Aspen-Snowmass

Over the Martin Luther King Holiday (January 13-16, 2006), Cheyenne Ski Club offers you three days of exciting downhill skiing in the heart of the Rockies, right where the downhill industry was born after World War II. You'll be able to choose whichever of Aspen’s four unique mountains suits you best.

	Aspen Mountain - aka Ajax or Bell. The original, traditional, tough mountain that is located right in the town of Aspen. Look for the shrines to Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, John Denver and other luminaries on the mountain.
	Aspen Highlands - the newest addition to Aspen's stable. But it's actually been around for years, boasting the steepest bowl in the state. You'll have to try Highland Bowl. Access via the new Deep Temerity lift means you won't have as long a hike.
	Buttermilk - extensive terrain for teaching and learning. None of the hills should be crowded when we're there, but this will probably be the least so. They also sport the world's longest terrain park, a 2-mile extravaganza on the front side of the mountain. We'll be there just before the 2006 Winter X Games, so some runs might be closed in preparation.
	Snowmass - With three thousand acres and four thousand vertical to play on, Snowmass is known for its big, blue cruisers like the Big Burn. But it can also trip you up with the massive bumps of Campground, or the double blacks of The Cirque. New this year are three lifts near the base, and a express lift to Elk Camp from the Village.

On the hill! We're looking at some fun, seldom-tried activities for you while we're there. You'll be able to find more details here as the trip fills.

Dates. We're planning to leave on Friday afternoon, January 13, 2006, and ski the next three days, returning late Monday evening. Our bus will arrive at WYDOT at 3 PM, and we'll leave at 3:30 PROMPTLY!

Lodging. It worked so well last year, and at such a reasonable cost, that again we'll be staying at the Comfort Inn and Suites at Carbondale. Hot tub, pool, continental breakfast, free wireless internet await you there. We'll also be having a Wine & Cheese reception on Saturday evening before we hit Carbondale's growing restaurant district.

For members, the costs of transportation, the usual bus amenities, and three nights’ lodging are:

# of People	1	2	3	4
Single King	$445	$300	N/A	N/A
Double Queen	N/A	$300	$260	$240

A $50 deposit at signup is required to be put on the list!

Tickets. There are two ways to approach your tickets. Aspen offers its ClassicPass for sale before the season starts. If you purchased the Pass last year, you can renew it online by November 11. It provides 4 days of skiing for $139, or 7 days for $219. These can be any days of the season, consecutive or not. There are no blackout dates, and are valid on any of their mountains. If you did not purchase it last year, you can do so at the Colorado Snow Sports Expo we'll be attending on November 5, or at certain retail locations along the Front Range. These ticket stations are open only on weekends, but all sales end by November 20.

Group rates are another option, but we need 20 people daily to qualify. Rates will be $51 per day. This would give you some flexibility at very little extra cost. You'll need to pre-purchase these from the trip captains by December 15th.

Without one of these options, window prices will be $78.

Dining. We can report that the food on the mountains remains at least a couple of notches above the usual ski area fare. Gwyn's High Alpine at Snowmass is very highly rated and has a full-service dining room. Kind of makes you want to stop for a long and leisurely lunch. You may want to stay in Aspen on Sunday and eat at one of their famed restaurants, then return to Carbondale on the RFTA bus. Your call.

Nordic. Right on the edge of Aspen is the country's largest free, groomed Nordic system. Tracks are set for classic and skating. Snowshoers are welcome too! You'll also find an wealth of Forest Service trails and a couple of fee-based trail systems nearby. How 'bout skiing to the Pine Creek Cookhouse for dinner?

Getting around Aspen. From our drop-off point at Snowmass, you'll be able to take local shuttles to points throughout Aspen. And RFTA can get you up and down the Roaring Fork Valley for points more distant.

Wintersk�l. We'll be there right in the middle of the 55th Wintersk�l, Aspen's annual toast to winter. Snowmass Splash, a canine fashion show, snow sculptures, and uphill ski races are just a few of the more than 40 eclectic and exciting events on Friday through Sunday. You can whet your taste by viewing last year's schedule of events. Spend an evening in Aspen enjoying the activities, dining at one of their exciting restaurants, and returning to Carbondale on the RFTA bus.

Where do I sign up? You can be assured of a spot on this trip by signing up at one of our meetings, or by contacting one the captains, Otis Halverson 635-8596 or Janet Cathcart 637-8137.

Participation in this activity is subject to the Cheyenne Ski Club membership application terms and conditions. Trip insurance is available from numerous carriers. The club can provide the names of some carriers but does not endorse any particular carrier nor does it have any opinion on value of carrying such insurance.