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ENLARGE
Tucked away amid groves of trees and in nooks and crannies around local slopes are memorials and homages to famous people, places and in one case, a well-known cartoon character.
For part-time resident David Wood, discovering the shrines of Aspen/Snowmass has become an obsession of sorts.
“Years ago, when I started skiing here I heard about the shrines. Being the curious person I am,” Wood said he started ferreting them out, one by one. Skico ambassadors were polled about shrines, and their locations, as were patrollers and other friends. He also received invaluable help through an Aspen Times article by Kimberly Nicoletti, which was the most comprehensive guide available at that time.
“A lot of people don't want to tell you (where the shrines are located), but would give me a hint,” Wood said with a chuckle. “You kind of have to go there and figure it out yourself.”
Wood, who is a history major, started documenting the makeshift shrines, some quite rudimentary, others fully developed and ever-evolving. They total 42 in all and include everything from the popular Jerry Garcia and Marilyn Monroe shrines to less obvious memorials, including those for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Frank Sinatra. Wood spent more than a year doing research on the sanctuaries.
“I thought they were a unique part of Aspen skiing history and I thought it might be nice to preserve that kind of history,” Wood added.
Preserve it he has in a newly published book entitled “Sanctuaries in the Snow: The Shrines and Memorials of Aspen/Snowmass.” The self-published tome is available at Sundance Liquor and Gifts, Village Market, Snowmass Sports and the Stew Pot. It costs $20 per copy which basically covers Wood's publishing costs. All proceeds beyond that are donated to Boone Schweitzer's Trashmasters scholarship fund.
Already, Wood has sold 500 copies and the January edition of Skiing includes a nice write-up about the book.
What are some of his personal favorites?
The Hunter S. Thompson shrine near Gunnar's View ranks among the top shrines. “I was just up there yesterday. Now there's a bunch of photos.” Wood said he believes another dozen pictures have made their way to a tree since last March. The founders of this shrine want to remain anonymous – that's not uncommon – but they still are wont to update it twice a year.
“They hike up there in the summer and make a real affair of it. It's neat they put it in Snowmass,” Wood said, adding that he “can't help but believe (this location was chosen) because of Thompson's fondness for guns.”
The Golf Shrine, dedicated to 16 deceased greats of the game, is another Snowmass favorite.
Sanctuaries in the snow are found on all four area mountains. At Highlands, “most of them are hard to get to,” Wood noted, recommending the Chix Coop (above Picnic Point) as the most accessible on the hill.
Buttermilk's notables include the memorial to Todd “Toad” Olson.
Ever see the Snoopy shrine? Located near Summit on Ajax, it was started by local Bill Schaffer, who wanted a family-oriented shrine to counter others with drug inferences.
“Snoopy is a clean living guy with a good attitude who likes root beer and chocolate chip cookies...as evidenced by his tummy,” Schaffer shared with the author.
Expect to find other clever shrine-related anecdotes in the book, which could fit in a roomy parka pocket or small backpack (to allow for personal ferreting).
“This little gem is not your typical book about Aspen/Snowmass; it is underground and avant garde. The author has chronicled some of Aspen's most secret treasures. Indeed, Mr. Wood is on to something here with ‘Sanctuaries in the Snow.' I am buying it for all of my friends and clients; what a gift,” said Boone Schweitzer, who jokingly calls himself “ski instructor to the stars.”
Wood doesn't discount the idea of a sequel and said he's also prepared to “make changes as I find new things.
“I guess you never know when you find them all,” he added.
Madeleine Osberger's e-mail address is mosberger@snowmasssun.com
For part-time resident David Wood, discovering the shrines of Aspen/Snowmass has become an obsession of sorts.
“Years ago, when I started skiing here I heard about the shrines. Being the curious person I am,” Wood said he started ferreting them out, one by one. Skico ambassadors were polled about shrines, and their locations, as were patrollers and other friends. He also received invaluable help through an Aspen Times article by Kimberly Nicoletti, which was the most comprehensive guide available at that time.
“A lot of people don't want to tell you (where the shrines are located), but would give me a hint,” Wood said with a chuckle. “You kind of have to go there and figure it out yourself.”
Wood, who is a history major, started documenting the makeshift shrines, some quite rudimentary, others fully developed and ever-evolving. They total 42 in all and include everything from the popular Jerry Garcia and Marilyn Monroe shrines to less obvious memorials, including those for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Frank Sinatra. Wood spent more than a year doing research on the sanctuaries.
“I thought they were a unique part of Aspen skiing history and I thought it might be nice to preserve that kind of history,” Wood added.
Preserve it he has in a newly published book entitled “Sanctuaries in the Snow: The Shrines and Memorials of Aspen/Snowmass.” The self-published tome is available at Sundance Liquor and Gifts, Village Market, Snowmass Sports and the Stew Pot. It costs $20 per copy which basically covers Wood's publishing costs. All proceeds beyond that are donated to Boone Schweitzer's Trashmasters scholarship fund.
Already, Wood has sold 500 copies and the January edition of Skiing includes a nice write-up about the book.
What are some of his personal favorites?
The Hunter S. Thompson shrine near Gunnar's View ranks among the top shrines. “I was just up there yesterday. Now there's a bunch of photos.” Wood said he believes another dozen pictures have made their way to a tree since last March. The founders of this shrine want to remain anonymous – that's not uncommon – but they still are wont to update it twice a year.
“They hike up there in the summer and make a real affair of it. It's neat they put it in Snowmass,” Wood said, adding that he “can't help but believe (this location was chosen) because of Thompson's fondness for guns.”
The Golf Shrine, dedicated to 16 deceased greats of the game, is another Snowmass favorite.
Sanctuaries in the snow are found on all four area mountains. At Highlands, “most of them are hard to get to,” Wood noted, recommending the Chix Coop (above Picnic Point) as the most accessible on the hill.
Buttermilk's notables include the memorial to Todd “Toad” Olson.
Ever see the Snoopy shrine? Located near Summit on Ajax, it was started by local Bill Schaffer, who wanted a family-oriented shrine to counter others with drug inferences.
“Snoopy is a clean living guy with a good attitude who likes root beer and chocolate chip cookies...as evidenced by his tummy,” Schaffer shared with the author.
Expect to find other clever shrine-related anecdotes in the book, which could fit in a roomy parka pocket or small backpack (to allow for personal ferreting).
“This little gem is not your typical book about Aspen/Snowmass; it is underground and avant garde. The author has chronicled some of Aspen's most secret treasures. Indeed, Mr. Wood is on to something here with ‘Sanctuaries in the Snow.' I am buying it for all of my friends and clients; what a gift,” said Boone Schweitzer, who jokingly calls himself “ski instructor to the stars.”
Wood doesn't discount the idea of a sequel and said he's also prepared to “make changes as I find new things.
“I guess you never know when you find them all,” he added.
Madeleine Osberger's e-mail address is mosberger@snowmasssun.com
