Post by JB007 on Sept 13, 2010 19:28:20 GMT -7
aspenskiandsnowreport.com/Contact.html
BACK COUNTRY SKIING ADVICE
1. Never ever ski in the back country, or gladed terrain alone. Always ski in 3's minimum.
2. Check the weather and avalanche reports before you leave the door.
3. Check to make sure your avalanche transceiver has fresh batteries and spares.
4. Check to make sure avalanche probe and shovel are in working order.
5. Make sure you have a spare base layer set, protein bars, and water just in case.
6. Make sure you have a mirror or signal strobe.
7. 2 Marine flares for signally or starting fire.
8. LEAVE WORD WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY ON WHAT YOUR ROUTE IS AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO RETURN.
9. Make sure you know basic first aid.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS/AWARENESS
Now being at altitude can have a wide range of effects on your body. Headaches, Cotton Mouth, Dizziness, and shortness of breath are all part of it. The best thing you can do on your vacation to help with this is the following.
1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER-This will help you more than anything else.
2. Take a good multivitamin if you do not already do so.
3. Get plenty of sleep. I know you want to go out at night and party here in Aspen. But do so in moderation if you want to ski/snowboard
COLD WEATHER GEAR ADVICE FOR STAYING WARM ON THE SLOPESore leaving recommend putting in your backpack the following items fyour children.
1. Spare socks to change out of after your first 2 hours of skiing. Will make the feet feel warmer, plus the break inside to change the socks will be great too.
2. Spare gloves/mittens to change into at the same time.
3. Put Vaseline on the following areas using a very thin layer. Vaseline is cheaper than the creams and is basically the same product without the coloring.
***Nose-earlobes-Cheeks-upper lip-chin***
***if you wear a helmet put up a thin layer of Vaseline across your forehead at the space between your helmet and goggles so you don't get the IceCream Headache***.
4. Cover all exposed skin with sunblock. Suns ray's at altitude are much more intense. I use and SPF of 45 rating on my sunscreen
5. Stay hydrated. Drink water before you go to bed and as soon as you get up. At least a 16oz glass.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
****for International visitors to Aspen/Snowmass to get the best exchange rate use your VISA card for all purchases****
GROCERY STORES/PHARMACY'S
Now Grocery shopping at Aspen/Snowmass or any resort can be expensive when flying into Aspen. However, we have two main grocery's stores for Aspen/Snowmass. "City Market" and Carl's. A way to save a bunch of money when you fly in and have to buy grocery's is to go to the "City Market Customer Service" desk and get the "City Market" customer card. Takes 2 minutes to fill out the form but will save 20-25% on your grocery bill.
If you fly into Eagle/Vail, or Rifle get your grocery's at Glenwood springs at the Safeway., or the Walmart in Rifle. Safeway is located on the right hand side of the road driving towards Aspen from Glenwood Springs.
Grocery shopping on a budget
If you are on a tight budget. Then I suggest purchasing your grocery's at the "Family Dollar" in Glenwood Springs or in Carbondale. Family Dollar in Carbondale is easy to get to. Take the 82 like you are going to Aspen, but turn right at the 133hwy light. Family Dollar is 3/4 down the road on the left.
TEACHING THE TODDLER SKIING
***PLEASE DO NOT TEACH THE CHILD YOURSELF. KEEP YOUR FAMILY HAPPY ON VACATION AND PUT THEM IN A CLASS.****
Teaching a toddler how to ski or snowboard can be a very frustrating experience for a parent. I strongly recommend having your child start skiing/snowboarding with a professional instructor. Now if your child does take a class. Please meet the instructor first, and then introduce your child to the instructor. This will show your child that the instructor is an authority figure and not a teenage baby sitter. When the lesson is done. Ask the instructor how your child did, and what tips he/she can tell you that will help your child's skiing/snowboarding. And don't forget to TIP the instructor. They earn it. Trust me on that one.
TEEN/COLLEGE STUDENT LIFT TICKET PURCHASES
Bring your kids student IDs with them just in case you are questioned when buying lift tickets. FYI
PARKING, TAXI'S, AND BUSES
Parking can be crazy in the town of Aspen. I suggest using the great bus system we have here when going to ski at our Four mountains. The buses are free from 6am to 5pm. After that the cost is $2
RENTAL CAR SERVICE IN ASPEN.
Info coming soon.
APRES SKI AND NIGHT TIME FUN
It's Aspen. Pick a place and have fun.
HOSPITALS/medical clinics
There is the Aspen Valley Hospital, and the Snowmass clinic. Visits there can be expensive. I suggest getting "Temporary Travel's Health Insurance" to be on the safe side of things.
Follow this link to buy temporary visitor health insurance.
SKI/SNOWBOARD THEFTS
Unfortunately you have a ski and snowboard theft problem at any resort. Little gangs of people up to no good want to steal your skis or snowboard. Mostly they look for high end demo's which they can adjust the binding to fit them and get away very quickly.
Mix matching your skis with a ski buddy really is not a deterrent to thieves. The thieves watch for that. Lock your stuff up. Not with the little cable locks either. They cut through those very quickly. Buy one of the LOCK PLUGS that are sold in every shop here in Aspen. We have many racks that these LOCK PLUGS are used for all over the mountain. Rental/demo shops do not offer any ski theft insurance with their rental/demo packages. So lock it up, or if it gets stolen you will end up paying the highest markup for that gear. And no, most often your home owners insurance will not cover it because it is rental gear, and not your own personal property.
***if you really want that secure feeling use the ski valet at the bottom of each of our four mountains. I highly recommend it.***
DRINKING AGE AND BUYING BEER/WINE/LIQUOR
In Colorado the drinking age is 21. You can only purchase your Beer/Wine/Liquor at "Liquor Stores" here in the Aspen region. And there are many of them
IF YOU NEED A MECHANIC
I suggest "Big O's Tires" in Basalt. They will not do you wrong.
BACK COUNTRY SKIING ADVICE
1. Never ever ski in the back country, or gladed terrain alone. Always ski in 3's minimum.
2. Check the weather and avalanche reports before you leave the door.
3. Check to make sure your avalanche transceiver has fresh batteries and spares.
4. Check to make sure avalanche probe and shovel are in working order.
5. Make sure you have a spare base layer set, protein bars, and water just in case.
6. Make sure you have a mirror or signal strobe.
7. 2 Marine flares for signally or starting fire.
8. LEAVE WORD WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY ON WHAT YOUR ROUTE IS AND WHEN YOU PLAN TO RETURN.
9. Make sure you know basic first aid.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS/AWARENESS
Now being at altitude can have a wide range of effects on your body. Headaches, Cotton Mouth, Dizziness, and shortness of breath are all part of it. The best thing you can do on your vacation to help with this is the following.
1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER-This will help you more than anything else.
2. Take a good multivitamin if you do not already do so.
3. Get plenty of sleep. I know you want to go out at night and party here in Aspen. But do so in moderation if you want to ski/snowboard
COLD WEATHER GEAR ADVICE FOR STAYING WARM ON THE SLOPESore leaving recommend putting in your backpack the following items fyour children.
1. Spare socks to change out of after your first 2 hours of skiing. Will make the feet feel warmer, plus the break inside to change the socks will be great too.
2. Spare gloves/mittens to change into at the same time.
3. Put Vaseline on the following areas using a very thin layer. Vaseline is cheaper than the creams and is basically the same product without the coloring.
***Nose-earlobes-Cheeks-upper lip-chin***
***if you wear a helmet put up a thin layer of Vaseline across your forehead at the space between your helmet and goggles so you don't get the IceCream Headache***.
4. Cover all exposed skin with sunblock. Suns ray's at altitude are much more intense. I use and SPF of 45 rating on my sunscreen
5. Stay hydrated. Drink water before you go to bed and as soon as you get up. At least a 16oz glass.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
****for International visitors to Aspen/Snowmass to get the best exchange rate use your VISA card for all purchases****
GROCERY STORES/PHARMACY'S
Now Grocery shopping at Aspen/Snowmass or any resort can be expensive when flying into Aspen. However, we have two main grocery's stores for Aspen/Snowmass. "City Market" and Carl's. A way to save a bunch of money when you fly in and have to buy grocery's is to go to the "City Market Customer Service" desk and get the "City Market" customer card. Takes 2 minutes to fill out the form but will save 20-25% on your grocery bill.
If you fly into Eagle/Vail, or Rifle get your grocery's at Glenwood springs at the Safeway., or the Walmart in Rifle. Safeway is located on the right hand side of the road driving towards Aspen from Glenwood Springs.
Grocery shopping on a budget
If you are on a tight budget. Then I suggest purchasing your grocery's at the "Family Dollar" in Glenwood Springs or in Carbondale. Family Dollar in Carbondale is easy to get to. Take the 82 like you are going to Aspen, but turn right at the 133hwy light. Family Dollar is 3/4 down the road on the left.
TEACHING THE TODDLER SKIING
***PLEASE DO NOT TEACH THE CHILD YOURSELF. KEEP YOUR FAMILY HAPPY ON VACATION AND PUT THEM IN A CLASS.****
Teaching a toddler how to ski or snowboard can be a very frustrating experience for a parent. I strongly recommend having your child start skiing/snowboarding with a professional instructor. Now if your child does take a class. Please meet the instructor first, and then introduce your child to the instructor. This will show your child that the instructor is an authority figure and not a teenage baby sitter. When the lesson is done. Ask the instructor how your child did, and what tips he/she can tell you that will help your child's skiing/snowboarding. And don't forget to TIP the instructor. They earn it. Trust me on that one.
TEEN/COLLEGE STUDENT LIFT TICKET PURCHASES
Bring your kids student IDs with them just in case you are questioned when buying lift tickets. FYI
PARKING, TAXI'S, AND BUSES
Parking can be crazy in the town of Aspen. I suggest using the great bus system we have here when going to ski at our Four mountains. The buses are free from 6am to 5pm. After that the cost is $2
RENTAL CAR SERVICE IN ASPEN.
Info coming soon.
APRES SKI AND NIGHT TIME FUN
It's Aspen. Pick a place and have fun.
HOSPITALS/medical clinics
There is the Aspen Valley Hospital, and the Snowmass clinic. Visits there can be expensive. I suggest getting "Temporary Travel's Health Insurance" to be on the safe side of things.
Follow this link to buy temporary visitor health insurance.
SKI/SNOWBOARD THEFTS
Unfortunately you have a ski and snowboard theft problem at any resort. Little gangs of people up to no good want to steal your skis or snowboard. Mostly they look for high end demo's which they can adjust the binding to fit them and get away very quickly.
Mix matching your skis with a ski buddy really is not a deterrent to thieves. The thieves watch for that. Lock your stuff up. Not with the little cable locks either. They cut through those very quickly. Buy one of the LOCK PLUGS that are sold in every shop here in Aspen. We have many racks that these LOCK PLUGS are used for all over the mountain. Rental/demo shops do not offer any ski theft insurance with their rental/demo packages. So lock it up, or if it gets stolen you will end up paying the highest markup for that gear. And no, most often your home owners insurance will not cover it because it is rental gear, and not your own personal property.
***if you really want that secure feeling use the ski valet at the bottom of each of our four mountains. I highly recommend it.***
DRINKING AGE AND BUYING BEER/WINE/LIQUOR
In Colorado the drinking age is 21. You can only purchase your Beer/Wine/Liquor at "Liquor Stores" here in the Aspen region. And there are many of them
IF YOU NEED A MECHANIC
I suggest "Big O's Tires" in Basalt. They will not do you wrong.