End Of Season Closing Parties In Aspen Snowmass And News For 23/24
Following a successful extended season with above average snowfall, the end of the season is fast approaching in Aspen Snowmass, with the closure of Buttermilk Mountain earlier this month and Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands set to soon follow with incredible closing parties over the next few weeks. As we celebrate another incredible year at Aspen Snowmass, we also look at what’s in store for 2023/24.
Closing Day Celebrations
Snowmass (15 April)
For the fourth year running, Elk Camp restaurant at Snowmass will host an end of season party featuring DJs, hot tubs, bike-powered margarita blenders and free leis from 11.30am-3.30pm. Visitors are encouraged to take part in the ever-popular pond skim in their swimming attire before continuing the celebrations with fellow skiers and riders in Snowmass Base Village. Gondola foot passes up to Elk Camp are free after 12PM for those who don’t ski.
Aspen Highlands (16 April)
From the first chair until the last call, the final day at Aspen Highlands is set to be buzzing with locals sporting mismatched costumes across the entire mountain. Skiers can stop by Cloud Nine for a glass of champagne and a dance party on the deck, enjoy a live DJ at Merry-Go-Round, or have a snack at "Picnic Point," where crowds will gather to soak in the views of Pyramid Peak. Don’t miss the ski patrol descent at the base when the crowd honours the team with well-earned cheers for another season.
Aspen Mountain (23 April)
As the birthplace of Aspen skiing, Aspen Mountain has many historic traditions for closing day. Locals gather atop Ridge of Bell at 1pm for the infamous "Bump Off," a kamikaze race down the mogul field under the gondola. Closing day celebrations will also be taking place at the Sundeck, with skiers encouraged to send it down the America’s Downhill Slip & Slide (named after Aspen’s legendary alpine course). Celebrations will continue at the base of Aspen Mountain when lifts close, with Ajax Tavern and Chica open until late for music, dance and fun.
What’s new for 2023/24
Opening for the 2023-2024 season, the area called Pandora, which has been skied for years by a small number of people, will now be accessed via a high-speed quad and will include 1,220 vertical feet of groomed trails and glades ranging from intermediate to advanced terrain. The expansion will increase skiable acreage on Aspen Mountain by 20% and will be its first significant addition since the opening of the Silver Queen Gondola in December of 1985. The major project is taking into account environmental health, community impact and skiers’ experience. Pandora’s expansion will not only extend some of the best existing runs but also it will diversify Aspen Mountain’s terrain mix, adding a nice helping of intermediate glades and groomed runs. Increasing the public’s access to Pandora's terrain is also an important step against future climate-challenged ski seasons.
