Media Contact
Tucker Vest Burton, (970) 300-7020, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
News from Aspen Snowmass Summer 2019
ASPEN SNOWMASS, Colo. – May 1, 2019 – As summer approaches, Aspen Snowmass prepares with new and improved infrastructure and terrain as well as expanded programming, operations and events.
This summer, Aspen Snowmass will see a new Maroon Bells Basecamp visitor center at the base of Aspen Highlands, the continued expansion of the Snowmass Bike Park, extended operating hours and the second season for the $10-million-dollar summer expansion project called the Lost Forest.
“We have greatly expanded our summer operations the past couple of years with more to come this summer,” says Peter Santini, director of business development, Aspen Snowmass. “We continue to try and give our guests and locals different activities for getting outside in nature. Whether that’s experiencing our Canopy Run Zipline Tour, testing out one of the new bike trails on Snowmass or enjoying yoga on top of Aspen Mountain, we try and offer outdoor enthusiasts many options.”
The following details what’s new at Aspen Snowmass for the coming summer.
Capital Improvements
New Maroon Bells Basecamp
This summer, Aspen Snowmass will open a new Maroon Bells Basecamp visitor center at the base of Aspen Highlands. The current Four Mountain Sports store and ticket office will be re-imagined in likeness to a national park visitor center and now serve as the gateway to the Maroon Bells. The new center will feature Maroon Bells history, a topography map, custom merchandise, an interactive social media zone, a water bottle re-fill station to reduce single-use plastic, a lounge area to wait for the bus and a kid’s play house. Food and beverage options will be available for purchase with grab-and-go snacks such as trail mix, granola bars and ice cream. The center will offer e-bikes for rent as an alternative to taking the bus to the Maroon Bells. Bus tickets to the Maroon Bells will continue to be sold out of the Aspen Highlands lobby area, as well as the Sightseeing Package.
Snowmass Bike Park
Snowmass Bike Park Expansion Continues with Three New Trails
The Snowmass Bike Park is currently undergoing a multi-year expansion in which the final product will include a total of nine new trails across 14.4 miles of terrain containing a mix of beginner to expert flow and hybrid trails.
This year, Aspen Snowmass is once again working with Gravity Logic, world-renowned trail builders, on three new bike trails that are scheduled to open this summer.
The first of the new trails will be ranked as an extremely difficult freeride trail, similar to the feel of Valhalla, and will extend .7 miles along bikers right of Valhalla. The second trail will cover a mile of terrain to bikers left of Valhalla and will be classified as a more difficult freeride trail. The third trail will extend off of Viking for .7 miles and be ranked as a more difficult single track trail. This summer will also see a rebuild of Vapor trail from the top of the Elk Camp Chairlift to the French Press junction.
Over last two years of the Snowmass Bike Park expansion, three trails have been added; the new Animal Crackers trail, a most difficult technical spanning 1.5 miles, the new French Press trail, a more difficult freeride trail measured at 4.5 miles, and Papa Smurf trail, a more difficult, singletrack trail that provides access back to the Elk Camp chairlift from upper French Press. All three trails are located in the upper zone of the Snowmass Bike Park and are accessed via the Elk Camp Chairlift.
Currently, the Snowmass Bike Park offers a network of lift-served downhill mountain bike trails that range from Valhalla, a gravity-defying, world-class downhill trail complete with elements such as berms, jumps and table tops, to Verde, a gentle single-track flow trail that helps new bikers gain important fundamentals. Spanning from the top of the Elk Camp chairlift to the bottom of Snowmass Base Village, the trail system offers 2,893 ft. of vertical descent that features over 19 miles of purpose-built gravity trails.
Operations
Expanded Weekends and Operating Hours
New this summer, fall weekend operations will now include Fridays on both Aspen Mountain and Snowmass. Additionally, Snowmass will be extending summer operating hours in the mornings with a 9 a.m. opening time. Operating hours will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Elk Camp Gondola with the last ride down at 4:15 p.m., and the Elk Camp chairlift will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the last ride down at 3:15 p.m.
Lost Forest
Second Summer for Lost Forest
Debuting last summer, Aspen Snowmass greatly enhanced Snowmass’ summer operations with a new Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, a Canopy Run Zipline Tour, aTreeline Trial Challenge Course and a Rugged Ascent Climbing Wall. The over $10 million expansion project branded as the Lost Forest will continue to provide guests the opportunity to be immersed in the mountain’s alpine environment. New this year, the weight limit for the challenge course has been lowered to 50 pounds. Also, two new time slots will be available for the canopy zipline tour, 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., owing to Snowmass’ earlier opening time of 9 a.m. Lost Forest Base Access will cost $59 and include lift, coaster and climbing wall access. Lost Forest Full Access will cost $89 and include lift, challenge course, coaster and climbing wall access. Lost Forest Peak Access will cost $219 and include the canopy zipline tour plus a second full day of Lost Forest Full Access. For those looking to access the Lost Forest all summer long, a season pass is available for $319 and includes lift access, challenge course, coaster and climbing wall. For more information, visitwww.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest.
Events
Passholder Week at Snowmass Extended to Include an Extra Weekend
Snowmass will once again kick-off summer daily operations with Passholder Week, Jun. 21-30, which offers all valid 2018-19 winter passholders, including Premier, Flex, Double Flex, Classic, School, Mountain Collective and Ikon, specialty offers. New this summer, passholder week will be extended to include a bonus weekend. Passholder Week offers one free Lost Forest Base Access, which includes the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster and Rugged Ascent Climbing Wall, as well as one free day of Snowmass Bike Park access, 50% off Lost Forest Full and Peak Access, 50% off downhill bike rentals and $10 off Park Ready Clinic. Passholders can redeem Lost Forest, Bike Park, and Park Ready Clinic offers by stopping into the Base Village Gondola Ticket Office or by calling 844-865-7105. Bike rental offers will begin Jun. 21 at the Four Mountain Sports in Base Village.
Snowmass Bonus Bike Nights
In conjunction with the Farm to Table Dinners at Elk Camp restaurant, the Snowmass Bike Park will extend the park hours to stay open until dusk every Tuesday from Jul. 2-Aug. 13. Riders can purchase a late arrival ticket for just $34 that is valid 2 p.m. until dusk.
Snowmass Bike Park (SBP) Race Series Returns
Now in its second year, the Snowmass Bike Park’s Race Series expands to six events for 2019. The SBP Race Series will take place Tuesdays Jul. 9-Aug. 13. Join local and visiting riders in a top-to-bottom sprint on a different course each week, followed by drink specials and awards at the Limelight Hotel Snowmass. Course announcements for each race will take place the morning of the event via Aspen Snowmass social media and the website. Registration and check-in will take place day-of at the events tent at the bottom of the Elk Camp Gondola from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The race will begin at 6:30 p.m. Entry is $10 per racer and does not include a bike park ticket. Racers can purchase a late arrival lift ticket for just $34, valid 2 p.m. until dusk, or a Snowmass Bike Park season pass for $229. These events are being held in conjunction with Farm to Table Tuesdays at Elk Camp and Bonus Bike Nights. For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/sbp-race-series.
Audi Power of Four Mountain Bike Race Revamped
Aspen Snowmass is reimagining the Audi Power of Four Mountain Bike Race this year with an entirely new course that will utilize some of the best singletrack in the valley. Taking place Saturday, Aug. 17, the new course will travel along a 25-mile loop that will start and finish in Snowmass Base Village. Bikers will race along the Rim Trail to Seven Star, then transition to the Sky Mountain Park trail system, connect over to Tom Blake trail, utilize various trails on Snowmass such as Espresso and Cross Mountain and then head down Village Bound to end in Snowmass Base Village. Divisions will be broken into 50-mile solo racer (two loops), 25-mile solo racer (one loop) and 50-mile team of two where each rider completes one, 25-mile lap. Registration is open online and pricing increases Aug. 1. For more information and to register, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/audi-power-of-four-mountain-bike.
Big Mountain Enduro Finals Return to Aspen Snowmass
Aspen Snowmass will once again host the Big Mountain Enduro (BME) Mountain Bike Finals Aug. 17-18, 2019. The two-day event will blend high altitude riding mixed with some of the biggest descents and best riding in the area. The field of competitors is expected to have many professional racers and the competition course will see new trail integrations in addition to incorporating terrain across Aspen Mountain, Snowmass Bike Park as well as the surrounding trails within the valley. Aspen Mountain and the Snowmass Bike Park are the only lift-served biking in the U.S. that can take riders on 4,000-foot descents, beginning above tree line and ending in the high mountain desert. Riders will see five to six stages, over 12,000 feet of descent and 3,000 feet of climbing. Snowmass has supported mountain biking and gravity riding for over 17 years going back to the NORBA Nationals and World Cup Downhill racing days. For more information, visitwww.bigmountainenduro.com/schedule/bme-aspen-snowmass-co/.
Snowmass Base Village
Limelight Hotel Snowmass Open for First Summer Season
The new hotel debuted in December and features 99 hotel rooms and 11 for-sale condominiums, plus a new restaurant, a children’s game area as well as a five-story climbing wall that is open to the public and the largest of its kind in the state. Modeled after the company’s existing properties in Aspen, Colo. and Ketchum, Idaho, the hotel is adjacent to Snowmass Mountain’s Elk Camp Gondola providing easy access to summer activities such as mountain biking and the Lost Forest. The new hotel property offers amenities and extras such as an expanded continental breakfast, happy hour deals in the Lounge, live music as well as pet-friendly rooms. For more information, visit www.limelighthotels.com/snowmass.
Snowmass Base Village Summer Events and Activities
Summer in Snowmass Base Village (SBV) kicks-off the last week of June in conjunction with the opening of the Elk Camp Gondola and the Lost Forest. The ice rink in the center of SBV will be transformed into an activities lawn with family fun games, pop-up kid’s fountains and shaved ice. Rotating lawn games will be available seven days a week and will include slip-and-slide human bowling, corn hole, giant Jenga, Connect Four, hula hoops, pogo sticks, sack racing and more.
Weekly events will include a slack-line clinic and demonstration Monday afternoons, pre-concert parties at the rink Thursday afternoons and an Artisan Market featuring local vendors Friday afternoons. Beginning Jun. 29, Saturday’s will play host to a family-friendly “Movie under the Stars” night, in partnership with Aspen Film. Movie goers can enjoy a picnic on the lawn and free popcorn. For more information, visitTheCollectiveSnowmass.com.
Deals
NEW Purchase in Advance and Save 20%
New this summer, Aspen Snowmass will offer 20% off certain summer activities when purchased seven days in advance. The sightseeing package, Lost Forest Full and Base access, one and three day Snowmass Bike Park access, and certain Snowmass Bike Park rental and clinic combos are all available for purchase at 20% off. For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/activities-and-lost-forest.
Sightseeing Package
The Sightseeing Package comprises of access to both Snowmass and Aspen Mountain. It includes up to three days of gondola and chairlift rides, on-mountain activities including live music, hiking, kid’s activities, disk golf, a Maroon Bells guided bus tour, 20% off bike rentals at Four Mountain Sports (does not include e-bikes), 10% off downhill bike rentals, a $10 lunch credit for use at Elk Camp restaurant located on Snowmass or the Sundeck located on Aspen Mountain, and a $5 food and beverage credit for use at the Limelight Hotel in either Aspen or Snowmass. The Sightseeing Package costs $37, or $30 when purchased at least seven days in advance. For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/tickets-and-passes/sightseeing-and-tickets.
Summer Operations
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Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola
Daily: Jun. 15 – Sept. 2
Weekends: May 25-27; Jun. 1-2, 8-9; Sept. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6
Gondola Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (last ride down at 4:30 p.m.)
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Snowmass Elk Camp Gondola and Chairlift
Daily: Jun. 21 – Sept. 2
Weekends: Sept. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 and Oct. 4-6
Gondola Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (last ride down at 4:15 p.m.)
Chairlift Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. (last ride down at 3:15 p.m.)
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Media Note
For a selection of Best of Summer 2019 photos, click here:https://aspensnowmass.imagerelay.com/sb/d528dc7c-4c1f-4175-b978-9431ded5f2a6/best-of-summer-2019
Photo credit goes to the photographer listed.
About Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Skiing Company (ASC), based in Aspen, Colo., operates the four mountains in the Aspen Snowmass area - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. In addition, ASC owns and operates the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen Snowmass, a collection of rental and retail shops titled Four Mountain Sports and a hospitality division that includes the five-star, five-diamond property, The Little Nell and three contemporary Limelight Hotels, one based in the core of Aspen, one at the base of Snowmass Mountain, and the other in Ketchum, Idaho. In its current form, ASC is a values-driven company that is grounded within the core values of: Live Passionately, Awaken the Spirit, Elevate Community and Honor Place. Aspen Snowmass is accessible by one of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) (3 miles from Aspen). For more information about Aspen Snowmass, visit www.aspensnowmass.com or call (800) 525-6200. Follow Aspen Snowmass @aspensnowmass on Twitter and Instagram or atwww.facebook.com/aspensnowmass.
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