One glance around the Snowmass Club is enough to convince anyone that this is a club of another caliber. Regardless of the season, Snowmass Club is the premier private playground in Snowmass Village and Aspen.

The warm and inviting décor immediately makes one feel at home. Amenities year round, including golf, tennis, an athletic club including a pool, as well as a spa, cross country skiing in the winter and public dining at the world renowned Sage restaurant ensure members a one-of-a-kind experience.   Tucked cozily in against a backdrop of blue mountains and wrapped alternately with wild flowers and drifts of snow; Snowmass Club is more than just a great place to play, it is one of the most beautiful places in town.

While locals and many visitors have long cherished this gem within the community, Tennis magazine has let the secret slip to the greater population with its #2 ranking of Snowmass Club in the Northwest region in its recent Top 50 Tennis Resorts of the U.S.

The impressive 13 tennis courts, of which 2 are indoor Har-Tru clay and two are outdoor Har-Tru clay, found at Snowmass Club provide some of the absolute best tennis playing conditions in the nation. Additionally, the Tennis Pro Shop and Junior Tennis Program are worthy of note, contributing to an overall quality establishment.

Guests and locals alike appreciate the high level of training and professionalism found at the Snowmass Club. Like most things in Snowmass Village, there is more to Snowmass Club than meets the eye. Former U.S. Olympic tennis coach Gayle Godwin heads up the tennis training program at Snowmass Club, explaining the bar-none tennis training everyone at Snowmass Club experiences. The Snowmass Club general manager described Godwin in a recent Snowmass Sun article as having a reputation of being, “Not only…extremely talented on the court, but she epitomizes the culture of the game.” Virtually everyone with the good fortune to come into contact with Godwin experiences a significant improvement in his or her tennis game. This translates to not only an incredible tennis experience, but also a transformative experience.

Of course while the tennis at Snowmass Club is in the limelight, one must not overlook the exclusive experience throughout the entire resort and the town itself. Very often overlooked due to the rather large shadow Aspen casts over it, Snowmass Village is a luxury experience in and of itself and not simply as an accompaniment to Aspen. Restaurants, shopping and clubs accompany the award winning ski resort, in addition to a hometown atmosphere and incredible people popping up all over town with a variety of skills, talents and arts making Snowmass Village a Grand Slam in its own right.

Discover all there is to the Snowmass Club, and Snowmass Village itself. The Club offers housing on its property available for sale or partial ownership. For those wanting the total Snowmass Village experience, click here to see homes, properties and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area.

It’s hard to say when one looks around the landscape of Snowmass Village what is most remarkable; the beautiful mountains, the foliage, the quaint town tucked in the valley or the people who live and visit here. Most of the time this question could be debated long and hard, however last week there is no doubt about the most remarkable sight that popped up all over town. The men and women who have served our country could be seen skiing on the slopes, climbing the mountains, trap-shooting and playing sled hockey in every corner of Snowmass Village. While witnessing this multitude of service men and women is remarkable in everyday circumstances, even more remarkable is the testimony this specific set of service men and women offer concerning pursuit of quality life after traumatic injury, either in the war zone or outside.

Last week marked the 26^th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Since March 25^th and until the 30^th, the VA and the Disabled American Veterans sponsored the Grand Junction VA Medical Center of the Rockies and the VA’s Rocky Mountain Network in a clinic offering veterans the opportunity to experience Alpine and Nordic skiing as well as many other winter sports.

Of the 400 veterans in town last week, many had never experienced winter sports before and due to the severity of some of their injuries, many thought these experiences would never be possible. The inspiration and training offered by ski instructors for the disabled, members of the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and physical therapists through the VA and other veteran hospitals nationwide has helped many veterans overcome incredible obstacles.

In a piece in the Snowmass Sun last week, recreational therapist Jose Laguna, of San Antonio, Texas, and escort to veterans to Snowmass Village since 1993, spoke of his strong belief in the benefit offered to veterans, many of whom come year after year to Snowmass Village to meet up with old friends, make new friends, learn new sports and to improve at those they have discovered in years past.

The clinic is much more than a week of fun. It is also another step in the healing process. Many veterans return home from war injured and traumatized, with poor support systems and with family members at a loss of how to cope with the consequences of combat or injury. Rehabilitation through the various VA hospitals throughout the country aim to restore these men and women to the life they left behind, and to help them to make that life even better.  The summer and winter clinics are one aspect of this rehabilitation. In these clinics veterans are asked to push themselves into the unknown of their abilities. Many are learning to walk with prosthetics, function with injured limbs or take risks after traumatic brain injury. For every veteran in every individual circumstance, this leap of faith is invigorating and terrifying at the same time.

Laguna phrases it best in his comments, “We don’t live in a bubble. What we do, in our roll, is take them (the veterans) to the threshold of the bubble.” In Snowmass Village, they hope to cross it independently.

The courage required to cross that threshold reminds one of all the reasons these people put on the uniform in the first place; they are brave, honorable and willing to put everything on the line for the country and fellow countrymen and women. And that is truly the most remarkable national treasure any country or town could hope to host. Snowmass Village is honored to serve these men and women.

Click here to see homes, residences and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen areas.

The last day to get out and enjoy Aspen and Snowmass Mountain this ski season will be April 15^th. To ensure that every one in Aspen and Snowmass Village has one last chance to feel the childlike joy of winter, the 5^th annual Schneetag will take place that same day just in front of Bonnie’s on Aspen Mountain.

Schneetag is the German word for ‘snow day.’ In Aspen it has a slightly different meaning. Here, Schneetag means grab your three closest, craziest friends, a sled and head out into the glorious spring air to create your own skit and zany sled to jump over a pond, or sometimes into the pond and float across. To up the ante just a little bit, there will be prizes such as a trip to L.A. to see the Summer X Games, tickets to a Rockies game in Denver, or the ever-enviable Helly Hansen jackets or Smith goggles.

Teams will be judged on the performance of their 400 lb. sled, but equally important will be their costumes, skit and overall performance. Per the official rules of Schneetag, the sled may have only one pilot, and it must be manpowered with no external energy sources.

Last year everything from Angry Birds, a group of bananas, people in their pajamas and a gorilla made their way down the mountain. While the objective is to jump across or float through the 75×20 ft. pond, most teams land somewhere in the middle of the pond with a resounding splash and flounder across. This may be due in part to the fact that the sleds making the jump are couches, giant shot glasses and buckets on skis.

In Olympic style judging, three judges hold up cards with each team’s score and an average of these scores determine the winner of the Schneetag competition. Not to be outdone by more serious winter competitions, the Schneetag awards ceremony is complete with podiums and an official ceremony. The winners and losers of the Schneetag competition tend to be slightly less serious about podium conduct, and have been known to push, pull and generally misbehave while receiving their awards.

The Schneetag competition captures the light-hearted spirit of Aspen and Snowmass Village. In a community where winter sports and snow itself are the lifeblood of the community, Aspen and Snowmass Village do not take themselves too seriously. The fun of Schneetag is contagious, making it one of the best events of the year on the mountain.

While Schneetag is the last hurrah for Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Mountain in the 2012 season, Aspen Highlands will stay open an additional week.  Buttermilk’s closing day is slightly earlier in April, on the 8^th.

Aspen/Snowmass is offering specials throughout the month of April in which kids ski, stay and eat for free. This great deal makes it possible for families to get up to the mountains before closing day for an annual ski trip, or to return to the mountains for one last go.

Seize this great deal and head up to the mountains this April to catch the Schneetag competition and bid the winter farewell. Between watching crazy teams jump into a pond, skiing and playing in the snow, take a few moments to see homes, properties and condos in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area. Despite being one of the most beautiful and cultured places on earth, it is also one of the most fun! Join the party today! Click here to see properties available in Aspen and Snowmass Village.

It is not something that happens very often, when industry pushes aside deadlines and budgets and pursues the greater good of the community. But just slightly more than a year ago, the Snowmass Water and Sanitation District did just that. When a bulldozer operator uncovered the first bones of the Columbian mammoth inside Zeigler Reservoir in the fall of 2010, managers and owners of Gould Construction and Snowmass Water and Sanitation District were faced with the difficult decision to push forward in the project, despite what may lie in the mud of Ziegler Reservoir, or to stop the bulldozers, reign in the heavy equipment and take the time necessary to reveal all the secrets the reservoir.

Fortunately, the executives Snowmass Water and Sanitation and Gould Construction chose to weigh in on the side of history and allowed scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science the necessary time to explore the fossils uncovered. Today more than 5,000 bones from 41 animals have been taken from the site and are currently being studied at the DMNS in Denver, Colorado.

In recognition of this difficult decision and the subsequent and sometimes challenging accommodations that followed, the 2012 President’s Award through History Colorado’s 2012 Preservation Awards was bestowed upon Snowmass Water and Sanitation, Gould Construction and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science early in February.

The President’s Award through History Colorado’s 2012 Preservation Award is bestowed upon any individual, company or organization that makes significant strides in restoring, uncovering and preserving Colorado history. In a ceremony with the governor of Colorado, the President’s Award through History is a great honor for any city, organization or institution. On February 1^st Kit Hamby and Joe Enzer, the owner representatives for the Ziegler Reservoir project, received the reward right before rushing off to view the new NOVA documentary, “Ice Age Death Trap.”

Despite the great honor of this award, both Kit Hamby and Joe Enzer are more grateful for the opportunity to be part of this history-altering event. The real reward has been watching the dig unfold and the treasures of the past come to light. The Snowmass Sun quoted Enzer saying, “It was such an exciting thing to be part of, I’ll remember this as a highlight for the rest of my life.”

The men presented the award to the company as a whole on February 17^th at the Water and Sanitation board meeting.

Even more remarkable is the fact that despite Snowmass Village Water and Sanitation and Gould Construction’s willingness to put the reservoir project on the back burner and allow the DMNS the time necessary to complete the dig, the reservoir dig still finished on time according to the companies’ original timeline. This indicates that the individuals working on the dig were dedicated enough to put in the time and extra effort to get the job done, while also preserving part of Snowmass Village’s history. A great deal of the work at the dig was also done by local volunteers willing to help dig out and dust bones and help in a variety of supportive roles to ensure every bone, fossil and historical piece of evidence in Zeigler Reservoir was preserved.

In truth this award belongs to the entire community of Snowmass Villagers. Since day one of the find, Snowmass Village has worked with the DMNS and all scientists in the community to properly preserve and extract these fossils. The support and enthusiasm of the community has been a cornerstone in helping the town and business executives to make the right decisions for the town, the fossils and the reservoir as a whole.

The decisions by Snowmass Village Water and Sanitation and Gould Construction are indicative of the choices made everyday in Snowmass Village – to choose the right thing over the easy thing, to think about the long-term effect of a decision and to preserve the history and story of their community over making money. Snowmass Village is truly a community of presidential caliber.

Click here to see homes, townhouses and properties in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area today and come home to excellence.

Anderson Ranch art Studio

A glimpse of the artwork being produced and displayed at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass Village is enough to take one’s breath away. From bright and colorful to subtle and intricate, Anderson Ranch is an artistic Mecca.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about Anderson Ranch Center is the commitment to art throughout a lifetime. The Anderson Ranch has created a space in which all stages of art are visible and respected. Here, the entire artistic process has a place, from the first sketch to the final painting. Artists are encouraged to explore different mediums during their time at the Ranch. Print studios, ceramic studios and painting studios are open to those invited artists, while throughout the campus there are multiple workshops available to the general public of every age and talent.

Just one example of the caliber of artist seeking out Snowmass Village and the Anderson Ranch Center, last summer Enrique Martinez Celaya was the featured artist at the Ranch. He spoke in June about his artistic philosophy and his perception of worth and its relationship to art. To be expected from Celaya, his perception of worth is unexpected to say the least. In his discussion he focused on the worth of his art in relation to the dollar amount paid for it and work he has poured into it.

Currently 14 artists are in residency at Anderson Ranch exploring a variety of mediums from painting, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, wood and furniture making. Some of their work, along with that of many other artists such as Kenny Scharf, a well-respected artist with a recent major exhibit in the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Michael Kruegar and Sunni McBride, will be for display and sale March 6^th at the Patton-Malott Gallery in the fifth annual Anderson Ranch Center’s Monothon. This event is complete with a fine dinner prepared by Ranch Chef David Stassi, and a live auction. Typically this event sells out, so hurry out today and pick up your tickets!

Mixed in amongst the serious art taking place at Anderson Ranch, there is just the right amount of whimsy. Throughout the spring and summer the ARC offers Family Saturday Sessions in which a parent/adult and child can collaborate together to create their own art. Every Saturday has its own specific artistic focus. One not-to-be-missed session is the ‘A Tisket, A Tasket,’ session. In this April 7^th session, children and adults will create their own Easter basket from recycled materials. Afterward, children can use their baskets to collect their own eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny.

In addition to the parent-child classes offered at ARC there are workshops for a variety of interests and skill levels held throughout the year. Some of these workshops are open to the public; others have prerequisite experience or knowledge required.  For amateur artists, interested members of the public, or artists wanting to explore a new medium, these workshops are an incredibly helpful resource.

Come out tomorrow night to see the art being created in the Snowmass Village’s backyard, or come on down for your very own Easter basket making session and tap into the vibrant artistic community in Snowmass Village, and the Aspen area as a whole. Once you fall in love with this artistic Mecca, click here to find the home, townhouse or condo that would best house your art collection today!

As one glances around modern day Aspen, it’s hard to imagine the days when it was a remote, mining town tucked away high in the mountains with the only news of the world having to travel the 40-mile trek through the Elk Mountains from Crested Butte, Colorado – the nearest post office.  Today Aspen is on the cutting edge of the social scene, setting trends in fashion and sports and home to a great intellectual, musical and artistic community.

In order to pay tribute to the trek of Aspen founders and the men and women who crossed those forty miles for a word from home, a catalogue or a snippet of news, in 1998 one hundred people followed in their footsteps in a race that has been named, The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse. Every year since up to 200 elite athletes gather to experience this endurance exercise, both to prove they can, and to remember those who have done it before them, not because they could, but because they had to.

This year’s Elk Mountain Grand Traverse will start at midnight on March 31^st in Crested Butte. Teams of two will have undergone months of strenuous training, and weeks of ensuring they have everything on the mandatory supply list issued by race organizers. After carefully checking in their teams, and their gear, teams will embark on an adventure of a lifetime crossing the Elk Mountains.

The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse has a unique starting time of midnight, however this time has been carefully selected, and is subject to change. Avalanche danger in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains cannot be under estimated, particularly in the spring months of wet and heavy snowfall. This year’s avalanche concerns are particularly high as the season has been slightly warmer than usual and snowpack has been unstable in the backcountry. The late night starting time is set to ensure racers get through the 12,303 ft. Star pass before the warm morning air increases avalanche risk.

The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse is truly an elite athletic event. Due to the strenuous nature of this course, the course itself and cut-off times in the race are subject to change depending upon conditions and weather. Since 1998 racers have experienced snow, cold temperatures, wind and other conditions on the course. In order to ensure racer safety, cut-off points have been assigned to ensure racers are on course to finish the race in a reasonable and safe period of time. The challenges facing these athletes are extreme; extended periods of time at high elevation and in extreme cold can affect decision-making abilities and judgment. Racers should be in excellent physical condition with backcountry and high elevation experience.

The physical stress of this race is balanced by the excitement and enthusiasm with which racers will be received in Aspen at the Sun Deck of Aspen Mountain.  Cocktails and a party worth travelling forty miles by foot will be awaiting racers and their families. There will be no rest for the weary, later that evening the Aspen Elks Lodge will host more festivities, including dinner and the awards ceremony.

While race planners and racers prepare for this intense physical challenge, one remembers that those that walked this path out of necessity did it without avalanche beacons, Gore-tex materials and top of the line equipment. A glass will surely be raised at the celebratory dinner in memory of those who made life in Aspen and Snowmass Village a reality by taking on the Elk Mountain Traverse.

No matter the reason, no matter the season or sport – Aspenites are rising to the challenge! Join us in remembering the pioneers of the Aspen and Snowmass Village area and in making a new history in speed and endurance records in the Elk Mountains. After the race, and a good night’s sleep, click here to see homes, condos and investment properties in and around Aspen and Snowmass Village today!

Fridays in Snowmass Village just got better. The Town of Snowmass has expanded the ten-year tradition of celebrating the end of the week by grabbing some time on the mountain, either at Big Air Fridays, enjoying live music at Base Village or at the Bud Light Hi-Fi Free Concerts by incorporating a Torchlight Descent into their Epic Friday celebrations.

Traditionally a holiday event, the Torchlight Descent has for many years taken place just after Christmas. Snowmass Village businesses, on a mission to encourage locals and visitors to extend their time in town and on the mountain by creating a new late winter/early spring tradition, decided to embrace this popular activity and bring it back for even more people to enjoy. The image of the holiday Torchlight Descent is captivating and gorgeous – almost dragon-like, with the colors and gleams of lights winding around Snowmass Mountain as skiers and snowboarders work their way down in a long chain.

The Snowmass Sun reported on the first of this season’s five descents, with about 100 participants. David Dugan, partner at the Base Camp Bar and Grill was quoted in The Snowmass Sun discussing the success of the kick-off event, “The plaza was pumping, there was about 100 people out there dancing. It was great.”

Dugan, one of the brains behind the new wintertime activity, hopes, along with his co-planners, that the Torchlight Descent continues to be successful and builds the vibe in Snowmass Village.

Interested residents and visitors can sign up to be in the Torchlight Descent at the ticket pavilion. Participants begin loading the Village Express at 6p.m to head up the mountain. Children must be older than 8 years old in order to participate. The Torchlight Descent offers an activity to fill the gap in the Friday afternoon/evening schedule between Big Air Fridays and the live music, keeping tourists and residents active and engaged in the community activities.

Big Air Fridays, a ten year Snowmass Village tradition is already well into its third week, allowing locals and tourists a chance to strut their stuff in front of an audience and to see the tricks and accomplishments of other skiers and snowboarders as well.  Little Air Fridays have been added immediately following Big Air events, allowing younger skiers and snowboarders to participate as well. Big Air gets started at 2p.m. at Fanny Hill on Snowmass Mountain and wraps up just in time for skiers to take on last trip down the mountain in the parade.

The Bud Light Hi-Fi series of concerts has scheduled at least two in Snowmass Village for the 2011/2012-ski season. The first took place in conjunction with the first Torchlight Descent on February 19^th. The second will be held March 18^th, the same night as the very last Torchlight Descent and will feature the Wailers at the Snowmass Base Village. The second Bud Light Hi-Fi concert will also be one in a series of concerts held to celebrate Spring Break in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area.

Celebrate your own TGIF in Snowmass Village with locals and visitors alike in the Torchlight Descent, at the concerts or in your favorite restaurant or bar. And then begin round out your weekend with a tour of homes, condos or investment properties in Snowmass Village or Aspen area. Click here to see Greg Rulon’s latest and most exciting listings now!

It’s almost March again, and in Aspen and Snowmass Village the month of March means a few things: Spring Break, great powder and the Annual Aspen Fashion Week. For the fourth year in a row Aspen has put up the runway, and invited the best fashion designers from the world to show off their winter collections for 2013.

On March 11^th-14^th next year’s trends will walk the runway to help Aspenites and tourists prepare to look their best next season. Design predictions have declared 2012 to be a year of bold contrasts both in color, texture and materials. The color orange promises to be a big hit next year, followed by watermelon pink and lime green. Of course mixed and matched, as uniform colors on the slopes will be a trend of the past. Fur has held its own amid the texture wars as a classic look – either real or faux. Designers this year have played with traditional textures and materials such as leather and offset them with nylons and wools. These combinations promise to be interesting both for the wearer, and the observer.

Designers like David Peck of CrOp by David Peck, will be featured in the show at The Chateau at The St. Regis Aspen. According to Aspenfashionweek.com Mr. Peck was quoted describing Aspen style as “the perfect balance of sport and chic. You may be sweating, but you’re doing it in style!” Other featured designers include, Kjus, Helly Hansen, Sport Obermeyer, Klover and many others. Throughout town designer stores will host their own private fashion events in coordination with runway shows. Check in with favorite stores or designers for a complete listing of their events.

Official sponsor FEED will return to the AFW this year. FEED Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing healthy food to hungry children throughout the world.  In addition to focusing on the school lunch programs in the U.S., FEED has also created a campaign to feed those hungry children in Kenya as well. The Sunday Riley Modern Skincare line will join them as sponsors. Sold at Barney’s New York, Sunday Riley Modern Skincare embraces the healing aspect of Nature alongside excellent biotechnology to fight aging and increase the natural beauty of women worldwide. Inspired by Sunday’s Native America culture and the reliance of the Earth and Nature to heal and regenerate the body, Sunday Riley Modern Skincare incorporates detoxification, anti-aging ingredients and botanicals to deliver beautifully glowing skin.

After the shows are over and the skiing squeezed in, the evenings in Aspen during Fashion Week will be fashionably out of this world. Après events hosted by AFW are accessibly only through The Snowstage daily passes for sale now. These not to be missed events will host models, designers and celebrities strutting their fashionable attire. Throughout town other nightclubs and venues will also host cocktail parties and private collection viewings and even film-screenings. Tickets to the runway events are sold in a four-person package or individually. Theses include access to the runway shows, after parties, private showings and full hospitality and tableside service along with four limited edition FEED gift bags. Ticket holders must still RSVP to individual events and are asked to take their seats 15 minutes before any given show is set to start.

While the looks on the runway promise to be exciting and are sure to make those in and around Aspen look amazing, the most fashionable thing in Aspen and Snowmass Village at any given time is still Aspen and Snowmass Village themselves. Come see how good Aspen/Snowmass looks on you! Click here to see the homes, condos and properties in the area today!

Snowmass Village is home to incredible beauty year round. Whether in the gorgeous summer months when the mountains are sprinkled with wild flowers and perfect sunny days, or the crystalline winter, where powder snow and icicles adorn the trees and mountain slopes. While the natural beauty of Snowmass Village is acclaimed worldwide, even more significant is the lasting beauty of a community filled with spontaneous joy.

As a case in point, the Snowmass Base Village Pavilion was blanketed in red and filled with shouting and dancing Monday afternoon as the first ever flash mob descended upon the town. At three-thirty in the afternoon, 70 red-coated ski school pros seemingly appeared out of nowhere in the pavilion, and shared the excitement of living in Snowmass Village. Although this event was planned and rehearsed a few days in advance of the actual event, the joy and enthusiasm poured into the event stemmed from genuine sentiment and contagious joy one finds exuding from every corner in town.

The flash mob phenomenon was created in 2003 when Bill Wasik, editor of Harper’s Magazine organized several such congregations as a social experiment to make a social commentary on conformity. However, these events have taken on a mind of their own, encouraging spontaneity, random joy and a spirit of Carpe Diem. They have also spread internationally to London and beyond.

Residents and tourists who witnessed the flash mob were pleasantly surprised by the activity and applauded enthusiastically. As the ski school employees dispersed after their performance, the mood of Snowmass Village was happier, filled with laughter and a feeling of joyful celebration.

The Snowmass Village flash mob event took place as Snowmass Village was packed to the gills with skiers attracted by great recent snowfall and Mardi Gras celebrants. Mardi Gras kicks off with a multitude of events today and will continue until late tonight. Many Mardi Gras visitors will extend their visit through the end of the week to maximize time on the slopes, shopping and just generally enjoying the atmosphere of Snowmass Village.

Snowmass Mountain is currently boasting a fantastic 59-inch base. Snowfall in the last week has added fourteen inches; eleven of those inches have come in the past forty-eight hours. With snow expected through Thursday, the slopes promise joy to skiers, snowboarders, sledders and snow enthusiasts in town all week long.

All this snow will not dampen the Mardi Gras spirit or activities. Snow in Snowmass Village is considered a compliment to any and every event or celebration. The only alteration in plans may be in costume design to incorporate slightly warmer clothing.

Come experience the joy of Snowmass Village. Between the parade, parties and incredible skiing and snowboarding, take some time to look at homes, condos and investment properties tucked within the beautiful scenery and among the joy-filled neighbors today! Click here to learn more about Greg Rulon and Snowmass Village.

Here there are no blindingly bright lights. No flashing billboards, gaudy musical acts or Elvis impersonators crowding the streets. There are no honking taxis, or bumper-to-bumper traffic as far as the eye can see. Instead, there are perfect mountain views, blue skies, fresh, clean air and skiers and snowboarders enjoying perfect powder conditions. This isn’t Las Vegas; in fact it’s just about the furthest thing from it.  It is Snowmass Village, Colorado. However, beneath this serene surface there is just one thing Las Vegas and Snowmass Village have in common, and that is a deep and abiding love for poker.

On March 9, the 2^nd Annual Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament the Snowmass Village card sharks will really come out. For just a $100 donation players can join in the tournament to win the Grand Prize and a trophy. For smaller winners, there will be cash prizes, trips, golf and much, much more. Along with receiving complementary wine, beer and Hors d’oeuvres, players will play with the best of the best poker players in Snowmass Village.

For those wanting a little less competition and a little more of a friendly learning curve, there will also be a Beginners Tournament. Entrance to this event costs just $50, and also includes prizes. All donations will directly benefit non-profit organizations in the Roaring Forks Valley, as well as worldwide organizations associated with the Rotary Club. This year’s Texas Hold ‘em will take place at the Silvertree Conference Center in Snowmass Village.

The Rotary Club in Snowmass Village has taken a direct interest in the eradication of Polio worldwide, and has been actively working toward this end. In conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rotary Club has worked since 1988 to provide money for research and sweat equity in countries where Polio still affects children. The Snowmass Rotary Club has also participated in the 2011 Dictionary Project with the aim of providing every 3^rd grader with their own personal dictionary.

It is here within the charitable arm of Snowmass Village’s love affair with poker that one really sees the distinguishing characteristics of this community. Unlike Las Vegas, or other glitzy poker cities, Snowmass Village throws their cards in for a good time, but more importantly for a good cause.

Join the fun, and while skiing or Snowboarding through town to collect your Poker Run cards, or between hands in the Texas Hold ‘em contest, click here to see condos, homes and residences in the Snowmass Village and Aspen area. Make a difference in your world and your community while having the time of your life!