Residents of Aspen and its downvalley siblings know all kinds of “insider secrets” that help them save money and make the most of living here. Below are some of tips that can help speed you on your way toward becoming a happy and knowledgeable local resident.
Getting Around
Parking in Aspen: It’s free on Sundays and holidays.
The Bus at the Intercept Lot: If you live downvalley and you’re heading to Aspen, consider driving to the intercept lot adjacent to Hwy 82 across from the entrance to Snowmass Village, and taking the free bus from the intercept lot into town. This beats finding a parking spot in Aspen, and saves on gas to boot. When you return from Aspen, several buses can queue up at the bus station around departure time and routes and signage can be confusing, so just check with every driver who pulls up until you get the one that stops at the intercept lot.
Walking and Biking Paths: They’re everywhere. In some neighborhoods, such as parts of Aspen and much of Basalt and Carbondale, it’s faster to get around by foot than by car.
Understanding Snowmass: The many local place names that refer to “Snowmass” can result in confusion. Snowmass Village, for example, is the area around the base of the Snowmass ski area. But Snowmass also can refer to the community strung along Snowmass Creek, which enters the Roaring Fork River adjacent to Hwy 82 a few miles downvalley from the entrance to Snowmass Village. Locals keep it simple by referring to Snowmass Village and the ski area as “Snowmass,” and the separate area further downvalley as “Old Snowmass.”
Skiing
Pass Deals: One way to score a great ski-pass deal (as in free) is to get a job with the Aspen Skiing Company (known locally simply as Skico). Typically there are a wide range of openings pre-season, including part-time positions.
Ski Swaps, Summer Sales and Second-Hand Deals: The prices for new gear in the stores here may tend to the stratospheric, but in fact the valley is awash in great ski equipment and apparel at rock-bottom prices. I just landed used but completely servicable cross-country skis, poles and boots for my daughter for a grand total of $4! Among the summer sales to watch for is the one at Obermeyer.
If you move to the Valley in the summer, the impulse to “gear up” for ski season at the numerous 50% off summer sales can be strong. My advice?… wait til Fall to find your gear at 75% off at the local ski swaps. Glenwood’s ski swap is in mid-October, Basalt has one in late October and Aspen’s is in early November. What will you find at these ski swaps? Everything! Many ski stores bring their leftover inventory to the swaps and sell it for 75-80% off last season’s price. You can find ski gloves for $10, hats for $5, ski coats for $50, new and rental ski packages from $150, boots for $100. (If you are shopping for kid’s ski suits, I would buy those at the summer store sales, however, since they are scarce at the ski swaps. There are great deals on kids’ ski equipment at the swaps, though). If you are looking for Cross Country ski equipment, that can be found at the Aspen Swap (Ute Mountaineer sells off last season’s rental equipment at this swap). Check the local papers for location/time for the various swaps, they are well-promoted.
Weather and Sky
Your Own Forecast: Look downvally from just about anywhere along its length, and you’ll be facing northwest. Since that is the direction from which most of our weather comes, generally speaking you can get a valid forecast of what’s heading your way for the next 45 minutes or so just by looking. Comes in especially handy during the summer monsoon, which is our “other” storm season.
The Monsoon: Be aware of this phenomenon when planning summer outings. Subtropical moisture tends to feed afternoon showers and thunderstorms, usually starting around mid-July and tapering off soon after the first of September. The monsoon is the reason that hiking guides advise starting early in the day and being off the heights by afternoon.
Stargazing, Meteor Showers and Satellites: Diehards swear by Ruedi or the Pass (as in Independence), but it’s not unusual for locals to lay face-up in the middle of downvalley residential streets on moonless summer nights. It’s hard to go more than a few minutes without seeing a meteor’s streak, or the stately, soundless transit of a satellite or two.
Trust and Courtesy
IOUs: You know you’re in small town when some local merchants take IOUs. If you come up short at the Fruit Stand at Buttermilk and you’re a local, for example, they’ll jot your contact info and the amount you owe on a PostIt note, and staple it above the cash box. Totally awesome service!
Unclocked Doors: I don’t know that I’d advise it, but many residents leave the house to run errands without locking their doors. (The thing is, you can’t trust the bears!)
Don’t Honk: Nothing says “outsider” better than angry honks of your horn. Unless another driver does something truly egregious, leave that noise back in the city… life is slower here and you’ll find that people are almost never too rushed to be polite drivers.
Those Weird Trash Bins: Open containers attract bears, so most public trash bins have lift-tops with a release that bears can’t reach. The only drawback is that you have to be smarter than a bear to use one.
High Altitude Baking:
It’s easy to bake your favorite sea-level cakes and cookies when you know the 3 basic high altitude baking rules:
for each tsp that is called for
More to come. Feel free to submit your own ”insider secrets” in the comment box below!
