Continued Commitment to Safety

To help keep everyone safe and healthy,

We Strongly Encourage You to Wear a Mask while inside the Ute Mountaineer.

June 2021 Update:

Per the City of Aspen and Pitkin County: “Aligning with the state means that fully vaccinated people may go without masks in indoor public spaces unless the setting requires otherwise. Unvaccinated people are encouraged to continue to wear masks in all indoor public spaces.”

November 2020 Update: As the Winter 2020/21 season approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic carries on we would like to share what we are doing for the continued health and safety of our staff, customers, and the community

What We Are Doing:

• All staff must wear a mask and practice social distancing.

• Limiting the number of customers in the store to 15 at any time. Limiting the number of customers in the shoe section to 3 at a time.

• Adding a new separate entrance and waiting area for the rental department.

• Providing an outside line / waiting area with sections 6 ft apart.

• Hand sanitizer is located in various sections throughout the store.

• Every hour we ask that staff wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. After each interaction with customer, staff should use hand sanitizer.

• Every hour, we use disinfectant wipes on the front counter area, shoe bench, and rental counter areas.

• Any clothing or shoes tried one will be sanitized and disinfected.

• All returning rental equipment is wiped with disinfectant.

• Adding air purifiers with HEPA grade filters to the Ute Mountaineer and Aspen Cross Country Center.

• We require that anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 stay home until the symptoms are gone.

What We Need Our Customers To Do Do:

• Per Pitkin County Public Health order and store policy, All Customers are required to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose.

• Use hand sanitizer before trying on any clothing or shoes.

• Contact us if you are uncomfortable with entering the store. We offer curbside pickup and are happy to help with any shopping inquires over the phone or via email.

• Take advantage of our Seniors and At Risk Customer hours. On Tuesdays and Fridays we will open 1 hour early for seniors and at risk customers only.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

March 19th Update

To our new and longtime customers who may be at an increased risk of serious COVID-19, we would like to offer curbside pickup if you would rather not come into the store.

So, for anyone who is 60+ years of age or individuals with underlying medical conditions, please feel free to call us at 970-925-2849. 

Call us and let us know when you are coming or if you are outside already. You can stay in your car or be on foot. We can answer your questions and give you suggestions on equipment or local activities. And we are happy to bring product(s) outside for you to look at prior to purchase. If you decide to buy something, we can take care of payment while you wait outside.

We hope that this is helpful.

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March 18th Update

Hello again from the crew at the Ute Mountaineer.

We have decided to remain open on a reduced schedule going forward: 10am-6pm Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday - Monday.

We are available for shop work and retail (sorry, no rentals for now).

We have agonized over this decision to stay open and what is best for our staff, customers and the community. We believe that outdoor activities provide a healthy and safe way to get through these difficult times. We want to be here to help with that. 

We promise to keep a clean and sanitary environment for our staff and customers. We have implemented storewide cleaning and hand washing policies that exceed CDC guidelines to ensure this. Our staff also knows not to come to work if they are sick. 

We need your help with social distancing though.For everyone's safety, we ask that you maintain 6 feet social distance between yourself & others, and please self quarantine if you are sick.

Thank you very much for your patience, understanding and cooperation

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*Updated March 17th*

Hi again:

Based on what we heard from the Pitkin County Virtual Community meeting this afternoon we are going to reopen the Ute Mountaineer & Aspen Cross Country Center on a day-to-day basis starting Tuesday March 17th. It was implied in the meeting that more information or directives will be coming out in a day or two.

We agonize over this decision and if you feel differently we respect that. Please don’t come in if you are uncomfortable with being in the store.

In the meantime, as we have said before, we will follow our very strict cleaning, hand washing and social distancing protocols. Our staff knows not to come to work if sick. We ask for your help in these practices as well. Social distance always and self quarantine if you are sick!

We have also decided not to rent gear at this time. Apologies!

Hours remain at 9-6 at the Ute Mountaineer and 9-5 at the Aspen Cross Country Center.Hang in there and we’ll be in touch with any changes - which are sure to come! 

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*Updated Saturday March 14th*

Things are moving at lightning speed with regard to coronavirus news. We’ve just received word that Vail resorts, Alterra and the Aspen Skiing Company have suspended operations. The Governor is praising the moves but we await recommendations from local government as to whether continue to keep The Ute open to the public or not.

We have a great deal of shop work pending and customers that need to be able to return rental equipment so we have decided to keep the Ute and our cross country center. Opentomorrow, Sunday March 15th. The Ute will be open 9am-6pm, Aspen XC Center 9am-5pm and the Snowmass XC Center 9:30am-2pm.

We will close Monday to reassess and seek guidance from local authorities. We will send out another note Monday evening to let you know what the next step is.We would like to stay open to serve your needs and keep our staff employed even as the resort loses its visitor base. But most important, we want to do the right thing for you, our staff and the entire community in terms of containing this pandemic. We turn to the community leaders and their health officials for the bigger picture.

In the meantime, we will follow our very strict cleaning, hand washing and social distancing protocols. We ask that if you are sick and need to return rentals or visit the shop for some other reason that you send an emissary that is not sick!Remember fresh air + exercise = sanityIn all sincerity, thank you for being a Ute customer…

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Friday March 13th

A quick note on what we are doing to protect our customers and staff during the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.Our efforts to maintain a clean and healthy store include:

1. Asking our staff to wash their hands and / or use hand sanitizer every hour, after each interaction with a customer, and after handling any product. 

2. Using disinfectant wipes to clean all surfaces including front counters, benches, door handles, dressing rooms, rental equipment, and any other areas individuals interact with.

3. Conducting nightly deep cleans of these same surfaces with a Clorox bleach spray. 

4. Requiring staff exhibiting any signs of illness to stay home.We encourage you to stay current and follow the health guidelines provided by these resources:

- cdc.gov or coronavirus.gov
- Colorado Department of Public Health
- Pitkin County Public Health

- Pitkin County Community Health Coronavirus Hotline 970-429-6186

We will continue to monitor the situation and contact you with any updates or changes.

Thank you,- Ute Mountaineer