Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 30

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Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found on the shelter’s Here

Closed Colorado 14ers reopen with QR code waivers but owner says reform of recreational use law is “ultimate fix”

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Welcome to the woods. Please scan this code and swear you won’t sue.  

After sever months of closure, the Decalibron Loop trail accessing four 14ers in the Mosquito Range near Alma will reopen Friday to any hiker who scans and signs a liability waiver on their phones. 

Landowner John Reiber is installing signs with a QR code on the road leading from Alma to Kite Lake, the starting point of the 7-mile Decalibron Loop trail that connects Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross. If hikers scan the code with their phones and e-sign the waiver, they will be able to legally access Reiber’s property along the Decalibron Loop. If they do not, they will be trespassing. 

“This is not a true solution,” Reiber said. “This is a temporary Band-Aid to the problem. The true solution is for us to get the state law changed and fix the Colorado Recreational Use Statute. That is the ultimate fix not just for me but a lot of landowners.”

Reiber, who owns a patchwork of mining properties that lead to the summits of Mount Lincoln and Mount Democrat, is among a growing coalition of land owners worried they could be sued by recreational visitors on their land. 

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.

Riverwalk Center celebrates three decades in the heart of Breckenridge

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Since 1993, it has sat next to the Blue River, right in the middle of town. Over those 30 years, world-class musicians, rock ‘n’ roll bands, wedding parties, nonprofits, politicians, filmmakers, community members and visitors have been welcomed into its spaces. The National Repertory Orchestra has called it home since it was built. On Friday, July 28, the Riverwalk Center will get a chance to be celebrated during the Riverwalk 30 Anniversary Carnival.

“The Riverwalk 30 Anniversary Carnival captures everything wonderful about the Riverwalk Center: world-class talent from every corner of the globe has graced its stage, and it serves as a true pillar of our community,” said Tamara Nuzzaci Park, president and CEO of Breck Create in a news release. “So much fun has been had here, and it’s a giant point of pride for our organization to manage it for the Town of Breckenridge.”

The center’s origins can be traced to a temporary event space in the same location of the current Riverwalk Center. A temporary tent was maintained by local volunteers, and it hosted a summer chamber music festival put on by the Breckenridge Music Institute, according to the news release. In the early 1990s — after a restoration project helped beautify and restore the section of the Blue River that ran through downtown Breckenridge, and with plans to include a walkway along the water, a need for an anchoring space for the new riverfront and the then-Keystone headquartered National Repertory Orchestra looking to find a new home — plans emerged for a performance space that could offer a new home for the orchestra and a welcoming venue for a variety of purposes.

For the full story click here

Frisco Town Council moves toward banning single-use plastics, unanimously approving first reading of ordinance

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The Frisco Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday, July 25, to approve the first reading of an ordinance aimed at reducing plastic waste and consumption.

If approved on a second reading, the ordinance would ban water sold in single-use plastic bottles less than one gallon and ban restaurants from selling products in containers made of expanded polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam. It would also require restaurants to only provide single-use products such as plastic cutlery and napkins upon request.

“Why I feel so confident about what we’re trying to do is every single person has access to the best water in the world when they’re in Frisco, and we’re not limiting that in any way,” Mayor Hunter Mortensen said. “We’re just limiting the plastic delivery of that water in our community.”

The full story is here

‘All the eyes are on us’: Summit County hopes to set national precedent for housing solutions as US Forest Service project moves forward

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A proposal to lease United States Forest Service land to a local government to build workforce housing is still underway in Summit County. 

While details continue to be hammered out ahead of a final deal, officials say it could be a model for the rest of the country if the plan is successful. 

“This is a tool that we’ve been given to utilize under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Dillon District ranger Adam Bianchi. “We’re kind of the first one out of the gate. All the eyes are on us.”  

Bianchi, whose district is situated within the White River National Forest, said Forest Service officials recently completed a public outreach effor on the project and have signaled their intent to use the authority given to them under the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, or Farm Bill.

The law grants officials the ability to lease National Forest land in exchange for cash and non-cash agreements, paving the way for a three-way effort between the ranger district, Summit County government and the town of Dillon. 

For the full story click here

Frisco Town Council to consider ordinance that would ban single-use plastic water bottles, reduce plastic waste

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The Frisco Town Council at its meeting on Tuesday, July 25, is scheduled to consider an ordinance to reduce single-use plastic waste.

The proposed ordinance includes a ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles under 1 gallon; a ban on single-use plastic cups in municipal facilities, events or leased spaces; and a requirement that single-use plastic items such as utensils be by request-only for takeout food.

“There are harmful effects on our regional natural resources and the environment that result either from the continued disposal of single-use plastics in our landfills or in the spread of these single-use plastics as litter,” the ordinance states.

For the complete story click here

Get to know the life above treeline

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For most of the year, snow covers Colorado’s highest peaks. Above about 11,000 feet, cold blustery winds can be relentless through the winter.

But summer can transform these Alpine tundra environments into scenery blossoming with life. For a few short weeks between late June and the end of August, wildflowers bloom magnificent colors as yellow-bellied marmots soak up the sun and pikas scurry around the rocks.

As the name would suggest, much of Summit County exists above tree line, meaning these beautiful — but highly fragile — Alpine environments are not far away anywhere in the county. 

Alpine tundra environments are found at high elevations worldwide, according to Colin Lee, a horticulturist with Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail. Colorado’s Rocky Mountains host over 300 endemic Alpine species that can’t be found anywhere else, he said.

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When does search and rescue call for a helicopter?

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Becoming injured, lost, cold or tired while in the backcountry can leave a person very concerned and looking for help getting out of their predicament. Typically, the person in trouble wants an immediate resolution. In some cases a helicopter extraction is warranted, but that is a rarity.

The Summit County Rescue Group has a few options for air support. Primarily we use Flight for Life and, less often, the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site. The aircraft provided by both these organizations offer vastly different capabilities and the difference in aircraft size means different landing zone parameters. The rescue group’s mission coordinator needs to understand the precise nature of the situation. Are we dealing with an injury, illness, lost person or missing person?

In general, helicopter operations are used for life and limb critical situations, although they may also be used in search operations or if there is a serious concern for rescuer safety.

Helicopter operational variables include: the closest landing zone, the exact nature of the search and rescue operation, weather in the operational area, whether a helicopter on another run or out of commission for maintenance, how long would it take to extract the patient via ground operations and what is the risk to the patient, and how long will it take to obtain permission for an operation.

In general, Flight for Life approval is more expeditious than the National Guard. All discussions may include the mission coordinator, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Search and Rescue, Flight for Life operations, and the Army National Guard headquarters on both the East Coast and in the state. Approval can take anywhere from minutes to over an hour, and response times, likewise, will vary. 

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More than half of Summit County’s property valuation appeals have been denied

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In what Summit County Assessor Lisa Eurich called a “historic year,” county residents have filed the most property valuation appeals in nearly 15 years. 

At 7,366 appeals, it’s the most protest from property owners seen in Summit County since the 2008-09 Great Recession. More than half of those appeals, 54%, were denied while 45% were adjusted, according to data from the assessor’s office. 

That’s more adjustments than during the last valuation cycle in 2021, when 38% of all appeals were adjusted, according to Eurich. But this year also saw roughly five times the amount of appeals, increasing from 4% of all county property in 2021 to 19% in 2023. 

For the rest of the story click here

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 16

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 Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found on the shelter’s website:  Here

What to know about backpacking etiquette in and around Summit County — home to the country’s most popular National Forest

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Summit County’s shift from winter to summer mecca is well underway, with dried-out trails beckoning people to the backcountry. 

As residents and visitors plan their overnight trips, officials and wildlife volunteers are urging them to consider key ways to protect the natural landscape for years to come. 

“You’re looking at the most-visited ranger district and most-visited national forest,” said David Boyd, a spokesperson for the White River National Forest, which saw the most visitation of any national forest in the country last year.

More than 100 trailheads and trail portals provide access to over 300 miles of trails in the county. While all trailheads give hikers the option of signing in before a hike, only one area requires it. 

The Eagle’s Nest Wilderness, one of the most popular spots for hiking and dispersed overnight camping, requires visitors to self-register and ensure they have a permit on them while backcountry hiking. These permits are available at the area’s trailheads. 

Boyd said this helps the ranger district understand how many people are in the area (something that’s especially important during a search and rescue mission) and collect year-over-year foot traffic data. 

Fro the complete story click here

Get Ready for the Weekend from Nancy Yearout - RE/MAX

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Dillon Marina ​ ​​ ​Keystone Tennis Center ​  Tennis anyone? Head out to Keystone's Tennis Center which is open year-round with two indoor and eight outdoor courts and a lovely patio area for relaxing when you're off the courts. They have drop in clinics Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click here for more information. ​ Beer, Live Music & Trivia Broken Compass Brewery's original location, just off Airport Road in Breckenridge, is a bit hard to find, but worth your time. They have live music on weekends and trivia during the week. Be sure to visit their Main St location too.  Click here for more information. ​ Get Creative ​ Did you know Summit County has a mobile art studio? The Frosted Flamingo will come to your house, or wherever you're having a party and they are often at local events, so check the Events Calendar on their website for where they'll be. Click here for more information. Children optional.​ ​Nancy Yearout  Cell: 970-485-0293 ​Email: nancy@buyinbreckenridge.com Website: http://www.buyinbreckenridge.com

Summit County’s fire danger level could be revised following small wildfire outside Frisco

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U.S. Forest Service officials are poised to reconsider wildfire danger in Summit County and beyond following a small wildfire that ignited outside Frisco on Sunday, July 9.

Currently, the county and surrounding region remain at low risk for wildfires, thanks in part to significant ground moisture from a snowy winter and rainy spring. 

“It’s really important that we don’t let down our guard and think just because our fire danger is low we are not facing any threat,” Summit Fire & EMS spokesperson Steve Lipsher said. 

Sunday’s fire, which was reported at around 12:30 p.m. after sparking near the Meadow Creek trailhead, billowed smoke that could be seen from Interstate 70 near Frisco. About 20 firefighters were called to the scene as three engines and a Forest Service-contracted helicopter worked to quell the flames. No evacuation orders were issued. 

The fire grew to roughly three-tenths of an acre, less than the size of a football field, according to Dillon District Ranger Adam Bianchi. The helicopter was able to deliver enough water to help officials on the ground, who are currently in what Bianchi called the “mop-up phase” of extinguishing flames. 

Bianchi said the fire is believed to be human caused, likely from a campfire. And despite the wet weather of the past months, the county has recently found itself in a dry spell, raising the stakes for wildfire safety. 

We need to ban all campfires.  Period.

Read the rest of the story here

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 9

 #breckenridge #realestate #colorado #adoptablepets

Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found on the shelter’s website:  

Here

New Colorado ski resort joins with Powder Alliance for the 2023-24 season

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The Powder Alliance recently announced the addition of its second Colorado ski resort — Ski Cooper — located just outside of Summit County near Tennessee Pass north of Leadville.

Ski Cooper boasts 64 trails, five lifts and terrain for every age and ability including gladed tree runs, ungroomed moguls and deep powder stashes. With a top elevation of 11,700 feet, the resort offers some of the lightest, driest snow with runs up to 1.4 miles long.

Powder Alliance resorts for 2023-24 season include Angel Fire in New Mexico, Bogus Basin in Idaho, Blacktail Mountain located in Montana, Castle Mountain Resort in Alberta, Canada, California’s China Peak and Dodge Ridge, Loveland Ski Area, Ski Cooper and several others.

Courtesy of the Summit Daily News

Colorado’s wildflower season should be one of the best ever, but it might come later than usual

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While Colorado’s Front Range is seeing the peak of wildflower bloom, the High Country is patiently waiting for its own. 

A cold, wet winter and spring defined by above-average snow and rainfall is likely to delay peak bloom by as much as two weeks. But it also means this summer will see even more color than last. 

“It’s definitely going to be, it already is, a very, very good wildflower year,” said Tyler Johnson, a U.S. Forest Service botanist for the Rocky Mountain region. 

While expeditions in the High Country are likely to reveal early-season blooms, including lupines and yarrows, plants such as columbines, the iconic state flower, as well as paintbrushes and goldenrods are still dormant. 

The region usually sees its wildflower season begin to peak around the Fourth of July weekend, when nightly temperatures tend to hover around 50 degrees. In order to avoid devastating summer frosts, wildflowers wait until temperatures are safe before reproducing, or flowering, and dispersing seeds. 

For the complete story click here

Clearcutting near Blue River may be ‘shocking’ but officials say its necessary for 2 important reasons

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More than a decade after it was approved, a forest health and wildfire fuels mitigation project near Breckenridge and Blue River is turning some heads.

The White River National Forest gave final approval to the Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project in 2011, but the most recent phase of clearcutting to establish fuel breaks has raised some questions from residents.

“I’m hearing all about it,” Blue River Town Manager Michelle Eddy said. “It’s definitely a bit more visible. But it’s one of those things — we know it will all grow in. It all comes back.”

Over the past several months, residents have reached out several times with questions about the fuels project, Eddy said. The project has been phased over several years and one of the most recent phases, the Blue River West Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, in particular has brought questions from residents, she said.

The Blue River West Hazardous Fuels Project is a 121-acre fuel break located near Blue River, just west of and paralleling Colorado Highway 9. The project went under contract in July 2022 and is expected to be completed by this October, according to the National Forest Service. It is part of the larger 5,700-acre Breckenridge Forest Health and Fuels Project being phased in over more than a decade.

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