Area’s Four Mountains See Up to 16 Inches

Aspen/Snowmass, CO., October 17, 2006 – A wet winter storm rolled through Aspen/Snowmass dumping up to 16 inches of snow on area peaks, with the real storm still on its way.

Snowmass saw 16 inches of snow while Aspen Highlands received 11 inches and ten inches fell on Aspen Mountain. Buttermilk, at a lower elevation, woke up to eight inches of snow.

Rich Burkley, General Manager of Mountain Operations, declined to comment on the abundance of snow preferring not to jinx the start of the season. Yet, in a Zen-like way, Burkley said, “We count it on the ground and we are grateful for every inch.”

Snowmass and Aspen Mountain are scheduled to open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to open Saturday, Dec. 9. Ski racing takes center stage on opening weekend with the fastest women in the world coming to Aspen Mountain for the Sirius Satellite Radio Aspen Winternational Nov. 25-26.

When skiers and riders return they’ll find more than $23 million dollars in on-mountain improvements including the new Elk Camp Gondola at Snowmass (opening mid-Dec.), and new cabins on Aspen Mountain’s Silver Queen Gondola.

This winter ski or ride Aspen/Snowmass for less than $35 per day with the Aspen/Snowmass Classic Pass. Click here for more details. http://www.aspensnowmass.com/classicpass/

Aspen Skiing Company operates four destination mountains – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – and is the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010. Aspen/Snowmass also offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well as four award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen/Snowmass, please call 800/525-6200 or 970/925-1220, or visit the company’s website at www.aspensnowmass.com.