Home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010 (for an unprecedented run of nine consecutive years!), Buttermilk also welcomes beginners. Less experienced riders cruise wide, rolling trails while experts jib in the new Snow Park Technologies (SPT) terrain park. Continuing Aspen/Snowmass' commitment to family skiing and riding, a new high-speed quad chair with a midway load station was added recently, replacing the existing West Buttermilk chair and encouraging families, young children and beginners to experience West Buttermilk's more gentle trails.

Buttermilk's Winter Resident -


 
The Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) makes its home in dense woodlands and mountains on the western edge of North America. It is most active in the morning and just before nightfall and can be recognized by its gray-brown coloring and two eye-like spots. The call of the owl is a short whistled "hoo" or "hoo hoo" repeated in a series. The Northern Pygmy-Owl can be seen on sunny days off of Tiehack Parkway.

FACT: Last season Aspen/Snowmass and ESPN announced the Winter X Games will return to Aspen/Snowmass through 2010. Totaling nine consecutive years, this marks the first time a city has hosted an X Games event (summer or winter) for more than two consecutive years.

Season:  12/13/08 - 4/5/09 Terrain: 470 acres/176 hectares Trails: easiest: 35%, more difficult: 39%, most difficult: 26%, expert: 0% Parks and Pipes: 5 terrain parks, 1 superpipe and 1 beginner pipe - all within Buttermilk Terrain Park Best-kept secret: Long, wide groomers at West Buttermilk and steeper rolling runs at Tiehack. More Stats and Facts