Aspen Mountains Review

If you are thinking about taking a snowboard trip this winter, the Aspen Mountains review will let you know if Aspen is the right place for you.

Aspen is everything you would imagen it to be, big, beautiful, fun, exciting, a great ski town. Aspen actually has four mountains to choose from, Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, And Buttermilk.

Aspen Mountains review Snowmass Mountain Stats

Season dates: November 22, 2007 - April 13, 2008

Lift hours: The Sky Cab opens at 8 a.m.; the Cirque lift opens at 10 a.m.; the Village Express and Big Burn lifts open at 8:30 a.m.; all other lifts open at 9 a.m.

Base elevation: 8,104 ft./2,473 m

Summit elevation: 12,510 ft./3,813 m

Vertical rise: 4,406 ft./1,343 m

Terrain: 3,132 acres

Number of trails: 91

Miles/km of trails: 147 miles/237 km

Longest run: 5.3 miles/8.5 km

Steepest runs: Gowdy's and AMF - slope angle of 40 degrees

Types of trails: easiest: 6%, more difficult: 50%, most difficult: 12%, expert: 32%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm

Snowmaking: 230 acres

Lifts: 24 Total: 21 primary - 1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 high-speed six passenger chair, 1 six-passenger pulse gondola (enclosed), 6 high-speed quads, 2 quads, 3 doubles, 5 magic carpets, 2 ski/snowboard school lifts; 3 secondary - 1 double (Sheer Bliss), 2 platter pulls (Cirque and Scooper)

Lift capacity: 31,080 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average 2 people per acre

Best known for: Wide runs, nice groomers.

Best-kept secret: The daily “Noon Groom,” a freshly groomed run that reopens at noon. Hike to the Long Shot trail and can get a backcountry experience while in-bounds.

What's new: Elk Camp Meadows learning area, bigger and better Snowmass Terrain Park, Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, Snowmass Gondola Ticket Office, private lesson lounge and retail amenities, all located in the new base village.

Parks and pipes: 3 terrain parks (new Snowmass Terrain Park, Makaha and Scooper), 1 superpipe and 1 beginner pipe

Season dates: November 22, 2007 – April 13, 2008

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

Base elevation: 7,945 ft./2,422 m

Summit elevation: 11,212 ft./3,418 m

Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m

Terrain: 673 acres

Number of trails: 76

Miles/km of trails: 64 miles/103 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Steepest run: Elevator Shaft section of the Silver Queen run – slope angle of 42 degrees

Types of trails: easiest: 0%, more difficult: 48%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 26%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm

Snowmaking: 210 acres

Lifts: 8: 6 primary – 1 gondola (14-minute ride), 1 high-speed quad, 1 high-speed double, 1 quad, 2 doubles; 2 secondary – 1 quad (Little Nell), 1 double (Bell Mountain)

Lift capacity: 10,755 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 3 people per acre

Best known for: Fast runs, steep pitch, good snow, good vibe.

What's new: 147 new Swiss-made cabins. The cabins have more interior space for up to six passengers, plus floor-to-ceiling windows so you can check out the surrounding views before droping your line.

Aspen Mountains review Aspen Highlands Mountain Stats

Season dates: December 8, 2007 - April 6, 2008

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

Base elevation: 8,040 ft./2,451 m.

Summit elevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m. (top of Highland Bowl 12,392 ft.)

Vertical rise: 3,635 ft./1,108 m.

Terrain: 1,010 acres

Number of trails: 125

Miles/km of trails: 84 miles/135 km

Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km

Steepest run: Go-Go Gully, Highland Bowl – slope angle of 48 degrees

Types of trails: easiest: 18%, more difficult: 30%, most difficult: 16%, expert: 36%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm

Snowmaking: 110 acres

Lifts: 5: 3 high-speed quads, 2 triples

Lift capacity: 6,500 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 2 people per acre

Best known for: Steep, big-mountain riding.

Best-kept secret: The extended Mushroom trail is a super mogul run. For powder days, head to Child’s Play in the Highland Bowl, Log Jam Gully, Bowling Alley and Fran’s Love in Deep Temerity.

What’s New: The addition of 220 new acres over the last two seasons.

Parking: High Occupancy Vehicles (4 or more people) park for FREE at Aspen Highlands. Paid parking is enforced from 7:30 a.m. to noon daily. Daily parking fee is $10; 10-pass punch card available for $70.

Aspen Mountains review Buttermilk Mountain Stats

Season dates: December 8, 2007 - April 6, 2008

Lift hours: All lifts open at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.

Base elevation: 7,870 ft./2,399 m

Summit elevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m

Vertical rise: 2,030 ft./619 m

Terrain: 470 acres

Number of trails: 44

Miles/km of trails: 21 miles/34 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Types of trails: easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0%

Annual snowfall: 200 inches/508 cm

Snowmaking: 108 acres

Lifts: 9: 2 high-speed quads, 3 doubles, 2 handle tows, 2 ski/snowboard school lifts

Lift capacity: 7,500 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 4 people per acre

Best known for: ESPN Winter X Games, great learning terrain for beginners, really good grooming

Best-kept secret: Nice easy groomers at West Buttermilk steeper runs at Tiehack.

What’s new: Buttermilk Terrain Park – Snow Park Technologies (SPT) Branded Park including the X Games Superpipe (550 ft long) and X Games Slopestyle course

Parks and pipes: 5 terrain parks (Ski & Snowboard School, Teaser, Uncle Chuck’s, Jacob’s Ladder and X Park), 1 superpipe (X Games Superpipe) and 1 beginner pipe (Panda Pipe) – all within Buttermilk Terrain Park offering levels from freestyle beginners to experts. Don’t be surprised to find yourself riding along side Olympic and X Games medalists on any given day.

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