We've selected an adventure this evening. We'll drive to Aspen Highlands, board a snowcat for an open air ride up the mountain to the Cloud 9 restaurant for dinner. Expectations are high. The experience will be even higher.
Assembly is in the Aspen Highlands reception lounge. Mulled cider is served while waiting for guests and completing releases.
Each cat has 16 guests. We board the first of two cats at the base elevation of 8040 feet..
It doesn't take long on the ascent before those of us on the uphill side of the open air cab are holding on for dear life. It appears there was a minor gap in the safety briefing. Perhaps these guys should take a page from the airlines. Something like "the seatbelt sign is turned on". The first picture is CJ hanging on for dear life. The bluer is the vibration of the snowcat tracks and vibration.
The cat hits its first steep climb and the adventure quickly exceeds all expectations of everyone aboard. Those on the high side are falling onto those on the low side.
We arrive at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro at 10,825 feet. Along the way we go up a double black diamond, green and blue slopes. By the way blue slopes at Aspen Highlands aren't your grandmas usual blues.
Dinner is a pleasant surprise. Our water, Olivier is French. The food and menu are incredible.
The first course is King Crab with toasted almonds, pomegranate, and saffron aioli.
Second course is squash risotto & crispy pork belly with sage brown butter and aged balsamic.
We split the main course. Carol has the tea-smoke magnet of duck with caramelized blood orange, baby turnips, and Brussels sprouts. The rest of us have the slow roasted beef tenderloin with roasted cauliflower, roasted broccolini, and French onion just.
After a tower of mignardises (guess this. Is a fancy word for miscellaneous small deserts, we pay out and board the cat for the downhill trip. The stars and sky are fantastic.
It's a very special evening. Here is sundown over the mountains with Venus the "star" in the sky.
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