If you are looking for a bit skiing glamour, the Aspen Ski Resorts in Colorado may be what you are looking for. When people talk about winter skiing vacation in Aspen, they likely are referring to Ajax Mountain, which rises directly above the Aspen town. However, there are actually 4 ski mountains linked to the name of Aspen. All four ski areas are linked together on the same lift ticket.

The Roaring Fork Valley, another ski resort in Aspen is technically the most challenging ski area in Aspen, followed by Buttermilk, often billed as the best beginner mountain in the Rocky Mountains. Then there is the Snowmass, a ski area bigger than the other 3 combined. The Snowmass prides itself on its extensive intermediate skiing terrain and have plenty of extreme slopes too for the more adventurous skiers.

The ski trails and 'dump' runs in Ajax have queer sounding names like Bear Paw, Zaugg Dump, Last Dollar, Perry's Prowl and short Snort. All these are fairly short, sharp and challenging descents built on the steep slopes where gold miners once tunneled their way into the mountain.

Novice skiers are discouraged from skiing Ajax not so much because of the challenging terrain but because getting off the mountain at the end of the day can be very intimidating. Most of the skiing is at the top of the mountain but the main slopes, Cooper Bowl and Spar Gulch tend to be somewhat fast and furious which intermediates and expert skiers in Aspen Colorado plunge their way home.

Unless novice skiers travel back down on the Silver Queen gondola, they will be forced into the very narrow, steep gullies to plummet like a missile. This can be a very terrifying experience for someone new to skiing. The ski at Buttermilk will be a better choice for novice skiers.

Aspen Highlands is Aspen's serious attraction. As the only one of the four resorts to be independently owned, it had developed a reputation for the most challenging and yet the cheapest and least expensive resort in the Roaring Fork Valley.

While most skiers in Aspen will only ski at the Ajax Mountain, hard core skiers will head for the ski lift system to take them to the breathtaking steep slopes of Aspen Highland's Olympic Bowl, Steeple Chase and Temerity, skiing exhilarating runs like Mushroom, Aces and Eights and Deception which starts steep and gets steeper along the way.

Have you tried skiing at Aspen Colorado? Why not give it a try in your next winter vacation?