Aspen

far better than Vail

Aspen is one of those places that you have to visit, although, I wasn’t all that impressed. I enjoyed Telluride much more.

One of the most amazing places I had been in my life!

For the 2007 X Games. It was awesome!

I love this place so much, despite being full of rich bitches. I would love to live here someday, but the only way that will happen is if satan decides to cede his beloved kingdom of real estate.

Aspen’s main and only airport is Sardy Field. The airport has one runway at a length of 8,500 ft. Sardy Field is Colorado’s third largest airport. The airport has a massive “corporate” section which accommodates the hundreds of corporate and private jets. The airport also accommodates 5 airlines: United Airlines, Delta Airlines, US Airways, Northwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines.       

Aspens are trees of the willow family and comprise a section of the poplar genus, Populus sect. Populus.

The city has its roots in the winter of 1879, when a group of miners ignored pleas by Frederick Pitkin, governor of Colorado, to return across the Continental Divide due to an uprising of the Ute Indians. Originally named Ute City, the small community was renamed Aspen in 1880 and quickly surpassed Leadville as the nation’s most productive mining district for silver. While the price of silver steadily declined during the silver boom in Colorado, production expanded due to the passage of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which doubled the government’s purchase of silver. By 1893, Aspen’s prosperity resulted in a population of 12,000 residents, with banks, a hospital, two theaters, an opera house and electric lights. Economic collapse came with the Panic of 1893, when President Cleveland called a special session of Congress and repealed the act. Within weeks, many of the Aspen mines were closed and thousands of miners were put out of work. It was proposed that silver be recognized as legal tender and the Populist Party adopted that as one of its main issues; Davis H. Waite, an Aspen newspaperman and agitator was elected governor of Colorado on the Democratic Ticket; but in time the movement failed.       

too trendy for my taste… but the skiing is good

I skiied Snowmass a few years ago – we were in town the last weekend of the season (only because we couldnt afford it mid-season!!) and we woke up to a very snowy Saturday morning.

We made the trek to the Elk Camp area – plenty of glades and freshies that morning. I understand Snowmass is undergoing a major renovation to the base area – it will probably be quite spectacular!

I was here for Hunter S. Thompson’s funeral. If you’re a fan (and you should be), hit Woody Creek Tavern and pay your respects. It’s beautiful in summer.