
a lift on the East and West face for those that ski
more than a week or two a season.
Aspen
Highlands, located three miles outside the town of Aspen,
has long been known for its stunning views, 3,635-foot vertical
rise and terrain for all the tastes. They have uncrowded
terrain appropriate for any level, including more green
and blue terrain than black and double-black-diamond terrain.
The mountain is actually a long ridgeline, ascending between
the Castle Creek and Maroon Creek valleys. Its famous steeps
drop off the sides of the ridge toward the valleys far bellow.
And beginners and intermediates delight in the long, rolling
cruisers that cascade along the ridge itself. New for the
1998/99 season is a triple chair lift from the base village
to the top of Golden Horn. The Aspen Highlands Village is
underway, a new Boardercross course is located on Heatherbedlam
trail, the terrain park moved to Gunbarrel, and an on-mountain
restaurant is now located at Cloud Nine. Additional gladed,
expert terrain is also being added. With Snowmass, Aspen
Mountain and Buttermilk close by there is variety for everyone.
While best
known as the locals' favorite among the four Aspen ski areas
for advanced and expert skiers and riders, Aspen Highlands
actually has more green and blue terrain than black and
double black diamonds. Relaxed and gentle Buttermilk is
just across the street as well so it is easy to please groups
of mixed abilities at Highlands.
Aspen Highlands
is actually a long ridgeline, ascending between the Castle
Creek and Maroon Creek valleys. Its steeps drop off the
sides of the ridge toward the valleys below. Beginners and
intermediates can enjoy the long, rolling trails that run
along the ridge itself.
With an Aspen
area lift ticket, skiers and riders can hit the slopes of
Highlands as well as choose from Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk
and the big daddy, Snowmass. Just three miles from the center
of Aspen town, Highlands is a must for anyone who wants
to enjoy the complete Aspen experience.
Aspen Highlands
Ski Area was started by Whipple "Whip" Jones. Jones was
originally from St. Louis, graduated from Harvard and went
on to become a successful member of the New York Stock Exchange.
When he began designing the ski area, he turned to local
experts Dick Durrance, then general manager of Aspen Mountain;
Pete Seibert, a former Aspen Mountain patroller and later
founder of Vail; and the world-famous Stein Erickson. Aspen
architect Fritz Benedict designed the base lodge, still
in use today, around a series of A-frames.
Highlands opened
in November 1958 with a rope tow, two chair lifts and a
display of aerial back flips by Stein Erickson. More lifts
were added, gradually working their way up the mountain,
and the majority of terrain that is open today was being
skied by 1970.
In 1993, Whip
Jones donated Highlands to Harvard University. Developer
Gerald Hines bought the ski area and merged it with Aspen
Skiing Company. The next season, two new high-speed quads
were installed, allowing skiers and snowboarders the ability
to go from the base area to the top of Loge Peak in under
20 minutes. In addition to the new lifts, about 75 acres
of expert-only tree skiing were also opened. This new terrain
added to Highland's reputation as a place where strong skiers
and riders can challenge themselves on steep, uncrowded
trails.
A