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ASPEN MOUNTAIN Master Development 2018 PlanDraft This is the final draft of the Aspen Mt Ski Area Master Development Plan submitted to the Forest Service by Aspen Skiing Company 1/8/2018. A publication quality document will be produced with final formatting and technical editing. IV. EXISTING FACILITIES The following section contains an examination and analysis of existing facilities at Aspen Mountain. Completion of a thorough resort inventory is the first step in the master planning process and involves the collection of data pertaining to the resort’s existing facilities. This inventory includes lifts, trails, the snowmaking system, base area and on- mountain structures, guest services, other resort functions/activities, operations, and utilities/infrastructure. The analysis of the inventoried data involves the application of industry standards to existing conditions at Aspen Mountain. This process allows for the comparison of the resort’s existing facilities to those facilities commonly found at resorts of similar size and composition. The overall balance of the existing resort is evaluated by calculating the capacities of various facility components and then comparing these capacities to the resort’s CCC. This examination of capacities helps to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints as a resort. The next step is the identification of any improvements which would bring the existing facilities into better equilibrium, and assist the resort in meeting the ever-changing expectations of its marketplace. Accomplishing these objectives will result in a well-balanced resort which provides an adequate array of services and experiences to satisfy guest expectations for a quality recreation experience. The examination of existing facilities presented in this chapter correlates with Figure IV-1. A. SUMMARY OF THE EXISTING GUEST EXPERIENCE The overall infrastructure of lift installations, terrain offerings, snowmaking systems, on- mountain restaurants, and miscellaneous support buildings/facilities have been continually upgraded since 1946. Although the existing mountain infrastructure has basically remained the same for the past decade, the overall guest experience has steadily improved as a result of innovative grooming/snowmaking operations and constant attention to improved guest service. As a result, Aspen Mountain has maintained its iconic reputation as a premier destination at a regional, national, and international scale, offering nearly 700 skiable acres that includes some of the most interesting and varied terrain in Colorado. Determining the resort CCC is an important first step in evaluating the overall guest experience because it enables planners to understand the overall balance of the recreational facility. EmpiricalDraft observations and a close examination of principal components on Aspen Mountain reveal that the existing mountain is well-balanced. A resort’s CCC is computed by analyzing the resort’s supply of, and demand for, vertical lift transport. The existing CCC at Aspen Mountain was determined to be 4,290 2017 Master Development Plan (DRAFT) IV-1 FIGURE IV-1 EXISTING CONDITIONS ASPEN MOUNTAIN MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN SUNDECK 11,212 FT B u k c O h o n r e n a C n B d u u t ck T o w f h f o o r alsh’s L n W e a Di f f ps BUCKHORN Sil Sil y v v D e e r r oo CABIN B B d e e l l l e l l E Hyrup’s a Su s y m m C h it a P u i i r r s s C C y o o f M o M p ’s p o i i p i p d t d Kris t n n e e i i r r g g N N T T h h r r t o o t a a r i i l t l h s t a Midnight Northstar r L L u u B d d Glade e Glade ’ ’ l s s l i s L L i a a m m n n o o e e M i d w a y R o GENT’S RIDGE AJAX EXPRESS AJAX a d B l o n P d u n S S ie m a i i c l l ’ s ph i v v G G e er o e e r u u n n s D s Am t t e e B ’ ’ ip ss h l H H a t R R r i z i l i l i o l ing l d d N g g e e S S t t ark ar ar y P Bo e y tt Percy lo Laz te ur To Glade BONNIE’S Deer Pa Seibert’s rk 10,400 FT Little P ercy Glade Sunrise ’s ’s rt e Glade ’s ib tl Se re Red’s G ’s GkadeGlade n Su lto nrise w Suns Kno et ed’s Knowlton’s R Glade 1 ell f B o ck a B . Face Ofof Bell S Back of Bell 1 F.I. Glade 2 R i l d l s e g e’ B e i f o th C f u o k o pp c B R er a e Conn B l ec l F.I.S. t Back of Bell 2 S Bear Pawpaw C Glade pa o p r p e G r u Bo l ch n w le Glade 1 l G h it Ke S1 RUTHIE’S S ort h rt Sn o ho u S ld Glade 2 e r o f B mp el u D l Zaugg l erry’s Prow P l a Nose n o Glade 3 i at of Bell n er t BELL MOUNTAIN Glade n I Last Dollar R o ch R u Cone Dump n Jackpot Glade R e a r do n ’ s R u n S c h i l l e r Bingo R S o i a A l v d z e t r r e c Q Pink Slip ue e n Silver Rush RUTHIE’S S p r RESTAURANT i n ad g Ro P r i e t m c h e m u n i S l t f i L 1A t f Li Trainor’s Glades Magnifico Road Glade LEGEND S a r a u C g p e o ia r r C N k SILVER QUEEN GONDOLA 8 s o c r Li k r ew s t t T c l o w r USFS e e e n r G 1 w i Backcountry l 0 u N p F k R d l oa l e IS n y m S SUP l a l u t r r F D S Access Gate a l a Ma w l Boundary o p m g i L l e n a Hi i SHADOW MOUNTAIN z f y i l c l o 8 S Ski Trails c G h ul u l by ability s y s G Glades ul level ly Operations LITTLE NELL Water Boundary e u n Body e Draftv A h 5t y a w r Existing o N Lift Road Note: The property lines shown in this figure Existing are representative Building CITY OF ASPEN and used at planning 8,000 FT level accuracy. Prepared by: SCALE (ft) N 0 50 100 150 200 guests per day. From a terrain standpoint, the resort’s trail network has a trail density of approximately 4 skiers-per-acre; which is low in terms of industry averages. This is a desirable situation that ensures an uncrowded experience, even on peak days. B. EXISTING LIFT NETWORK Aspen Mountain currently operates eight lifts: one six-passenger detachable gondola, one detachable quad chairlift, one detachable triple chairlift, two fixed-grip quad chairlifts, and three fixed-grip double chairlifts. The resort’s existing total uphill design lift capacity has been calculated at 12,430 people per hour (pph). Table IV-1 summarizes the technical specifications for the existing lifts, and Figure IV-1 illustrates the location of existing lifts. Overall, the Aspen Mountain lift network services the available terrain effectively; however, some of the lift alignments at Aspen Mountain are redundant and inefficient. Specifically, the terrain accessed by the Bell Mountain and Little Nell chairlifts is easily accessible via other lifts. As a result, neither of these lifts operate on a regular basis and substantially limit lift and terrain network efficiency due to their redundancy with the Silver Queen Gondola. Additionally, the Gent’s Ridge lift is often avoided by skiers and receives below optimal ridership because of its perceived long, slow ride. The current Gent’s Ridge chairlift scenario also hinders lift and terrain network efficiency as it is underutilized and fails to adequately transport users throughout a portion of the terrain network. The following list provides an overview of the lift network at Aspen Mountain. The Silver Queen Gondola, Ajax Express chairlift, and Ruthie’s chairlift provide the majority of access to Aspen Mountain’s terrain. The F.I.S. chairlift provides a key role transferring skiers from the Spar Gulch area to Ruthie’s Ridge. The Shadow Mountain chairlift functions as a secondary portal on the west side of the mountain but is long past the average 35-year life expectancy of fixed- grip lifts. It has been approved by the USFS to be replaced and realigned (refer to Chapter 5 – Previously Approved Projects, Not Yet Implemented). The Gent’s Ridge chairlift has not been upgraded since its installation in 1985, is nearing the end of its operational life, and is currently underutilized due to skier perception of a long ride time.

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