Aspen: More Than Just Skiing

Aspen is first and foremost known as a “ski town.” This makes perfect sense given that Aspen is home to four incredible ski mountains (Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk). But what a lot of people don’t realize is that there are lots of fun activities in and around Aspen that really have nothing to do with skiing. A lot of great musical acts and theatrical performances pass through Aspen every winter. The Belly Up is a fantastic music venue that attracts both big names and also lesser known up –and-coming performers. The Wheeler Opera House is one of Aspen’s most cherished buildings. The Wheeler plays host to all sorts of entertainment ranging from plays to movies with everything in between. Many people don’t realize that Aspen is also an international intellectual hub. Some of the most influential people from all over the world often spend time in Aspen both to educate and learn through collaboration with other influential thinkers. The Aspen Institute, Aspen Center for Physics, and the Aspen Center for Environmental studies are three institutions where visitors of Aspen can get their learn on (often for free or a very small charge). There are many great outdoor activities in which to partake around Aspen if you decide you want to take a day off from skiing or snowboarding. Snowmobiling, snow shoeing, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, sledding, dog sledding, and cross country skiing are all great outdoor activities that don’t involve buying a lift ticket. And then there are of course the two other things Aspen is famous for, those being shopping and fine dining. Aspen has some great shopping opportunities even for those who are on a tight budget. Aspen has two fantastic thrift stores legendary for some of the items that astute (and lucky) shoppers have left with. It is not at all uncommon to hear of people buying an item for around $20 or less that once retailed for hundreds of dollars. As far as dining goes, you could eat out in Aspen for two months straight without going to the same restaurant. There are around 80 eateries in Aspen ranging from 5 star world class restaurants to pub style bar eats. So while skiing and snowboarding are what Aspen is perhaps most famous for, and why many of us have found this magical place to begin with, it wouldn’t be fair to fail to give due credit to the many other activities Aspen has to offer. Oh yeah, we’d like to mention that we’re supposed to get from 2 to 4 feet of snow between Saturday 11/20 and AVSC ski day which is Wednesday, 11/24! Cheers to a snowy and fun-filled winter…

Thanksgiving in Aspen: More Than Just Turkey!

You’ll have more than just a turkey dinner to be thankful for if you decide to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Aspen. There is of course something very appealing in its own right about spending Thanksgiving in the mountains of Aspen. But Thanksgiving is also the official start to the 2010/2011 ski season, which is set to be one of the longest ski seasons ever in Aspen (due to a late Easter). In addition to the buzz in the air that inevitably accompanies opening day, visitors can look forward to the 2010 Aspen Winternational Audi FIS Women’s World Cup. This exiting two day event brings the fastest women ski racers in the world to Aspen to compete in giant slalom (Saturday, 11/27) and slalom (Sunday, 11/28) ski races. There will be grandstands set up at the bottom of the 1A side of the mountain for optimum viewing. These grandstands are accessible to all (you do not need to ski to get there)and transportation is provided for those who may need assitance. Thanksgiving weekend is also the official kick-off of the season-long Bud Light Hi-Fi concert series. This year’s talent has yet to be announced, but if years past are any indication, guests will not be disappointed. What we can tell you for sure at this point is that the concert will take place on the evening of Saturday, 11/27 from 6:30-8 in the upper Gondola Plaza. Last but not least, back by popular demand is the Bud Light sponsored “Dine around Aspen,” during which many of the best restaurants in Aspen will be offering great Prix Fixe menus. Be sure to look over the link provided at the bottom of the page because some restaurants will not be participating on the night of Thanksgiving. The Innsbruck is the perfect place to enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend in Aspen as all of our condos have luxury kitchens perfect for preparing your feast and cozy living rooms complete with a fireplace that just beg you to partake in that beloved after dinner nap!

Super Fall Savings

With fall in Aspen come a multitude of great deals in most every consumer category, from spa treaments to dining, and everything in between. The first fall deal we would like the highlight comes from The Aspen Club and Spa. This renowned spa and fitness center is offering 25% off spa treatments, 10% off on Aspen Club Boutique purchases, 10% off SalonAspen services, and discounts on personal training and fitness classes. For $99.00, you can purchase a day pass and receive a 50 minute massage, which when combined would normally cost well over $200. The day pass allows you to access the fitness area, lap pool, cardio deck, steam/sauna/Jacuzzi, and racquetball/squash courts. Next we would like to highlight some of the many dining discounts that surface during the fall season. While most every restaurant offers some kind of discount, we would like to highlight some of the stand-outs in terms of value. Elevation and Lu Lu Wilson are two great American Bistro-Style restaurants that are very popular with locals and visitors alike. Both of these establishments are offering a 3 course $35 prix fixe menu during the fall off-season. If it’s Asian food you’re craving, head to Asie Asian Restaurant, where they are offering a 3course prix fixe for just $29. For a pub-style experience, give Zane’s Tavern a try, where you can get a burger and a Bud for the low price of $8.95. If it’s Italian food you desire, Mezzaluna is a great place to try. They are offering 2 for 1 dinner entrees for the duration of fall. These are just a sampling of the many great restaurant deals you can find during the fall season. Let’s not forget the truly amazing deals you can find in retail though. During the fall many stores in Aspen are doing their best to rid themselves of both their summer inventory AND last years winter inventory, which provides attentive shoppers with many great opportunities. Isn’t it great that you can use these fall sales as an excuse to buy both a new bike and a new pair of skis, all in the name of being a savvy shopper? Last but not least we would like the highlight the heavily discounted live entertainment that comes to Aspen during the fall, particularly at the Belly Up live music venue. Many shows at the Belly Up during the fall are either free, or very cheap considering the quality of both the performances and venue itself. The Belly Up has a knack for finding up-and-coming musicians who, being in the beginning stages of their career, are not yet to the point of commanding a cover charge in order to see their shows. Yet just because they are not a household name, does not mean that they won’t put on a great show. In the course of just one season I have seen a band free of charge, only to see them return a few months later and command a $20 cover as they rise from obscurity and gain credibility. Most importantly, don’t forget that the earlier you book your winter stay with The Innsbruck Aspen, the more you will save!

2010/11 On-Mountain Improvements

With just five weeks left until opening day for the 2010/2011 ski season, The Aspen Skiing Co. has announced this year’s on-mountain improvements and policy changes that we all can look forward to. For starters, Skico has announced a policy change allowing for “sunset” skiing which will go into effect starting on March 18th. With this new policy Skico will keep one of their four mountains open until 6 pm every Friday from the 18th of March until the end of the season. For those interested in learning half pipe, Skico is going to offer a less intimidating option than the already available 22-foot super pipe located at Buttermilk, or the 18-foot pipe at Snowmass by building a more accessible 12-foot pipe at Snowmass. Snowmass will also be the beneficiary of Skico’s newest toy, the $450,000 “Beast” which is a groomer that covers twice as much area as a traditional groomer. This will help Skico work towards its goal of reducing its carbon footprint while keeping their amazing grooming capabilities intact. The popular Ullrhof restaurant located at the Big Burn area of Snowmass has undergone both a culinary and structural remodel, which will provide customers with a more efficient and delicious on-mountain dining experience. According to the Aspen Times “the menu will feature gourmet hamburgers, hand-cut French fries, and milkshakes,” in addition to other items. The layout has been improved so as to increase the efficiency of the dining experience. The Snowmass Village arrival center will be completed despite the stalled base village development. With the new arrival center, bus passengers will be able to access the ski lift area via an escalator. Those parking in the new parking garage will be able access the lift via an escalator as well. At Highlands ski area, Skico will now offer ambassador guided hikes into Highlands Bowl in order to facilitate guests that might otherwise be intimidated by such an adventure. These tours will take place every Wednesday at 11 a.m. depending on weather conditions. Last but not least, Skico will offer lift serviced skiing at Aspen Highlands until April 23rd, which is a whopping three weeks longer than usual. This makes the 2010/2011 ski season one of the longest seasons ever!

Ski Conditioning

Now that the peaks around Aspen are dusted with snow, it’s time to start planning your ski trip. This also means it’s time to start thinking of a ski conditioning program that will allow you to get the most out of your time on the slopes. Even the most well-conditioned individual will experience soreness and fatigue after their first days of the season. While the reasons for this vary, one thing we all have in common is that most “traditional” activities we participate in during our time away from skiing, be it running, biking, squatting, lunging, etc, lack the lateral movement present in skiing. When you think about turning down the hill, it’s quite obvious why many traditional exercises won’t prepare you for skiing. During a ski turn, a person ideally would place about 80% of their weight on their down hill ski. This requires a lot of strength in the outside of the quadriceps muscle. So developing lateral strength and endurance in the legs is a fantastic way to start developing a ski conditioning program. Some great exercises to develop lateral strength and endurance are side squats, roller-blading, ice skating, side-plank, and simply jumping over an object from side to side. When performing these exercises it is a good idea to practice good skiing posture. This involves keeping the abdominals tight,shoulders squared, with an upright posture from the waist up, all while keeping your hands out in front like you’re driving. This leads us to two other key elements in a ski conditioning program, those being core strength and balance. In order to achieve and maintain the aforementioned “ski posture,” it is crucial to develop strength in the abdominals and lower back (core) and to develop good balance. This can be achieved through all sorts of abdominal workouts and balance exercises. Some of my favorite abdominal exercises are leg lifts, planks, and the “ab-wheel.” Balance can be developed in a number of ways, such as simply balancing on one leg, using balance balls on which you can perform various excises, and using a balance board, just to name a few. I also find it very helpful to incorporate both muscle building and endurance exercises in your program. By building strength you will be able to respond quickly on challenging terrain and prevent injuries. Endurance will help you go the distance at high altitude. Of course the best way to get into shape for skiing is, well, to ski. But by placing an extra emphasis on lateral movements, core strength, and balance in addition to your traditional workout, you can rest assured that you will be best prepared to get the most out of your ski trip in Aspen and leave your friends in the dust!

Fall 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 who you ask of course. The crisp air, changing leaves, and snow-kissed peaks all combine to form an incredible display of natural beauty. While the leaves won't be changing for about three weeks or so, we have had many inquiries about fall foliage 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 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 amounts 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!

Star Gazing

One of my favorite things about the Aspen area is the lack of all types of pollution. There is very little noise pollution, light pollution, or air pollution compared to most places I have ever been. This lack of pollution is of course great for ones overall health. In addition to the health benefits, there is the benefit of clear skies for those who enjoy scouring the night sky in search of shooting stars, meteors, constellations, or just enjoying the natural beauty. On that note I would like to highlight some of the upcoming celestial delights that await those who wish to see them. The first (and the one I’m most excited for) is the Persieds Meteor shower, which is set to peak on the night of August 12th and morning of August 13th, with the possibility of seeing an abnormally high amount of meteors remaining until August the 22nd. At its peak this meteor shower can produce up to 60 visible meteors per hour. All one needs to do to observe this spectacular show is look up to the Northeast sky after midnight. The night of August 13th will also be playing host to the “Triple Conjunction with the Moon,” during which the planets Venus, Mars, and Saturn will be in abnormally close proximity to the moon, which will be a thin crescent at this time. The last notable celestial event for August will take place on August 20th. At this time the planet Neptune will be at it’s closest distance to earth. A high powered telescope is necessary to make this event more impressive. Without a telescope, it will appear as nothing more than a small blue dot. The best way to view these events from close to town would be to walk up to the top of Smuggler Mountain. I would suggest having a head lamp or high powered flashlight as it will be pitch black. Another great way to have optimum star gazing is to go camping at one of the many campgrounds within just miles of Aspen.