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Expanding Aspen
Deep Temerity is a fixed-grip triple that ascends 1,700 vertical feet in seven minutes at a grade of up to 53 percent. In other words—Yar! This is the layout that those who know the mountain best, including Mac Smith, the Ski Patrol director who was famously banned for life at age 11 from Highlands, have been slobbering over for years. Aspen Highlands, like Ajax in Aspen proper, is a phenomenal hill with a somewhat quirky layout. Most of the runs drop steeply off a single high north/south-oriented ridge and end all too quickly with a long flat traverse back to the chairlift. In the past, you'd often see grown Gore Tex clad men standing at the ropeline choking back tears like a 2-year-old denied their 19th Elmo doll, peering down at the forbidden goods cascading toward Maroon Creek. Today, look for those same ski bums choking on powder as they rip down 200 new acres of pitches like Hyde Park and Steeple Chase. And if you think the on-piste offerings have improved, wait until you sample the expanded off-piste goodies in Highland Bowl that have been made accessible by Deep Temerity. The 30-minute hike to the top of the 12,392-foot Highland Peak has always been worth it for the world-class views and endorphin gush, but the 800-vertical-foot run came up somewhat short, if that's possible at 11,000 feet. Now you're able to ski another 1,000 vertical down before you're forced to traverse out, and by that time you'll likely be uttering Roberto Duran's famous "no mas." Aspen has also been at work on the environmental front. Recently they announced the largest-ever ski resort purchase of wind-energy certificates, some 21,000 megawatt hours that will keep 20,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) from being released into the atmosphere annually. These wind certificates will offset 100 percent of the energy use from Aspen Ski Company's (ASC) four resorts and two hotels. This week ASC also completed the largest solar installation in the ski industry (2.3 kilowatts) atop Highland's Lodge Peak, which will keep and additional 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from going skyward. Boulder Weekly Gear Pick: Speaking of Mother Earth, wouldn't you like to be outfitted in clothing the source of which is a Merino sheep chilling in a peaceful field at 7,000 feet in New Zealand instead of Exxon? When you choose Icebreaker wool apparel vs. synthetic polypropylene, you help the little (and good) guys win. You also lose the polypro stink, gain a garment that can absorb and release 10 times more moisture than polypro, and you won't find a silkier feeling material anywhere. Icebreaker's product line includes the men's mid-Quattro top that is mid-weight and ideal for the transitional temps of spring ski season. Go to www.icebreaker.com. Inside Edge Saturday, March 25, is the Second Annual Highlands Bowling Party. Teams of two will ski and search for various checkpoints in Highlands Bowl to earn frame scores. Both team members must arrive at each point to score. At the end of the day, prizes will be awarded and the winners will have their names engraved on the Highland Bowling Ball Trophy, which will be displayed in Highland Center. Visit www.AspenSnowmass.com for details. Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com
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Aspen Highlands has gained a rad new lift, and you may gain
a rad new vocab word. This winter Aspen Highlands unveiled the Deep Temerity
chairlift, which roughly doubles the length of all the eastern expert runs off
of Loge Peak, such as Soddbuster, Kessler Bowl and South Castle. Temerity, for
those of you a few years past your cramming-for-the-SAT prime, is defined as "a
foolhardy disregard for danger." Synonyms include "nerve," "audacity," "gall,"
"boldness," "impertinence" and surely "skier."
