Jun 11, 2008 4:49 pm US/Mountain
Surprise! Aspen Will Be Open This Weekend
Ski Area Has A 3 Foot Base
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) ―
Fishing may be well under way in Colorado's mountains, but some Aspen slopes are still packed with more than 3 feet of snow -- and that means a final run down the mountain for skiers.
From Friday through Sunday, Aspen will open seven runs, most of them intermediate, with about 45 acres of snow-covered terrain, said resort spokesman Jeff Hanle. The mountain will be open to the 11,212-foot summit.
Though most sports shops have put away skis for the summer, some spots in town have rentals available.
One of them is Four Mountain Sports at Aspen Highlands, whose retail manager, Julie Bohan, says she doesn't remember Aspen open to skiing so late in the year. Bohan's a 22-year resident of town.
"It's your typical early summer conditions -- better than a glacier, but not as good as a powder day," Rich Burkley, vice president of Aspen Skiing Company's mountain operations, said in a statement.
Aspen is preparing for its 26th annual Food and Wine Magazine Classic, which is expected to bring about 5,000 people this weekend.
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