Allow me to say that the giddy joy of raining beads upon the jubilant masses is doubled when in the company of a six-foot tall, anthropomorphic pachyderm. Alongside Snowy the Snowmass mammoth, I had the honor of being a designated bead tosser at the annual Snowmass Mardi Gras festival (I’m going to include this fact on my resume). It’s one of the best parties in the mountains and not just because you get to high-five an extinct species.
Mardi Gras kicks off in Snowmass Village with a compact but colorful parade through the village mall. The King and Queen lead a collection of colorful and possibly hypothermic revelers in the float contest and with that, the party is on.
Before losing yourself in the Dixieland themed revelry, a quick reminder: Snowmass Mountain has some of the very best skiing and riding in the Rocky Mountains. There are over 3,000 acres of long, wide open runs with stunning views of the Elk Range (including a breathtaking look at 14,018 ft. Pyramid Peak from the top of the Elk Camp lift). Long Shot, a 3.5 mile tour that drops 3,400 feet through featured-laden trees, is by far my favorite intermediate run in Colorado. There’s plenty of beginner and expert terrain as well, including some extreme lines down the famous Headwall cliffs. Much like the wooly mammoth, lift lines are extinct as skiers quickly disperse throughout the mountain. A plethora of great turns sets the mood for the post-ski fun.
This year’s featured band was the incredible Henry Butler Trio, a genuine New Orleans Dixie jazz outfit led by the legendary and soulful Henry Butler. Despite the near-zero temps, the crowd couldn’t help but move their feet to the swinging sounds of Butler’s virtuoso piano playing and bluesy vocals. When the band kicked it up, they were absolutely killing it. The incredible energy and infectious vibe is made all the more fascinating by the fact Henry Butler is blind. Even more incredible? He’s also an accomplished photographer (check out the wonderful HBO documentary Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers for more on Henry’s camera work). Snowmass doesn’t skimp on their talent, that’s for certain.
Following the band, a barrage of fireworks lit up the night sky and the powder white snow reflected the colorful explosions above. The party then moved indoors to the Base Camp bar, where patrons prefer skier-and-snowboard chic complemented by purple wigs, feather boas and go-go boots. Heavy is the neck of the Mardi Gras reveler, for they shall be festooned with a wealth of beads accumulated over the hours of fun. In true New Orleans style, the merriment continues into the night, so it’s your own fault if you can’t make first chair the next morning.
For more on upcoming Snowmass events, visit the Snowmass website. From the Elevation Outdoors archives, check out our Snowmass Mountain piece from a few years ago. And if you want to learn more about the Snowmass mammoth excavations, visit the Denver Museum of Science and Nature.
