Aspen Mountain (ski area)

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Aspen Mountain, often called Ajax by locals, is a ski area near the town of Aspen in Pitkin County, Colorado. It is part of the Aspen/Snowmass complex and sits in the White River National Forest, connected to downtown Aspen by the Silver Queen Gondola and the Little Nell chairlift.

The mountain is 3,267 feet tall from base to peak, with a top elevation of 11,212 feet and a base at 7,945 feet. It covers 673 acres and has 76 runs: about 0 beginner, 48 intermediate, 26 advanced, and 26 expert. The longest trail runs about 3 miles. There are 9 lifts in total, including a gondola, high-speed quad and triple chairs, doubles, and other lifts. The resort can move roughly 10,755 skiers per hour.

Aspen Mountain gets about 300 inches of snow each year, and snowmaking covers around 210 acres (about one-third of the area). The mountain is known for its challenging terrain and does not have beginner runs, so newcomers usually visit Snowmass or Buttermilk for easier options. It’s popular with experienced skiers and has a distinct, homespun culture that reflects Aspen’s early recreational roots.

History highlights include its opening in 1946, founded by Walter Paepcke as the first ski area of the Aspen Skiing Company. The first chairlift was Lift-1, which at the time was the longest in the world. In 1986, the Silver Queen Gondola gave visitors a summit ascent on the east side. The area hosted the 1950 World Championships, the first outside Europe. Snowboarding became officially allowed in 2001, with the resort opening to boarders on April 1, 2001. The mountain’s lift system also allows visitors to ski down into downtown Aspen via the Little Nell Run.

Aspen Mountain is smaller than nearby Snowmass but offers a unique, traditional ski culture and a scenic route from the town to the summit.