You have to love the name of the mountain. Snowmass. It is what it is. Not so far from Aspen, in fact part of the four mountains that constitute the Aspen/Snowmass area, Snowmass is nonetheless distinct, far enough away from the other three to warrant its very own luxury hotel. And there it is, nestled right at the foot of the mountain, a ski lift literally a sparse ten paces away from its second floor ski in/out area. Viceroy Snowmass. 

The reception and lobby area, out from which the ski runs beckon, is spacious, comfortable, and bustling. This is a fairly large hotel, of over 200 rooms and suites, but it actually has a boutique feel to it, and the rooms themselves, generous in size, all with alpine views, big screen TVs, gorgeous bathrooms and amenities, all speak to a certain amount of aplomb in the sense that it is both luxurious   and practical, never forgetting that it hosts recreational athletes of all abilities, and families of all descriptions.

There are mini-kitchens in most of the rooms, a satisfying nod to the reality of skiers (or, in the alternate season, mountain bikers and trekkers), travelling as a family unit, and often wanting a quick healthy breakfast or warm lunch in the room before heading into the natural beauty surrounding them.

There are two restaurants, a casual, sushi-bar style place called Nest, with easy access to a pool and deck area complete with cabanas and a gigantic barbecue, and not far from the ski lift. The main fine dining venue is called Eight K, and is a happy mélange of innovation, tradition, and bold flavors that belie a certain familiarity with tradition. Will Nolan is chef de cuisine and Thomas Rekasis is the enthusiastic sommelier. The bar and lounge area preceding the restaurant proper is a nice blend of relaxed and night-life flavor, and the whole affair is inviting all day long.

Viceroy Snowmass is splendidly situated, walks the delicate line between luxury and practicality that comes with the (ski) territory, and does it in an apparently effortless fashion. General Manager Hugh Templeman, most recently working in Dublin, Ireland, is passionate about the property. “There is really no limit to what we can achieve here. As we get our service systems fully in place, this hotel will be even more of a destination resort than it is now.” The staff here are uniformly good at what they do, and the seasonal component of employment is something every winter resort hopes to transcend. In the case of Viceroy Snowmass, the late spring and summer, on through to thanksgiving, is increasingly popular, for hiking, biking, and general exploration of the terrain. When the numerous aspen stands begin to turn color, everyone here aggress it is a splendid, inspiring sight. Even the sled dogs at nearby Krabloonik enjoy their runs in summer, with small wheels underneath instead of sled runners.

It is a world away from urban realities and time crunches, ubiquitous deadlines and street signals. And that is a very good thing.

By Jim Tobler of KIWI COLLECTION AND WOW TRAVEL