Two snowboarders caught in an avalanche Friday on an open ski run at Aspen Highlands emerged with the help of a skier who dug out one buried in snow up to his waist, while the other rider had an injured ankle.
Two snowboarders caught in an avalanche Friday on an open ski run at Aspen Highlands emerged with the help of a skier who dug out one buried in snow up to his waist, while the other rider had an injured ankle.
Snowboarder Colin Walters rides to the bottom of Little Nell on Aspen Mountain on a cloudy day in Aspen on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Walters lives in Lakewood.(Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Everything was going perfect for Aspen-Snowmass on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The snow was super soft from recent storms. An early wave of the spring break crowds filled chairlifts, restaurants and shops. Skier visits for the season were running on par with the record set in 2018-19.
Then the reality of the pandemic crashed down. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ordered ski areas to cease operations barely more than 24 hours after he had applauded them in a news conference for taking precautions in order to stay open.
Anna Stonehouse/Aspen Times file photo
Sunday was a day that was inevitable but still hard to fathom when Mac Smith stepped down as Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol director in his 42nd season in the post.
Smith, 68, will remain on the ski patrol for the foreseeable future during winters and work on special projects during summers. He said Monday he is “half-retiring.”
“Elvis hasn’t left the building. He’s just gone to a different room,” Smith said with his signature sense of humor.
Lori Spence, a longtime member of the Highlands patrol, was appointed as acting director. She is the first woman to serve as director of the Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol.