Aspen Mountain: How to Ski Hero’s
Aspen Mountain
The lifts started spinning at Aspen’s signature ski area in 1946, and the predominantly expert terrain has challenged skiers (and, as of 2001, snowboarders) ever since. Though a relatively modest 828 acres, the mountain punches well above its weight, with steeps, moguls, and glades facing every which way. Given its historic, if not iconic, status, things don’t change often on Aspen Mountain, which you may hear some locals refer to as Ajax. The Hero’s terrain, added last winter, was the first major expansion since 1985. With that development, this past summer the Gent’s Ridge chair—affectionately dubbed “the Couch” for a snail’s pace that invited relaxation—was dismantled after nearly 40 seasons of service and sold off to Montana’s Maverick Mountain, where the venerable fixed-grip quad will be given a chairlift facelift and a new lease on life.
How to Ski: Hero’s
In December 2023, this new 153-acre stash of north-facing, mainly double-black trails opened at the top of Aspen Mountain. You may hear it referred to as Pandora’s, the name when the area was still coveted backcountry terrain (longtime locals live for tradition). Here’s a progressive approach.
• Curious intermediates: From the top of Aspen Mountain, ski 1 & 2 Leaf, then take blue-square Rideout (an ungroomed, descending traverse); after it goes under the Hero’s lift, head downhill into the well-spaced trees and moderate slope of El Avalanchero Glade.
• Step it up: Ski a short section of Jim’s under the Hero’s lift line to Fat City on the right; navigate the first few steep pitches, then practice your tree skiing as the pitch eases up and the glades get denser.
• Fastest way for experts to jump in: Make a few turns down 1 & 2 Leaf and look for the Hero’s Chutes #2 sign at right. Precipitous slopes await in Ollie’s Yot or, a short traverse to the left, D’Kine Bowl. Both runs funnel into the lower glades before ending at the catwalk to the lift.
• Far out: Traverse to Starwalk and explore Hero’s outermost run. The wide-open trail is sun-soaked on bluebird days, and moguls develop rather quickly between storms.
• Doh! Despite numerous ski-area boundary signs along Buddy System and Hodgepodge, people still cross the rope line, get lost, and need rescuing. Don’t be that skier.
We’re not giving away all the secrets but, on a powder day, many skiers beeline up the mountain rather than stay low. So, when the snow report says 8 to 12, skip the early-morning feeding frenzy at the Silver Queen gondola and ride up the Shadow Mountain lift (a.k.a. Lift 1A). There, you’re more apt to get fresh tracks on expert runs like Super 8, Corkscrew, and Corkscrew Gully; the terrain mellows out below them. Bonus: Lap them several times while others are still riding the gondola.
Though it’s known for moguls, Aspen Mountain has plenty of challenging pistes where you can set an edge. Two of our favorites are Roch Run and Ruthie’s Run. Both are wide-open pitches that parallel Ruthie’s chair on Aspen’s west side, perfect for arcing big GS turns. In fact, World Cup racers careen down the upper part of Ruthie’s when Aspen hosts downhill events.
Gold Standard: Adjacent to the gondola base, Ajax Tavern is the go-to-be-seen spot for those who aren’t members of the posh AspenX Mountain Club ($250,000 initiation fee and a wait list for membership) at the ski area summit. If weather allows, nab an outdoor table and warm up with a Wagyu double cheeseburger and Ajax truffle fries ($50 ), accompanied by the de rigueur glass of Veuve ($35 ).
Wallet Friendlier: Line up at the counter for generously sized, steaming bowls of made-to-order pad Thai or pho ($16 ) at the window-lined Sundeck at the summit, where the view of the Elk Mountains is a worthy side dish.
True story: An Aspen local shared the gondola with a couple outfitted in flashy designer skiwear (including goggles and helmets, although the woman inexplicably had her goggles positioned off to the side) but no skis. At the summit, the couple disembarked, the woman struck several pouty poses while her male companion took photos, then they returned to the gondola and rode it back down without ever carving a turn. Welcome to the picture-perfect world of influencers! There’s no better place for that kissy-lip selfie than at the top of Aspen Mountain with Highland Bowl in the background. Nor a more perfect workaround for Instagram posers prone to yardsale on the bunny hill than a $52 round-trip sightseeing ticket on the venerable Silver Queen.
All About Après
High Rollers: You may be tempted to click out of your skis in front of Ajax Tavern’s patio, where the music starts thumping and the Champagne flowing by early afternoon, and don’t let us stop you. But to really go big, head to the courtyard of the St. Regis on Dean Street where the Snow Lodge (sister to the Surf Lodge of Montauk, NY) amplifies Aspen’s buzzy après scene with culinary flair, specialty cocktails and thrumming music, including, this winter, performances from superstar DJs Diplo and David Guetta.
Low Rollers: Locals breathed an audible sigh of relief when BUCK opened last winter—it’s one of the only places in Aspen to get beer and grub in the single digits. With vintage skis as wall decor and old ski passes under glass on the tabletops, BUCK reads throwback in more ways than price. Draft beer starts at $4, a cup of ground-elk chili is $7, and a large cone of fries with addictive house-made ketchup is $8.
The Silver Queen gondola isn’t just another lift. It carries skiers to the top of Aspen Mountain in 14 minutes, seating eight passengers per car. And that involves, ideally, some social skills. Blend in with the locals by observing these steps:
1. Don’t stampede—this isn’t France. The lifty will ask how many are in your group and direct you to a car.
2. Load your skis in the rack quickly (often, the lifty will help), get in, and make room for those boarding after you.
3. The “gondola shuffle” is a time-honored Aspen tradition: If a group of skiers ahead of you is taking their time to get in a car, waiting almost until the doors close, respect their privacy (unless there’s a huge line behind). There’s a reason they want to be on their own.
4. Don’t gab on your phone the whole ride up or you’ll get some serious shade from fellow passengers. Legend has it that in the early days of cell phone use, one exasperated skier grabbed the phone from a loquacious rider and threw it out the window.
By: Cindy HirshfeldI Aspen Sojourner I December 16, 2024