Aspen's Landmark Expansion Tops What's New At Western Colorado Resorts
People say that nothing much ever changes at Aspen Mountain, and they would be correct -- until this season.
A trail map that has been essentially the same for 50 years will now have to be redrawn with the expansion of the Hero's on Aspen's upper mountain. After several years of planning and politics, the new ground adds 163 acres to Aspen's existing 673-acre inbounds terrain. With only double-diamonds chutes and glades, the Hero's section puts more expert runs on a mountain that has no green runs at all.
Located to skier’s right of Walsh’s Run -- which was the boundary of the last expansion in the mid-1980s -- the area formerly known as Pandora's has long been a favorite “side country,” unpatrolled stash for skiers and riders who get to it through a gate at the top of the Silver Queen gondola. Return has been along the flat catwalk Lud’s Lane.
The new high-speed quad chairlift would be 4,300 feet long and rise 1,260 feet in vertical, and would allow for lengthening of Walsh’s, Hyrup’s and Kristi double-diamonds off the summit. The new layout will open up several chutes and glades up the ridge off the existing summit, as well as a pair of blue runs tracking into the base of the new Hero's chair. Expert skiers and 'boarders will be able to make laps on the Hero's steeps without having to traverse out to go lower on the mountain to get back to the area.
For 2023-2024, all else is status quo at the four-mountain Aspen Snowmass complex. The FIS World Cup returns in early March but for slalom and giant slalom rather than traditional speed events. And the base of Buttermilk -- the beginner's yin to Aspen's Mountain's expert yang -- has been completely overhauled.
Down valley, Sunlight Mountain will have different new choices on its menu at the base lodge. And under consideration is the future replacement of the 50-year-old Segundo chair -- one of Sunlight's three classic double chairs -- with a fixed-grip triple.
And on the edge of the Grand Mesa, Powderhorn Mountain Resort is debuting a remodel of its main lodge, including the Sunset Grill and the Umbrella Bar, where skiers and riders can take a break with local craft food and cocktails.
