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The Mother of All Ascensions hits a 30-year anniversary of Mardi Gras uphill traditions in Snowmass in 2022. The multiday format returns this year for race from Base Village to High Alpine, starting on Monday, Feb. 21.
Ice skaters get Mardi Gras beads at the ice skating rink in Snowmass Base Village on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Festive skiers wait in line at the Village Express on Mardi Gras in Snowmass on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Snowmass Guest Services Bob Post, left, hands out slices of King Cake to people a the s’mores cart in the Snowmass Mall during Mardi Gras on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Little skiers wait in line with Mardi Gras beads to load onto the Village Express lift in Snowmass on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times
The stoke is high for year 29 of the Mother of All Ascensions, a longtime Snowmass Village Mardi Gras tradition that brings costumed uphillers in pursuit of elevation gain and glory to the base of Fanny Hill for the race up to the High Alpine restaurant (formerly known as Gwyn’s High Alpine).
“I’m just so stoked, and thrilled, (and) grateful, blessed that we were able to pull this one together, because we haven’t missed a year,” said Andrew Bielecki, the event’s organizer. He’s been running the race since 1993, a year after it was founded by Patrick Long, Joel Gorton and Jeff Tippett.