Aspen Shares Sneak Peek At Expansion "Project Of A Lifetime"
Aspen Mountain, one of four ski resorts owned and operated by Aspen Skiing Company in the Aspen, Colorado area, is under-going an expansion "project of a lifetime" this summer, according to VP of Mountain Planning Mark Keeling.
The Pandora's expansion has been in the works for decades, and will finally open for skiers and snowboarders next season. Take a look at the sneak peek video below to get a better idea of what Pandora's entails:
Aspen Snowmass: "PANDORA’S SNEAK PEEK: 153 more acres of lift-accessed skiing and riding will drop on Aspen Mountain in fall of 2023. The project has been years in the making and has taken the entire community to complete--like considering wild fire mitigation in tree removal, calling on the public to name trails, and donating all timber for local projects. We’re wrapping up the finishing touches on this new terrain and look forward to rolling out new trail maps this fall. Stay tuned!
Snowmass | Aspen Mountain | Aspen Highlands | Buttermilk
The Little Nell | Limelight Hotels www.AspenSnowmass.com"
The Pandora Expansion isn't huge in terms of ski resort expansions, but the addition will increase Aspen Mountain's total skiable acres by more than 20%.
The project includes 153 acres of new lift-accessible terrain, a new high-speed quad that services 1,220 feet of vertical, and the lengthening of the existing Walsh’s and Kristi runs.
The map below shows where Pandora's is in relation to the rest of the mountain:
Here's why Aspen has been wanting to expand to include this terrain for years:
"The biggest reason we wanted to add Pandora’s? It’s wonderful terrain on a gorgeous section of the mountain. Look up to the east, and views travel up Independence Pass.
Turn your eyes to the valley floor, and you’ll see the Northstar Nature Preserve, with the Roaring Fork River carving a meandering line through the snow. The setting is as idyllic as it gets—and Pandora’s delivers a big payoff for a modest addition of infrastructure.
By thoughtfully placing one lift, cutting a handful of runs, and glading existing tree stands, Pandora’s will increase Aspen Mountain’s lift-served skiable acreage by more than 20 percent—adding 153 acres to the current 675. The project will extend some of our favorite existing runs, including Walsh’s and Kristi, lengthening vertical drop to 1,220 feet and eliminating the hike out at the bottom. (Instead, you will hop on the new lift.)
Importantly, Pandora’s will also diversify Aspen Mountain’s terrain mix, adding a nice helping of intermediate glades and groomed runs."
For more news about skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, check out Cam Burns' channel dedicated to covering the Centennial State. Click here for more.
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