On a trip to Aspen this past weekend with Audi we had another chance to drive the 2013 Allroad plus a couple days on the hill which we used as an opportunity to test out the latest mountain sports gear from Aether Apparel. The two brands made a fine…
Continue Reading…
Voici une rénovation complète pour l’une des 1ères maisons construites dans l’enclave de Red Mountain à Aspen au Colorado. Un travail du bois par le cabinet Oppenheim Architecture pour ce chalet rustique, le tout doté de connecteurs solaires pour fournir de l’énergie et l’eau chaude.
Lift tickets, lodges and museums carry the artist’s abstract representations
Surveying more than two decades of work by contemporary artist Mark Grotjahn, the new exhibition at the Aspen Art Museum provides a comprehensive overview of his paintings, drawings, installations and sculptures. Known for his rigidly geometric Op Art-like compositions, which earned him the honor of exhibiting at the 2006 Whitney Biennial, in Aspen Grotjahn will also move beyond museum walls with a sculptural invasion spread across the four peaks of Snowmass Mountain.
A limited-edition ski pass bearing images of Grotjahn’s mask sculptures will sell from Aspen resorts this weekend, where skiers and riders can enjoy the public sculptures that have been erected around the mountain. Grotjahn’s ability to walk the line between representation and abstractions is something that really comes through in this sculptural series.
The sculptures themselves are made of primed cardboard that has been mounted on linen. The layered effect of the artist’s brush and palette knife creates the textures that define the mask sculptures. The pieces are featured on five different lift passes, and Grotjahn’s physical works be on display in the museum and surrounding areas through 22 April 2012.
Aspen-style schooling on Orbea’s full-carbon road bike
As an avid urban cyclist, I’ve spent many hours riding various city streets on a fixed gear bike. When The Little Nell Adventure Concierge challenged me to a full road bike experience traversing the beautiful terrain of Aspen, I wasn’t sure how I would measure up. Home to some of the most challenging roads for competitive cycling in the U.S. with its treacherous climbs and speed-demon downhill stretches, the topography is tough for even world champions to tackle.
To aid in my endeavor, The Little Nell outfitted me with a top tier cycling kit, a full carbon Orbea road bike, top of the line bike computer and local professional cyclist and trainer Scott Kasin.
After a few pointers, some subsequent adjustments and a little mockery about “riding like a bike messenger” I was cycling more smoothly and efficiently. Having one of Aspen’s top athletes riding alongside me proved an invaluable resource in learning how to properly operate an elite competition road bike.
Carbon from head to toe and laced with Dura-ace components, the robustly lightweight Orbea road killer really took off when pointed up hill. And after four straight hours of leg burning ascents, the Orca felt right at home and under control bolting downhill at well over 40mph. To understand the full capacity of the cycling machine, Orbea’s intensely accurate description helps set the scene, stating “It is not a product, it is a feeling. It’s competition. It’s adrenaline.”
By the end of the second day my Garmin Edge 800 informed me I had ascended over 6,000 vertical feet, ridden nearly 70 miles, conquered the breathtaking Maroon Bells and climbed from flower laden valleys to the snow covered peaks of Independence Pass—the most difficult stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. What began as a formidable task turned into an exciting adventure thanks to Kasin’s stern teachings and integral instructions, which kept me on course even when a certain “Livestrong” cyclist sped by in a flash of yellow and black.
For more information on the Aspen cycling experience, visit The Little Nell Adventure Concierge.
Images by Graham Hiemstra and Cameron L. Martindell
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
