Aspen Skiing Company has just announced that it will open the top of Aspen Mountain for skiing this weekend, June 13-15. Record winter snowfall has left the top of the mountain covered in snow as the traditional summer operating season begins. With an average depth of more than three feet on upper slopes, the mountain will open with seven runs and about 45 acres of mostly intermediate terrain, served by the Ajax Express chairlift.

“We are a skiing company,” said Mike Kaplan, president and CEO, Aspen Skiing Company. “We have the unique opportunity to offer skiing and riding as we open

for our summer season, and we thought it would be a great way to have some fun and once again thank the community for all their support.”

The mountain will be open to the 11,212-foot summit with uploading and downloading on the Silver Queen Gondola. Skiing and riding will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Ajax Express chairlift. The Sundeck restaurant will be open serving barbecue lunch and beverages on the outdoor deck. Non-skiing gondola hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with the last ride down at 4:30 p.m.

“It’s your typical early summer conditions,” quipped Rich Burkley, Vice President of Mountain Operations, “better than a glacier, but not as good as a powder day. It will certainly be fun and is the perfect excuse for having a beer or two at the Sundeck. If you’ve got it, ski it.”

Aspen/Snowmass Premier, Silver and 6-and-under passholders will ski and ride for free. All other Aspen/Snowmass passholders pay a discounted rate: adult passholders pay $19, youth and senior passholders pay $17 and child season passholders pay $12. Adult single day tickets will be $29 per day, youth and seniors will pay $26 and children’s tickets will be $18. Tickets will be sold at the Aspen Mountain ticket kiosk on Gondola Plaza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily beginning this Thursday. Regular summer rates will be in effect for foot passengers.

As Aspen Skiing Co. recently changed their ticketing system to RFID, all 2007-2008 passes must be reissued before accessing summer lifts. To avoid lines, it is recommended that passholders acquire their new pass on Thursday.

Four-Mountain Sports/D&E Ski & Snowboard Shop will be open for $25 ski/snowboard rentals at their Aspen location beginning daily at 9 a.m. Camp Aspen/Snowmass will be offering private ski and snowboard lessons on Aspen Mountain for Level 4 and higher skiers/riders at a cost of $259 for two people from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested in lessons should call 970-923-4773 for reservations.

Source: http://business.transworld.net/2008/...-weekend/SMike

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Mindy,

I posted this in another area of the forum.

I hope one of your CO members will go to Aspen this weekend and bring us back some pictures.

We ski at Mammoth mtn. and they have enough snow to do the same thing, but I don't think they will.

SO...the big question is WHO is going to Aspen this weekend? Please share, I just need to vicariously through you!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~