Winter Snowmass Statistics

Snowmass Quick Pick Stats:
	Snowmass is # 1. Readers of onthesnow.com, the oldest and most-visited snow sports portal on the Internet, voted Snowmass Village the number one family resort and the best overall resort in the Rocky Mountains. For more information, CLICK HERE
	Krabloonik is the largest touring dogsled kennel in North America and one of the only restaurants specializing solely in wild game in Colorado
	2008 began with a record-breaking January in Snowmass, making two straight months where the snowfall drifted over previous records. The ski area topped 89 inches of snow for January, beating the former record of 87 inches for the month in 1982. Aspen/Snowmass records only go back to 1980. Snowmass also broke the December record when 119 inches of snow fell, beating the former mark set in 1983 by 2 inches.
	In 200/2008, Snowmass celebrates the 40th anniversary of the ski resort opening and the 30th anniversary of the town's incorporation. Festivities are scheduled for the weekend of March 14-15, 2008.
	In 2007/2008, Snowmass debuted a one-of-a kind, 25,000-square-foot children's center unlike any other in the ski industry. The Treehouse Kids Adventure Center is Aspen/Snowmass' largest capital project to date. For more information, CLICK HERE
	Snowmass is the second largest ski area in the country—36 Disneylands could fit within the ski-area boundaries. It's the second largest in Colorado (after Vail) at over 3,100 acres.
	In 2008, Snowmass celebrates its fifth annual St. Paddy's Day Celebration. This huge street party celebrating Emerald Isle spirit includes free concerts, a Lucky Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt, green beer, slopes, and more.
	With a vertical rise of 4,406 feet, Snowmass has the highest vertical rise of any ski area in the country—higher than three Sears Towers or four Eiffel Towers. (Big Sky, MT, has a 4,350-foot vertical; Jackson Hole, WY, 4,139 feet.)
	Ninety-five percent of Snowmass lodging is slope-side ski-in/ski-out, and we don't mean walk three blocks in your ski boots, either.
	Jokingly called Aspen/Snowmass' 5th mountain, the area is home to the largest free groomed Nordic trail system in North America with over 40 miles of trails. For more information, CLICK HERE
	The Aspen Skiing Company was the first resort in the ski/snowboard industry to announce a policy to protect the climate and the first to switch exclusively to wind power to offset all electricity costs. CLICK HERE to learn more about what ASC is doing to protect the environment at Snowmass.
	Snowmass mountain is home to several shrines tucked away in the trees on the slopes, including: The Eric Smith Shrine, The Frank Sinatra Shrine, The Golf Shrine, The Hunter Thompson Shrine, The Nicholas Blake Davidson Shrine. CLICK HERE for more information.
	In 2007, Snowmass debuted a new environmentally friendly and award-winning Recreation Center and transportation hub. In 2008, the facility will be completed to create an 18,000-square foot indoor facility with cardio and weight rooms, a gymnasium, aerobics room, bouldering and climbing walls, and more. Outside, the facility currently boasts 4 pools with water features for the kids like a slide. Coming this summer is tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, To read more, CLICK HERE
	Speaking of size, if you're looking for a tub with room to roam, check into the Timberline Condominiums which offers the largest hot tub in the Roaring Fork Valley.
	Snowmass Village was the first ski resort to open a dedicated conference center in 1985.
	Can you believe there was something before skiing?! Snowmass' renowned Anderson Ranch Arts Center, which incorporates the historic structures of the nearly century-old old Anderson Ranch, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006. The ski area celebrates its 40th anniversary during the 2007/08 season, while the town celebrates 40 years in 2009.
	Each year, Snowmass hosts The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. It is the largest annual disabilities ‘learn-to-ski and board’ program in the world. To learn more, CLICK HERE
	Snowmass Village hosts the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the mountains, going on 26 years! For more information, CLICK HERE
	The Silvertree Hotel is the largest hotel in Pitkin County (and that includes Aspen) with 260 rooms. The hotel is slope-side as well and home to a 35,000-sq-ft conference center.
	If you've ever wondered why the grooming in Snowmass is so good, you can attribute it to head groomer Mark Gressett who in 2005 hands-down won the National Ski Area Association Slope Grooming Competition at Snowbird, Utah, which tested both mechanical savvy and slope grooming skills. Mark won both competitions again 56 other drivers from all over the west.
	Snowmass may very well have the most double diamond acreage in the country and is larger than Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk combined.
	Snow belongs on the slopes, not the roads, and Snowmass proved its superiority in keeping its steep roads safe for drivers at the 19th Annual American Public Works Association West Slope Snow & Ice Conference in Gunnison, Colorado in September, 2005, by winning both the Tandem Axle snowplow dump truck competition and the Skid Steer Competition.
	Snowmass is served by four regional airports: Aspen/Snowmass (ASE), Eagle (EGE), Grand Junction (GTJ) and Denver (DEN).
	Long before Snowmass was known for its fabulous slopes, the Brush Creek Valley was a ranching community. The Little Red School House stands as a testament to those days. Formerly known as the Brush Creek School House, it celebrated its centennial in 1994 and continues to be used as an early education center today.
	Snowmass is known for its warm welcome to visitors. The Pokolodi Lodge was named after a Native American word meaning "The small lodge of welcome and happy dreams."
	Looking to stay somewhere environmentally friendly? Try the Mountain Chalet which boasts an on-site hydroelectric plant. Breakfast and lunch are included in the lodging cost in the winter.
	The Snowmass Club's Clubhouse received the Colorado Renewable Energy Society’s prestigious 2005 Renewable Energy in Buildings Award for using heat pumps in the pond on Hole 18 to heat and cool the building. The heat pumps are powered using clean, renewable wind electricity purchased from Holy Cross Energy. The building uses 30% less water than the average Snowmass structure. The golf course is expected to achieve Audubon Environmental Certification within the next year.
	In the summer of 2004, Aspen Skiing Company opened the first micro-hydro power plant in the ski industry. This plant generates 250,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually or enough to power 40 homes per year and prevent 500,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted.
	The Snowmass Club golf clubhouse, new home to the Snowmass Cross Country Center, is one of the greenest commercial buildings in the state, beating local energy codes by more than 60%.
	Looking for a little exercise with a good uphill snowshoe? Uphill traffic is permitted throughout the day at Snowmass on any route. Uphillers are asked to choose uncrowded routes and to stay to the side of the trail. Downloading is allowed and is free on all chairs.
	Keep your eyes out on the hillsides around Snowmass and you might catch a glimpse of the Burnt Mountain elk herd which is approximately 500-strong and still migrates through the valley. That's in addition to the deer, fox, bear, mountain lions and other mountain critters who share our valley!
Insiders Tips
	The Wapiti Wildlife Center at the top of Elk Camp offers free hot chocolate and cookies to those needing to get in out of the cold. Also inside is information on the wildlife of Snowmass.
	Pack four or more to a car when you head to Snowmass Village to ski, and the parking is absolutely free!
	Lost a glove or left your goggles back at the condo? The on-mountain GUEST SERVICES CENTERS will lend guests items for the day at no charge. Sunscreen is also available here.
	Since ninety-five percent of the lodging in Snowmass Village is slope-side, make sure you turn around and "bookmark" your lodging from the slopes before you head out to ski or you might lose your way at the end of the day.
	If you rent from Aspen/Snowmass Four Mountain Sports at Two Creeks or Four Mountain Sports/ D&E Ski & Snowboard Shop in the Snowmass Village Mall, you can store or transfer your skis and snowboard between the mountains for free. For information call 925-1220 or 800-525-6200.
	Looking to beat the crowds? Consider purchasing a special RF chip for just $10 that allows hands-free access through gates at nine Aspen/Snowmass lifts.
	The "Noon Groom", a freshly groomed run that reopens at noon Monday through Thursday is one the mountain's best kept secrets.
	If you're driving to Snowmass for the day, park at the uncrowded Two Creeks base area, which is several minutes closer to Highway 82 and gets you to the top of Elk Camp in less than 20 minutes.
	Looking for scenic places to park your picnic? Snowmass slopes offer several stopping off points with both individual and group picnic table areas. Check out the Trail Map or stop by guest services for more information.