ChrisC
Well-known member
A little old, but maybe still interesting.
After hearing so much about the new Highlands Bowl -- and combined with good snow and 18" in the last week, we had to try Highlands for the first time. 3" of new snow greeted us.
FYI. Parking....if you do not park at Buttermilk and take a shuttle to Highlands(unknown to us), you have to pay $7 to park at Highlands -- no choice. Unless you have 3+ people. Two people didn't cut it. OK. The Ritz Carlton is right at the base too. So this is where the locals of Aspen ski? OK. $$$
The mountain. One very long ridge with steep drops off the side. The problem the ridge faces north (good) but the drop-offs face either too east or west. Both Steeplechase (east) and Olympic Bowl (west) were very hard underneath -- despite 18" during the week and 3" last night. Hmmm. Overall, the drops were a little short for required traverse back -- even with the nice snow.
Highlands Bowl. Definitely a good hike to the top. Took about 30 min with a stop or two. Very dramtic setting. Lots of beautiful peaks on all sides while heading up an increasingly narrow ridge. The bowl mainly faces east and curves around to the north. Did two runs. The east facing shots were just OK. The north facing aspects from the top were the best. The sustained steep vertical was probably about 1500 ft. The runs were mostly chowder with a few pockets of fluff. Lots of people on the ridge. Not a solo experience. Also, Highlands was running a cat up the lower 1/3 of the ridge -- until it got too steep and narrow.
Overall. I liked Highlands. But there are some definite flaws. However, I think Telluride or Crested Butte serves up better sustained expert skiing in Colorado. The Highlands Bowl really does not merit a special trip. It's really nice too have, but not epic. It felt like Gold Hill in Telluride before it was list-served.
After hearing so much about the new Highlands Bowl -- and combined with good snow and 18" in the last week, we had to try Highlands for the first time. 3" of new snow greeted us.
FYI. Parking....if you do not park at Buttermilk and take a shuttle to Highlands(unknown to us), you have to pay $7 to park at Highlands -- no choice. Unless you have 3+ people. Two people didn't cut it. OK. The Ritz Carlton is right at the base too. So this is where the locals of Aspen ski? OK. $$$
The mountain. One very long ridge with steep drops off the side. The problem the ridge faces north (good) but the drop-offs face either too east or west. Both Steeplechase (east) and Olympic Bowl (west) were very hard underneath -- despite 18" during the week and 3" last night. Hmmm. Overall, the drops were a little short for required traverse back -- even with the nice snow.
Highlands Bowl. Definitely a good hike to the top. Took about 30 min with a stop or two. Very dramtic setting. Lots of beautiful peaks on all sides while heading up an increasingly narrow ridge. The bowl mainly faces east and curves around to the north. Did two runs. The east facing shots were just OK. The north facing aspects from the top were the best. The sustained steep vertical was probably about 1500 ft. The runs were mostly chowder with a few pockets of fluff. Lots of people on the ridge. Not a solo experience. Also, Highlands was running a cat up the lower 1/3 of the ridge -- until it got too steep and narrow.
Overall. I liked Highlands. But there are some definite flaws. However, I think Telluride or Crested Butte serves up better sustained expert skiing in Colorado. The Highlands Bowl really does not merit a special trip. It's really nice too have, but not epic. It felt like Gold Hill in Telluride before it was list-served.