Aspen Three (Unexpected) Ways
Expand on the classic mountain town with these three unique winter diversions.

BY AMIEE WHITE BEAZLEY, LINDSEY R. MCKISSICK
NOVEMBER 2014

1. You Catch It, We Cook It

A successful hunting trip can get messy—unless you’re out on Viceroy Snowmass’ new excursion. You’ll spend a full day stalking pheasant, grouse, or duck; fishing for trout; or shooting clay pigeons with the Aspen Outfitting Company ($1,250), but you get to leave the unsavory bits (field dressing and fish cleaning) to the pros. In this case, that’s Viceroy Snowmass executive chef Will Nolan, who will fire up a feast made from your catch in your condo’s kitchen. The private chef experience starts with Nolan’s how-to about prepping wild game and ends with a multicourse dinner de beast. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

2. Camp Cookout

There are two ways to reach Pine Creek Cookhouse’s knotty pine front doors: by ski or by sleigh. For those seeking to reach supper under their own steam, guides lead a 1.5-mile cross-country trip along the Flynn Trail. The 40-minute trek ($95) through snow-laden pine forests begins at the Nordic Ski Center in the ghost town of Ashcroft and ends with a four-course dinner highlighted by Rocky Mountain elk chops. But if you’re more of a dashing-through-the-snow kind of diner, drop an extra $15 and hop in one of four draft horse–drawn sleighs for a moonlit ride. pinecreekcookhouse.com

3. Under $100

$38: One night at the St. Moritz Lodge and Condominiums (for a twin bed in the dorm room)

$9: Signature oatmeal buttermilk pancakes at Poppycocks Cafe

$0 (and plenty of calories burned): A 4.8-mile round-trip hike (or snowshoe) to the northwest bridge from the Hunter Creek trailhead, two miles from downtown Aspen

$10: The poppers (fire-roasted jalapeños stuffed with cheese, bacon, and shrimp; dipped in buttermilk; and rolled in potato chips) at the new “old-style Aspen” pub, the Buck

$0: Admission to the new Aspen Art Museum, designed by internationally renowned architect Shigeru Ban (he won the 2014 global Pritzker Prize for architecture)

$15: Wood-fired pizza, a craft beer from Aspen Brewing Company, and live music (no cover, ever) at the Limelight Hotel

Total: $72 per day

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