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Saturday’s opening delayed at Aspen Highlands

Scott Condon
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN – The opening of Aspen Highlands on Saturday will be delayed until there is more snow, Aspen Skiing Co. announced Tuesday.

About eight inches is needed to get the upper slopes open, said Skico Vice President of Mountain Operations Rich Burkley. Snow is possible for Aspen starting on Wednesday night and going through several days, according to the National Weather Service. Burkley said crews will be ready to scramble to get the ski area open if the snow falls.

“I’m daring the storm to come,” he quipped. “We need eight inches in 24 hours and we can get that mountain open.”



His philosophy is that Mother Nature will alter your plans, no matter what you do.

Aspen Mountain and Snowmass opened Thanksgiving Day, as scheduled. Highlands was supposed to open Dec. 8 while Buttermilk is scheduled to make its season debut Dec. 15.




Aspen Mountain needs eight inches of snow to offer top-to-bottom skiing, according to Burkley. Parts of the Big Burn at Snowmass could also open with eight inches of snow, he said.