#4 Snowmass
The big news is finally official: Construction of Snowmass's much needed and much contested new base village has begun. Since Snowmass opened in 1967 it has always been a world class hill and has always lacked a world class base village that would give the resort a clearly defined identity. Some locals are already criticizing the scope of the massive new village as being out of character for Snowmass. You can decide for yourself when its finished in 2011. More immediately, skiers, who grouse each year about too many old, slow lifts will be riding two new ones this winter. The Village Express six pack whips from Fanny Hill to Sam's Knob in less than 10 minutes. And in just two minutes, the Sky Cab gondola delivers you from the new Base Village - the first phase of which is scheduled to be opened next season - to the freshly refurbished Snowmass Village Mall. In truth Snowmass's nightlife tends to be unfairly disparaged (undoubtedly due to Aspen - queen of the night - holding court a few miles up valley). Snowmass's social options may be thin in number, but not in sophistication, as it offers both first class restaurants (Il Poggio, Butch's, Sage) and bars (Cirque, Zane's, Tower). Ultimately, though, Snowmass's biggest draw has always been its vast, varied mountain. In addition to the endless full throttle cruisers (Dallas Freeway, Green Cabin, Grey Wolf, Big Burn etc) for which Snowmass is adored (makes you feel like a better skier), there are knee quaking steeps in Hanging Valley and the Cirque. Snowmass is also home to one of the biggest terrain parks in America, a beginners version of the same, a ski by reindeer corral, a paintball arena, and enough other attractions to make you wonder if Disney has a stake in the place. (It doesn't, though Michael Eisner does own a house) Even with Snowmass ranked #4, many readers view it as underrated. If coming changes go as planned that may no longer be the case. -- Jay Cowan (SKI magazine OCT 2005)
#8 Aspen
The glitzy town of Aspen has become such an icon that the mountain itself tends to be chronically underappreciated. Having the coolest ski town at your base can do that to a hill. Still, while its relatively small compared to such leviathons such as Vail and Whistler, Aspen(technically Ajax mountain) skis huge, especially when you link multiple pitches top to bottom, follow locals to the best stashes (such as Trainor Ridge) and throw in a backside romp (Midnight Mine to a waiting taxi). There are many reasons why a lot of great, world savvy skiers think Aspen is still the best. If, after truly exploring all of this big little mountain, you're somehow still feeling underwhelmed (congested, poor egress, nasty and dangerous funneling) you could always kick off your skis and head to town. And what a town. Ranked #2 in Off Hill Activities, it offers enough diversions on any given day to make you beg for a nap. Paragliding, hot-air balooning, mine tours, the X games, a troupe from the Cirque du Soleil, world class restaurants, posh boutiques and some of America's highest rated hotels (Little Nell, St Regis, Jerome...Aspen has it all) Which means you can catch acts as diverse as Widespread Panic, the New York String Quartet or the Shakespeare Theater Company of Washington. Many readers call it the ultimate ski town not to mention the a great place to meet a millionaire. So with Aspen crushing the competition in Dining and Apres Ski (both #1) and earning a #4 in Lodging, it's easy to see why Ajax Mountain sometimes gets overlooked, especially with three other eminently skiable mountains in the valley. The upside:Even if you don't mesh with the old-school challenge of Ajax, you can still find terrain to suit your style. It's in the smaller, simpler things where visitors find Aspen lacking. There's no good place with a band to have a post run beer one reader complains. Holy Swank Town too pretentious another insists. And nearly everyone identifies with the reader who peg's Aspen's main weakness as my bank account. In the end however, you live the high life when you're there because it's Aspen. -- J.C. (SKI OCT 2005)
Posts
