aspen Mountain
So Aspen is comprised of 4 different mountains: Snowmass, Buttermilk (beginner), Highlands (expert), and Aspen Mountain (AJAX). So far, my only time visiting Aspen was during the height of Covid protocols; I’m talking 10pm patrolled curfews, visitor negative testing requirements, and mask mandates. That may be why it was so inexpensive for me to stay there. I booked a 4 day stay almost ski in/ski out on Aspen Mountain, for $1500 on NEW YEARS WEEKEND. That booking rate at the same hotel has more than tripled this New Year’s. Anyways, since I was in Aspen, I decided to live it up. I was a little sad that they canceled the fireworks show (bc of covid), but I wouldn’t let that stop me from shining bright. I put on my best dresses and had fancy dinners every night. The wagyu tartare aka raw ground beef with some egg yolk accents, was so bomb! One night, I decided to be a nice person and gave up my reserved table for another couple and opted to sit at the bar. I’m no stranger to dining alone and chatting it up with the bartender or my neighbors. I ended up meeting the owner who was working, and found out we had something in common- OU (Boomer Sooner). We talked through the night, and I ended up getting my meal comped with additional free drinks (I still tipped as though I was charged for everything). Anyways, back to the mountain. I chose Aspen bc my sister said she and some friends would be there, but they ended up bailing. I had already booked a room and figured, why not. SO I was very new at riding, and had not mastered Greens. I look on the trail map and saw that the Aspen Mountain has ZERO green runs. I figure I have to dive in feet first, if not butt. My first day, I went to Snowmass for a single long run after taking the gondola up. It was my first time confidently going down a Blue! I felt excited, and was ready for my stay at Aspen. The next morning I walk over to the gondola with my fanny pack of beers and downed my first pint as I rode up. I’m noticing tons of these little hills all the way up and start to get a little nervous. I had never seen a mogul before, so I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was about to find out. I texted my friend “Are moguls the millions of tiny hills n bumps?? Bc Aspen is full of them, no warning, but it’s cool, it’s cool, it’s cool.” It was not in fact cool. Each run started with a set of moguls, so I stuck to the same run the entire time since I knew I just had that small battle at the beginning, and the rest of the way back to the gondola would be fine. Being a new snowboarder who only J turned, floats like a leaf, and comes to stops I had no idea how to go through these sweeping grooves. There were a lot of falls, I’m talking butt to snow after every single bump, but the next day I was eventually able to manage my way through them without falling down. Once you got past the moguls, the runs were extremely long (at least to me). I started getting the hang of it, and by my last run on the second day of Aspen I was able to reduce the time it took me to get through it by half. My confidence came from Aspen. On my last day before I drove back home, I tried my hand at speed racing down the lower preview hill. Aspen will always have a special place in my fancy bougie diamond heart.
Snowmass/ Aspen highlands
*Update* So I went back to Aspen. Unfortunately, I left during the middle of Aspen Gay Ski Week/Beginning of X Games, but it was still fun. I stayed at a ski in/ski out at Snowmass this time, and I got another dinner paid for by a kind stranger/secret admirer. I also shredded it up at Aspen Highlands. I like that Snowmass has more variety/larger terrain to explore with nice blues and not a ton of moguls. Highlands is pretty small/very narrow. There is not much to explore, but it was still fun going up to the top and zooming back down.
*Update 2* So I just can’t stay away from Aspen! I stayed at Snowmass again, this time for Christmas. Something new this year, I joined a snowboarding girl group on facebook and met up with one of the members and her fam at Snowmass! I also partied it up at Cloud 9 at Aspen Highlands- can you say champagne showers?. Had more smores, more shopping, and of course another delightful meal at Little Nell.
