Snowmass Mammoth Fest: HUMONGOUS Fun.

Snowmass Mammoth Fest: HUGE Fun.By all accounts the first-ever Snowmass Mammoth Fest, a derivitve of the 10 year old Chili and Brew fest was siiiiiiiiiick.  Snowmass Mammoth Fest was a two-day affair with 9 bands, 28 beer purveyors and about 30 chili makers spread out over vast acerage at a new venue, Snowmass Town Park.  The new production included a festival-friendly camp ground.  Everyone had a blast.  Music, Chili and Brews...what more could we ask for.

Everything fell into place perfectly for Snowmass Mammoth Fest.  The weather was the majestic Colorado equation...hot, clear sunny days and cool easy-breezy nights.   The Mammoth Fest was produced by SBG Productions out of Telluride, a new collaborator with the town of Snowmass Village.  SBG is the highly experienced outfit that produces the very successful Telluride Blues & Brews Festival every September,  since 1994.  It was clear from the get go that SBG had great vision for Mammoth.  They moved the venue from Fanny Hill to the flats of Town Park where Mammoth Fest-ers could spread out, dance, play hacky-sack, corn-hole (bean bag tossing) and frisbee etc.  Mammoth added 4 late night shows at Snowmass Village.  The whole event was very well organized and very well attended.

Click 4 pix.  SNOWMASS MAMMOTH FEST

Chili folks are just different. Click 4 pix.Music,Chili and Brews flowed copiously all weekend.  Stamina was required if you wanted to do it all...but the family friendly crowd kept up an incredible energy over the 2-day fest. The mellow, yet upbeat vibe of the crowd definately added to the festival experience. The musical line-up was ecclectic and included somthing for everyone. The shows  kicked off on Day 1 at 5 pm on Friday afternoon. Leading off was YOU ME & APPOLLO, a bluesy, folk-rock band from Fort Collins, Co.  The beer and chilli was still gushing vigorously during their fast moving and dance-worthy set.  Next up was veteran southern rockers JJ GREY and MOFRO.  Hailing out of the swamps of North Florida, J.J. Grey admitted he was a little travel fatigued after a late show the previous night in NYC and a 2 hour layover in Denver.  But once the jams started...J.J. rose to the occassion and Mofro kept him rolling.  A picturesque twighlight and gorgeous sunset complimented the music in a dreamlike fashion.   Next up, after dark and under the stare lit night in Snowmass was the all-star funk-soul-jazz super group RETURN to the DARK SIDE of the MOON (click for artist profile) performing the iconic Pink Floyd album in it's entirety.   Dark Side of the Moon, a seminal rock album and one of my favorites is celebrating it's 40th anniversary.  Laying out there in the fields of Snowmass...I actually had a flash back to 1973. The super- band put their own funkified beats to it... and Dark Side of the Moon never felt better.  After that almost out-of-body experience, we jumped on the convenient bus and unfortunately left the late night shows at Venga Venga and Basecamp to the youngsters.

The Joy Formidable rocked out in SnowmassDay 2 took a second wind and some energy.  Beer and Chili began streaming at noon.  Due to a previous engagement...we missed LORD HURON and twenty one pilots...the first two performers.  We rose to the occassion to catch in succession, KARL DENSON'S TINY UNIVERSE, STRFKR, THE JOY FORMIDABLE and AWOLNATION.  Karl D, as he calls himself, played a strong set of the horn enfused jazz that made him famous.  STRFKR...an unsual name for a band...until you start adding the vowels, then it becomes clear.   Strfkr is a hippster, synth-indie-rock-pop band out of Oregon.  Their music is ethereal and the crowd was enraptured.  Next up, THE JOY FORMIDABLE was a highlight for me.  The guitar infused hard / indie rock trio from Wales obviously brought their A-game to Snowmass.  Fiery lead singer and guitarist Ritzy Bryan had the crowd eating out of her hands. Her bright red dress glowed in the twightlight.  The Joy Formidable showed an energy and passion for performing that some of today's bands seem to leave backstage.  Bryan's haunting voice and powerful guitar licks created a frenzy at the front of the stage.  Bryan left no doubt...she's a firecracker.  AWOLNATION was the finale.  Awolnation is a band of electronic rockers out of California fronted by Aaron Bruno and signed by Red Bull Records.  Many in the festival crowd were long time Awol-ers and the Snowmass Mammoth Festival finished on a high note as Awolnation's set crushed.

Click here for BAND PROFILES

Snowmass Mammoth Festival was a first class event.  The venue, the musical line-up, the brews and chili...everything was great.  In my mind...this is how festivals should be. The vibe...while difficult to describe in words ...was awesome.  Wide open spaces, a beautiful setting, perfect weather...good music, good food, good drinks and good people.  The lack of fences was one noticable positive. It may be a little early to fire-up for next year's Snowmass Mammoth Festival...but helllz yeah...we'll be there.

Click 4 pix:  SNOWMASS MAMMOTH FEST

Aaron Bruno and AWOLNATION went HUGE at Snowmass Mammoth Fest. Click 4 pix.Karl Denson's Tiny Universe blew it out at Snowmass Mammoth Fest. Click 4 pix.JJ Grey & Mofro brought the heat to Snowmass. Click 4 pix.The Super Band, Return to the Dark Side of the Moon payed tribute to Pink Floyd's seminal album. Click 4 pix.You Me & Apollo from Fort Collins, Co. kicked it off at Snowmass Mammoth Fest.Music, Chilly and Brews...and perfect Colorado weather in Snowmass. Click 4 pix.Blowing Bubbles in Snowmass. Mammoth Fest was family friendly. Click 4 pix.Warm & Sunny days made for a perfect venue at Snowmass Mammoth Fest. Click 4 pix.Cool breezy Colorado nights and first rate jams at Snowmass mammoth Fest. Click 4 pix.

ElJet Aviation...you deserve to fly private.

AspenSpin serves the public as an "un-official on-line ambassador" to Aspen, Colorado.  A-Town is a pretty upscale place, so we get tons of inquiries about private air travel to and from Aspen.    While we don't get to fly private very often...we do know a lot of people who do. Countless times we've been riding in the Aspen gondola when people ask about booking a private flight.  Now we have a great recommendation for them, and it's only one click away... ElJet.

ElJet Aviation has become our go-to service provider in the private jet charter space.  ElJet has access to over 4000 planes that fly into 15,000 airports domestically and internationally.  ElJet can get you any plane at any time to go almost anywhere. Since 2006, Eljet has delivered luxury, safety and quality at a competitive price. ElJet has developed an expertise in empty legs a.k.a "deadhead flights".  Eljet pairs passengers with these empty legs to create value for everyone.  The aircraft owner eliminates a non-revenue producing route and the passenger saves.  Everybody wins with ElJet.

Click  Elegant, Elevated, ElJet  or call 888-355-3538

I especially like the 60 second quote function on ElJet's web site. It's fast and easy to use. Click, Elegant, Elevated, El Jet to reserve your ride or to research routes and costs.  ElJet prides themselves on service and safety.  Their vast network of planes allows you to book exactly what you want and when you want it.  ElJet provides you with the ultimate assets of convenience and flexibility.  You decide when to shout WHEELS UP.  Say there's a siiiiiiiiick POW day in the forecast and you want to stick around Aspen to shred like the locals on a Monday... ElJet can get you where you're going, in style...and on your schedule.

For me, flying private is the ultimate in luxury because I love to travel with my dog.  I can't think of anything better than bringing my best friend along on a trip at 30,000 feet.  Check out the recently announced Sizzling Summer Specials wth flights between L.A. and Las Vegas starting at $3,499.  Aspen is just a hop, skip and jump away from L.A. or Vegas.  My suggestion, as always...go BIG & go private... you deserve it.

It's not just rock stars, pro athletes, actors, titans of business, heads of state and trustafarians who fly private.   You can too.   Obviously flying private is a premium service...above first class, but who deserves it more than you and your family & friends.  Luxury, safety and quality...what more can you ask for.  Click or call ElJet for all your private travel needs.

To reserve, Click:  ELJET AVIATION.

 *AspenSpin received promtional consideration for this post.

http://www.ellejet.com/private-jet-charter.php

http://www.ellejet.com/las-vegas.php

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Aspen Event Horizon.

JUNE 7-8      Snowmass Mammoth Festival (click 4 tix & info)

June 16        Grand Cochon  (Click 4 tix & info)

JUNE 21-22   JAS June Music Festival  (Click 4 tix & info)

Shredding in June on Independence Pass

About to embark. June skiing on Independence Pass.When I grew up in suburban Detroit, watching Leave it to Beaver, going to public school, taking piano lessons on Tuesday's and bowling on Saturday's I never thought I'd be skiiing in June.  Skiing in June never even crossed my mind. When I was sitting on the trading floor at Morgan Stanley in NYC... Summer skiing wasn't even on my radar.  Things have changed.

Shredding in June: Click 4 pix. Photos by Mike Jahn.

Never in my wildest imagination did I think I'd be "earning my turns" by hiking up to peaks above the tree line...in June??  So as life evolves...so too does one's bucket list.  Skiing in June on Independence Pass on the Continental Divide was not even on my list...but I'm thrilled to have experienced it first hand on a picture perfect, cloudless day in the Colorado Rockies.

It all turned out to be fairly mellow...but when one embarks into the back country you never know what can happen.  "Know before you go" is a good rule of thumb so I  wanted a scouting report from a knowledgeable source.  I consulted my pal Chris Davenport, perhaps the foremost expert on ski mountaineering in the World today.  Chris, along with Aspen Locals Ted and Christy Mahon are completing their Centennial mission of hiking and skiing the 100 highest peaks in Colorado.  Dav assured me that "it's a great year to ski in June".  He encouraged me by saying the current avalanche danger up on Independence Pass was "low".  He suggested a route called Mountain Boy as a good "starter trail".  

After getting the thumbs up from Dav.  I proceeded directly to The Red Onion for happy hour. The crew at Red Onion... Jordan White, Colter J. Hinchcliffe and "baller" Brad Unglert are all sponsored ski pros with BIG mountain credentials.  They could share good intel about Independence Pass.  When I asked Jordan, the most even-keeled of the three, if he'd been up on Mountain Boy...he answered "yeah, we did it this morning".  How was it?, I asked.  "Awesome...fresh POW". Really?  I was sold.  The boys reinforced my desire to hike and ski the pass by describing the route and drawing me a little map on a napkin.  Then they told me to "go get some".

To find a suitable partner, I turned to Match.com...ummmm... I mean twitter. My first first tweet was to Aspen Local Mike Jahn who had previously led me up Colorado's highest peak, Mt. Elbert last Fall.  That experience was a great one.  Perfect day, looooooooooong hike, summitting before 1 followed by tacos in Leadville.  

Good news.  Mike was up for skiing the pass on Saturday. I rented a peeps (avalanche beacon) at Ute Mountaineer and bought a fresh battery at Carl's.  I was planning to hike in my regular alpine ski boots and carry my skis on my back, forgoing AT gear and skins.  "Get up there early"  Damon the guy at Ute said.  "you don't wanna start post hole-ing".  For those who have never post-holed...its when your ski boot breaks through the soft snow while walking...some times up to your hip...its never a positive.

Almost at the summit of Mountain Boy.Damon's words "get up there early" were ringing in my ears as I hit the sack.

Heading out for a new adventure always makes me tingle with excitement.  I sleep with one eye open in anticipation of the day.  Even though I set my alarm, I didn't need it.  I was especially obsessed with time on this trip because of the way the sun can affect the snow conditions. Ideally we wanted to hike on the hard-packed snow, still frozen from the night before and time the decent to coincide with smooth, creamy, sun drenched corn-POW.  It's a fine line and the timing is relevant to safety and enjoyment. While Mountain Boy is hardly Mt. Everest, I had a recollection from Into Thin Air...how a late start had cost everybody dearly.

We were set to take off at 7 am.  I was packed with the dog walked and my FB status updated...and it was only 6.15.  Anticipation, annticippaaaayytion is making me wait.   Mike...(I'm gonna go out on a limb & say)...is not a morning person.  Especially after a BIG Friday night with his lady...so he was running a wee bit late.  Me, I had everything totally together as I waited at our pre-arranged meeting spot.  Totally ready....except for one small detail...I forgot my camera battery.  Whaaaaaaat? 

It was a strikingly beautiful, absolutely clear, bluebird Aspen morning. 33 degrees in town when we set off.  A short switch-backing drive got us to the parking lot at the summit of Independence Pass around 8. We were not alone.  There were about 20 other skiers milling about, buckling their boots and getting ready.  The small crowd dispersed in several different directions.  Mountain Boy was the most popular route.  It's East-facing and gets the morning sun...so you want to hit that one first.   For the record.  I was clearly the least granola person up there.

Let's do this!!!

The Maroon Bells shine in the distance. Click 4 pix. Photos: Mike JahnMike boot-packed it with me, and we kept up a decent pace.  We summited Mountain Boy  (12,800 ft) after hiking about an hour.  As a frame of reference the Mountain Boy hike is longer than Aspen Highland Bowl but not as steep.  The run set out before us looked sweeeet.  It had snowed about 4 inches two nights previously.  Laid out in front of us was a HUGE untracked (mostly) powder field.  The run had not yet been baked...it was absolutely perfect "cream of corn" conditions.

A quick little jump turn off the cornice at the top was required...that's where I usually yard sale.  Not this time, I stomped the entry...and it was on. The best thrill ride of the Summer.  Conditions on Mountain Boy were absolutely stellar. It was like spreading cream cheese on a warm toasted bagel.  One turn after another.  The only sound was that of my own slough.  I stopped and waited in a safe zone as Mike flawlessly ripped his run.  Postal Jim...you know the guy from the post office and his buddy Cortland skied next. We watched.

At the bottom, we were all getting ready to hitch hike a ride back to the summit where our cars were parked.  That's when a fellow shredder, Tom pulled up in his truck and said "u guys can jump in the back".  So we rode back up to the top in style in the bed of his pick-up.  Postal Jim  had toted one can of beer with him the whole way.  He popped the top and we all took a celebratory swig.  Best beer ever.

Next on the agenda 4th of July Bowl on 4th of July.  See ya there.

Shredding in June:  Click for pix by Mike Jahn

Mountain Boy...we hiked it and skied it. Perfect Summer Skiing. Click 4 pix.

The top half of Mountain Boy. Sweet shredding in June on Independence Pass.

We did it!!! Mountain Boy at Independence Pass. We hiked it & skied it. A.Party & Mike Jahn. Click 4 pix.