L-R: Ski Cooper; Aspen/Snowmass
Three more Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) resorts are opening this weekend with fantastic early conditions. Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Ski Cooper all begin their 2013-14 season at or near 100% of their terrain open, offering thousands more acres of great snow to skiers and riders across the state. Read below for more information on each of their Opening Day plans.
Aspen Highlands & Buttermilk
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open for the season this Saturday, December 14, joining Snowmass and Aspen Mountain and bringing total open acreage to more than 4,600 acres, the most in the country. Prodigious early season snowfall allowed both Aspen Mountain and Snowmass to open early, and Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open with more than 90 percent of their terrain.
An opening like this comes along once in a generation. Get out and enjoy it so you have something to tell your grandkids about, said Rich Burkley, vice president mountain operations, Aspen Skiing Company. There really is no better place anywhere to be skiing and riding this weekend.
Aspen Highlands will open with more than 90 percent of its terrain including almost all of Highland Bowl, all runs on the lower mountain, all the runs mid- and upper-mountain, all the runs in Steeplechase.Both the Merry Go Round and the Cloud 9 Bistro will open for the season. Golden Horn and Thunderbowl terrain will be open; however the Thunderbowl lift will not open this weekend. Paid parking is in effect at Highlands. The new shuttle is running from Buttermilk to Highlands beginning Saturday morning.
Buttermilk will open with 454 of their 470 total acres. The mountain will be open wall-to-wall with just a few runs closed for the superpipe and Terrain Park build. There will be terrain park features on Red’s, Teaser and Uncle Chuck’s. Bumps and Cliffhouse will open with full services including the Mongolian Grill and Bumps famous pasta station. Powder Pandas and the entire Ski & Snowboard School will be in full operation.
At Snowmass, the Two Creeks lift will open as will Burnt Mountain and Longshot. Snowmass will jump to more than 2,500 acres and the upper Banzai section of the terrain park will open. The Shadow Mountain lift will open on Aspen Mountain with Corkscrew, Super 8, Strawpile, 5th Avenue, Norway and Normandy opening for the season. Aspen Mountain will be 99 percent open.
All on-mountain restaurants are open with full service, the Ski & Snowboards Schools are up and running and all rental/retail shops are ready to go. Its a great time to take a lesson to tune up for the season ahead or to demo gear before you buy.
To see current conditions and an up-to-date view of Aspen/Snowmass check out the newly installed Roundshot panoramic cameras: www.aspensnowmass.com/the-power-of-four/roundshot.
Ski Cooper
The skiing & riding conditions are excellent at Ski Cooper. We are reporting a 33 base and the weather this weekend looks to be a Bluebird skiing. 100% of our runs/ trails are open and all lifts running will be running.
Its the last chance for the Best and most Affordable Deal in the State: The $99 four-day XP Pass is still available exclusively online through Saturday Dec 14th. Ski any four days with no blackouts at an unbelievable price with a pass that takes you straight to the lifts. Go online for more information.
Rentals: Those needing ski and snowboard equipment will be able to visit Ski Coopers newly renovated and remodeled rental shop and retail store located at the base of the mountain.
Lessons: Ski Coopers well-known ski school will be open daily through the end of the season for kids, adults, never-evers, snowboarders and skiers. Telemark lessons are available as well.
New Multi-Week Lesson Programs are available this season.
Visit www.skicooper.com for more information.
