Ski Memories made on Memorial Day in Aspen.

Skiing on Memorial Day. Totally worth it. Click 4 Pix.Would you drive 1000 miles to ski Aspen Mountain on Memorial Day?  I did. 

When Carmelo and I got the tweet that Ajax was re-opening for Memorial Day weekend...we almost sh*t our collective pants.  30+ days travelling without an agenda or a GPS had led to lots of fun and interesting adventures. Alas, the allure of the open road was getting old.

SKI MEMORIES on Memorial Day.

We had 2 options; pay $459 per night for a crappy hotel in San Francisco over Memorial Day weekend...or point our sled East and rip a few last turns on Ajax.  As an added bonus we'd get to crash in our own beds for the first time in over a month. It was clear that my furry best friend was looking for some stability. Gas...check....cruise control...check...rogain...check.  We headed East   I analyzed the old fashioned road atlas (no GPS for us) and we hit Hwy 50 East, a.k.a The Loneliest Highway.  Have you done it?  1000 miles to glory, a straight shot to our apartment home in Aspen.  Hwy 50 is intense, 3 or 400 miles between gas stations. very few other cars.

Carmelo and I took a quick overnight at the always gorgeous Lake Tahoe.  A drive-by gambling sesh at Harrah's in S. Lake Tahoe yielded results.  Carmelo got to jump in the 48 degree water and I took down Harrah's.  Luckily I scored on almost every doubling opportunity at the black jack table. On the downside smoking is allowed in Nevada casinos and the second hand smoke was killing me.  I was up BIG, I thought...let's blow this town.  We hit the road with a pocket full of Benjamins.

The next 600 miles sucked.  A single lane the whole way through desolate, rural Nevada. But it was worth it.  Coming home to warm, clear, beautiful Aspen.   There was still enough snow up top to slide on...and thanks to Aspen Ski Co. the lifts were spinning all weekend.  All the usual suspects were there, all the Aspenites who love to ski and ride.

Click 4 pix.  SKI MEMORIES on Memorial Day.

New Jock City. The Rippers who Rip. Click 4 pix.Memorial Day Skiing in Aspen. Yeah its fun. Click 4 pix.Beach attire was entirely appropriate on Aspen Mountain for Memorial Day. Click 4 pix.

Summer Skiing in Aspen

Memorial Day Weekend is considered the official start to summer.  BBQ's, bikinis and white clothing get to see the light of day after a long winter in hibernation.  Just like your white bucks, AspenSpin has been in ski-hab since the lifts closed in April, but we've heard tales of the non-stop snow storms in Aspen.  We are under the impression that 2011 set a record for most snowfall in May in Aspen.

The Aspen Skiing Company decided to let their hair down and re-open Aspen Mountain for skiing over Memorial Day Weekend.  Apparently they are going to open Ajax every weekend until the snow melts. Sadly, we missed the summer-time skiing, but many of you didn't.  Thanks to social media we scored a few pix and a quick vid. for your enjoyment. 

Photos: Jeremy Swanson / ASC     Video: Mike Jahn

Aspen Mountain was open for skiing and riding over Memorial Day Weekend. Photo: Jeremy Swanson

I love the smell of fresh corduroy in the morning. 5/27/11 Photo: Jeremy Swanson Plenty of Snow on Independence Pass. Skiing on July 4....probably. Photo: Jeremy Swanson