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Aspen (Ajax) Mountain : Aspen, Colorado : Trip Report
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Sixth Day at Aspen (Ajax) Mountain (mostly)

We had been hearing that Aspen Mountain (also known as Ajax) was very difficult and not to be attempted by anyone but the most experienced skiers and boarders. The girls wanted to take it easy the last day so they insisted we go to Buttermilk instead so that's where we went.

We saw Chris Klug, the Olympic snowboarder, who was running a snowboarding workshop for kids on the mountain. Those kids were FAST!

Buttermilk was ok but we found the runs to be pretty easy after a week on the mountains. We tried the terrain parks but those were mostly way too advanced so once we did a couple runs and got to the bottom we decided to go to a different mountain. The Highlands bus had just left but the bus to Ajax was there so that's where we went.

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Plastic flamingoes sunning themselves.
Pyramid Peak past the trees.
View of the valley.

Mark and Ling wondering where we're going next.
Ling showing off her new skills.

My camera has a panoramic mode and with these views I couldn't help but use it.

Once there we were pleasantly surprised to find it had a gondola that took you all the way to the top. This was the only mountain in the Aspen area to have a gondola. We got up there quickly and still had time to do two runs before meeting the rest of the club for lunch at the Sundeck. This lunch spot had the best food so far. The Pad Thai, although pricey, was one of the best I've ever had. Everyone else said their food was very good too.

The snow was still good and the runs were pretty wide. There are a lot of black and double-black runs but there is always a decent blue run available. We did one black run called Northstar that was as easy as a blue except for one very steep section. It was a challenge but doable for most of us. Lily lost it about halfway down and slid down in a comet-like cloud of snow to the bottom. She nearly took Mark out on the way down.

Most of the guys stayed up at the top and took the gondola to the bottom but Lily and I took a run all the way to the bottom of the mountain. It was an easy way to end the trip.

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Taking the Silver Queen Gondola to the top.
Great views.
The runs look easy enough.

Lily and I at the top of Ajax.
Mark at the top of Ajax.
The Sundeck.

Great views as Mark traverses the mountain.
Safety tips from Ski Patrol.
Today's lunch spot, the Sundeck.

Inside the lodge.
Eating lunch outdoors with great views.
Sun worshipers.

Oxygen bar? It's not THAT high up.
Don enjoying his last day.
Lily the human comet falling down the mountain and nearly taking out Mark.

Lily on her last run down.
The town of Aspen as seen on the way down.

One of the best panoramic shots of the week.

Comments From People Like You!
Final day at Aspen (Ajax) Mountain : Aspen, Colorado 2005		Add a Comment add a comment
Ruf-Porsche
04-Apr-2005 11:01
Lily you should have bailed with me when I told you not to go down Northstar.

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