Aspen Skiing Co. Ranks in Top Green Ski Resorts 2010

Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition issued their annual report card for ski resorts throughout the West and 3 out of Aspen’s 4 Ski Resorts received an “A” for their environmental practices!

Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk all earned the highest grade and were ranked
four, five and six, respectively, among the resorts in the 11 states in the Rocky Mountain West and Pacific West. The three resorts were the top three among 20 ranked in Colorado.

Snowmass earned a “B” and didn't crack the top 10 resorts in the West. It ranked seventh among 20 ski areas ranked in Colorado. Each ski area was given a grade in four environmental categories as well as an overall grade. Snowmass got an “A” for environmental policies and practices such as its waste stream management and purchasing. It received a “B” in the categories of habitat protection and addressing global climate change but it only received a “C” for protecting watersheds.

The Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition is an environmental group that encourages people to ski and ride at the most “environmentally sensitive” resorts in an effort to improve practices in the industry as a whole. Learn more about them! Learn more about Aspen Snowmass’s Commitment to the Environment

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Highlands Extends Season Again This Year; Base Still 109"

Highlands announced this week it will again re-open for two weekends this month. (Why let all that lovely 36 inches that fell last week go to waste?)

Base snow is still at 109 inches, according to Aspen Ski. Co.'s website. Nine foot base!

Like last year, the four mountains received record snowfalls, even late in to the season, to everyone's delight! This year snow totals were equally impressive, if not down right record-setting.

Thus, keep on skiing, folks!

Here's the official statement from Skico's website with dates and lift rates.

Aspen Highlands will REOPEN for the weekends of April 18-19 and April 25-26! The Exhibition, Loge, Cloud Nine and Deep Temerity lifts will run daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. providing access to the entire mountain including Highland Bowl (conditions permitting).

The Merry-Go-Round restaurant will have a limited lunch menu and outdoor bar (weather permitting). Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro will also be open for lunch, reservations required.

With more than 25 feet of snowfall this season, the conditions at Aspen/Snowmass are the best they have been in many years. In addition to great skiing and riding, there will be live music, events and special packages available. More details will be announced shortly.

All Aspen/Snowmass season passes are valid as they are during the regular season. Adult lift tickets will be $39 per day, youth and seniors will pay $29 and children's tickets will be $19. As always children six and under ski for free. Current season passholders from any other resort in the U.S. will pay just $19 for their lift ticket.

New "Sheer Bliss" Chairlift Coming To Snowmass

Aspen Skiing Co. will replace the old Sheer Bliss chairlift at Snowmass with a high-speed detachable quad, Aspen Times reported recently. This means a welcome speedy ride up the east side of Big Burn. And who would not want to get back up Big Burn as fast as possible?

Editor's commentary: What a sad sight it was in late March to see ol' S.B. shut down, and all that beautiful snowy terrain it takes you to going to waste. But that will all be changed next season.

Aspen Ski Co. did not plan on a new lift for Sheer Bliss this coming summer, but got a very good deal from chairlift manufacturing company Poma that was too good to not take.

ResortQuest Aspen Snowmass blogspot will update as new developments emerge on this.

Sound pretty blissful, indeed.