TL;DR
Aspen Skiing Co. has unveiled the highly anticipated "Hero's" terrain expansion at Aspen Mountain, Colorado, honouring individuals who have shaped the community and skiing destination. Spanning 153 acres, Hero's features a new high-speed quad chairlift and trails named after community figures, including the late Jim Crown. The expansion, a topic of past debate, will open for the 2023-24 season, marking the mountain's most significant addition since 1985. Strategically oriented for snow retention, it increases skiable terrain by 20%, promising resilience in the face of future climate challenges. This heartfelt tribute to Aspen's heritage is set to be a winter highlight in the upcoming season.
Yesterday, officials from Aspen Skiing Co. made an exciting announcement regarding the long-awaited expansion of terrain at Aspen Mountain, Colorado. They revealed that the expanded area will now be known as "Hero's" as a heartfelt tribute to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to both Aspen as a mountain community and a beloved skiing destination.The Hero's terrain expansion covers an impressive 153 acres and includes the addition of a high-speed quad chairlift. What's truly special about this expansion is that individual trails within this terrain will be named in honor of specific community figures, such as Jim Crown, Aspen Skiing Co.'s late managing partner, who tragically passed away earlier this year. Hero's, situated on Aspen Mountain, has gained popularity among side country enthusiasts and offers an extra 1,220 vertical feet of skiing, 153 more acres to explore, and 15 meticulously cut and gladed runs. Access to this area has been greatly improved with the installation of a 4,191-foot high-speed quad chairlift. Approximately 75% of the terrain is designed for expert skiers, while 25% caters to intermediates. Additionally, the choice of terrain orientation, with a dependable 10,000-foot northeast aspect, ensures excellent skiing conditions throughout the winter season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aspen Snowmass (@aspensnowmass) Aspen Skiing Co.'s CEO, Geoff Buchheister, described Hero's as a tribute to those who have gone above and beyond to shape and elevate the mountain experience. Among the newly named trails are "Jim's," in honor of Jim Crown, and "Mike Drop," paying homage to the recently retired CEO, Mike Kaplan. Other runs will commemorate historical figures like Percy Rideout, a 10th Mountain Division soldier, and Elli Iselin, Aspen's first female ski instructor.The expansion was a topic of considerable debate among skiers and Pitkin County Commissioners when initially proposed in 2021. However, the new terrain is now set to open for the 2023-24 ski season, marking the most significant addition to Aspen Mountain since the debut of the Silver Queen Gondola in 1985.Strategically located on a north-facing slope at a high elevation, Hero's is designed to retain snow effectively, especially during seasons with less natural snowfall. This functional aspect adds resilience to the expansion, serving as insurance against the challenges of future climate-induced ski seasons.As per Aspen Skiing Co.'s press release, Hero's will increase Aspen Mountain's skiable terrain by over 20%, and it's anticipated to welcome skiers and snowboarders this winter, subject to favorable conditions.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
