Hanging Valley

I took my last runs of the year in Hanging Valley today. It was a powder day…. 9+ inches of fresh plus some wind blown in… Hard to imagine for April 10th.

Hanging Valley was my favorite place to ski this year. Last year it was Highland Bowl. I think the reason is that it has been so snowy and cold that the hike up the bowl and the visibility, except in Northwoods, was poor. Hanging valley is a short hike, 10-15 minutes, from the top of High Alpine lift in Snowmass. There are many places to ski. The beauty of the place is dramatic!

Hanging Valley usually did not open until 10:30 or 11 AM. So in the meantime a few warm-ups down the Edge and a lap or two into Hanging Valley Glades were great. In fact, Hanging Valley Glades have some really steep tree skiing that in the very deep powder were breathtaking.

When Hanging Valley opens my first line is usually Big Spruce. It is a ridge lined with spruce trees and has a nice steepness to it. The few trees provided visibility on those many powder days. Most people seem to leave this alone and ski the big bowl and I can sometimes get two laps of untracked. It was Marie’s favorite line and I called it Marie’s Ridge.

I also skied Adios Ridge and Upper and Lower Ladder more this year than in past years. The drop into Adios is a bit scary and there are usually a few rocks poking through. The Ladders are worth the trip.

On those really snowy and flat light days I stuck to Frog Pond Glades and Strawberry Patch. Good untracked steep tree skiing can be found in Strawberry Patch on the 4th or 5th lap.

There were at least 10 days this year when I came home from a day at Hanging Valley and said to the Duchess; “that was the best ski day of my life!!!!” TEN AT LEAST!! Today might not have been the best, but it was up there, AND, I had the place to myself. I guess being the last week of the season; there were not many visitors.

It is going to be a sunny weekend so I will get the Duchess out for our last day together. I can’t wait.

Aspen Highlands is going to open the last two weekends in April. So a hike or two up the bowl will not be out of the question.