Aspen Mountain

Ajax, also know as Aspen Mountain is the first Ski Resort in the Roaring Fork Valley opening Lift 1 on January 11th, 1947. Since that moment the history of skiing has been forever changed. People from all over the world began to visit Aspen for its world class skiing. They dared to navigate the steep terrain of Aspen mountain. With a vertical rise of 3,267 feet in elevation and no easy trails, its hard not to find a run that you can't catch speed on. Ajax has over 673 acres of terrain to ski, and it is rightfully known for being steep and deep with enough bump runs to test even the sturdiest of knees. To be sure you can handle all the bumps and steeps, make sure you visit our Aspen Location for the very best ski equipment.

When the slopes opened officially for business in 1947, Lift 1 was know as being the longest lift in the entire world. In 2006, the gondola received an upgrade and now boasts 147 spacious Swiss-made cabins with floor to ceiling windows. The 15 minute ride up the Silver Queen Gondola, named to pay tribute to Aspen's silver mining heritage, revels the best views of town! The Silver Queen Gondola takes its passengers to the top of the mountain, which sits at 11,212 ft. When you're up on top be sure to check out the Sun Deck, a great spot to enjoy a great meal or a few beers. The views of Highland Bowl and the Elk Mountain Range from the Sun Deck are amazing and worth a taking a moment to snap a few pictures.

One of Ajax's most unique features that you won't find on the map is the shrines hidden in the woods. These shrines are dedicated to musicians who have passed away. There is a shrine for Jerry Garcia, which is probably the easiest to find, it's in the trees near Ruthies Run. Aspen local John Denver is honored as are other beloved locals. You may be able to find Elvis, Hendrix, and even a shrine dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, who gets a shrine for singing Happy Birthday to JFK.

At the end of the day when you peel off that ski and snowboard equipment be sure to enjoy all that the Town of Aspen has to offer. I'm sure a well deserved drink is in order. There are many great hot spots in town that you won't want to miss. From Ajax Tavern and the Little Nell right at the base to Bad Billy’s, Mezzaluna, J-Bar and Sky Hotel, the places to get a drink are as endless as the runs on Aspen itself.