INTO THE ROARING FORK

With four mountains to ski and board on, Aspen Snowmass delivers winter overload, writes Helen Hayes.

- Helen Hayes

You can almost hear the snow snap, crackle and pop as the sun’s rays do their early morning stretch out of the Roaring Fork Valley and up Aspen Mountain. We have ridden up on the Silver Queen Gondola, and click into skis and snowboards ready to enjoy a private run before the resort opens. This is First Tracks, and we are like thoroughbreds at the start gate as we look down the run, perfectly groomed and so alluring with Aspen glittering down below. Being the first to carve tracks on freshly groomed snow is ridiculously satisfying, and I must admit, there is whooping, hollering and a few woohoos as we point downhill and let loose down Bellissimo, into Copper then home on Little Nell, puffed and elated when we slide to a standstill out front of The Little Nell Hotel. What a perfect start to the day.