Yesterday we officially kicked off our Ski Aspen 2026 season, and like so many good ski days, it didn’t arrive with fanfare or big expectations. It just worked.
Tour 1 rolled into the week with a gentle warm-up ski at Buttermilk Mountain. Nothing heroic. No rush. Just a chance to get the legs moving, shake off the travel, and ease back into that familiar rhythm that only skiing seems to create. Given it’s been a relatively dry season so far in terms of snowfall, we were keeping expectations deliberately low.
And then Aspen did what Aspen does.
A low expectation start that delivered far more than expected
The conditions were genuinely good. The snow was holding really well, the grooming was spot on, and the mountain skied far better than any of us had expected. Turns felt smooth and predictable. Confidence came back quickly. Aspen Colorado 2026 was going to be good. Better than good given the forecast on the horizon – but for now it was good.
It was one of those days where everything feels easy, and you suddenly realise you’re having a really good ski day without having planned for one. No hype. No pressure. Just solid, enjoyable skiing that reminded us all why we love being here.
There’s something slightly ironic about that. After decades on skis, you’d think surprises would be rare. But the longer you ski, the more you realise that expectations can sometimes get in the way. When you expect nothing, the mountain has a habit of giving you more.
Why Buttermilk reminded us never to underestimate a ski day
Buttermilk has always been a brilliant place to start a season. It’s forgiving, relaxed and often overlooked, which is probably why it continues to surprise. Yesterday was a perfect example of that.
With zero expectations, the skiing was actually really great. Properly enjoyable. The kind of day that quietly sets the tone for everything that follows without trying to prove anything. As very long-time skiers, it was a timely reminder that great ski days don’t always come wrapped in deep snow totals or big forecasts. Sometimes they arrive quietly, when you’re not chasing them.
Gratitude for 31 seasons in Aspen Colorado with loyal guests
For me personally, this week also carries a strong sense of gratitude. Being back in Aspen Colorado for our 31st season is not something I take lightly. When we first started coming here all those years ago, I don’t think any of us imagined we’d still be running tours three decades later.
And yet here we are, once again, surrounded by an incredibly loyal group of guests who choose to join us year after year.
That loyalty means everything. These trips aren’t just ski holidays anymore. They’re shared traditions. Catch-ups. A continuation of stories that started many winters ago on chairlifts, in lift lines, over long lunches and après conversations that somehow stretch late into the evening.
Watching familiar faces click back into their skis, fall effortlessly into old routines, and reconnect with each other is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Looking ahead to the next two weeks in Aspen Colorado 2026
As we look ahead to the next two weeks of Aspen Colorado 2026, there’s a quiet excitement building.
Snowmass is sitting there with its vast terrain, long cruisers and endless options that reward those full, flowing ski days. Aspen Highlands will no doubt draw us in with its steeper lines, bigger views and unmistakable sense of history. Ajax will deliver its classic frontside laps and lively atmosphere. And Buttermilk, as yesterday proved, will continue to surprise when expectations are kept firmly in check.
Of course, it’s never just about the skiing. Aspen has a rhythm of its own. Early starts. Crisp mornings. Coffee stops that turn into conversations. Enjoyable lunches where nobody is in a hurry. Evenings spent reflecting on the day rather than rushing on to the next one.
These moments matter just as much as the turns themselves. They’re what turn a week on snow into something far more meaningful.
This season already feels like it has momentum. A strong, understated start. Better conditions than expected. A group that’s settled in quickly and genuinely enjoying being back together on snow.
If the first day is any indication, the coming fortnight is going to be full of those quietly memorable ski days that don’t need headlines to be special.
I’m excited for what’s ahead. I’m deeply grateful to still be doing this after all these years. And I’m looking forward to watching Ski Aspen 2026 unfold the way the best seasons always do… one unexpectedly great day at a time.
