Buttermilk (ski area)

Buttermilk Mountain
Buttermilk in Winter
Buttermilk in Winter
Buttermilk Mountain is located in Colorado
Buttermilk Mountain
Buttermilk Mountain
Location in Colorado
Buttermilk Mountain is located in the United States
Buttermilk Mountain
Buttermilk Mountain
Buttermilk Mountain (the United States)
LocationPitkin County, Colorado, United States
Nearest major cityAspen, Colorado
Coordinates39°12′18″N 106°51′38″W / 39.20500°N 106.86056°W / 39.20500; -106.86056
StatusOperating
OwnerAspen Skiing Company
Vertical2,030 feet (620 m)
Top elevation9,900 feet (3,000 m)
Base elevation7,870 feet (2,400 m)
Skiable area435 acres (1.76 km2)
Trails44 total
35% beginner
39% intermediate
26% advanced
0% expert
Longest run3 miles (4.8 km)
Lift system8 total (3 high-speed quad chairs, 1 double chairs, 4 surface/ski school)
Terrain parks2, 1 superpipe
Snowfall200 in/year (5.08 m/year)
Websitehttp://www.aspensnowmass.com

Buttermilk Ski Area refers to a ski hill and an unincorporated community surrounding it in Pitkin County, Colorado. Located about halfway between the cities of Aspen and Snowmass Village, it is frequently considered the easiest skiing mountain in the area. Buttermilk has also been the host to the ESPN Winter X Games multiple times. It contains three ski areas: Tiehack (difficult), Main Buttermilk (regular), and West Buttermilk (easy). Art Pfister developed Buttermilk Mountain ski area in 1958.[1] It was part of the original Aspen trio of 1960s: Aspen Mountain (ski area), Aspen Highlands, and Aspen Buttermilk. [citation needed]

Buttermilk is anchored by three high speed quads. The Summit Express services trails in the Main Buttermilk section of the mountain. The West Buttermilk Express, built in 2004, services beginner terrain on the west face of the mountain. The Tiehack Express, built in 2011, services advanced and intermediate terrain on the west face of Buttermilk Mountain. Buttermilk is known as one of the best beginner mountains in North America, to learn ski or snowboard. Its base includes The Hideout — an integrated play-and-learning area for children in ski school ages 2 ½ to 6 years old.[2]

In February 2014, Nancy Pfister was found brutally murdered in a walk-in closet of her home in Buttermilk. The case made headlines across the country, and has been featured on Dateline and Snapped.

  1. ^ Murdered Colorado socialite Nancy Pfister’s Australian connection News.com.au, March 06, 2014
  2. ^ "Lessons | Buttermilk, Ski & Snowboard Schools | Aspen Snowmass". Aspen Snowmass. Retrieved 2015-12-04.