If the American dream is most often portrayed as a rags to riches tale, then the town of Aspen, Colorado surely represents a skier’s version of the story.  Local lore claims that Aspen was was named as such by land surveyor B. Clark Wheeler who “skeed” into a makeshift set of lodgings which then comprised a mining camp on Norwegian snowshoes in February 1880.  From this moment of inception skiing seemed to infiltrate and profligate every aspect of life within the town.  As early as the late 19th century and before WWII, miners skied as a form of transportation, mail was delivered on skis to certain areas of town, and early ski innovations grew from the dilapidated floor boards of abandoned mining barracks which were then steamed or boiled to produce the signature tips we know of today and on which Aspen townspeople climbed and schussed down Aspen Street during the snowy winter seasons // Fueled by the vision of returning WWII and 10th Mountain Division veterans such as Friedl Pfeifer and Whipple Van Ness “Whip” Jones, the Alps & Meters Ski Race Knit Patrol Aspen celebrates the quintessential American spirit that lifted Aspen out of the ashes of the 19th century silver crash to become one of the world's most iconic & storied destinations for winter recreation.