A ski area for intermediate and advanced skiers, Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is considered the Athlete's Mountain. Ajax boasts eight lifts to take you to humbling bump runs, delightful powder fields and picturesque mountain ridges, including the 6 passenger high speed Silver Queen Gondola, a quad superchair and Ruthie's high speed two-seater serving the mountain's West Side.

A ski area for intermediate and advanced skiers, Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is considered the Athlete's Mountain. Ajax boasts eight lifts to take you to humbling bump runs, delightful powder fields and picturesque mountain ridges, including the 6 passenger high speed Silver Queen Gondola, a quad superchair and Ruthie's high speed two-seater serving the mountain's West Side. Looking for style, comfort and double-diamonds? Take the express route to the top of Aspen Mountain - lounge in the Silver Queen Gondola as you're whisked to the Sundeck and then don't stop for a coupla miles as you catch some of the sweetest powder around until you hit Ajax Tavern.

• Base elevation: 7,945 ft./2,422 m
• Summit elevation: 11,212 ft./3,418 m
• Vertical rise: 3,267 ft./996 m
• Terrain: 673 acres/273 hectares
• Number of trails: 76
• Miles/km of trails: 64 miles/103 km
• Longest run: 3 miles/4.83 km

Trails:
• easiest - 0%
• more difficult - 48%
• most difficult - 26%
• expert - 26%

Annual snowfall: 300 inches/762 cm
Snowmaking: 210 acres/85 hectares

• Lifts: 8 Total: 6 primary -1 gondola (the Silver Queen Gondola goes from base to summit in 14 minutes), 1 high-speed quad chair, 1 high-speed triple chair, 1 quad chair, 2 double chairs; 2 secondary - 1 quad (Little Nell), 1 double (Bell Mountain)
• Lift capacity: 10,755 riders/hour

Uncrowded slopes: On average, 3 people per acre/9 people per hectare

Best known for: Steep, bump runs that drop right into Aspen

Best-kept secret: Venture off the groomed runs and have black/double-black-diamond trails all to yourself!
Location: Within the White River National Forest, in downtown Aspen

Lodging bed base: 14,303 pillows within a 10-mile radius.

Restaurants: 4: Sundeck, Bonnie's, The Tavern, Montagna Restaurant and Bar in The Little Nell

What's new: The base of Aspen Mountain is in the epicenter of downtown and will have an improved gondola plaza for the 2008-2009 season. A reduced number of steps will make it even easier to load the gondola.