Buttermilk is a great beginners mountain and is home to one of the best ski schools and children’s programs in the country.  Today Buttermilk is best known for hosting the ESPN Winter X-Games through 2012.  With its wide-open trails and infamous terrain park, this mountain offers something for everyone.

Aspen Highlands has been the local favorite for over 50 years and counting.  Its stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Maroon Bells and expert terrain make this mountain a must-ride for the ski season.  Hike the 12,392 feet to the summit of the Highland Bowl to experience the greatest inbounds backcountry blitz the Elk Mountains have to offer.

Local snowboard instructor Justin Whitney said, “If you want to ski where the locals ski, ride the Oly Bowl.  Most people don’t know about it, unless you live here, but it’s one of the best spots for backcountry skiing in Aspen.”

The Oly Bowl is located on Aspen Highlands.  Getting there: Take the Cloud 9 lift to the top, then go up on Loge Peak.  Cruise down on skiers left.  Enjoy.

All.I.Can. Official Teaser from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

There’s a reason why people vacation here – come see for yourself!

Call us today at 1-800-555-6344 to book your next vacation!  We take care of everything: lodging, lift tickets, equipment rentals, concierge services – all you have to do is pick up the phone.

Call now and receive 15% off your entire stay when you book by December 31, 2010. Mention Winter15.

This week, we sit down with Frias Properties of Aspen’s own Cameron Murray, our resident in-house fishing expert. Cameron has been with the company for three years and is originally from Columbus, Mississippi. He’s been living in the valley since 2005 and has come to love all that Aspen has to offer – especially the fishing.

Q: Cam, thanks for talking with us. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to Aspen.
A: “I worked my first winter in the valley during the 2000-2001 ski season. I immediately fell in love with everything the area had to offer, moved back home, finished college and moved back in 2005. I have been at Frias since 2007.”

Q: Tell us a little about your role at Frias Properties of Aspen.
A: “I am the owner services manager, where I serve as the liaison between our company and all of our owners.” 

Q: What is your earliest fishing memory?
A: “I have been fishing since I can remember. No one in my immediate family fishes, but my grandmother and grandfather had me fishing since I could walk. I remember fishing in ditches with a line and a hook and a worm, and catching bluegill at a very young age, as well as fishing from a pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Before moving here, I spent years chasing bass, crappie and catfish on various rivers and lakes in Mississippi.”

Q: What’s the best time of year to go fishing in the valley?
A: “I think the most productive time of year is the winter, which catches many off guard. There are really no bug hatches in the winter, except maybe a few isolated midge hatches in warmer areas downvalley. This tends to make the fish much less selective when feeding. On top of that, it is obviously cold, so very few people are out, and I also find the majority of big fish I catch are in the winter as they seem to be active when smaller fish may not be. BUT, each and every season has something different to offer and that what makes the sport so special to me.”

Q: Sounds like you really enjoy it. How often do you get out?
A: I would say 75-100 days a year.

Q: Wow, that’s 1-2 times per week. What types of fish do you mainly catch?
A: Rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, greenback cutts (up in the high country), white fish, sucker fish, some lake trout in Ruedi.

Q: Break down your equipment for us. What pole do you use? What’s inside your tackle box?
A: I use a 9-foot, 5-weight Scott rod. I carry two poles this time of year: one for dry flies and one for nymphs and streamers. I like Scott rods because they are local out, of Montrose, and have a lifetime warranty. In fly-fishing, your “tackle box” is your vest. My vest contains various dry and wet flies, streamers, hemostats, tippet, clippers, dry fly floatant, extra leaders, strike indicators, line straightener/fly dryer, net, knife, rain jacket, head lamp, and sometimes a couple of beers.

Q: What’s the one important thing that everyone forgets to bring when they go fishing?
A: Probably a camera or a rain jacket.

Q: How is fishing in the valley different from other places you’ve fished? What makes it special?
A: There are a few reasons. The main reason to me is just the beauty you are surrounded with fishing here. I could go out to the places I fish and not even wet a line and just be content to watch everything around you and absorb the magnificence of the place I am blessed to call home. Another big thing is the various opportunities: you can float big water like the Colorado or Lower Roaring Fork, wade the Middle Fork, Frying Pan, Crystal or Upper Fork, or fish various high-country streams and lakes.

Q: Tell us about some of your favorite valley fishing spots.
A: The Upper Roaring Fork is what I would call my “home” stretch since that is what is closest to me. I think the Upper Roaring Fork through the Canyon is the prettiest stretch of the entire river and has the healthiest fish. I like fishing dry flies on the Frying Pan when it is less crowded in the fall or spring. Other than that, I absolutely love fishing high-country lakes and streams. You don’t catch as big of fish for the most part, but you really put numbers on the board – literally hundreds of fish in a day without even trying hard.

Q: Everyone has a “secret” fishing hole. What’s yours?
A: Let’s just say I have multiple secret fishing holes and not even my closest fishing buddies know where those are.

Q: Sounds like you’re not in a hurry to give away ALL your secrets. So, tell us about your best catch … ever.
A: Too many to name just one. I would say anytime you catch a fish that really makes you work to land it. There have been times I have hooked a fish in one place and ended up landing it over a hundred yards downstream. If you can fight a fish for that long around rocks, rapids, trees, etc., and still land it – that really makes you feel like you have honed your skills. I guess the most recent “best catch” story would be up at Snowmass Lake. My buddy and I spotted a 20+ inch rainbow. I said to my buddy, ‘See that fish, I’m about to catch it.’ Of course, he just kind of laughs. Two casts later it was on my hook, and several minutes later in my hands.

Q: I’m coming to Aspen to fish. Where should I stay?
A: Most places around here you are going to have to drive to the destination either way, so don’t think it’s a huge deal where exactly you stay. Although, I would try to stay somewhere on or close to the river as you can definitely pull fish on the Roaring Fork through town, and that is probably the least fished section of the entire river.

Q: Everyone’s got a “one-that-got-away” story. What’s yours?
A: Kind of like the best catch – too many to name. The one that stands out most recently in my memory is a big rainbow that got off on the Frying Pan back in March. It was probably 22-24 inches; popped the fly out of its mouth right when I was bending down to scoop it.

Q: Fill in the blank: Fishing in the valley makes me feel …
A: … At home.

Aspen Lodging Deal – Just for reading this blog post! Mention Environmental Studies and stay for as low as $49 p/p p/n. This price reflects a two bedroom condo at quad occupancy $196 per night. Applies to stays between 7-11-10 and 7-22-10, booked after 7-7-10 – For Booking You Must Call (877) 636-4626

July 12 :: Know Your Trees
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake
CES Director Tom Cardamone and Program Director Jim Kravitz will lead hour-long walks around the Hallam Lake neighborhood to identify the native trees. In our backyard there are at least 12 species of conifers and 11 species of deciduous trees and tall shrubs. Explore More at the ACES Website – Trees

July 13-14 :: Restoration Ecology in Rocky Mountain Forests
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake
During this two-day course you will explore various long-term impacts to these forest systems, discuss restoration ecology and processes involved with these forests, and briefly discuss and review the ecology of bark beetles. Explore More at the ACES Website – Forests

July 14, 21, 28 :: Natural History Hikes
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam
Lake Join the experienced ACES naturalists for a day of hiking, exploring, and learning about the natural history of the local area. Hike locations include American Lake, Cathedral Lake, and the Lost Man Hike. Explore More at the ACES Website – Hike

July 15, 22, 29 :: Morning Birding with ACES
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake
Thursday mornings, birders of any experience level are welcome, as this series is designed to enhance your birding knowledge, skills, and passion whether you are just beginning or already adept at identifying birds by their songs! Explore More at the ACES Website – Birds

July 16, 30 :: Cycles in Nature
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake
Grab your own wheels and bike down to ACES for a fun one-day “natural history on the bike” class with ACES naturalist Aaron Taylor. Explore More at the ACES Website – Bike

July 16-18 :: Photographing the Natural World
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake
Whether you are a hobbyist photographer headed out for a day hike around Maroon Bells or you are a serious shutterbug, learn the tricks of the trade from award-winning local photojournalist Pete McBride. Explore More at the ACES Website – Photos

Kids and Family Activities – Outdoor learning for everyone from 4 to 400 years of age. View the complete schedule – Kids and Family

Once downstream of Aspen all the way to Basalt, the river becomes larger and flows more swiftly and is the perfect wild trout water. There is no stocking of this area and it is Fly Fishing, Catch and Release only. The best way to get to the fish in this part of the river is by wading. At Basalt, the Roaring Fork meets the Frying Pan River and now you’re into a nearly thirty mile stretch of gold medal trout water which is the most exalted classification of Trout water anywhere in Colorado.

The summer months will find your fellow fishermen float fishing, although in other seasons it is preferable to wade fish in this area. By the time that the Roaring Fork arrives at Carbondale, it joins the clear waters of the pristine Crystal River, which also is home of some of the biggest mountain whitefish in the country.

This joining with the Crystal River turns the Roaring Fork into a typical large Western river, with a mix of deep pools, long runs and huge riffles where you will find some of the largest trout to be found anywhere in the state of Colorado. The best way to fish this phenomenal area of the river is by hiring a local guide to take you out to the special hot spots. This is also a great wade fishing area at all times of the year with the particular exception of the spring runoff time when the water flows too swiftly to safely wade into it.

Don’t forget to explore the tributary and feeder streams that flow into the Roaring Fork on its journey toward to Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. Check with local outfitters from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to find out the current hatch patterns and water conditions.