Aspen ‘community pioneers’ hit slopes, build relationships for Senior Ski Day

About 120 older adults rendezvoused at the Aspen Mountain Sundeck on Thursday morning for the annual Senior Ski Day, uniting longtime community members.

“I think the older generation here are the soul of Aspen,” said Frederick Alderfar, a participant in the event, freshly coated mountain slopes visible behind him.

Though Alderfar, a certified nursing assistant for in-home care, has lived in Aspen since 1967, he continues to meet new people.

---

---

“Yeah I did, the gentleman … that I sat next to for breakfast,” he said. “His name was Bill, he says he’s been here since ’76.”

Pitkin County Senior Services hosted the event, open to skiers and non skiers, in partnership with Aspen Snowmass, according to a press release. Aspen Skiing Company provided ski passes, as well as a Sundeck breakfast consisting of eggs, pancakes, bacon, fruit, and coffee for the participants.

---

---

“My favorite part of the day was I think riding up the mountain, such a beautiful day,” Alderfar said. “It’s what I call an earth going up to heaven day, and living in Aspen here, heaven can wait.”

Some skiers were as old as 87, according to Aspen Snowmass.

“These are the pioneers of this community,” said Amy Everette, Sundeck lead bartender. “I think we should recognize them and honor them.”

Everette said many Senior Ski Day participants have been skiing in the community for the past 50 years. 

“I’ve been seeing this for 13 years,” she said of her time working the event. “And it just is nice to see all the same people come back, and it gives them something to look forward to every ski season.”

The Sundeck breakfast culminated with a raffle, where restaurant reservations, Aspen Historical Society prints, historic photos, hats, water bottles, and other items went up for grabs.

Part-time Snowmass resident Odette Hays won two tickets for a hot air balloon ride at the Snowmass Balloon Festival, but gave them to her friend, Aspen resident Sue Kendig, because she will be out of town.

“I won the prize, but I gave it to her,” Hays said. 

Thursday was the first time Hays and Kendig participated in the Sundeck community event.

“We met some new people, saw some old friends,” Kendig said. “Actually, saw some people I hadn’t seen for a long time.”

Though they are both avid skiers, the event also provides a good opportunity for people who don’t ski or no longer ski to get up on the mountain, they said.

“This is a lovely way to get them out and having a good time,” Kendig said. “That’s nice of (Aspen Skiing Company) to do.”

Hays said events like this help bring together Pitkin County’s community of older people. 

“I think it’s important for the businesses and SkiCo to reach out to people in the community that have nothing really to do with skiing,” Hays said.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.