Following World War II, a generation of young men and women who loved to ski discovered in Aspen a Shangri-la with Bohemian ambiance. Skiing became a means of shaking the post-war blues and frivolity on and off the slopes.

A generation later, getting high in the mountains held a whole new meaning when Aspen became the place to be. John Denver's hit song "Rocky Mountain High" resonated like a mantra with legions of young people fleeing urban America for a hip, mountain town buffered from mass culture by a vast expanse of wilderness.

From Wintersköl to the Music Festival, Aspen generated unprecedented cultural events, hosted internationally acclaimed authors and artists and was at the forefront of the counter-culture movement. With its roots firmly planted in mining and its growth noruished by skiing. Aspen's 100-year high evolved into a fascinating combination of physical and cerebral pursuits.