Mountain Stats: Aspen Ski Resort

ASPENMOUNTAIN

Looking for style, comfort and double-diamonds? Take the express route to the top of Aspen Mountain - lounge in the Silver Queen Gondola as you're whisked to the Sundeck and then don't stop for a coupla miles as you catch some of the sweetest powder around until you hit Ajax Tavern....

Season: November 27, 2003 - April 11, 2004

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

Summitelevation: 11,212 ft./3,418 m.

Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m.

Terrain: 673 acres/273 hectares

Number of trails: 76

Miles/km of trails: 64 miles/103 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Trails: easiest - 0%, more difficult - 48%, most difficult - 26%, expert - 26%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm

Snowmaking: 210 acres/84 hectares

Lifts: 8 Total: 6 primary - 1 gondola (the Silver Queen Gondola goes from base to summit in 14 minutes), 1 high-speed quad chair, 1 high-speed double chair, 1 quad chair, 2 double chairs; 2 secondary - 1 quad (Little Nell), 1 double (Bell Mountain)

Lift capacity: 10,755 riders/hour

Parks and Pipes: Special Spring Jam terrain park on Little Nell in April!

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 3 people per acre/9 people per hectare

Best known for: Aspen Mountain, the flagship mountain of the Aspen/Snowmass resort, offers excellent intermediate to expert terrain that includes steep and bump runs.

Best-kept secret: Groomed, intermediate cruising runs

What's new? New Ajax Express Quad lift making for a smoother, more comfortable ride. New Sundeck restaurant expansion including re-opening of Benedict's for sit-down, table-service.

Location: Within the White River National Forest, in downtown Aspen

Lodging bed base: 8,000 beds at the base of the mountain; 6,000 additional beds within 12 miles

Restaurants: 5 total (3 on-mountain and 2 at base). The Sundeck, The Aspen Mountain Club, Bonnie's, Montagna Restaurant & Bar, and Ajax Tavern.


ASPEN HIGHLANDS

If you're really convinced you're hot, go where the locals go: Aspen Highlands. With no more than a thousand visitors in any one day across 790 acres, it's home to one of Colorado's most hardcore experiences. Hey, where else do you think our Olympic medallists hang out?

Season: December 13, 2003 - April 4, 2004

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

Summitelevation: 11,675 ft./3,559 m.

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

Terrain: 790 acres/320 hectares

Number of trails: 131

Miles/km of trails: 65 miles/105 km

Longest run: 3.5 miles/5.6 km

Trails: easiest - 18%, more difficult - 30%, most difficult - 16%, expert - 36%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm

Snowmaking: 110 acres/44 hectares

Lifts: 4 total - 3 high-speed quad chairs, 1 triple chair

Lift capacity: 5,400 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 2 people per acre/5 people per hectare

Best known for: Locals' favorite mountain for expert and adventure terrain

Best-kept secret: Terrain options appropriate for any level - although famed for black and double-black-diamond terrain there are actually more green and blue runs

Location: Within the White River National Forest, three miles from downtown Aspen

Lodging bed base: 129 beds at base of mountain; 14,000 beds within 10 miles

Equipment rental: Pro Mountain Sports in Highlands Center at the base of the mountain.

Restaurants: 8 total. On-mountain: Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, Merry-Go-Round Restaurant, and Soup Bowl at Cloud Nine. At base village: Thunderbowl Market Caf,, Willow Creek at the Ritz-Carlton Club, World Link Caf,, and Iguanas Bar & Grill.


BUTTERMILK

Even though it's home of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 ESPN Winter X Games and the world's longest terrain park, Playstation 2 Crazy T'rain, don't let that fool you. It's still one of the world's best places to learn, improve and just cruise.

Season: December 13, 2003 - April 4, 2004

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

Summitelevation: 9,900 ft./3,018 m.

Vertical rise: 2,030 ft./619 m.

Terrain: 429 acres/168 hectares

Number of trails: 41

Miles/km of trails: 21 miles/34 km

Longest run: 3 miles/4.8 km

Trails: easiest - 35%, more difficult - 39%, most difficult - 26%, expert - 0%

Annual snowfall:
200 inches/508 cm

Snowmaking:>/b> 108 acres/43.2 hectares

Lifts: 7 total - 1 high-speed quad chair, 5 double chairs, 1 handle tow

Lift capacity: 7,500 riders/hour

Parks and Pipes: 1 halfpipe, 2-mile long Crazy T'rain Park. A permanent ESPN Winter X Games Slopestyle course to be integrated into terrain park. New sound system in the superpipe.

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 3.7 people per acre/8 people per hectare

Best known for: Being one of the best learning/teaching mountains in the world

Best-kept secret: Powder stashes on black-diamond runs and gladed trails days after a storm; terrain park and halfpipe for advanced snowboarders plus a smaller teaching park for those just learning.

What's New? New improvements to the Playstation 2 Crazy T'rain Park, the world's longest park and home to the ESPN Winter X Games, including new features, additional terrain park staff adn a new Zaugg Pipe Cutter.

Location: Within the White River National Forest, three miles from downtown Aspen

Lodging bed base: 112 beds at base of mountain; 14,000 additional beds within 10 miles

Restaurants: 2 total. Bump's (located at the base) and The Cliffhouse (located at the top).