TOP TEN GUT CHECKS - ON-MOUNTAIN STASHES AND STEEPS

Aspen/Snowmass has a variety of bold terrain for the fearless

Aspen/Snowmass, CO…Aspen/Snowmass has something for everyone. With four mountains and more than 5,000 acres of terrain, there is plenty to choose from. If you're looking for the biggest, the baddest and the best to really challenge yourself, here are a few ideas.

1.   Gated terrain on Aspen Mountain – Trainor's, Rayborn's and Bingo Glades offer wild, ungroomed terrain with variable conditions and natural obstacles. When the snow falls heavy, watch for these special stashes to open up.

2.   S1 on Aspen Mountain – S1 drops off of International and plummets straight down the fall line into Spar Gulch. One of "The Dumps," a series of steep mine tailings on Aspen Mountain, S1 has a steep entry, sometimes requiring a bit of air, followed by a long, narrow run to the bottom.

3.   Silver Rush on Aspen Mountain – Ride the Shadow Mountain chair and look to your left just before you disembark. Silver Rush is the steep chute just below you. It drops skiers and riders to the top of Little Nell near the Compromise Mine.

4.   The Cirque on Snowmass – From the 12,510 foot summit of Snowmass, The Cirque drops precipitously through cliffs, rockbands and steep headwalls. Try AMF or Gowdy's or make your way across to the Cirque Headwall and pick a line between the rocks, or find a launch pad.

5.   The Hanging Valley Wall on Snowmass – Lines are numerous in the Hanging Valley with plenty of opportunity to push yourself. Possible and Baby Ruth are steep and narrow. The Headwall is home to the Colorado Freeride Series, so you can test your mettle where the best athletes in the country compete.

6.   Long Shot on Snowmass – While not as steep as the other runs on this list, Long Shot is where intermediate skiers and snowboarders can get their first taste of the wilder side of the sport. This hike-to intermediate run offers a true backcountry feel, is left ungroomed and is a good first step to the next level.

7.   The X Games Super pipe on Buttermilk - At more than 400 feet long, with walls towering nearly 20 feet overhead, the Superpipe at Buttermilk is truly super. Drop in and throw down your best tricks in the same pipe where the best in the world ride.

8.   The Terrain Park on Buttermilk – When the X Games pack up, the park stays behind. Ride the monster hits and rails that host the world's best jibbers during the X Games.

9.   Aspen Highlands lower mountain steeps – While everyone is hoofing it to the top of Highland Bowl, dive into the lower mountain steeps on Aspen Highlands. The P Chutes, Moment Chutes, Audacious, Epicure and Lower Stein offer gut check steeps without the big hike.

10.   Highland Bowl at Aspen Highlands – With an average pitch of 40 degrees, and the steepest section 48 degrees, the Lower Y Zones in Highland Bowl are packed with pitch. Accessed through the Temerity Woods, and sitting on the south side of the Bowl, these runs often go overlooked as skiers and riders head straight for the summit.  

Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk - as well as the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass. The area offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (EGE) (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800-525-6200 or 970-925-1220, or visit the company's website at www.aspensnowmass.com.

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