From X Games to Families, “the Milk” has it all
The best way to understand Buttermilk is to look at the mountain from two points of view. First, known throughout Aspen as being the “beginner’s hill,” Buttermilk boasts an abundance of trails that are tailored for the “never-ever” skier or snowboarder. Second, as home to the ESPN Winter X Games, the “Milk” has hosted the best skiers and boarders in the world every year since 2002.
Extreme athletes and aspiring X Gamers spend most of their time sliding, soaring, and spinning in the world-class terrain parks (there are five to choose from, creating more than two miles of rails, jibs, and boxes to play with) and halfpipes (Panda Pipe is the place where beginning freestylers can learn the tricks that X Games’ athletes and Olympians throw in the 22-foot Superpipe).
There is only one ski-in, ski-out accommodation option at the foot of Buttermilk: The Inn at Aspen. However, the resort sits a few minutes from downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village, and, apparently, there are “14,303 pillows within a 10-mile radius” of Buttermilk (the folks at Aspensnowmass.com did the counting, and I trust them). Buses run like clockwork between all four of Aspen’s mountains, allowing people to stay anywhere and ski everywhere.
The après-ski scene is pretty nonexistent at Buttermilk, but the Cliffhouse is located at the top of the Summit Express chairlift. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more scenic place in Aspen to have a drink or recharge your battery. The panoramic views of Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Creek valley are stunning.
