With Arapahoe Basin shutting down last weekend, it looked like the only skiing left in the state would be done by those willing to hike for their turns. With plenty of snow left off of Loveland Pass and on Colorado’s high mountains, that seemed like a good plan, although perhaps not so attractive to the couch potatoes among us.
However, for those who prefer lift-accessed turns to the sweat and blister fueled descents off of high peaks, salvation is here.
The Aspen Skiing Company has announced that Aspen Mountain will re-open for three days this coming weekend, June 13 – 15.
According to resort officials, the decision was a no-brainer, given the fact that there’s still a three-foot base on top of the hill.
“We are a skiing company,†says Mike Kaplan, president and CEO, of the Aspen Skiing Company. “We have the unique opportunity to offer skiing and riding as we open for our summer season, and we thought it would be a great way to have some fun.”
The management of other resorts in the state – particularly Eagle County – would be well advised to heed those words, as many CEOs of other Colorado resorts seem to think that they’re real estate companies with a bit of skiing and golf thrown in on the side. And while we’re doubtful that they will follow Aspen’s lead, Kaplan and the rest of Aspen’s top management’s focus on the sport and their attitude towards it is refreshing.
So, while the fact that you can go skiing this weekend at Aspen is reason enough to, well, go skiing, another reason to head up there is to support the Aspen Skiing Company by spending a few of your own hard earned dollars on a lift ticket (they’re only $29 bucks) and prove to those other real estate (err, ski) companies that keeping the lifts running when there’s snow on the ground is a good business decision.
And if you go, like you should, here’s what you’ll find:
The mountain will be open to the 11,212-foot summit with uploading and downloading on the Silver Queen Gondola. Skiing and riding will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Ajax Express chairlift. The Sundeck restaurant will be open serving barbecue lunch and beverages on the outdoor deck. Non-skiing gondola hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with the last ride down at 4:30 p.m.
Click on the trail map for a larger view.
Aspen/Snowmass Premier, Silver and 6-and-under passholders are free. All other Aspen/Snowmass passholders pay a discounted rate; adult passholders pay $19, youth and senior passholders pay $17 and child season passholders pay $12. Adult single day tickets will be $29 per day, youth and seniors will pay $26 and children’s tickets will be $18. Tickets will be sold at the Aspen Mountain ticket kiosk on Gondola Plaza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily beginning Thursday, June 12.
