I goto Aspen Highlands 7 or 10 days a year. Each time I go, I’m reminded how special it is and how challenging it is.
It takes me a few runs to get acclimated to the steeps there. Then when I ski, I ski differently. I don’t take chances, I’m very respectful of the Highlands Safety motto which is, “Never Overestimate Your Ability. Never Underestimate This Terrain”. There’s lines at Highlands I won’t ski if the snow is stiff or it’s slick. Because if you fall, you’ll slide a long way. Maybe, to 6 feet under.
Some pics from the other day.
This is standing on Snyder’s Ridge in Temerity. Notice 20 or so feet in front of me, the run falls away. Steep.
Now here’s a pic looking up Snyder’s Ridge from the same place. When you take a photo looking up the slope, the slope appears less steep. If you were to fall from either where I’m standing or looking up, it wouldn’t be good. If you didn’t immediately self-arrest, you’d fall about 500 feet.
Most of the lines at Highlands aren’t marked on the map — something I really like. But here’s the Moment Chutes, which are marked on the map. It’s a short pitch that leads to Lower Stein.
Here’s a pic looking up from Lower Stein. Lower Stein is named after Stein Ericksen. Stein was the ski school director at Highlands when he came to the United States. As on Snyder’s Ridge, if you were to fall and didn’t immediately self-arrest, it wouldn’t be good.
Here’s two pics from outside the bathrooms, downstairs at the Merry Go Round restaurant — mid mountain. The picture of Cher (I promise, I’ll take a better picture without the reflection) is my all-time favorite ski photo. In the other pic, check out the chick Twerking. Sorry, Molly. You didn’t invent Twerking — this chick did.
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