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Just got back to Memphis from Aspen today and lucky for you folks, posting this TR is one of the first things I'm getting done.



I flew out solo from Memphis last Sunday afternoon to a full moon night in Aspen Colorado - where the beer flows like wine and the beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of the Capistrano. Got picked up from the airport by a CF and could see some people skinning up Aspen for the some kind of full moon night ski club. No pics of that, sorry. After watching Aspen Extreme (thanks to an ex-user of this forum) I felt like I was in the movie as we pulled through town on an empty Sunday night. My buddy is a ski intructor at Snowmass, so you could call him T.J. Burke in a way. After a few beers, we called it a night and got ready for day one of four skiing.



All four mountains were only about 75% open. Snow was very thin... until Wednesday. On to the pics.



My sleeping arrangements for the week







and the view from his place







Day 1 - Aspen Highlands



teams were out bootpacking a lot of the mountain





view of Highlands bowl from top of lift - it was wayyy too sketchy to ski on Monday and only the Main gate and the G's were open. Very little snow out that at that point...





"TJ" on left and me in the gaper helmet







Maroon Bells - 14er







small little rock/cliff huck





There are lots of "shrines" around the mountains in Aspen. this one is called the chair shrine. and rightfully so:







removed potentially bad photo and comment - RMac



view from the chair shrine





hammies at the base







Day 2 - Snowmass



about 2 inches fell overnight



Lift shots











didn't mean to catch this dude's jump





Unhappy to see this





view from the top. if the fog was clear you could see Maroon Bells through here





snapped this from the lift. it's called the Gaper Bowl - apparently because it's the easiest backcountry bowl to get to in the area.





gaper bowl in the background - unskiable hanging valley wall on the right





this was a closed part of Dallas freeway under the lift. looks deep right?





we poached it... the Kastles i was skiing for the week...





aaaand the core shot i put in them during the poach





not my core shot getting fixed, but another. ptex to the rescue





not a lot to see from Tuesday

Day 3 - Snowmass POWDER DAY

8 inches fell overnight!!



woke up to this view





Fresh tracks all day long. hardly anyone on the mountain









Knee deep in most places













long shot was still closed.. bummer





skies cleared mid day. then back to snow





finished the day with a few runs down hanging valley glade. only part of HV that was open that day. incredible snow through here.





that day made my trip. and that snow was needed BADLY out there. i wish i had taken more pics but visibility was about 40 yards all morning.





Day 4 - Ajax



No new snow but bluebird all day long. Ajax is fun mountain but if you miss the upper lifts, you are stuck with a 15 minute gondola right back to the top.



Lift shots









views from the top













Pic of highlands bowl from the top of Ajax - looked a lot better after the Wednesday snow, but still too sketchy to mess up some skis. The cat was not running and would have been about an hour hike to get all the way around the the Gs. (far lookers left in the bowl where the trees are)









couple of action shots. i have bad form













my buddy looks just like the big lebowski and he got me the hook up on the Kastles





caught some air on this sketchy jump





my attempt.. haha









and finally - the signature speed pose that will be part of all my TRs. started at Cataloochee.







AWESOME trip, was so pumped about getting that snow Tuesday night and the chance to ski the mountains of aspen on the cheap. Cant wait to get back out west in the spring. Until then, hope to see some of you out East some weekend.

VERY nice...although I don't think you put up enough pics..ahahahah



I really like the lay of the land in the Gaper Bowl...just looks like it could be sooooooo fun. Don't expect to ever get to see western slopes in person in my life (who knows), so I'll enjoy them through all y'all.

nice, good stuff. looks like you had a good time. lovin the chair shrine. might want to edit on that photo right quick though...

Best TR of the year. So far.

awesome TR ! REALLY enjoyed the pics!

@mommehK 265031 wrote:VERY nice...although I don't think you put up enough pics..ahahahah



I really like the lay of the land in the Gaper Bowl...just looks like it could be sooooooo fun. Don't expect to ever get to see western slopes in person in my life (who knows), so I'll enjoy them through all y'all.



Very nice indeed, I'm quoting you because since you seem to love this activity/sport/obsession, yes you will make it out west within two years, why not?





RMac, great TR, you nailed it when people were sitting on their hands. That really is a ton of pictures, I'm still digesting them - but way to go



(I would add that the former artist MB would love this report, him being crazy about snowmas/aspen)

thanks all. sorry for so many pics. I figured with the lack of TRs elsewhere, I would throw in extras for good measure.



jam - edit the comment, or take down the pic? I'll do both. ha. good call.







@davidski 265063 wrote:Very nice indeed, I'm quoting you because since you seem to love this activity/sport/obsession, yes you will make it out west within two years, why not?





RMac, great TR, you nailed it when people were sitting on their hands. That really is a ton of pictures, I'm still digesting them - but way to go



(I would add that the former artist MB would love this report, him being crazy about snowmas/aspen)





MB def sent me Aspen Extreme along with highlighted trail map. pretty cool move. He'll see these on FB.

Nice. I love Snowmass, the place is huge. Glad you had fun out there.

Sorry for so many pics? Post tons of pics man! I'll agree with Teledave, best TR of the year so far. Thanks for sharing. Aspen looks sweet!