Aspen Mountain | |
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Location in the United States Location in Colorado | |
Location | White River National Forest Aspen, Pitkin County, Colorado, U.S. |
Nearest major city | Aspen, Colorado |
Coordinates | 39°11′11″N 106°49′7″W / 39.18639°N 106.81861°W |
Status | Operating |
Owner | Aspen Skiing Company |
Vertical | 3,267 ft (996 m) |
Top elevation | 11,212 ft (3,417 m) |
Base elevation | 7,945 ft (2,422 m) |
Skiable area | 673 acres (2.7 km2) |
Trails | 76 total - 0 Beginner - 48 Intermediate - 26 Advanced - 26 Expert |
Longest run | 3 miles (5 km) |
Lift system | 9 total - 1 gondola - 2 high-speed quad chairs - 1 high-speed triple - 1 quad chair - 2 double chairs - 2 secondary lifts |
Lift capacity | 10,755 / hr |
Terrain parks | No |
Snowfall | 300 in (760 cm) |
Snowmaking | Yes, 31% of area |
Night skiing | No |
Website | aspensnowmass.com |
Aspen Mountain (often called by its former name of Ajax among locals) is a ski area in the western United States, located in Pitkin County, Colorado, just outside and above the city of Aspen. Situated on the north flank of Aspen Mountain (for which it is named), its summit elevation is 11,212 feet (3,417 m) above sea level. Aspen Mountain forms the end of Richmond Ridge, a long ridge that extends ten miles (16 km) south at approximately 11,000 ft (3,350 m) to join the main spine of the Elk Mountains.
Founded 78 years ago in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, Aspen was the first ski area venture of the Aspen Skiing Company. It is one of four adjacent ski areas operated by the company as part of the Aspen/Snowmass complex. At only 673 acres (2.7 km2), it is somewhat small compared to other ski areas, especially compared to the much larger nearby Snowmass ski area, and retains a unique cultural flavor that harkens to the earlier days of recreational skiing in the state. The ski area is located within the White River National Forest and is operated under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. It has three restaurants on the mountain; two are on top (one is a club that only allows members), and one is mid-mountain.