The Obermeyer one-pieces, the tutus, the animal costumes, and more came out in full force for Aspen Highlands' annual closing party*. The lifties got in the spirit, too, cranking out dance music at the bottom of each lift and stuffing chairs in offbeat outfits. At the top of the Bowl, despite blustery winds, skiers and riders cracked open and shared beers, cocktails, and bottles of bubbly to celebrate the near-end of one of the snowiest seasons in recent memory; soft, powdery turns awaited on the descent. Cloud 9 (no surprise) hosted a raucous dance party on its deck, with plenty of Champagne spraying and chants of "one more song, one more song" when it seemed the DJ was close to wrapping up the beats. The parties at the base were in full swing by the time the lifts closed at 4. Hundreds gathered on the deck at the Highlands Alehouse, while lines at the bar inside were 10 deep. When the ski patrol skied down around 5:15., announcing their presence by setting off a few avalanche explosives part way up Jerome, the crowd was at full frenzy, ready to whoop it up for these awesome men and women of the mountain for their hard work all season. 

* Highlands will open for two three-day bonus weekends, April 19–21 and 26–28