Four Colorado Rocky Mountain School students make first chair at Aspen Mountain on opening day
Westley Crouch/The Aspen Times
Four friends from Colorado Rocky Mountain School — Calvin Baetz, Remi Brunson, Charlie Woodward, and Aidan Meadows — etched their place in opening day history on Aspen Mountain, securing the coveted first chair of the Silver Queen Gondola on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Their adventure began in the predawn chill of a crisp, sunny November morning.
At 4:30 a.m., the boys hopped on a bus in Carbondale, brimming with excitement as they made their way to Aspen. By 5:30 a.m., they had staked their spot at the front of the line at the gondola, watching the sunrise paint the horizon and feeling the energy build as more eager skiers and snowboarders arrived.
Despite the temptations of doughnuts and hot chocolate being handed out by Aspen Skiing Company employees, they held their ground. Whether they ultimately snagged a treat or not, their focus on being first never wavered.
“We’re looking forward to skiing the groomers,” they said. “We’re going to shred them up.”
Finally, at 8:52 a.m., the moment arrived.
Their final words were ones said by many others in their position: “It’s going to be awesome!”
The gondola doors slid open, and the four friends climbed aboard, cheering as they were whisked up to the summit of Ajax.
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