Aspen Highlands
Encyclopedia
Aspen Highlands is a skiing mountain in Aspen
, Colorado
. It is famous for the Highland Bowl, which provides some of the most intense skiing in the state. The lift system has recently been redone and provides quick transport around the mountain.
. In 1993 Jones donated it to his Alma Mater, Harvard University
. Harvard sold the resort to Houston, Texas
developer Gerald D. Hines
for $18.3 million. It later became part of the Aspen Skiing Company
.
terrain. However, the Bowl wasn't completely opened until 2002. Most of the mountain's terrain flows off of the narrow ridge extending from Highland Peak.
.
, Pyramid Peak
, Hayden Mountain, and the Highland Bowl greet skiers at the summit.
can cut the distance by a third. The Highlands ski patrol monitors the Bowl and conducts avalanche control for skier safety. The Bowl faces primarily east, towards Aspen Mountain. Generally, the best snow to be found is in the north-facing G-Zones ("G" corresponds to green ski wax, for the coldest temperature snow). The B-Zones (for blue wax) face east and descend down the center of the bowl from the 12382 ft (3,774 m) summit of Highland Peak. The south-facing Y-Zones (yellow wax), are the steepest, with slopes as steep as 48 degrees, according to Aspen Highlands trail maps. These can be skied without hiking if one rides the snowcat. Until recent chairlift improvements, a run down the Highland Bowl was followed by the Grand Traverse, a long, flat catwalk back to the Loge Peak lift. The Highland Bowl also offers access from the summit into the steep and highly avalanche prone backcountry
Five Fingers Bowl.
On March 31, 1984, ski patrolmen Chris Kessler, Tom Snyder, and Craig Soddy were doing avalanche control work in Highland Bowl. The three set off explosive charges near the top of the Bowl. Their bombs yielded no sign of danger. With tragic false confidence, the trio skied closer to the middle of the Bowl, and into the midst of a vast avalanche path. They threw more bombs. The second explosion triggered a slide below the men. Then before the three could escape, a gigantic avalanche fell from above them. All three were killed. A monument in their memory has been erected near the top of the Loge Peak lift above the ski runs named in their honor (Kessler's Bowl, Snyder's Ridge, and Soddbuster).
.
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It is famous for the Highland Bowl, which provides some of the most intense skiing in the state. The lift system has recently been redone and provides quick transport around the mountain.
History
Aspen Highlands was founded and the land developed in 1958 by Aspen legend Whip JonesWhip Jones
Whipple Van Ness "Whip" Jones was a ski industry pioneer, founder, developer and the original operator for 35 years, of the Aspen Highlands ski area in Aspen, Colorado. Whip Jones and the company he founded, Aspen Highlands, won a US Supreme Court case against his rival, the Aspen Skiing Company...
. In 1993 Jones donated it to his Alma Mater, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Harvard sold the resort to Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
developer Gerald D. Hines
Gerald D. Hines
Gerald D. Hines is the founder and chairman of Hines, a privately held real estate firm with its U.S. headquarters located in Houston, Texas, and its European headquarters located in London....
for $18.3 million. It later became part of the Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Skiing Company
The Aspen Skiing Company, known locally as "Ski Co", is a commercial enterprise based in Aspen, Colorado in the United States.-History:Founded in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, it operates the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, comprising four ski areas near the town of Aspen...
.
The Mountain
Aspen Highlands has become most famous for the Highland Bowl and other experts onlySkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
terrain. However, the Bowl wasn't completely opened until 2002. Most of the mountain's terrain flows off of the narrow ridge extending from Highland Peak.
Mid and Lower Mountain Terrain
Rolling wide beginner and intermediate trails through thick lodgepole pine forest constitute most of the mid-to-lower mountain terrain. The very bottom of the mountain is dominated by the Thunderbowl, an expansive steep intermediate run that normally hosts most of the ski competitions on the mountain. The lower mountain also contains challenging, but underappreciated expert runs such Lower Stein and P-Chutes. It is served by the Exhibition and Thunderbowl lifts. The Mid-Mountain area is anchored by the 60s era Merry-Go-Round restaurant, with a large, south-facing deck. The Merry-Go-Round also serves as the hub of the major chairlifts on mountain. The Cloud Nine lift serves primarily intermediate and difficult runs on the mid-mountain as well as Scarlett's, a notorious mogul run. The summit of Cloud Nine lift is the location of Cloud Nine Bistro, offering the best on-mountain dining of the Aspen ski areas and views of the Maroon BellsMaroon Bells
The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, separated by about a third of a mile. The mountain is on the border between Pitkin County and Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, about 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Both peaks are counted as fourteeners...
.
Upper Mountain Terrain
What attracts most skiers to Highlands is the dramatic, just-above-timberline summit of the mountain. The upper mountain is primarily served by the Loge Peak high speed quad originating at the Merry-Go-Round. The ridge that extends down from Loge Peak (the lift-served summit) has only one intermediate run, Broadway, which follows the ridge spine. On either side, Steeplechase and the No Name Bowl fall away at precipitous angles. Spectacular views of the Maroon BellsMaroon Bells
The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, separated by about a third of a mile. The mountain is on the border between Pitkin County and Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, about 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Both peaks are counted as fourteeners...
, Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak may refer to:*Pyramid Peak , in the United States*Pyramid Peak , in the United States*Pyramid Peak , in the United States*Pyramid Peak , in the United States...
, Hayden Mountain, and the Highland Bowl greet skiers at the summit.
The Highland Bowl
Since 2002, the Highland Bowl has been the crown jewel of Aspen Highlands. Most of the terrain is accessed only on foot, although a snowcatSnowcat
A snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. Snowcats are often referred to as 'trail groomers' because of their use for grooming ski trails or snowmobile trails...
can cut the distance by a third. The Highlands ski patrol monitors the Bowl and conducts avalanche control for skier safety. The Bowl faces primarily east, towards Aspen Mountain. Generally, the best snow to be found is in the north-facing G-Zones ("G" corresponds to green ski wax, for the coldest temperature snow). The B-Zones (for blue wax) face east and descend down the center of the bowl from the 12382 ft (3,774 m) summit of Highland Peak. The south-facing Y-Zones (yellow wax), are the steepest, with slopes as steep as 48 degrees, according to Aspen Highlands trail maps. These can be skied without hiking if one rides the snowcat. Until recent chairlift improvements, a run down the Highland Bowl was followed by the Grand Traverse, a long, flat catwalk back to the Loge Peak lift. The Highland Bowl also offers access from the summit into the steep and highly avalanche prone backcountry
Backcountry
A backcountry area in general terms is a geographical region that is:* isolated* remote* undeveloped* difficult to accessThe term may apply to various regions that are reasonably close to urban areas but are:* not immediately accessible by car...
Five Fingers Bowl.
On March 31, 1984, ski patrolmen Chris Kessler, Tom Snyder, and Craig Soddy were doing avalanche control work in Highland Bowl. The three set off explosive charges near the top of the Bowl. Their bombs yielded no sign of danger. With tragic false confidence, the trio skied closer to the middle of the Bowl, and into the midst of a vast avalanche path. They threw more bombs. The second explosion triggered a slide below the men. Then before the three could escape, a gigantic avalanche fell from above them. All three were killed. A monument in their memory has been erected near the top of the Loge Peak lift above the ski runs named in their honor (Kessler's Bowl, Snyder's Ridge, and Soddbuster).
New Terrain
Open for the season 2005-2006 is the new fixed grip triple lift "Deep Temerity". The $2.7 million project eliminates the lengthy trek out from the bottom of the Highland Bowl, the Temerity glades, and Steeplechase. 180 acre (0.7284348 km²) of new terrain accompany the Deep Temerity lift for the 05-06 season, with the ultimate potential for 270 acres (1.1 km²) of new terrain. This will push Aspen Highlands' total area over 1000 acres (4 km²).Filmography
Aspen Highlands, was the backdrop for the bowl skiing in the 1993 movie Aspen ExtremeAspen Extreme
Aspen Extreme is a 1993 film about two ski buddies, TJ Burke and Dexter Rutecki , who move from Brighton, Michigan to Aspen to seek a better life. The two friends quickly become Aspen ski instructors, but women, drugs, and job troubles threaten to destroy their relationship...
.
See also
- Whip Jones, FounderWhip JonesWhipple Van Ness "Whip" Jones was a ski industry pioneer, founder, developer and the original operator for 35 years, of the Aspen Highlands ski area in Aspen, Colorado. Whip Jones and the company he founded, Aspen Highlands, won a US Supreme Court case against his rival, the Aspen Skiing Company...
- Aspen Mountain (Ajax)Aspen Mountain (ski area)Aspen Mountain is a ski area located in Pitkin County, Colorado, just outside and above the city of Aspen. It is situated on the north flank of Aspen Mountain and the higher Bell Mountain at an elevation of 11,212 ft just to the south of Aspen Mountain...
- SnowmassSnowmass (ski area)Snowmass is a part of the Aspen/Snowmass ski resort complex located in western Colorado near the town of Aspen, Colorado. It is owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company. Snowmass is the largest of the four Aspen/Snowmass mountains, comprising . The mountain is most notable for its wide...
- ButtermilkButtermilk (ski area)Buttermilk Ski Area is frequently considered the easiest skiing mountain in Aspen, Colorado. Buttermilk has also been the host to the ESPN Winter X-games multiple times. It is also home to one of the best ski schools and children's programs in the United States. It contains three ski...
- Aspen Skiing CompanyAspen Skiing CompanyThe Aspen Skiing Company, known locally as "Ski Co", is a commercial enterprise based in Aspen, Colorado in the United States.-History:Founded in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, it operates the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, comprising four ski areas near the town of Aspen...