Via NYTimes:

“I was getting all these calls from the friends and brothers and sisters from past employees all over the country,” said Ms. Gordon Knowlton, now in her 30th year of business. “When unemployment is up, people get frustrated, and they’re saying: ‘Wait a second, I’m just spinning my wheels. I might as well start researching what I want to do but have fun, get to ski and enjoy myself rather than just living in the city being miserable, not having a job and not knowing what to do.’ ”

Indeed, the prospect of running out of money in a city or moving back home with parents has prompted 20-somethings from around the country to ride out the recession in Aspen — if not exactly enjoying the luxuries the town offers tourists, at least partaking of the scenery and cheap skiing.