Buttermilk Mountain Approved for More Recreational Improvements

After a two year process the White River National Forest Service has approved some of Buttermilk’s long term plans to upgrade facilities, build Nordic jumps, snowmaking expansion and more.

The Forest Service said in a statement that the future plans had “no significant impact” on the area and wildlife. The decision comes after a two-year process that included a project scoping phase, an environmental assessment and public comments.

Included in the newly-approved additions is 86 more acres of snowmaking, primarily on the middle to upper reaches of Buttermilk; a 9.1 acre feet snowmaking reservoir; a Nordic ski jumping venue near the bottom of Tiehack with a 65 meter jump, a 35 meter jump and a 15 meter jump, plus a 900-foot surface tow ski lift to access the jumps; approval for expanded horseback riding during the summer months; and a 3,000 square foot lift maintenance facility near the Cliffhouse restaurant. photo from Aspen Daily News

“Overall the decision will improve the guest experience at Buttermilk for the public visiting from near and far; provide a great training ground for Nordic athletes in the Roaring Fork Valley and western slope of Colorado; and increase the operational efficiencies of the ski area through the construction of a lift maintenance building and the development of snowmaking storage,” Fitzwilliams wrote in the decision, which was issued March 5.

Aspen Snowmass Ski Co. has no immediate plans to implement any of these approved items.
If you would like more information see the article in the Aspen Daily News.

Spring is Warming Up with the 3rd Annual CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational in Aspen/Snowmass.

The third annual CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational April 2 – 4, 2010, is coming to Snowmass Mountain.

This is one of the only events in the Snowboarding industry that mixes competition and lifestyle events that are just for women riders! So after a day of throwing down some big air and huge tricks these Olympians and Pro-Athletes get to have a spa day, breathe deep with yoga classes and have a girl’s night out on the town in Aspen.

Confirmed riders for this season’s event include: Gretchen Bleiler, Kelly Clark, Elena Hight, Sarah Conrad, Ellery Hollingsworth, Mercedes Nicoll, Linn Haug, Maddy Schaffrick, Haruna Matsumoto, Soko Yamaoka, Sophie Rodriguez and Ursina Holler.

The Superpipe contest is on Saturday, April 3 at the Snowmass Mountain. All invites were based on a combination of Olympic and X Games qualifications, this year’s event will include a more international field and the event will be the first time since the Olympics for all of these women to be together in a relaxed atmosphere. Snowmass now features a world-renowned 22 foot Superpipe that was built by the award winning Aspen/Snowmass terrain park crew along with experts from Snow Park Technologies.

If you want to feel the power of the CoverGirl Snow Angels, book your stay for as little as $99/night with our spring lodging deals at the Inn at Aspen. This vacation will leave you feeling pampered and ready to show off your moves in the terrain park!

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Snowmass Village 2010!

St. Patrick’s Day Green is filling Aspen and Snowmass with green beer, Irish luck, and ski runs leading to rainbows.

Head to the Snowmass Village Mall early today where celebrations are going all day. The Irish Beer Garden will be going from 12 to 4pm and has beer and traditional Irish food.

Check out the live Irish inspired music and dancing lineup: (all events are in the Mall area)

1:00pm to 1:15pm – El Jebel Pipe Band - Professional Irish March
1:15pm to 1:45 – Colorado West Celtic Dancers - Traditional Irish Dancers
1:45pm to 2:00pm - El Jebel Shrine Pipe Band, Professional Irish March
2:00pm to 2:30pm – Colorado West Celtic Dancers, Traditional Irish Dancers
2:30pm to 3:30pm – Empty Pockets-Traditional Celtic Music
3:30pm to 3:45pm - El Jebel Shrine Pipe Band - Professional Irish March
3:45pm to 4:45 pm - Empty Pockets- Traditional Celtic Music
4:30pm - Closing - Party at Snowmass Bars & Restaurants

Always be safe and take the free bus anywhere in the valley. For more events happening in the Roaring Fork Valley see the Aspen Times or our Winter Events Calendar.
Check out the Inn at Aspen’s spring lodging deals that will make your vacation to Aspen even better.

Aspen Fashion Week is Showing Off The Best in Winter Resort Wear.

Unlike other Fashion Weeks around the globe, Aspen’s Fashion Week March 14-19th,2010, specifically caters to the latest up and coming winter resort ski and technical outerwear, becoming of one of the most stylish mountain towns.

Don’t miss these fabulous high-energy outdoor slopeside runways, daily après fashion shows, on- mountain events and late night fashion parties.

W Magazine will kick-off the event with their annual opening night party. Tickets range from VIP Packages for $7,500 that will get you 4 full access passes with perks galor, vip seating and invites to every event during the week. Scale it down a notch with the Week Pass for $500 and get your gift bag with invites to the private film screening, belly up’s fashionable night of music and style and many more. Or indulge for a day with Week Day Pass for $100 that will get you viewing of that day’s events.

Be seen at Fashion week and make sure you have the trendiest gear with The Inn at Aspen. We are an official lodging partner and we have fabulous deals on lodging!

AFW 2009: W Magazine Party from Aspen Fashion Week on Vimeo.

Some of the 2010 Designers are Bogner, FEED Projects, Heidiskis, Helly Hansen, Marmot, J Crew, Obermeyer, Ralph Lauren, Rossignol, Sorel, Ugg and Victorinox. And some other highlight events are Apres ski fashion shows and in-store presentations with Marmot, Kjus, Victorinox, D&E, Helly Hansen, Obermeyer and many more. Screenings of Douglas Keeve’s films – Hotel Gramercy Park, Seamless, Unzipped and Naomi Conquers Africa, hosted by Naomi Campbell. FEED Founders Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson will host an evening of music with John Forte at Aspen’s famous Belly Up.
Don’t miss Aspen Fashion Week.

Shining Star Foundation is in Aspen for Their Annual Winter Games.

The Shining Stars Foundation is arriving at the Inn at Aspen to begin the exciting fun week of the Aspen Winter Games. This is the Foundation’s largest and most intensive event they do for these children who are living with cancer and life threatening diseases.

The foundation believes that this type of camp is the most unique, and beneficial camps offered in the country for critically ill children and young adults. The camp works in partnership with oncology hospitals, doctors, the medical community, specially trained adaptive recreation and community volunteers to strive to make this week one that the child will never forget. Our greatest tribute is when the participants tell us they actually “forgot they had cancer for the week!” The Winter Games are offered free of charge to participants.

The camp is hosted at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. And we, at the Inn at Aspen and ResortQuest Aspen are proud to host this group. Activities that take place during the week include: ski/snowboard lessons, snowmobiling, snow sculpting activities, campfire cookouts, swimming, disco dancing, team building workshops, karaoke contests, craft classes, stretching sessions, shopping and dining out in downtown Aspen. All activities are designed with the children's health and unique needs in mind, and a medical support team is available at all times. Each child is also assigned a "buddy," a local resident who is available to answer questions and provide daily support.

How You Can Be Part of the Winter Games

The Shining Stars Foundation has many needs and many ways to donate including volunteering, donate, in-kind donations and wish lists. See Shining Star Foundation for more information.
The Inn at Aspen is proud to support this unique group helping children cope with cancer and life-threatening diseases. The Inn at Aspen is a perfect location with ski-in ski-out access to Buttermilk and in very close proximity to all of the activities these kids get to do!

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Returns to Aspen for Encore Performance.

Grace, style, beauty and unique performances mark the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company. They will be returning to Aspen this Saturday for an Encore Performance of an eclectic innovative performance made up of Jiri Kylian’s Six Dances. The dance company is known for fusing classical technique with a western flair of ingenuity.

The performance is held at the Aspen District Theatre on this Saturday, March 6th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on sale at the Wheeler Opera House Box Office 970-920-5770 or purchase them at www.aspenshowtickets.com.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is based both out of Aspen and Santa Fe, New Mexico and this company has performed in virtually every corner of the United States. The company is led by directors Tom Mossbrucker and Jean-Philippe Malaty, the company has made landmark appearances at the famed Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Kennedy Center, New York City Center's Fall for Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, Wolftrap, and the Joyce Theater in New York City.

If you have missed this show but are planning to attend performances in the summer or fall stay with us at the Inn at Aspen and receive lodging discounts, great location and free complimentary shuttles to get you around town.

Aspen Ski Company is Teaching Safety with Dogs

The Snowmass Sun has reported that for National Safety Awareness Week (Jan. 16-22) the Aspen Ski Company’s latest approach to teaching safety to all ages is with classic collectors cards.

No baseball players or Pokemon will be found on these, but rather the cards are sporting the handsome and lovely avalanche patrol dogs. Over 9 dogs work on the 4 different ski resorts in the Aspen area: Aspen Ajax, Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk.

Patrol dogs play an essential role in the ski patrol, by being able to assist their masters in avalanche search and rescue, which in turn can save a human.

Each of the patrol dog cards have the “mutt shots” of the dogs with the Skier Safety Act code printed on each. There are 3 Snowmass mountain dogs, Reina, Caleb and Dante.
Aspen has Booker and Jane. Highlands is Gus, Kaya and Puppy and if you are skiing at Buttermilk, Able will be there.

Kids and adults are excited about this card collecting game as a great excuse to spend their day on the mountain in the search for an avalanche dog, getting to meet some of the ski patrollers, and it is an easy and great way to impart safety tips while giving everyone a fun interactive learning experience. For more information go to aspensnowmass.com.

Now it’s your turn to collect all nine and find one of the Avalanche dogs when you stay at the Inn at Aspen. Check out our amazing March deals and the ski-in ski-out location will save you precious time on your search for Able the Buttermilk rescue dog!