Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will open for the season as scheduled on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. Snowmaking teams have worked around the clock to ensure the opening despite dry conditions in the second half of November. Snow is forecasted over the Thanksgiving Holiday, which should allow for the opening of additional terrain as weather conditions permit.
Aspen Mountain opens with four trails and 48 acres of skiing all of it at the top of the hill with 1,100 feet of vertical. The Silver Queen Gondola will bring guests to the summit accessing 1 & 2 Leaf, Upper Copper, Silver Bell and Deer Park. The Ajax Express chair will serve guests for repeat skiing. Skiers and riders will download on the Gondola at the end of the day.
Snowmass will open with seven trails and 93 acres of terrain and more than 2,100 feet of vertical. The Village Express will run to the top of Sam’s Knob with skiing and riding down Max Park, Lunchline, Dawdler Bowl, Upper Scooper, Lower Hal’s and Fanny Hill. The Elk Camp Gondola will take skiers and foot passengers to the Elk Camp Meadows beginner area and the Meadows lift will be in operation. A pocket park with six to eight intermediate and advanced hits will be located just below the water plant. The Treehouse and two Magic Carpets will take care of our younger skiers. The Sky Cab gondola will connect the Mall and Base Village and will run until 9 p.m.
Lift tickets will be $69 for adults, $59 for youth (13-17) and senior (65-69), and $39 for children (7-12). As always children six and under ski for free.
In addition to the opening of the mountains, Aspen Skiing Company will open two new restaurants on Thursday. Sneaky’s Tavern, serves “Colorado Bistro†style cuisine at lunch time, après and dinner. Located adjacent to The Treehouse and mere steps from the Village Express chairlift, Sneaky’s Tavern will be a very popular destination for those looking to dine in a relaxed, comfortable setting. The indoor/outdoor bar/restaurant will serve something for every palate including: stews, a selection of salads, “cabin flatbreads,†roasted ground bison meatloaf, locally raised beef burgers and a cavatapi style noodle “mac and cheese.†They will also feature homemade desserts like warm bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce. The full bar will serve draft and bottled beer, wine and a full section of cocktails.
Back by popular demand, Ajax Tavern, just steps from the Silver Queen Gondola at the base of Aspen Mountain, will reopen their doors for lunch, après and dinner. With an expanded bar area inside and a larger deck outside, Ajax Tavern will continue to serve après ski favorites including their famous truffle fries along with other French bistro fare.
The Aspen Winternational Audi FIS Alpine World Cup races are this weekend, November 29-30, bringing the world’s fastest women skiers to Aspen Mountain. The Giant Slalom will kick-off the event on Saturday and the Slalom will be on Sunday. Robert Randolph and the Family Band will play the first Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert of the season at the base of Aspen Mountain on Saturday at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks extravaganza over Aspen Mountain.
For the best deals during the Thanksgiving Holiday and throughout the season visit www.aspensnowmass.com/deals.
Aspen Skiing Company operates four destination mountains – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – and is the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010. Aspen/Snowmass also offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well as four award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen/Snowmass, please call 800/525-6200 or 970/925-1220, or visit the company’s website at www.aspensnowmass.com.
