Jack's Journal: Aspen

Natural Beauty Is Discovered In The Gorgeous Mountains And A Real, Live Star

(CBS)  CBS News producer Jack Halsbond is behind the wheel of The Early Show's Winnebago Destination, traveling the country in July and August as part of the "Great American Vacation" giveaway road trip. Read his Web-exclusive road diary.


We kicked off the final third of our nine-week Great American Vacation series in the Rocky Mountain city of Aspen, Colorado. Now a mecca for sightings of the rich and famous, luxurious homes and upscale dining and shopping -- as well as skiing -- Aspen's roots are definitely more humble.

In was the winter of 1879, the Ute Indians staged an uprising. In spite of the pleas of the governor of Colorado, who ordered them to return across the Continental Divide, a group of hearty and very determined miners settled in and named their new town Ute City. Later renamed Aspen, for the Aspen trees, the small community quickly surpassed Leadville as the nation’s most productive mining district for silver.

Aspen's economic prosperity lasted for 13 years, but ended in the Panic of 1893, when President Grover Cleveland had a special session of Congress repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which had fueled the area’s economy.

It would be more than 50 years before the town would regain prominence, this time, though, as a world-class ski resort. The idea of a ski resort was first conceived by investors in the 1930s, but those plans were interrupted by WWII.

In 1946, the Aspen Skiing Corporation was formed when Friedl Pfeifer, who had trained in the area with the 10th Mountain Division, returned and teamed with industrialist Walter Paepcke and his wife Elizabeth. The resort became more popular after it hosted the FIS World Championship in 1950, and soon became a winter playground for the rich and famous.

The Early Show's Great American Vacation visit started in the pre-dawn darkness, in Wagner Park, with members of the Sybarite Chamber Players tuning their instruments. As they filled the morning air with beautiful music we were joined by Aspen après ski chef Clenn Smith, who demonstrated the recipes for healthy food and libations that will make for warm and filling après ski treats.

Our special guest, from "CSI: Miami" was actress Emily Procter, a native of North Carolina. Emily charmed the audience and our crew with her natural beauty and down-home, friendly ways. She worked her CSI forensic magic as she helped Dave assist our surprised vacation winner in revealing the clues to the vacation giveaway.

Wagner Park was filled with Aspen locals and tourists all enjoying the fun of being part of a live television production. Aspen is not only a winter haven for skiing -- this is a beautiful area is rich in all forms of recreation, from hiking to biking to horseback riding, all featuring spectacular views along the way.

We bid the Rockies a fond farewell and turned our Winnebago east as we headed towards Mackinac Island, Michigan for the next Great American Vacation giveaway.