ASPEN HIGHLANDS AND BUTTERMILK OPEN SATURDAY
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk open for the 2015/16 winter ski and ride season Saturday, Dec. 12 joining Snowmass and Aspen Mountain with approximately 2,700 acres of terrain across all four peaks.
In addition, Friday, Dec. 11 will feature the grand opening of the new High Alpine lift at Snowmass with a ribbon cutting ceremony to take place at 10:30 a.m.
Aspen Highlands will open with 707 acres of terrain which includes all of the front-side blue terrain spanning from Thunderbowl to Jerome as well as a portion of Highland Bowl comprising of G-O to G-8. All lifts at Aspen Highlands will be spinning and both the Cloud Nine High Alpine Bistro, starring a recent $1.1 million dollar remodel, as well as the Merry-Go-Round restaurant will be open with on-mountain food and beverage service.
Buttermilk will spin the Summit Express lift, Buttermilk West lift to the mid-station and Panda Peak with access to 235 acres of available terrain on opening day. The upper portion of the east side of trails off Tiehack will be open with a return to Main via Sterner Catwalk. All of the runs off Summit and West Buttermilk including Red’s Rover, Larkspur, Westward Ho, Camp Bird and Teaser will open to the mid-station on the west side. Both Red’s and Teaser will offer a selection of park features. Bumps and the Cliffhouse restaurants will be open with food and beverage options and Children’s Ski & Snowboard School lessons will be available through the Hideout Children’s Center.
Opening Day festivities at Buttermilk will include a Chocolate Day consisting of treats at the mountain. Morning chocolate treats will be offered in the base area from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. followed by s’mores and a hot cocoa bar in the base area from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. A chocolate fountain at Bumps restaurant will be available from 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
The new High Alpine lift will debut at Snowmass Friday, Dec. 11, with a free breakfast and toasts at Gwyn’s High Alpine starting at 9:15 a.m. followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the base of the chairlift at 10:30 a.m. In addition, both the Elk Camp and Sheer Bliss lifts will open at Snowmass along with most of the terrain accessed via each lift which will increase the mountain’s available terrain to 1,212 acres.
Aspen Mountain will open the Shadow Mountain lift as well as E and W 5th Avenue trails offering another portal to the resort.
Alongside the lift and terrain openings, the Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen Snowmass will be entirely operational with children and adult group and private lessons available across Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands and adult group and private lessons available on Aspen Mountain.
Four Mountain Sport’s nine locations across all four peaks will be open offering rentals, ski/snowboard wear, free storage and complimentary transfer between mountains.
For packages and deals visit www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/packages-and-deals.
For more information about Aspen Snowmass, visit www.aspensnowmass.com or call (800) 525-6200. Follow Aspen Snowmass @aspensnowmass on Twitter and Instagram, @Aspen_Snowmass on Snapchat, or at www.facebook.com/aspensnowmass.