The Hautest Slopes: Aspen, Lake Tahoe and Telluride

The holidays have come and gone, meaning that now it’s time to enjoy the winter sans obligations. We compiled a comprehensive guide to some of the hautest winter destinations, sure to fulfill every snowy-retreat need in Aspen, Lake Tahoe, and Telluride. Whether hitting the slopes or hitting the shops, each of the following locales provides a luxurious reason to brave the cold winter weather and enjoy some of the finest in skiing, dining, shopping, and lodging.

ASPEN, COLORADO
Aspen, Colorado, is synonymous with “The Good Life.” The name almost immediately conjures images of majestic mountains, epic skiing and snowboarding, outdoor adventure, healthy living, divine dining, and exceptional shopping. The Aspen airport, Sardy Field, is a short 10-minute drive from downtown Aspen and offers a full schedule of flights as well as private aviation access throughout the year. Several airlines offer non-stop service from major cities including Denver, which is just a short 30-minute flight over some of Colorado’s most beautiful terrain.

[highlight_text] The St. Regis Aspen Resort delivers exceptional levels of personalized services and attention to detail amongst the relaxed spirit of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. [/highlight_text]

Skiing in Aspen

Aspen Mountain
Located just south of the town of Aspen, Aspen Mountain, known as Ajax by the locals, is one of four ski locations operated collectively as Aspen/Snowmass. Aspen Mountain’s intermediate terrain is on the top knob around the summit and in the gullies between the ridges, while the expert-level terrain dramatically drops from the ridges into the gullies. If you’re looking for the hardest slopes, Aspen Mountain is well known for its black runs being extremely challenging.

The Stats
SEASON DATES: NOVEMBER 26, 2009 TO APRIL 11, 2010
NUMBER OF TRAILS: 76
TYPES OF TRAILS: EASIEST 0%, MORE DIFFICULT 48%,
MOST DIFFICULT 26%, EXPERT 26%
LIFTS: 8
WWW.ASPENSNOWMASS.COM

Snowmass Mountain
Snowmass Mountain ranks among the top 10 resorts in America in size, and it’s the second largest in Colorado only after Vail. Covering more than 3,100 acres, the sheer volume of trails at Snowmass alone demands repeat visits. Snowmass features a vertical drop of 4,406 feet (boasting the most vertical in the U.S.) with a summit elevation of 12,510 feet. The mountain’s longest run goes for an impressive 5.3 miles, and in total there are 147 miles of trails.

The Stats
SEASON DATES: NOVEMBER 26, 2009 TO APRIL 11, 2010
NUMBER OF TRAILS: 91
TYPES OF TRAILS: EASIEST 6%, MORE DIFFICULT 50%,
MOST DIFFICULT 12%, EXPERT 32%
LIFTS: 21
WWW.ASPENSNOWMASS.COM

Lodging in Aspen

St. Regis Aspen Resort
The St. Regis Aspen Resort delivers exceptional levels of personalized services and attention to detail amongst the relaxed spirit of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Conveniently located just 10 minutes from Aspen’s airport and situated between the mountain’s two primary base ski lifts and within walking distance to all of Aspen’s shops, restaurants, and entertainment, the St. Regis Aspen Resort offers access to all four ski areas as well as an area golf course. After a long day on the snow-covered mountains, the on-site 15,000-square-foot Remède Spa is an exquisite way to unwind.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Pratesi 300-thread-count linens and down comforters, Bose CD & AM/FM clock radio, Frette bathrobes, and Remède skin and haircare products.

HAUTE SERVICES: St. Regis Signature Butler Service, including packing and unpacking, laundry service, shoe shines, and other personal assistant services available 24-hours a day; Mercedes Blue TEC Sport Utility Vehicles for in-town transportation; complete concierge services; and ski valet service, including ski area transport, equipment storage, boot drying, and more.

315 EAST DEAN ST.
ASPEN, CO 81611
PHONE: 970.920.3300
WWW.STREGISASPEN.COM

Hotel Jerome
Lavish, AAA Four Diamond Award-winning Hotel Jerome’s ornate Victorian flare has been painstakingly preserved and restored so that even the smallest detail is a luxurious reflection of the whole property. Guests can warm their toes by the hotel’s lobby great oak fireplace, which features full relief carvings and a silver-dust mirror mantel. Located in the heart of Aspen, Hotel Jerome is just a few quick steps away from renowned art galleries, high-end boutiques, delicious restaurants and cafes, and a multitude of outdoor activities such as skiing, biking, hiking, fly fishing, and more. Guests can relax at Hotel Jerome’s nationally acclaimed spa or allow the concierge to arrange for in-room treatments.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Feather pillows, 300-thread count linens, exceptionally roomy closets, and marble bathtubs (many with Jacuzzi jets and all with separate showers).

HAUTE SERVICES: Twice-daily maid service; nightly turndown service; concierge service; same-day laundry and dry cleaning; business support services; valet parking; and complimentary airport, downtown, and ski slope transfers to Aspen Mountain via chauffeur-driven luxury SUVs.

330 EAST MAIN ST.
ASPEN, CO 81611
800.253.3114
WWW.ROCKRESORTS.COM

The Viceroy Snowmass
At the base of Snowmass Mountain, the Viceroy Snowmass glows with a modern spirit as Viceroy Hotels and Resort’s debut resort. The hotel is located in the heart of the quaint Snowmass Village, only minutes from downtown Aspen, and offers ski-in and ski-out luxury resort lodging, complemented by imaginative dining and lounging that caters to guest’s every need. The property also features a Ute-inspired wellness spa, and a year-round pool terrace and café.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Pillow top mattresses with 100-perent Egyptian cotton bed linens; feather duvets, comforters and pillows; gas fireplaces with glass fronts and granite surrounds; and Neil George in-room amenity products.

HAUTE SERVICES: In-room spa services and private chef meal preparation and service by request; ski valet and ski concierge; complete leisure activity coordination; and business concierge and meeting services.

130 WOOD RD.
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO 81615
888.622.4567
WWW.VICEROYHOTELSANDRESORTS.COM

Dining in Aspen

Matsuhisa
The latest in Nobu Matsuhisa’s ever-expanding restaurant empire, Aspen’s Matsuhisa is one of the town’s newer and most popular restaurants. (303 E. Main St., Aspen / 970.544.6628)

Olives Aspen
Internationally acclaimed Chef Todd English brings his culinary talents to St. Regis Aspen. Olives Aspen offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine created with the freshest local ingredients. (315 EAST DEAN STREET, ASPEN / 970.920.7356)

NORTH SHORE, LAKE TAHOE
The North Shore of Lake Tahoe is a majestic location that features multiple idyllic ski resorts blessed with an average annual snowfall of more than 400 inches, combined with an enviable average of more than 274 days of sun, making for the whitest and brightest winters in North America.

Skiing in North Shore

Squaw Valley
As the largest mountain in North Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley’s best-kept secret is that in addition to providing arguably the most challenging slopes, it also features five beginner areas located mid-mountain, with the most impressive views of the lake. Squaw Valley is known for KT-22, a lift accessing the most vertical footage in North America. With a summit elevation of 9,050 feet and a vertical drop of 2,850 feet, the longest run in Squaw Valley goes for three miles. The mountain boasts more than 30 restaurants and bars, with an ice skating and pool area at the summit.

The Stats
NUMBER OF TRAILS: 76
TYPES OF TRAILS: BEGINNER 45%, INTERMEDIATE 30%, ADVANCED 30%
LIFTS: 1 CABLE CAR, 1 FUNITEL, 3 EXPRESS SIX-PACKS, 4 HIGH-SPEED QUADS,
1 QUAD, 8 TRIPLES, 8 DOUBLES, 4 SURFACE, 1 PULSE LIFT.
WWW.SQUAW.COM

Northstar at Lake Tahoe
Another popular resort at Lake Tahoe is the Northstar Resort, which features a variety of on-mountain dining facilities, ski and snowboard school for children and adults, a new Village at Northstar that includes top retailers and restaurants, a 9,000-square-foot ice skating rink, a lift-accessed tubing hill, and the largest snowmaking system of any resort in North Lake Tahoe, covering more than 50 percent of Northstar Resort’s 91 trails. Northstar continues to make improvements and add amenities throughout the resort, which upholds the location’s reputation for catering to guests looking for the very best in winter mountain destinations. This season, guests can enjoy two new lifts, new snowmaking and grooming capabilities, and new beginner teaching areas and programs.

The Stats
SEASON DATES: NOVEMBER 21, 2009 TO APRIL 18, 2010
NUMBER OF TRAILS: 91
TYPES OF TRAILS: BEGINNER 13%, INTERMEDIATE 60%, ADVANCED 27%
LIFTS: 19

WWW.NORTHSTARATTAHOE.COM

Lodging in North Shore

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe
Situated at mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, the luxurious year-round Ritz-Carlton Highlands opened on December 9, 2009 and features ski-in, ski-out access; mountain valet services; Manzanita, the resort’s signature restaurant created by renowned San Francisco Chef Traci Des Jardins; and an awe-inspiring 17,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. Adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, the 25 two-, three- and four-bedroom Destination Club residences offer dramatic mountain and valley views of the Sierra Nevada. The Ritz-Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe is the first new-build resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades and the first five-star caliber ski resort ever to open in the area.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Fireplaces in each guest room and suite; iPod docking station; 400-thread-count linens with goose-down comforters.
HAUTE SERVICES: Twenty-four-hour concierge services; spa and fitness center with 16 treatment rooms; two outdoor swimming pools; technology butler,;and Ritz-Carlton Club level with private check-in and check-out and five food and beverage presentations daily.

13031 RITZ-CARLTON HIGHLANDS COURT
TRUCKEE, CA 96161
530.562.3000
WWW.RITZCARLTON.COM

Northstar Resort Luxury Villas
Located just moments from ski lifts and in the heart of the shops and restaurants in the vibrant Village at Northstar, these luxury one- to four-bedroom condominiums provide expansive views of the mountain surroundings in an intimate lodging experience. The Northstar Resort offers options such as the Catamount Lodge, which is located directly across from the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort gondola, where a three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence ranges from $549 to $1,499 per night and features access to a fitness facility, steam room, and outdoor hot tub. In the same price range at One Village Place, travelers to Northstar can also enjoy a 1,900-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom residence suitable for up to eight guests, complete with a gourmet kitchen, spa-inspired bathrooms, a private balcony, and a fireplace in the living room.

530.562.2205
WWW.NORTHSTARATTAHOE.COM

Dining in North Shore

PlumpJack Café, Squaw Valley
Widely regarded as Lake Tahoe’s premier dining destination, PlumpJack Café features a seasonal menu based on regional influences, indigenous flavors, and locally farmed ingredients. The PlumpJack Group operates PlumpJack and CADE wineries, so the restaurant’s wine list and wines by-the-glass program are impressive. The cafe welcomes several renowned winemakers for dinners and special events throughout the year. (1920 Squaw Valley Rd., Olympic Valley / 530.583.1578)

Le Bistro
Le Bistro focuses on fine French cuisine and features items such as fresh black winter truffle soup en croute, fresh Belon oysters on half shell with ginger mignonette, and crispy duck magret with lemon thyme, blood orange, and Anna potatoes. Order a la carte, or check out the  menu and prix-fix tasting menu. (120 Country Club Dr. #29, Incline Village, NV / 775.831.0800)

TELLURIDE, COLORADO
The colorful and historic town of Telluride is nestled in a box canyon surrounded by the magnificent 13,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains and filled to the brim with Rocky Mountain spirit. Telluride is an ideal setting for those with a desire to experience dramatic alpine environments, intellectual allure from the town’s arts community, and genuine mountain experience for all levels of skiers, thanks to a mix of quality terrain all over the mountain. The community is comprised of a National Landmark Historic District and a modern resort village where travelers who prioritize pampering come to experience the world’s finest spas.

Skiing in Telluride

Telluride Ski Resort
Skiers in Telluride are privy to uncrowded slopes with incredibly diverse terrain including the best black diamond trails in the country. Averaging more than 300 inches of snow and 300 days of sunshine each year, the ski resort rarely has lines for the lifts, which have a capacity to accommodate more than 22,386 skiers per hour. There is more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain, and the mountain features a 4,425-foot vertical drop. With unparalleled inspirational scenery, Telluride has certainly earned its reputation as a legendary ski resort.

The Stats
SEASON DATES: NOVEMBER 26, 2009 TO APRIL 4, 2010
NUMBER OF TRAILS: 120
TYPES OF TRAILS: BEGINNER 23%, INTERMEDIATE 36%, ADVANCED 41%
LIFTS: 18
WWW.TELLURIDESKIRESORT.COM

Lodging in Telluride

Capella Telluride
Untouched by overdevelopment, Capella Telluride is a four-season, amenity-laden destination for luxury, service, and adventure in Mountain Village. From the moment a room is booked, a Capella Personal Assistant aids in trip planning and functions as a key resource to a wealth of opportunities available in Telluride based on individual interests and tastes.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Deluxe Capella rooms: Large balcony; gas fireplace; luxurious living room; handpicked furnishings; Euroflex custom pillow-top mattresses; 450-thread-count Pratesi linens; hypoallergenic down feather pillows; and Pratesi terry cloth robes and slippers.

568 MOUNTAIN VILLAGE BLVD.
TELLURIDE, CO 81435
877.247.6688
WWW.CAPELLATELLURIDE.COM

Lumière Hotel
Lumière Telluride is a luxury boutique hotel perched on the slopes of Telluride’s Mountain Village. The deluxe property is new to the Colorado scene and provides ski-in and ski-out access alongside five-diamond level of service, intimacy, and comfort in a spectacular resort setting just steps away from the gondola and ski slopes. The beautiful Wilson Penthouse offers unparalleled views of the San Juan mountain range from nearly every window, including the windows in  the second-floor sitting room. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are welcomed by a cozy fire, a glass of red wine, and a fine selection of artisan cheeses.

HAUTE AMENITIES: Fitness center; business center; Egyptian cotton bed linens and oversized bath sheets; all-natural bath and body products by L’Occitane; and a sauna and outdoor hot tubs.

HAUTE SERVICES: Luxury hybrid SUV service; ski valet; Lumière spa treatments; evening room service and catering by La Piazza; and pantry stocking.

118 LOST CREEK LANE
TELLURIDE, CO 81435
886.530.9466
WWW.LUMIEREHOTELS.COM

Dining in Telluride

The Onyx Restaurant
Located in the Capella Telluride hotel, the Onyx restaurant, deriving its name from the semi-precious stone common to the region, offers guests a modern-yet-sleek setting that creates the perfect balance between the mountain spirit and casual elegance. Onyx’s menu provides extraordinary interpretations of traditional dishes from Alpine restaurants around the world. Chef Gilbert’s background in international cuisine is reflected in the restaurant’s menu and complemented by the best Colorado ingredients—including locally sourced proteins and produce. (568 Mountain Village Blvd., Telluride / 877.247.6688)