Rising from the center of downtown, world-famous Aspen Mountain has garnered a reputation as a rough 'n' tumble mountain for "real" skiers. Since 1946, skiers have tried, with varying degrees of success, to tackle these challenging slopes.

Home to the prestigious World Cup racing series, Aspen Mountain or "Ajax" to the locals, is steep and unrelenting, offering virtually no beginner trails and just a handful of intermediate runs, including the ever-popular "Ruthie's." Its calling card is hair-raising, steep precipices with names like Walsh's and Silver Queen and mogul trails, including the famed Ridge of Bell. The mountain offers seven chairlifts and the base-to-summit Silver Queen Gondola.

Aspen Mountain is a snowboard-free zone, one of just six resorts in the country to ban riders.

But snowboarders are wholeheartedly welcomed at Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands, the other two resorts located within the city of Aspen. Buttermilk -- its name borrowed from the preferred beverage of a logger who once worked the mountain has been called one of the country's finest teaching areas and for good reason: Its forgiving pitch and wide-open slopes instill confidence in even the most timid beginners. The resort also grooms up to 70 percent of its trails each night, which are served by five chairlifts.

Aspen Highlands served by six lifts, is known for its adventurous terrain, but the area also has plenty for beginners and intermediates.

New this season is a triple chairlift running from the base area to the wide-open, intermediate-level Golden Horn trail. Mid-mountain is the beginners' paradise while advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders typically head for the steep and deep of Temerity, Steeplechase, Olympic Bowl and the newly opened "Y-Zones."

Fridays throughout the winter, Highlands hosts a freestyle competition on the Scarlett's run at high noon.

One of the allures of Highlands has always been its empty slopes; that's something you'll want to keep in mind on deep powder days. Don't be deterred by Highlands' barren base area by next season a whole new village will be created from scratch. But with the improvements will likely come more people, so enjoy the uncrowded terrain while you can.