Today, Erik Cavarra outlines the new Additions for the Snowmass Mountain Area.
Aspen Snowmass Announces 2018 Summer Plans: The Lost Forest
* New Additions include an Alpine Coaster, Canopy Tour, Challenge Course, Climbing Wall, and Expanded Hiking and Biking Trails
ASPEN SNOWMASS, Colo.—Jun. 20, 2017—Aspen Snowmass announces an immense list of new summer 2018 plans and activities at the new Lost Forest located on Snowmass Mountain. These enhancements include an alpine coaster, canopy tour, challenge course, climbing wall, expanded hiking and biking trails and more.
These additions will provide guests an opportunity to be completely immersed in nature while enjoying an array of activities. The Lost Forest is designed to be intertwined with nature, not detached from it. The Lost Forest has something to offer no matter what age or activity level desired.
Breathtaker Coaster
The Coaster, slated to open December 2017 for winter operations, will feature a 5,700 foot track with a total ride time of seven to nine minutes. The coaster will span 410 vertical feet and the speed will be controlled by the rider. It will be open for summer and winter operations and have lights for night operations. There will be anti-collision technology for safety and a tandem option for small children. The coaster will wind through trees between Gunner’s View and Sandy Park. This will be the most accessible activity offered in the Lost Forest.
Canopy Run Ziptour
There will be a new zip line canopy tour for guests with a high sense of adventure. This is a long-duration activity that will take up to three hours total from shuttle to finish back at Elk Camp. The canopy tour will be a guided experience with two guides per group of eight to ten people. There will be eight zip lines and two sky bridges spanning tree-based and pole-based platforms. The tree-based design will be unique in Colorado. The speed will be controlled by the rider and the guide will operate a safety system for backup. This is a high-touch activity with an opportunity to educate and encourage guests about the mountain environment.
Treeline Trail Challenge Course
Aspen Snowmass is creating a challenging high ropes course located in the trees above the Meadows Carpet lift. This will include five separate paths of varying difficulty across multiple levels. There will be one very easy course meant for children, and one easy, two medium and one difficult course for the rest of the guests. The different ropes courses will test participant’s strength, balance and coordination. Each guest will be on a constant belay system for safety and the guest will always be anchored into a cable system. The whole course from start to finish will take anywhere from 30 and 90 minutes.
Rugged Ascent Climbing Wall
A permanent climbing wall will be installed at Elk Camp to introduce guests to rock climbing in an approachable and safe way. The climbing wall will be approximately 40 feet tall and 60 feet wide. There will be 13-15 lanes equipped with auto belay devices and REALRock ™ construction to make the rock wall look authentic. This will be a medium duration activity lasting between 30 and 90 minutes and be accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities.
Multi-Purpose Activity Areas
There will be two locations for the multiuse gathering sites: Rayburn’s Pond and Maroon Vista at the top of Elk Camp chairlift. Rayburn’s Pond will be for smaller groups and naturalist talks. The site will be a viewpoint and prime spot for photo opportunities and naturalist talks. Both sites are designed to fit in with each landscape and its surroundings, featuring natural material, interpretative signage and ADA accessible paths for access.
Hiking and Biking Trails
There will be expanded hiking and biking trails to improve guest experience and provide more mountain accessibility. There will be 1.4 miles of new hiking trails, Spruce Spar, along with 1 mile of hiking trail reroutes to Sierra Loop and Rabbit Run. This will reduce the number of intersections with bike trails and other activities to provide a more exclusive experience for each activity. There will be 15.1 miles of new bike trails designed by Gravity Logic which include a mix of flow and hybrid trails ranging from beginner to expert. These trails will include improvements to the Meadows Skills Park. Aspen Snowmass aims to create a world-class bike park with a variety of trails for guests to experience and will continue to build out new trail systems year over year. The new bike park trails will be built over a 2-3 year period.
For more information on the Lost Forest, visit https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest <https://www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/lost-forest> .
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