They are called Buttermilk, Snowmass, Highlands and Aspen or “Ajax” – the four high mountains of Colorado. Thogether with Elk Mountains and its 6 more than 4200 meters high peaks, they form one of the most beautiful mountain panoramas of the US Rocky Mountains. Aspen/ Snowmass is probably the most famous ski resort in the US, with 336 perfectly prepared slopes and 46 lifts that cover a distance of more than 500 kilometres in  total. Winter sports enthusiasts from beginners to professionals can easily find the adequate circuit. Like almost no other ski resort in America, the former silver mining town of Aspen has managed to combine its tradition and reputation as a celebrity spot with a new, cool image. The annual X Games, the most important winter sports event for extreme snowboarders and skiers, takes place at the end of January. It brings tens of thousands of mostly young guests to the foot of Buttermilk Mountain where a huge super pipe is available before and after the games. The long blue slopes of Ajax Mountain are quieter – an ideal mountain for the second day on the slopes.

The valley station of the “Silver Gondola” is located in the centre of Aspen, the glass gondolas transport the athletes directly up to the over 3400 meter high summit. Sundeck Restaurant offers a wonderful 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain panorama. If you do not ski you can increase your tan here or join a snowshoe tour through particularly dry meter-high powder snow called “Champagne Powder”. The two-hour circuit, led by a biologist, takes you past old mines. You can spot footprints from mountain hares or other animals living Rocky Mountains where they have crosse the trail. You won’t find the log hut though where moustached men had fun with each other in the porn movie “The Other Side Of Aspen” from 1979 by label Falcon.

The special quality of the snow here that lacks the sticky and heavy aspect of the snow in the European Alps makes skiing and snowboarding in the Rockys a very special experience. Blue pistes named Dipsy Doodle, Lazy Boy, Kleenex Corner and Towe Ten Road lead from the summit of the Ajax down to the valley, and black pistes like Bear Paw, Last Dollar or Corkscrew Gully offer an even faster way downhill. If you just want to relax and gently ski downhill, you should choose Buttermilk Mountain or the Aspen Highlands They are ideal mountains for beginners, less experienced skiers and for those on their first day of holidays. Nonetheless, Highlands also offer the greatest challenge of the entire ski area: a (guided) tour to Highland Bowl slope followed by a descent through absolutely untouched deep snow.

With 21 lifts and 91 pistes Snowmass lives up to its name. Here it is mainly blue and black slopes that run through the extensive ski area and allow for different races downhill each day. And the best thing about it: Apart from the busy weeks around Christmas and New Year, you have space on almost all slopes. It is rare to have long waits at the ski lifts and you have more time for skiing than for queuing. Snowmass is also setting new standards with the Viceroy Resort, opened in 2009. The stylish hotel is a kind of winter resort version of cool design hotels in Miami or Los Angeles – with the suitable restaurant and spa, of course.

The small town of Aspen presents itself as a pretty mountain village whose houses and resorts are designed in the American Western style, in the European Alpine style or often in a functional modern style. There are no gigantic hotel fortresses. The largest and probably best hotel in town is the St. Regis, offering a total of 179 rooms and suites and its famous Remede Spa. The rooms have the most beautiful view of the Ajax mountain. Many hotels now pursue the boutique-hotel concept, such as Sky Hotel or Limelight Lodge. Large rooms with kitchenette for self-catering, pool and whirlpool for a relaxed après-ski and the central location are certainly one reason why Limelight Lodge is the host hotel of Aspen Gay Ski Week.

During the biggest gay skiing event in the US, the hotel lobby is the meeting place every evening before you move on to one of the many small restaurants for dinner. Aspen Gay Ski Week in its 35th year is like the grande dame of gay winter events, with several thousand participants coming to Aspen every January to ski and party. As a non-profit and non-commercial event, the entire proceeds go to regional gay and lesbian projects and make Gay Ski Week one of Colorado’s most important fundraising events. The programme of the 2012 ski week, entitled “Aspen Through The Years” includes daily group ski tours to the four mountains of the region, parties, theatre evenings, drag shows, a shopping night and a downhill in fancy dress competition. The highlight is the annual pool party at Aspen Recreation Center, where all drinks are included in the admission and things get quite debauched by American standards.

Non-skiers can join designated non-skiers lunches during the week and make use of snowshoe tours, shopping, Aspen Club Spa or the Art Museum. Many Europeans, South Americans and Australians arrive a few days before the ski week. It allows them to get used to the literally breathtaking altitude (Aspen is 2400 metres above sea level). They can also ski in peace and quiet before switching their focus to the group experience a few days later.

INFO

www.aspensnowmass.com
Official homepage of Aspen/ Snowmass region with plenty of information about events, accommodation, ski passes, ski rental and weather.

www.gayskiweek.com
All information about Aspen Gay Ski Week ( January 15th to 22nd, 2011)m including special offers on accommodation and ski passes.

HOW TO GET THERE

United Airlines offers daily departures from Frankfurt and Munich to Chicago and onward to Aspen. Return flights are available form 743 Euros in Economy and 5555 Euros in Business Class. An upgrade from Economy to Economy Plus that offers more legroom can be made after booking at an additional fee of 156 USD. Due to the winter conditions, Aspen airport is closed frequently. The flights are then re-routed and passengers are brought to Aspen by coaches that take 3 to 4 hours to get there. As the airlines are used to this, re-bookings due to dealys are done without any fuss.
www.unitedairlines.com

Shuttle buses or taxis take you from the airport into town (ca. 15 USD). Silver Gondola valley station for Aspen Mountain is located in the centre of town. Free shuttle buses provide transport to all the skiing areas. Skis and snowboards can be rented near the valley stations from shops like Four Mountain Sports. The rent includes the overnight storage and delivery to the slope of your choice the next morning.

HOTELS

The St. Regis Aspen Resort (315 East Dean Street) Noble and traditional 5-star mountain resort featuring a classy restaurant, expansive spa and offering an amazing view on Aspen Mountain, www.stregis.com

Viceroy Snowmass (130 Wood Road) Winter resort at the bottom of Snowmass Mountain, opened in late 2009. Cool design, excellent restaurant and cosy spa, www.viceroysnowmass.com

Limelight Lodge (355 S. Monarch Street) Host hotel of Gay Ski Week is a good value for money with large rooms and nice outdoor pool, www.limelightlodge.com

TIP

There are tour operators like Faszination Ski that have specialised on ski holidays in North America. They offer packages that are mostly cheaper than individually booked tours.
A one-week trip to Aspen, including flights, hotel for 7 nights, ski pass for 6 days and a 10% discount for early bookers is offered at about 1299 Euros per head, www.faszinationski.de

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