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Mountain Mayhem: Closing Day

by May Selby
A sea of color across the base at Highlands.

Closing day at Aspen Highlands has become a bona fide right of passage each spring. What once was an organic end- of-season gathering at the base has now evolved into a well-oiled production that could be mistaken for an Afterburn or Red Bull-sponsored event.

The weather cooperated this year for the grand affair on Sunday, April 12. Characters came dressed in costumes of every stripe — from superheros to cross dressers — all turning their attention and applause away from the party for the annual tribute to Ski Patrol as they made their way down Thunderbowl.

Adding to the fervor were dueling DJ stages well into the early evening — one set up on a balcony at The Ritz-Carlton overlooking Willow Creek Bistro with Echo Da Funk. The other stage was a DJ dome erected on the deck at Ale House featuring flamethrowers on its upper flanks and rotating talent including Berkel Beats, GeoDecibel, Dustdrops and Andrew Wickes.



Aspen Mountain’s closing day is up next on Sunday, April 19. Don’t-miss traditions include the Buck-Off at the top of Ridge of Bell run at 1 p.m. and The Sky pool for après-ski revelry.

Aspen Times Weekly

Bar Talk: sway Thai

sway opened its Aspen doors at the beginning of February with nine cocktails on the menu including some options not offered in Austin, such as a Thai coffee martini, fitting in with this mountain town’s espresso martini infatuation.



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