June In Aspen

Summer has arrived early in Aspen as weeks of warm temperatures and sunny skies have quickly melted the winter snowpack. June is an exceptional time to visit Aspen, especially with the weather we've been having this Spring! There are many great events taking place this June including Chili and Brew Fest, The Food and Wine Classic, and the start to the Aspen Music Festival and School’s concert season, just to name a few. At this time, we would like to profile The Chili and Brew Fest since it’s just around the corner! Chili and Brew Fest is set to take place on the weekend of June 8-9. Chili and Brew Fest is a celebration of Chili, Micro Brewed beer, and Music. This event is great for people of all ages. Though due to the fact that food will be served, festival goers are asked to leave their four-legged friends at home. Contestants from all over the country (in addition to some local hopefuls) are set to compete in a chili cook-off in both a green and red chili category, as well as a salsa category. In the same spirit of friendly competition, 30 brewers are set to compete in a summer ale competition, in addition to showcasing some of their other offerings. Festival goers are of course encouraged to sample the goods while they take in the beautiful scenery and live music. The music lineup for Friday consists of Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars at 4:30 P.M followed by The Congress at 6:00 P.M. For Saturday’s event, Galactic is set to take the stage at 1:00 P.M. followed by Gogol Bordello at 6:00 P.M. For further information, please visit www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com . We have some great early booking specials in effect for both June and the summer as a whole. To view our current early booking specials, please visit our website: www.theinnsbruck.com Thanks for reading! -The Innsbruck Staff

Spring Has Sprung

It’s always a little sad when the end of ski season is just around the corner. Although when the weather is as nice as it’s been lately it’s hard not to be excited about all of our favorite spring and summer activities. Much like the rest of the U.S.A, we have experienced a prolonged period of near record temperatures and minimal precipitation over the last few weeks. The ski conditions held up very well due to the hard work of the Aspen Skiing Company’s efforts to preserve the slopes and most reports from guests said that they had a great time and enjoyed the weather. The early start to spring has put the entire Roaring Fork Valley way ahead of schedule in terms of the breadth of outdoor recreation available. As of today a visitor of Aspen would have the option of skiing/snowboarding, road biking, mountain biking, climbing, golfing, hiking, rafting, climbing, or snowshoeing. All of Aspen’s most popular road biking destinations are completely clear and as you can imagine, they are not busy compared to peak season. Reports from local fishing enthusiasts say that the fishing is excellent from Carbondale to Aspen, and beyond. In fact, while writing this post, our mail carrier, Gary, just informed us that he caught 6 nice fish yesterday in an hour and a half on the Roaring Fork River just outside of Aspen. As far as mountain biking goes, all the popular rides in Basalt and Carbondale are completely dry and in great shape. Many of the popular mountain bike rides in Aspen are still snow covered or too muddy to ride, though many people have been riding up Smuggler and a ways beyond just to get a good workout. For all the hikers out there, both Sunnyside and Smuggler are completely dry. We need to do some more reconnaissance to be sure, but we guess that Sunnyside may possibly be dry up to four corners which is a fantastic hike that’s not usually useable until mid to late May. As previously stated it’s always sad to see winter leave a ski town, though now we have other fun activities to look forward to. There is a reason that there is a saying in town the many locals “came for the winter, but stayed for the summers.”

Highlands Bowl

The Bowl at Aspen Highlands provides what is unquestionably one of the best “in bounds” riding experiences in the world. We have talked to guests who are lucky enough to have skied all over the world who have said that the bowl provided one of their most memorable skiing or riding experiences. As many of you know already, the bowl is only accessible by hiking, and it’s not a particularly easy one at that. There is a snow cat available to get you past the first part of the hike, which would save on average 15 minutes or so of hiking. This still leaves you with about 30-45 minutes of high-altitude hiking in ski or snowboard boots. The hike itself discourages enough people from making the trek that the bowl is always the least “bumped out” part of all of Aspen’s four mountains. The bowl also usually gets more snowfall than other parts of the mountains both because of its elevation and also because, well, it’s a bowl. As a bowl, it has wide range of aspects which will usually mean that at least one area in the bowl is “wind loaded” meaning much more snow has built up than the ski report would indicate. When you combine the low traffic with high snowfall, the bowl almost always impresses anyone who gets to ride it. If the snow is good on other parts of the mountain, it’s great in the bowl. What is most important about the bowl, however, is the incredible amount of work that goes into making it a safe adventure. It essentially provides a back country experience without the significant risk involved with back country riding. As soon as there is a foot or more of snow, Highlands ski patrol along with an army of volunteers literally walk up and down the bowl to boot pack the early season snow. This helps create stable layers of snow that serve to mitigate what would otherwise be very dangerous avalanche conditions. Then, throughout the season, the ski patrol spends lots of time and money on the bowl to make sure it’s safe. They continually boot pack, cut the snow into zig zag patterns to decrease the size of a potential slide, and bomb fresh snow causing it to slide under controlled conditions. It’s pretty incredible that the bowl offers powder skiing on 40+ degree slopes while keeping the risk of an avalanche exceptionally low. Hiking the bowl is not for everyone. But for those who are ready and able it provides great memories, lasting motivation to stay in peak condition, and perhaps the best run of their life.

Winter X-Games 2012

Today is the first official day of the 2012 Winter X-Games in Aspen Colorado! Much like years past X-Games are set to bring snow to the mountains of Aspen as we have 7-10” of snow in the forecast for Thursday night through mid-morning on Friday. As always, the various courses and obstacles, from Superpipe and Slopestyle to the snowmobile courses are incredibly impressive, even from as far away as the highway. The entertainment factor and energy of the X-Games is through the roof. But what separates it from other more conventional sporting events is the guarantee that at least one athlete will set a new standard in their said sport, which in turn makes their competitors react so that they are able to stay competitive. This is perhaps why every year we all ask “what will they do next?” This year’s events of course have a special meaning and unusual gravity in comparison to years past due to the untimely and tragic passing of one of the biggest icons in the skiing industry, Sarah Burke. Her legacy will be honored throughout the weekend. To view the schedule of the weekend’s events, go to: http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/entertainment .
Another aspect of the X-Games that adds to the excitement of the weekend is music. This weekend at The Bellyup, which is Aspen’s premier live music venue, big acts such as Nas, Deadmau5, The All American Rejects, and Sebastian Ingrosso will all be putting on performances. In addition to these concerts, Awolnation will be putting on a free concert at the base of Aspen Mountain on Saturday, January 28th at 5:30 PM. The concert is timed so as not to conflict with any X-Games events. All in all it should be a great weekend!

Aspen: More Than Just Skiing

While Aspen is best known for its ski slopes, what truly distinguishes it from other ski resorts is its historic town and abundance of things to do if one decides they need a day off from skiing or snowboarding. Even the most dedicated skier or boarder will need a day off from time to time. Fear not! Aspen has plenty of great activities both cultural and physical, that don’t involve buying a lift ticket (yes, even in the winter). There is of course always the option of perusing Aspen’s famous shopping scene, or eating at one of the many world class restaurants, or checking out one of the many art galleries. But for those of you that still want to experience the great outdoors on your day off from the slopes, opportunities abound. Believe it or not, winter is a favorite time of year for dedicated anglers. Not only is the fishing still fantastic, but crowds are nearly non-existent. While the cold can be a challenge, the right equipment and proper guidance can make winter Fly Fishing a very pleasant experience. Much like Fly Fishing, people think of Aspen’s hiking trails as a strictly warm weather pursuit. What many don’t realize is that with a good pair of boots and stabilizers, or some snowshoes, most of Aspen’s most popular hiking trails lend themselves well to winter hiking. There is nothing quite like watching a winter sunrise over Aspen from your favorite hiking trail! Aspen has quickly become well known for the miles and miles of free Nordic skiing trails. From the impeccably maintained municipal golf course and Rio Grande trails, to the back-country, Aspen has something to offer for all levels of Nordic skiers. If your body truly needs a rest, yet you still want to get outside, Snowmobile tours with the T-Lazy 7 ranch are a great option. These tours will take you through the stunning Maroon Creek valley just outside of Aspen. Another popular activity is to take a guided snowshoe tour with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. These tours depart from the summit of Aspen Mountain every day at 10:00 and 1:00 pm. The two hour tour costs $57 for adults, $45 for youths (13-27) and $35 for children (7-12) and seniors (65+). This ticket price includes the gondola ride to the top and back, beautiful scenery, snowshoes, a knowledgeable guide, and basic snowshoe instruction. Not only are these tours an invigorating way to experience the outdoors, they are also very informative. Guides with The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies are trained educators equipped with a vast knowledge of local geographic history, wildlife, and human history. So as you can see, Aspen has a lot more to offer than lift-serviced skiing!

Stress Free Vacation Planning

With all the great activities to do in and around Aspen, having fun on your vacation is a given. There are however some simple steps you can take leading up to your arrival to help you get the most out of your trip. Your Aspen vacation should be nothing but relaxing. With this in mind, we encourage you to make full use of The Innsbruck’s concierge services. The more you plan ahead, the less you have to worry about when you get here. We are here to make this process as easy as possible. Activities such as snowmobiling, spa treatments, and dinner reservations can all be booked in advance. Then there is of course the all important purchase of lift tickets and for some people, rentals and lessons. These items should be ordered in advance not only so you don’t have to worry about them when you get here, but also because doing so will get you an early booking discount through the Aspen Skiing Company. When you purchase tickets, rentals, or lessons, make sure to select “lodge delivery” when you are checking out. By doing so, your tickets and vouchers for rentals/lessons will be waiting for you at The Innsbruck prior to your arrival. Aspen is a very vibrant and exciting place to be during its peak seasons. From time to time the most popular restaurants can be difficult to get into on the busiest nights. It is therefore very helpful to make dinner arrangements in advance in order to secure reservations at the best restaurants. The same strategy applies to spa treatments and other popular activities. The Innsbruck has a dedicated staff that is available 24 hours a day to help you come up with an itinerary that will create lasting memories for you and yours! Call us anytime at 1-866-925-2980 for assistance, or email us at concierge@theinnsbruckaspen.com

September Foliage

It’s hard to believe that autumn is just around the corner, but it is. Fall is quite possibly the most spectacular time to visit Aspen, depending on whom you ask of course. The cool air, changing leaves, and snow-kissed peaks all combine to form an incredible display of natural beauty. We have had many inquiries about fall foliage lately, and September is already shaping up to be a very busy month for us as a result. So in today’s post, we would like to elaborate on fall foliage. The following is a simplified explanation of why plants change colors in the fall. There are three pigments responsible for the beautiful colors we are blessed with every fall. The first pigment is chlorophyll, which is responsible for plants’ green color. The second is called a Carotenoid, which is responsible for the yellow, orange, and brown colors. The third and final pigment is called Anthocyanins, which is responsible for such disparate hues as the red in apples to the dark blue in blueberries, and of course a whole range of colors in the leaves of plants. Chlorophyll and Carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts (which are organelles that capture light energy to conduct photosynthesis) of leaves throughout the year, while Anthocyanins are only present in the fall when they are in the presence of bright light and an excessive amount of sugar that has been produced and accumulated via photosynthesis during the spring and summer months. During peak growing season chlorophyll undergoes repeated periods of production and degradation in order to make sugar. The continuous presence of chlorophyll is what is responsible for plants’ green color. In the fall as nights become progressively longer, the production of chlorophyll slows down and eventually stops. As the presence of this dominant pigment (chlorophyll) is reduced, the Carotenoids and Anthocyanins are able to literally show their true colors. A warm and wet summer with cool, sunny, and dry fall days leads to the most spectacular show of color. Moisture, temperature, and sun are the most variable portion of the fall foliage equation due to the infinite ways in which the three can be combined. In sum, what is most responsible for the change in colors is the shift in the concentration of pigments as chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops due to progressively longer nights. This allows the pigments Carotenoids and Anthocyanins to become “unmasked” revealing a spectacular display of color. There is no better place than Aspen to witness the transition of plants from their flourishing summer green into their endless spectrum of yellows, oranges and reds that triumphantly lead them into their winter slumber. Leaves tend to peak in the Aspen area at different elevations in mid to late September. The leaves change first at tree line and work their way down as fall progresses. Come and visit us and we will tell you all the best places to take pictures that are certain to make all of your friends and colleagues jealous!

*source: http://www.fs.fed.us , the official website of the US Forrest Service.