I-70 Saga Continues

Even as the Colorado Department of Transportation finalizes a long-range plan for the I-70 corridor, due for release in September, the mountain corridor coalition is moving ahead with ambitious plans to try and address highway congestion in the short term.

The focus this summer is on transportation demand management, as the coalition recently released a draft plan that calls for a slew of incentive-based measures intended to address peak-time congestion in the corridor.

Some of the ideas floated in the draft include free close-in parking at ski areas for carpoolers, or coupons for discounted goods and services for visitors willing to adjust their travel times to outside peak hours.

Additionally, the plan calls for implementation of a high-tech traffic monitoring and notification system, which could be implemented in a pilot phase as soon as this summer, according to coalition director Flo Raitano. It's not clear to what degree such measures could actually alleviated the crushing peak loads on the highway.

The potential beneficial effect hasn't been quantified, Raitano said. But similar measures have been tried - with mixed success - in other areas, notably in some of the long-distance travel corridors along the Eastern Seaboard.

"The goal is spread out the traffic and numbers we have now," Raitano said, adding that the organization is looking for some public feedback on the measures outlined in the draft plan, available online at http://www.i-70coalition.org.

Snake River Cleanup

Long-running efforts to improve water quality in the Snake River, near Keystone and Dillon, will get a jump start this month, as Trout Unlimited has hired an expert to coordinate the cleanup.

At issue is heavy metal contamination from abandoned mines high in the basin. Together with naturally occurring minerals, the acid mine drainage has impaired water quality in parts of the Snake River, with concentrations of some metals exceeding state-set standards established to protect aquatic life.

“I’ll be working with the Snake River Task Force to get a liability agreement,” said Elizabeth Russell, who started her full-time job May 15.

Working from TU’s Boulder office, Russell said the overall goal remains the same: Improving water quality to the point that the Snake River can sustain a healthy trout population.

“We hope that within three years we can have it cleaned up,” Russell said, explaining that there are still some land ownership issues that need to be clarified before on-the-ground remediation begins.

Record Skier/Rider Numbers for '05 - '06 Season

The number of skiers and snowboarders in the United States reached a record 58.8 million last season, up 3.3 percent from a year ago, according to preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association.

Industry growth is being spurred by the popularity of skiing and snowboarding with a younger crowd and equipment improvements that allow aging baby boomers to stay on the snow longer, NSAA president Michael Berry said Tuesday.

"It's a multigenerational phenomenon," he told The Denver Post. "Baby boomers, their children and their grandchildren are all out there skiing. The resorts have become true multigenerational gathering places."

The association represents 325 alpine resorts nationwide.

The six-state Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, saw a 5.8 percent gain in skier visits, or more than 1.1 million people, to finish at 20.8 million skier visits for the 2005-06 ski season. The state's 25 ski resorts may top 12 million skier visits for the first time this season, though those numbers are still pending.

Nature Series Seeking Volunteers

The Town of Breckenridge Nature Series is seeking fun, motivated and friendly individuals to become part of the Nature Series Volunteer Team. If you have an interest in our natural world, enjoy being outdoors or would like to help promote stewardship of our precious resources, this program is for you.

A variety of exciting opportunities exist for Nature Series volunteers, including assisting with or leading family programs, children's programs or hikes, materials development, administrative or logistical tasks, field studies, special events and more.

Nature Series programming takes place year-round in natural areas in and around Breckenridge. Program times and locations will vary. The Nature Series will provide free training to all volunteers. Volunteers are required to sign up for and attend a volunteer training day on Monday from 5:30-9 p.m., or Saturday, June 3 from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Breckenridge Nordic Center. Food will be provided.

Benefits include ongoing free trainings, a fun, friendly work environment, Breckenridge Recreation Center opportunities, and more.

For more information or to pre-register for programs, contact Carin Faust at (970) 453-3362 or e-mail carinf@townofbreckenridge.com.

Peak 6 Master Plan Starts Rolling

Rick Sramek, vice president of mountain operations for Breckenridge Ski Resort, confirmed that the ski area wants to work on some master planning this summer, calling Peak 6 the "final piece" of the resort.

"What we were looking for was a good tie-in to the Peak 6 area," Sramek said.

"We were looking for a piece that would make access and egress (to and from Peak 6) possible. It accommodates ski-over access from Peak 7 to a bottom terminal," Sramek said.

"It's likely we'll start master-planning this summer," Sramek said, adding that the public will have a chance to review and comment on preliminary plans.

Making what he called a non-significant permit amendment, Dillon District Ranger Rick Newton in early April carved about between 200 and 300 acres out of the nordic center and added it to Breckenridge Ski Area's permitted terrain. Newton said the agreement between two amicable adjacent permit holders enabled the agency to make the move without requiring public review or comment. Additionally, he said both areas are allocated to the same management prescription under the White River National Forest plan.

"The terrain is better suited to alpine skiing," Newton said, characterizing it as steeper terrain that wasn't being used under the nordic center's permit.

Newton said the terrain added to the resort's permit area at the base of Peak 6 will give better access for any type of proposed lift-served skiing.

Large parts of Peak 6 are designated for lift-served skiing under the White River National Forest plan, but any specific proposal for lifts or trails would require site-specific analysis and review, according to Newton.

No formal proposal in in the works, but the agency has had one meeting with the ski area to discuss the start of a master planning process that will encompass Peak 6, Newton said.

Rafting Season Could be Short and Sweet

The rafting season on the Lower Blue, north of Silverthorne, could be short and sweet - and it could be right around the corner, according to water managers in the process of finalizing plans for the many reservoirs in the Upper Colorado Basin.

Denver Water releases from Dillon Reservoir could peak as soon as this weekend and into next week with raftable flows, though the exact quantities have yet to be determined.

The releases are part of a regional plan to coordinate releases into the mainstem of the Colorado at a time when they are beneficial to habitat for endangered native Colorado River fish species.

Water officials outlined their plans and the storage scenarios Tuesday night at the annual State of the River meeting in Frisco. While the winter began with near-record snowfall, spring turned very dry, rekindling concerns about basin-wide water supplies.

Although all major reservoirs are expected to fill, the outlook isn't quite as rosy as it was just a month ago, said Denver Water's Mark Waage.

Breckenridge Golf Club Opens for the Season

The Jack Nicklaus designed Breckenridge Golf Club opens for the season tomorrow, May 18.

The 27 hold facility, which opened in 1987, consistently ranks as the best (and toughest) mountain course in Colorado.

The Pro Shop offers a wide variety of quality equipment and clothing.

Green fees are $55 and $99 (low and high seasons). High season is June 17 through September 17. Cart fees are $16.

Special rates: 27 holes with cart is $168; happy hour (9 holes after 5 p.m.) is $28.

The Driving Range opened last week - a large bag of balls is $6.

PGA Professional is Erroll Miller and the Golf Course Superintendent is Fred Soller.

Tee times are available four days in advance - phone number is 970-453-9104.

Arapahoe Basin to Close June 4

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, known for keeping the lifts turning well into the summer, will close on the first Sunday in June, officially ending Summit County's ski season.

Last year, the ski area closed the same weekend. The year before, skiers and riders had until June 11 to make their turns of the season at A-Basin.

Despite the perception that Arapahoe Basin attempts to stay open until the Fourth of July holiday, the last time that happened was nine years ago during the 1996/1997 season, said ski area spokesperson Leigh Heirholzer.

Heirholzer said A-Basin no longer makes it a goal to stay open into the summer.

"The reason we don't is we're opening so much earlier now with snowmaking, we opened Oct. 23, the year before it was Oct. 22," Heirholzer said. "Before snowmaking, we would open closer to Thanksgiving, sometimes even closer to Christmas."

Copper Mountain Development Hits Snag

The Copper Mountain Metro District wants Intrawest to resolve an outstanding water rights transfer before taking a stance on the latest development plan at the resort.

The district outlined a list of concerns in a memo to the Summit County planning department recently. One issue is the long-standing Intrawest obligation to convey 35 acre-feet of water rights to the metro district.

Intrawest may not have the water rights necessary to meet demands of the current planned unit development (PUD), “let alone the proposed PUD,” according to the memo.

“We do owe them the water rights under the 1999 PUD,” said Intrawest public affairs coordinator Laura Goode. “We know it’s something we need to actively and aggressively work with the metro district on before we go to Board of County Commissioner hearings in the fall.”

Intrawest wants to reallocate existing development rights at Copper, as well as add 613 new units of “equivalent density,” mainly for new residential units in the A Lift neighborhood and for a planned flagship Hardrock Hotel in the Center Village.

Frisco Marina to get Permanent Restaurant Facility

Visitors to the Frisco marina this summer will have the opportunity to sip cocktails and enjoy a lakefront view while sitting on the upper deck of the new Island Grill restaurant.

The town council’s approval of the project paved the way for construction to begin as soon as possible on a permanent restaurant structure with outdoor customer seating and an indoor kitchen and bar area.

A free-standing public restroom and shower facility is also part of the plan, as well as improvements to the site’s parking.

The new restaurant will include a 430-square-foot roofless upper deck, a covered lower deck and 70 seats. Both the eating establishment and the restroom facility will be located adjacent to the existing marina store and will share a common deck.

Wilderness Volunteers Needed

The task of providing stewardship for local wilderness is increasingly falling on volunteer groups, as U.S. Forest Service resources dwindle.

This summer the agency will only have two official wilderness rangers to patrol tens of thousands of acres in the Eagles Nest and Ptarmigan Peak wilderness areas, not nearly enough to cover all the territory on a regular basis.

To back up those meager government resources, local wilderness advocates banded together to form the Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness (FENW) 12 years ago. The group is going stronger than ever and will expand its roster of volunteers this summer to beef up its own wilderness stewardship program.

Volunteer applications are due May 12, with a training session scheduled June 10, said volunteer coordinator Maryann Gaug. Gaug said the friends group focuses specifically on designated wilderness - those areas set aside by Congress to be preserved in an untrammeled state for their natural resource and recreational values. That differentiates the group from the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, which also supports the Forest Service with various service projects outside the wilderness.

Gaug said the group hopes to add about 10 or 15 people this year to help conduct public outreach and education. Funding to administer the volunteer program comes primarily from the Summit Foundation, several local towns, the Arapahoe Basin environmental employee fund and the National Forest Foundation

Breckenridge Medical Center to Close?

The future of the Breckenridge Medical Center (BMC)has been cast into doubt by Vail Resorts’ decision to send injured skiers and snowboarders elsewhere.

Designated by the state as a trauma center, BMC has operated in its current location at the base of Peak 9 since 1992.

Through a long-term agreement with the ski resort, ski patrollers brought those injured on the mountain directly to BMC or its satellite clinic on Peak 8 for assessment and treatment.

Vail Resorts has opted not to renew this contract, known as the skier transport agreement, with BMC. Instead, the resort has made a deal with Centura Health, the parent company of St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, to provide care for its mountain visitors.

Colorado Symphony Orchestra to Play Breckenridge

The National Repertory Orchestra presents the Colorado Symphony Orchestra with music director Jeffery Kahane Friday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. in a special benefit concert for the NRO Education and Community Engagement Program.

The concert coincides with a season celebration of Mozart's 250th birthday and highlights include a Mozart piano concerto performed by pianist and conductor Kahane.

NRO players will also play side-by-side with the orchestra for a portion of the program. In addition to Mozart, repertoire includes pieces by Bernstein and Respighi. A portion of the concert will be conducted by NRO music director Carl Topilow.

The NRO and the CSO have developed a strong partnership in recent years in part of a continuing effort to develop and sustain audience interest in live symphonic music across the state.

For more details about NRO events, visit www.nromusic.com.

No Pay Parking for Downtown Breckenridge

Although a recent study warned that new fees in skier parking lots along Park Avenue could force hundreds of vehicles a day into the free parking areas of Breckenridge, town council members recently decided to pull back from an earlier plan to press for paid parking along Main Street.

The report refers to the Breckenridge Ski Area plan to charge for parking in what are currently free lots in the vicinity of the future gondola terminal, a move that will significantly change the parking equation in town.

“The last direction (town staff) had from council was to take it to the community and tell them what the options are,” said spokesperson Kim DiLallo, referring to the long-discussed idea of charging for parking on Main Street.

But with three new council members in place, town planners decided to once again raise the question this month at a retreat.

“We wanted to be sure the council was comfortable with that. Do we want to continue down the path of getting the information out to the community?” DiLallo said.

Mayor Ernie Blake, as well as Councilmembers Rob Millisor and John Warner supported the direction from the previous town council, but Dave Rossi, Jennifer McAtamney, Jeffrey Bergeron and Eric Mamula indicated they weren’t in favor of the concept, reflecting the political shift wrought by the April 4 election, at least on this issue.

So for now, paid parking downtown seems to be on the back burner, if not completely dead.

Dillon to Remove Infected Trees

It’s not as drastic as Frisco’s plan to remove at least 9,000 trees from its peninsula, but the town of Dillon will also hire a contractor to weed out the pine beetle infested trees from its recreation area on the Dillon Reservoir this summer.

The town council approved a contract Tuesday with The Tree Musketeers out of Evergreen to cut down 788 infected lodgepole pine trees from its 260-acre Dillon Nature Preserve.

Last year, the town paid to have 393 trees removed from the preserve for the same reason. The preserve is a passive recreation area zoned as open space off Highway 6 between the Summerwood subdivision and Dillon Bay.

Starting May 1, the contractor will fell the trees, lop and scatter the limbs on the forest floor, and remove the trunks from the preserve, said assistant public works director Scott O’Brien.

Eliminating the dying trees from the forest could help rejuvenate the area by increasing space between the remaining trees, thus allowing sunlight through to the forest floor, O’Brien said.

“The trees that are left are going to be healthier and better able to fend of attacks in the future,” O’Brien said.

EPA Environmental Award for Breckenridge Sanitation

A “remarkable commitment to protecting the Blue River Basin” has garnered an EPA environmental achievement award for the Breckenridge Sanitation District.

EPA regional deputy administrator Eddie Sierra presented the award to district officials in Breckenridge, singling out the district for the “significant and lasting influence” it has had on protecting water quality in the Upper Blue Basin.

During the district’s 40-year life span, numerous initiatives have enhanced the protection of the basin’s water quality. The district owns and operates five wastewater treatment facilities in the Upper Blue River basin and has won numerous environmental awards, including five national and five regional Clean Water Act awards in operation and maintenance.

One example of the initiatives is the construction of the Iowa Hill Water Reclamation plant, which for the first time created a winter stream flow in a segment of the Blue River that had been extensively dredged during the late 1800s. The winter stream flow allowed for the dilution of heavy metals being discharged from the Wellington-Oro mine.

In another example, the District entered into a reclamation agreement with the Climax Mine for the disposal of biosolids on the mine’s contaminated tailings.

EPA Region 8 presents awards in four categories to individuals and groups. Breckenridge’s award recognizes significant achievements in the protection of public health or the environment and in advancing the agency’s strategic goals. Among the criteria is an outstanding contribution to environmental protection through a single action, or by an ongoing action over an appreciable period of time.

New Bike/Pedertrian Path Construction Begins in Frisco

Spring has arrived in Summit County, and in the High Country, that means the start of another construction season.

The town of Frisco plans to take advantage of the disappearance of most of the snow to begin work this week on the 5th Avenue bike and pedestrian pathway. The 5th Avenue project, similar in design to the 8th Avenue path completed in 2005, will include a 10-foot-wide asphalt path separated from the street by a 7-foot-wide green belt and a 3-foot-wide drainage pan.

The plan is for the pathway to extend from the Granite Street alley south to Belford Street along the west side of 5th Avenue. Because of the hilly topography in some places, a separating green belt won't be possible for the entire length of the path. Even in those areas, though, occupants of the path will be shielded somewhat from traffic, Frisco public works director Tim Mack said.

"They'll still be a concrete drainage pan separating pedestrians from the street," he said.

The anticipated cost of the project, which is part of the town's long-term pathway plan, is estimated at around $400,000. At its last meeting, the Frisco Town Council approved a resolution authorizing expenditure of nearly $423,000 from the town's capital budget to cover the cost of construction, including contingencies.

Green Mt. Reservoir Fee Increase Shelved

A U.S. Forest Service plan to increase camping and day use fees for the popular recreation areas around Green Mountain Reservoir has been shelved after a review by top agency officials in Washington, D.C.

Green Mountain Reservoir is located north of the Breckenridge/Frisco/Dillon area.

The fee increase was announced several months ago as part of the first-ever formal management plan for the area, one of the few local recreation sites with a relatively undeveloped feel.

Increased use and abuse of the area over the past few years has resulted in resource damage, including litter and erosion. The increased fees were proposed to address these issues. The new management plan was aimed at creating a safe environment while providing good stewardship for natural resources.

The fees for this summer will remain at $5 per vehicle, per day, for day use or camping, said Ken Waugh, recreation staff officer for the Dillon Ranger District.

The campgrounds and day use facilities at Prairie Point and McDonald Flats are operated under concession, and the fees there will stay at $10 for camping and $7 for day use, Waugh said.

Ski Season Winding Down

After a winter with above average snowfall, the epic ski season is beginning to wind down.

Copper Mountain and Keystone resorts both ceased operations for the winter last Sunday, and Breckenridge closes next Sunday.

Arapahoe Basin hasn't yet announced a closing date.

This season handed Copper Mountain its third best snowfall season ever, and was on track to either tie or beat the resort's best-ever season in 1983-1984, when the mountain stayed open into May, said resort spokesperson Carlos Garcia.

The snow was equally as plentiful at Keystone, which had the best February for snowfall in five years, said director of mountain operations Chuck Tolton.

By mid-November, the resort had opened all three of its mountains - Dercum, North Peak and Outback - which occurred earlier in the year than anyone at the resort could recall in the past, Tolton said.

"It has been nothing short of a remarkable season - from start to finish," Tolton said. He highlighted the resort's many events as contributing to its success, beginning with 36 Hours of Keystone in November and ending over the weekend in the A-51 Terrain Park with Superpark 10, one of Snowboarder Magazine's signature events.

Colorado Ski Country USA reported record-breaking skier numbers among its 25 member resorts in the state for the first two quarters of the ski season.

Breckenridge's Historic Past

A town's character - real or perceived - is often a deciding factor for tourists making a decision about where to vacation.

Breckenridge is one town that has "character."

"We have differentiation from other communities," said outgoing town council member Larry Crispell, also a bit of history buff in his own right." (Our history) is the critical differentiation. We should be out shouting it from the roof tops - we are an historic community. We are a real town," he said.

Turning the town's history into dollars is a challenge unique in its own right, though. And town officials are anxious to come up with a specific plan that will leverage the town's rich history into increased tourist traffic.

Gaining a fresh perspective about the town's many historical assets is the first step that the town's taken. They've spent $30,000 to hire two consultants who are charged with analyzing historic sites around town, and then devising a strategy that will lure tourists specifically interested in checking out the history and heritage that makes up the town's back story.

The "heritage master plan," based on input from the two consultants, is expected later this year, after they've taken a hard look at the many disparate but plentiful historic sites and attractions in the area. The heritage master plan will, in theory, pull many of those pieces together, and make it easier for the town to market packages based on Breckenridge's history to inquisitive tourists from around the globe.

"We've been doing (historic preservation and promotion) kind of piecemeal," said Breckenridge town manager Tim Gagen. "Now we felt it was time to figure out what's the best model to move forward with in trying to pull all of those pieces together."

As Crispell explains, the town has taken an active role in the last few years "to acquire, partner, protect, preserve and restore" sites in and around Breckenridge that are worth preserving for their historical value.

In just the past couple of years, the town has made strides in purchasing a number of historic mining properties, most notably the B&B Mine - at the heart of the Golden Horseshoe area set to welcome hikers and bikers to its wild environment in the near future.

Breckenridge has also recently acquired rustic dredge boat properties, and is set to restore and interpret those areas as historic markers as well.

National Repertory Orchestra 2006

More than 600 musicians, aged 18-28 applied for the National Repertory Orchestra's 2006 season. Among the 88 who made it into the eight-week summer internship in symphony music, some are doing it to stay in shape while their professional orchestra gig is out of session. Some, still in high school, are prepping for a music major in college. Still others are interested in fine-tuning their auditioning skills to land a job.

All of these top musicians, however, have a common interest - the exhaustive experience the NRO has to offer through a demanding schedule of orchestral concerts and rehearsals.

The musicians, which will arrive in Breckenridge in June, are provided housing in various Breckenridge condos and are given $50 gift certificates to City Market once a week. The NRO spends about $8,500 on each student of the program.

With either two rehearsals a day or a rehearsal and a concert along with the seminars, the musicians won't find much extra time on their hands, but are given a few scheduled days off.

Look for the NRO musicians rehearsing at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge starting June 11. The concert season begins June 17. Rehearsals are open the public.

The full schedule and ticket information is available at www.nromusic.com.

National Repertory 2006 Summer Schedule:

All performances take place at the Riverwalk Center in downtown Breckenridge

• June 17: "Nature, Love and Life"

• June 24: "A Musical Passport"

• June 28: "Russian Passions"

• June 30: "Broadway and Beyond"

• July 1: "A Night for Hollywood"

• July 8: Stephan Sanderling, guest conductor

• July 12: Andrew Litton, guest conductor

• July 15: "Art and Music"

• July 19: "Celebrating Mozart's 250th Birthday"

• July 27: "Joint Classical Concert"

• July 28: "Pops Concert"

• July 30: "Showcase of Tomorrow's Stars"

• Aug. 2: JoAnn Falletta, guest conductor

• Aug. 5: Season Finale, "Honoring Heroes"

Breckenridge "Gateway" Development

The latest proposal for a “gateway” development project near the 7-Eleven (at Highway 9 and County Road 450) received a negative response during a town council work session this week, as elected officials called for more affordable housing and a bigger cash contribution toward community benefits.

“I hope we can find a way to do business, but I don’t think this is it. I think that’s what you're hearing across the board,” said Mayor Ernie Blake, referring to the proposal, named Entrada by developers Kurt Ave and Kirk Michelson.

As reviewed during the work session, the plans called for 23 townhomes and two professional buildings on the site, with about 33 percent of the residential square footage dedicated to affordable housing for residents with incomes at or below 80 percent of the average median income. The proposals also included a $50,000 contribution toward childcare, as well as another $115,000 for pedestrian paths in the area.

The town has looked at several other development proposals for the site in recent years, including a gas station bid by Kum & Go. The 4.13-acre parcel is currently a trailer park, with only four of the trailers occupied, according to Ave and Michelson. The land is in Summit County, and the developers hope to be annexed to the town of Breckenridge, tapping into municipal water supplies.

While town council members appreciated the office space proposed on the land, they want to see significant changes to the plan before considering annexation, especially with regard to affordable housing. The town’s annexation policy specifically calls for “catching up and keeping up” with affordable housing needs, according to planner Laurie Best.

Glaciers Not Retreating in Rocky Mountain National Park

While the glaciers in the Indian Peaks area south of Rocky Mountain National Park are shrinking, glaciers inside the park are not.

The four small park glaciers, which provide late-season runoff to park streams after snow has melted, haven't changed dramatically since the 1930s based on photo comparisons, according to work by independent researcher and geologist Jon Achuff.

Their persistence is likely the result of a "perfect situation" that includes plenty of shade, snow blown in from the west side of the Continental Divide and relatively steady cold temperatures.

"The combination is just such that it's a protected spot," said Achuff, who presented his findings earlier this month at the Rocky Mountain National Park research conference.

Recent studies by the University of Colorado suggest the Arikaree and Arapaho glaciers (Arapaho is the state's largest) in the Indian Peaks Wilderness south of the park have lost 60-plus feet of ice thickness since 1960. Those losses have been largely chalked up to the warming climate and an extended melting season. But the glaciers Achuff studied in Rocky Mountain National Park haven't shown the same retreat.

"We do know there's climate change taking place, and these are not reflecting that," Achuff said.

Get Involved in the White River National Forest

FDRD is a non-profit organization comprised of local citizens who, along with the Dillon Ranger District, provide opportunities for community members to play an active role in the sustainable management of local National Forest lands.

Their program for this summer is:

June 3 - Forest cleanup service project

June 24 - Forest restoration service project

July 7, 8, 9 - Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) and FDRD crew leader training

July 15 - Weed pull service project

Aug. 12 - Fuels reduction-fire mitigation service project

Sept. 2, 3, 4 - VOC/FDRD Mohawk Lakes Trail Days

Sept. 16 - Volunteer Celebration Day

Oct. 14 - Make a Difference Day project sites

FDRD's mission is to promote stewardship of the White River National Forest in Summit County through partnerships, volunteer service, education and support. For more information on FDRD, e-mail Guff Van Vooren at guffvanvooren@msn.com, call (970) 389-6058 or visit www.fdrd.org.

Keystone Citizens League Meets

The Keystone Citizens League will hold its first open meeting of the year today, discussing topics such as a future affordable housing project, and development at Keystone Resort.

David O'Neil, the developer of the Wellington Neighborhood in Breckenridge, will be on hand to discuss the status of his plan to build affordable housing in the Wintergreen area of Keystone near Antler's Gulch. O'Neil had not submitted any plans on the project to the county department as of late March.

Thomas Davidson, of Vail Resorts Development Inc. will update the group on development as Keystone, including the proposed Marriott's Grand Residences at Keystone slated to be constructed in the Hunki Dori parking lot.

They will also discuss the May 2 vote to officially include the Snake River Fire Department into the Lake Dillon Fire Authority.

Members of the Friends of the Swan Mountain Recpath will present an update for paving a 1.5-mile recreation path from Summit Cove to near the Lowry Campground, which is scheduled to begin this summer.

Vail Resorts Picks Corporate Headquarters

Vail Resorts plans to move its corporate headquarters to an office building in Broomfield near the Flatiron Crossing Mall, chief executive Rob Katz told employees Monday.

“It’s got some very nice mountain views,” Katz said Tuesday.

The 10-story building is in the Interlocken area, just off of Highway 36. It is 15 miles from Denver and 10 miles from Boulder.

“Some (employees) are going to be moving into Boulder and some are going to be moving into Denver,” Katz said. “The biggest piece of feedback that I had heard was that people wanted to have the option to live in Boulder.”

Katz has lived in Boulder since 2002, but that didn’t factor into the decision on where to move the headquarters, he said.

On his first day as chief executive officer on Feb. 28, Katz announced that the company would move its corporate headquarters from Avon to the Denver metro area. Katz cited lower occupancy rates, better recruiting opportunities and better access to the company’s properties when he announced the move. About 100 employees will be affected by the move, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of July, Katz said.

Frisco Nordic Center Closes for Season

In a sure sign of spring, the Frisco Nordic Center closed on Sunday.

Nordic Center concessionaires Gene and Therese Dayton thanked all their patrons who enjoyed a very successful ski and snowshoe season.

According to Therese Dayton, the Breckenridge Nordic Center will be open through April 9, and perhaps longer, depending on the snow.

"We had a great season with the best snow in 20 years and a good numbers of skiers and snowshoers, using the Frisco Nordic Center," Therese said. "Record numbers turned out for our major events ..."

For the lowest Nordic pass price for next season e-mail nord@colorado.net.

Dillon Approves Development

The town of Dillon moved one step closer to becoming the home to the highest Harley Davidson dealership in the world this week.

The Dillon Town Council approved a plan by developers to build a retail center and prepare a lot for a family-style restaurant on six acres of vacant land between Blockbuster Video and Comfort Suites hotel.

The new development could be home to a 16,000-square-foot Harley Davidson motorcycle service and sales shop, an Aveda Spa and a Chili's Restaurant.

Local developers Jim Walsh and Dan and Mark McCrerey have letters of intent from all three businesses, but leases have not yet been negotiated, Walsh said.

The group has proposed to split the land - know as Ptarmigan Trail Estates - into six lots. A 25,000-square-foot retail development would sit on two of the lots to potentially house Harley Davidson, Aveda and about nine other small shops. The restaurant would be situated on a third lot next to Comfort Suites, and would be constructed by the lessee. The group does not have immediate plans to develop the other three sites, Walsh said.

New Development at Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain Resort’s latest proposal for new development at the base area has been formally submitted to the county and could get its first review by the Ten Mile Planning Commission as soon as May 11.

The amendment to the resort’s planned unit development (PUD) includes redistributing some of the existing 703 “equivalent units” of density to new locations around the resort. The amendment includes a significant upzoning component that would add density by creating 613 new equivalent units.

According to documents submitted to the county, the bulk of those new equivalent units of density would be added in the Village Center neighborhood (353 units) and the A Lift neighborhood (218 units), south of the existing maintenance yard along Highway 91.

The plan includes the addition of a 320-unit Hard Rock Hotel to serve as a commercial lodging anchor for Copper’s base area.

The amendment also proposes boosting the number of parking places to 4,200 by adding a new 810-space lot in the vicinity of the existing tennis courts, the existing Play Lot and the fourth hole of the golf course. This new Center Lot would become the resort’s primary close-in parking area.

Copper Road would be converted to four lanes between Highway 91 and the Beeler Roundabout by eliminating the existing medians and by eliminating parking along the road.

Colorado Real Estate Outlook is Bright

Economic analyst Patty Silverstein painted a rosy picture for Colorado at Silverthorne's second annual business community breakfast.

Colorado has come back strong since the 2001 and 2002 recession years, which she described as the most severe in modern Colorado history.

"Statewide, we're back to a very strong job growth rate," she said. But she acknowledged that in some areas the mountain communities still lag the Front Range - in particular in the service and retail sectors. Still, she said, like the rest of Colorado, the mountain region should continue to see economic growth.

Silverstein, president of Development Research Partners, was one of four presenters at the breakfast meeting jointly sponsored by the town of Silverthorne and its Economic Development Advisory Committee.

She said unlike several other states there is not a significant concern over a housing bubble in Colorado, where last year average home prices increased about 6 percent. Obviously, she noted, some areas including the High Country saw stronger price increases, but not to a level of concern.

She cited Arizona and Phoenix and Tucson specifically as regions where median home prices indicate a bubble that could burst. Last year, Phoenix median home price increased 55 percent.

Other speakers at the meeting included St. Anthony Summit Medical Center Administrator Paul Chodkowski, Outlets at Silverthorne general manager Rod Goodell and EDAC chairperson Heidi Bimmerle, who recapped the group's past year activities.

Chodkowski said the hospital, which opened in early December, is already looking at expansion as demand for services have significantly exceeded expectation.

"We have been stretched since the doors opened, no doubt about it," he said, adding that as the facility expands and as the adjoining medical offices open the effect on all areas of the county will be dramatic. And the effect, he said, will touch retail sales, real estate and housing and secondary services.

NRO Fundraiser this Thursday

An NRO fundraiser will take place this Thursday at the Breckenridge Fine Art Gallery.

Local artist Jerry Georgeff will paint - an auction later will include a piece he has donated - while harpist Janet Harriman provides some easy listening and jazz background music.

Taste Rado restaurant's appetizers and wine from 6-9 p.m. during the event.

Georgeff has been a professional painter for more than 20 years, and recently, the Colorado Avalanche presented former player Adam Deadmarsh with a Georgeff painting commissioned to honor Deadmarsh's hockey career.

The art event is a fundraiser for NRO musicians. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the door or in advance.

Call (970) 453-5825 or visit www.nromusic.com for more information.

Breckenridge Spring Massive Events

Bite of Breckenridge (April 1 - 23): Participating restaurants will feature a 3 course menu (appetizer, entree and dessert) for $15 or $25 per person, depending on the restaurant.

Massive Shopping (April 1 - 23): Stores and merchants all over town will feature massive showcases and massive sales. Events include visiting artists, previews of next year's merchandise, fashion showcases, visits with snowboard and ski reps and more.

Telemark Saturdays (April 1, 8, 15 and 22): Check-out telemarking for the first time and learn the basics or enrich your technique if you're already part of the free heel revolution. Experienced instructors offer guidance on varied terrain based on your individual goals. Call the Breckenridge Ski Resort for more information - 888-LRN-2SKI.

Massive Rail Jam (April 7): All proceeds will be donated to Matt Wyffels, a competitive snowboarder who was paralyzed. Entry is limited to 125 participants. Call 970-453-3234 or email hnordquist@vailresorts.com for details and registration information.

Breckenridge's Ruckriegle Wins Silver

Breckenridge's Sarah Ruckriegle earned the best result of her career at the U.S. Freestyle Championships dual moguls competition Sunday, finishing with silver to Vermont native Hannah Kearney's gold.

Kearney grabbed her second U.S. title of the weekend at Killington Resort, while newcomer Sho Kashima, 19, from Zephyr Cove, Nev., outskied a slew of U.S. national team skiers - including a finals race against Team Summit alum and Friday's singles winner, David Babic - to win his first U.S. title.

Mesa Verde National Park Celebrates 100 Years

Most national parks protect natural wonders - mountains, forests, canyons. But Mesa Verde was the first national park created to preserve man-made wonders - ancient cliff dwellings, made from sandstone, perched on ledges at elevations of 7,000 feet.

This intricate architecture, dating to the 12th century, is as awesome to behold today as it was when cowboys and ranchers first saw it. Two men looking for lost cattle, Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason, came upon the most spectacular site, the 150-room Cliff Palace, in 1888. Mesa Verde National Park was established 18 years later, in 1906.

The park's centennial is being observed this year with festivals, lectures and access to sites that have been closed to the public for decades.

A four-day party, free to the public, with a birthday cake, music, Indian dances, a traders' festival, craft demonstrations and other events is scheduled for June 29-July 2. Other highlights of the centennial include monthly lectures and demonstrations; daylong horseback rides in September to Spring House, which has been closed since the 1960s; and ranger-led hikes to two other dwellings. One of these, Mug House, has never been open to the public before, and another, Oak Tree House, has been closed since the 1930s.

Other events are being held in communities around the region; for advance reservations and a complete schedule, visit http://www.mesaverde2006.org. The celebration ends Dec. 9 with a "luminaria" - nighttime illumination - of Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House, another dwelling.

Copper Mountain's Sunsation Celebration

Copper Mountain's annual spring celebration - Sunsation - will kick off in April.

Better Than Ezra, Toots and the Maytals, Keller Williams and Rusted Root will preform at the multi-day event.

Besides bands, the end-of-season celebration includes parties and on-hill events.

Better Than Ezra will be performing April 1, and Particle brings its rock n' roll funkatronic mix April 2.

April 8 brings Planet Earth Outerwear's Shop Wars and music from The Southland, Oteil & the Peacemakers and Toots and the Maytals.

Toubab Krewe, Liquid Soul and Keller Williams take to the stage on April 9.

Rusted Root is at Copper April 15.

Madame Andrews & The Heavenly Echos and The Lee Boys will perform on April 16.

Peak 7 Base Area Development Underway

Last week, Vail Resorts and the town of Breckenridge announced their plans to build a long-awaited gondola connecting Peaks 7 and 8 with the town below.

This week, Vail announced that the project to develop the area around the gondola stop at Peak 7 is also under way.

“Between the gondola announcement and this (news), the past week or two has been great for Breckenridge,” said Alex Iskenderian, vice-president of development for Vail Resorts Development Company (VRDC). “We’re really taking Breckenridge real estate to a new level with this project,” Iskenderian said.

VRDC and locally owned Grand Timber Development Company are partners on the project to develop the new base area at Peak 7. Plans call for 44 whole ownership condominiums developed by VRDC and a 114-unit fractional ownership facility developed by Grand Timber.

Work began last week clearing trees in the Cucumber Gulch area, so that County Road 3 can be moved down the hillside lower than it currently is.

Along with the road shift, developers will be moving the relatively new Peak 7 Independence SuperChair about 100 yards down from where it loads skiers and riders today. Vail Resorts will add a couple of towers to relocate the lift, and the new base area will spring up around the new lift site.

Spring Massive in Breckenridge

The 6th Breckenridge Spring Massive begins in just a few days. Known as a "Fusion of Sport, Music, Family Fun and Legendary Spring Conditions," it includes lots of events and specials celebrating the end of ski season.This April you'll find concerts, competitions, celebrity racing, nightlife, exhibitions, jams, film shoots, kid's activities and the legendary spring conditions that Breckenridge is famous for.


APRIL 1 - 23 . 06 Spring Massive Festival Bite of Breckenridge Massive Nightlife

1 SnowBash Ski Race and BBQ @ NASTAR
Peak 9, 10am – 4pm www.boec.org/snowbash/

7 Massive Rail Jam: Benefit for Matt Wyffels
Peak 8, Freeway Terrain Park 12:30 – 2:30pm. Register now: www.breckenridge.com

8 Massive Slopestyle
Peak 8, Freeway Terrain Park 10:30am. Register now: www.breckenridge.com
Wyffels Benefit Party in Town at Cecilia’s

8 - 11 Rocky Mountain Trophy Series
Peak 10

9 Massive Superpipe
Peak 8, Freeway Terrain Park 10:30am. Register now: www.breckenridge.com

13 Spring Chicken Day: Senior Appreciation Day

15 Jim Salestrom Concert
Peak 8, Bergenhof 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Mountain Top Children’s Museum Interactive Kids Tent
Peak 8, 10am – 4pm
Ripperoo’s Mini World Cup
Peak 8, Twister 10am – 3pm

16 Sunrise Service
Peak 8, Colorado Chair 5am
Easter Brunch
Peak 9, Breck Burger Bar 8-11am
Mountain Top Children’s Museum Interactive Kids Tent
Peak 8, 10am – 4pm
Fiesta Latina
Peak 8, 12 - 3pm
Ripperoo’s Mini World Cup
Peak 8, Twister 10am – 3pm

22 FREE concert at the Riverwalk Center featuring Ozomatli
3pm in Town
Imperial Challenge
Registration: Great Adventure Sports

23 Annual Bump Buffet
Peak 8, High Anxiety 10am – 3pm Registration: Mountain Outfitters
Closing Day

For more information please call 970- 453-5000 or go to www.breckenridge.com!

First Day of Spring Brings Snow!

Spring blew into Colorado today with a blast of icy, windy weather, leaving nearly a foot of snow on the Eastern Plains and closing more than a dozen school districts.

Summit County's ski resorts received snow, as well. As of 5 a.m. this morning, Breckenridge Ski Resort reported 5 inches, Keystone Resort reported 1 inch, Copper Mountain Ski Area reported 3 inches and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area reported 3 inches.

Local roads were snowpacked this morning, as snow continues to fall. A winter storm warning was issued through 11 a.m. today, with forecasters predicting 8 to 16 inches of fresh snow covering the foothills. About 6 to 12 inches was forecast for the Front Range and northeast plains.

Dillon Studies Water Supply

A study of Dillon’s primary water source — Straight Creek — revealed the town will likely have enough water to survive a drought year like 2002, but the results will not stop the town from possibly exploring alternative water sources for emergency situations.

The firm yield study was commissioned to determine whether Straight Creek and Laskey Gulch would provide enough water when the town reached build-out.

The town gleans 75 percent of its water supply from Straight Creek, which runs down from the Continental Divide at the Eisenhower Tunnel, along Interstate 70 and into the Blue River in Silverthorne. Laskey Gulch, which lies south of the Williams Fork Mountain Range, provides the other 25 percent.

According to the research firm, Longmont-based Deere and Ault Consultants, a flow of 2.54 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Straight Creek is necessary to support buildout. Half of that amount, or 1.27 cfs, would be available for Dillon because the town shares its water right with the Dillon Valley Water District.

To put that into context, during the 2002 drought, the town saw 24 days when the flow was below the buildout demand of 2.54 cfs, town engineer Dan Burroughs recently told the town council. But, mandatory water restrictions like the town has instituted in the past could help during a drought situation. In 2004, restrictions reduced water use by 25 percent, Burroughs said

Don't Fall for the Ski Pass Scam

Skiers and riders beware. If a last minute deal on one of Copper Mountain’s popular ski passes seems too good to be true, it probably is, said Copper spokesperson Carlos Garcia.

Copper Mountain’s four passes are being resold in abundance on the internet and in local classified ads, but the purchaser might end up wishing they’d gone to the ticket window instead.

“From our estimation, 60 percent of pass sales that are happening outside of Copper are involving some type of scam,” Garcia said.

Four passes are typically sold during the early season for anywhere between $69 and $89, and entitle the buyer to four days on the mountain, with some blackout dates, Garcia said. They are not transferable.

Most of the problem takes place on eBay, where a quick search for “Copper Mountain ski pass” brings up a long list of four passes for sale. The scam involves people who bill the pass as a four-day deal when they’ve already used a portion of the allotted days, or people who sell the pass, then call Copper to report it lost. The resort will send out a new pass and cancel the pass the person just sold on eBay.

“They’re selling nothing and screwing over (the buyer),” Garcia said.

Copper Mountain prohibits people from reselling its tickets anywhere on its property. It’s also illegal to resell lift tickets from any ski area — be it on eBay, in the classified ads or via a different venue — if the voucher is being sold for a profit, he said.

Illegally reselling a ski pass is a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $300 fine, said Summit County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Paulette Horr.

While Copper has had to call in the sheriff’s office on occasion to cite scalpers, the resort is attempting to handle the problem on its own. It has contacted eBay about pulling the illegal ads off its website, and has been in touch with local newspapers with the same request.

Vail Resorts Reports Record Profit

Reporting its second-quarter earnings, Vail Resorts had mostly sunny news from the snowy skies that have boosted skier visits as well as the bottom line this season.

The company posted a 7.9 percent increase in skier visits in its second fiscal quarter, which ended Jan. 31. Also reported was an increase in revenue of 8.4 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, along with record net income of $43 million — a 33.4 percent increase over the second quarter of 2005.

The company also announced about $80 million in spending for upkeep and new projects for the coming year. The biggest news may be the announcement of construction on the long-awaited gondola connecting the town of Breckenridge to the resort. The company also has plans to add a new high-speed lift at Heavenly; upgrade snowmaking systems at all four Colorado resorts; build an expanded spa at Keystone Lodge; and making improvements to the company’s central reservations system.

The company’s board of directors approved between $185 million and $195 million in real estate capital expenditures in 2006. That includes ongoing projects like construction of the Arrabelle Lodge and Gore Creek Place in Vail; the Vail Front Door project; development of a golf course in Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and the second phase of the Mountain Thunder Lodge condos in Breckenridge.

Ski Area Visits on Pace to Set Record

Coming on the heels of a record first period, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) recently announced that its 25 member resorts have set a new record for period two skier visits.

Colorado resorts are now one step closer to achieving their goal of hosting more than 12 million skiers and snowboarders this season, which would make the 2005-06 winter season the state’s best season ever.

In total, Colorado resorts hosted more than 5.2 million skiers and snowboarders from January 1, through February 28, 2006 — an increase of more than five percent over the same time period last season, and more than 230,000 visits ahead of its previous best period (during the 2003-04 winter season).

“It’s been a season of which all of Colorado can be proud,” stated Rob Perlman, CSCUSA President and CEO. “The snow is the best it’s been in 20 years and the resorts have done a phenomenal job delivering that message around the globe.”

Summit Schools Renovations

After a delay of several months, groundbreaking for the construction of an addition to Summit High School and a major renovation of Summit Middle School will take place this spring, the Summit School District Board of Education decided last week.

Both projects, originally slated to begin last fall, were temporarily derailed by unexpected inflation in the cost of building materials.

A combination of factors - including construction demands in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina, high oil prices and a global building boom - contributed to double-digit inflation in construction prices, prompting the local delay.

The two projects in question were part of a four-project facilities improvement plan authorized by local voters in November 2004 with a $32.5 million bond issue. The other two undertakings - renovations of Frisco Elementary and the Summit Education Center - were completed before last fall's unusual spike in the cost of building supplies.

Breckenridge Gondola to Open for Christmas 2006

The Breckenridge Ski Resort and the Town of Breckenridge have announced that construction on the much-anticipated Breckenridge gondola will start this spring. The new gondola will start from the Breckenridge Transportation Center located in the parking lot right off historic Main Street and have terminals at both Peak 7 and Peak 8, providing an integral link for skiers, riders and visitors from town to the ski resort base areas. It will allow the ski resort and the Town to upgrade the skier experience and improve the overall experience by reducing the number of people that need to be bussed to the mountain. In addition to stops at the base areas, the new gondola will include a mid-station at Shock Hill. Setting the stage for the planned developments on Peak 7 and 8, the 8-passenger gondola is expected to be completed by Christmas 2006.

The gondola has been talked about in the community for 20 years and now the timing is perfect as this project will continue the incredible momentum that Breckenridge Ski Resort and the Town of Breckenridge have worked together to build from the success of the Imperial Express, the popularity of the Skyway Skiway and a strong real estate and development market, said Roger McCarthy, co-president of the mountain division for Vail Resorts and chief operating officer of Breckenridge and Keystone. In May 2002, the Town of Breckenridge and Breckenridge Ski Resort signed a landmark agreement outlining a development plan for
Peaks 7 and 8 designed to maintain both the resort town's world-class stature and quality of life.

As a part of this plan, the Mountain Thunder Lodge and Townhome project and the Skyway Skiway have been completed in the past year ahead of schedule. The gondola represents one of the last major steps in implementing the development plan and the transportation framework as well as the continued relationship between the Town and the resort. As part of the agreement, the Town of Breckenridge has committed to a contribution of $6.7 million toward the completion of the gondola. For its part, the ski resort has guaranteed parking at the gondola base, transferred density from the parking lots to the Peak 7 and 8 base, sunset density consistent with the Upper Blue Master Plan and reduced commercial density at the Peak 7 and 8 future bases. The ski resort also has obtained virtually all necessary approvals to build the gondola and buildings associated with theproject. In addition to the monetary commitment from the Town of Breckenridge, the Breckenridge Land Company (the developers of Shock Hill) is contributing $500,000 to the gondola project and the necessary easements to complete the gondola.

The mayor of Breckenridge, Ernie Blake, said, The Town of Breckenridge is thrilled with the ski area's decision. We recognize that Vail Resorts has many choices for its investment dollars and appreciate the confidence it has shown in Breckenridge with this commitment. It comes years ahead of the agreed upon schedule and is another example of what a model public/private partnership can produce. We are fortunate to be economically capable of contributing to this wonderful amenity upgrade for our guest.

The Breckenridge gondola will be one of the most modern gondolas in North America with seating for 8 and room for ski and ride gear inside. Right now, the ski resort plans to operate the gondola in both the winter and summer seasons. It will have a ride time of
approximately seven and a half minutes from the transportation center to the base of Peak 8 and will be able to carry 3,000 peopleper hour.

Breckenridge Gondola Facts:
7.5 minute ride time from Transit Center to the Peak 8 terminal. Two mid-stations at Shock Hill and Peak 7 base area. 7,842 ft. in length. 391 ft. vertical rise. 25 towers. Capacity of 3,000 per hour. 143 cabins

Dillon to get Harley Davidson Shop?

Dillon's planning commission will consider an application to rezone six acres of land beside the Dillon Ridge shopping center to accommodate a new development that could include a Harley Davidson motorcycle shop, a Chili's restaurant and an Aveda spa, said developer Jim Walsh.

"We're very close to hammering out a deal with all three companies, and we haven't even put a shovel in the ground yet," said Walsh, who is partnering with local developers Mark and Dan McCrerey for the project.

Walsh is applying to rezone the land from mixed use to planned unit development. It sits off Dillon Ridge Road near the Blockbuster and is known as the Ptarmigan Trails Estates.

The first phase of the project proposes an approximately 25,000-square-foot retail building that would house Harley Davidson and Aveda if negotiations pan out with those companies. The Chili's would be next to the Comfort Suites, and would be constructed by the company under a potential lease agreement with the developers.

Breckenridge Olympian Returns Home

Dressed in a white USA sweater and sporting red, white and blue streaks in her short brown hair, Breckenridge Olympian Katie Uhlaender returned home Sunday from the winter Olympics.

Uhlaender, a 2002 Summit High School graduate, placed sixth in the skeleton event in Torino, Italy, last month.

Deed Restricted Housing in Breckenridge

Local housing officials have completed their annual review of deed restricted housing, trying to ensure that owners abide by the affordable housing covenants outlined in local regulations.

According to a report on the monitoring effort, the Summit Housing Authority reviewed 484 deed restricted units in Breckenridge. All but 41 owners have provided the required documentation.

Town officials so far have not been able to confirm whether the remaining 41 owners are in compliance with the deed restrictions.Summit Housing Authority program director Joanne Van Steenberghe said she doubts that all those owners are in violation. She said it’s more likely just a communication issue.

Violations of local affordable housing rules have been in the spotlight recently, as the town of Breckenridge pursues legal action against an Indiana couple who bought a deed restricted home in the Wellington Neighborhood. The town alleges the owners violated the covenants from day one, never living in the home or working in Summit County, as required by the deed restriction. A trial date has been set for the end of March, while settlement talks have been held sporadically.

Hard Rock Hotel for Copper Mountain

Intrawest will partner with Hard Rock International to bring a four-star Hard Rock condo-hotel to Copper Mountain.

Intrawest and Hard Rock International agreed on the deal last summer, said Intrawest public affairs manager Laura Goode, explaining that the hotel proposal is contingent on county approval of a new base area development plan that will be considered by local officials during the next few months.

A formal application could be submitted as early as next week.

A countywide open house on the base area proposal is scheduled for March 13.Copper wants to add several hundred residential units and some new commercial space to the base area.

The proposal has been studied closely by Copper Mountain stakeholders, and Intrawest officials hope their collaborative, up-front approach will pay off with a smooth run through the planning process. The Hard Rock hotel announcement anticipates construction beginning as soon as 2007.

More Capacity for Imperial Express Chairlift

The line at Breckenridge's Imperial Express SuperChair has been moving faster these days, but it's not because there are fewer people waiting to ride the resort's newest lift.

In mid-February, Breckenridge doubled the number of chairs on the high-speed quad from 15 to 30.

"The whole idea was to find out what the right capacity for the terrain was, so we wanted to start with a lighter number and see how that worked," said director of lift operations for Breckenridge and Keystone, Jon Mauch.

"It's quite a popular project and a lot of people are enjoying that, so we felt like we needed to increase the capacity."

When the lift opened last December, it had the capacity to service 600 riders per hour. Now it handles 1,200 people per hour and can be upgraded to serve 1,800 people per hour, Mauch said.

Mauch said he doesn't anticipate taking the lift, which zips skiers and riders to the top of Peak 8 in two-and-a-half minutes, to its full capacity this season.

The number of chairs can be lowered back down to 15 when snow conditions aren't ideal, he said.

Vail Resorts Responds to Kinderhut Controversy

While the Breckenridge Ski Resort has been under fire for its role in the looming demise of the popular Kinderhut childcare center at Beaver Run, the company has long been a leader in addressing childcare issues countywide, said Roger McCarthy, newly promoted to co-president of Vail Resorts' mountain division.

Responding to a round of heartfelt criticism that was unleashed at a town council session Tuesday, McCarthy said there aren't any other local companies that have done as much for childcare as Vail Resorts.

"It's kind of bizarre for us ... I'm kind of surprised we're being painted as the bad guys here," McCarthy said, outlining the company's continued contributions to what he said is a community issue.

Vail Resorts led the local lobby when it came to garnering support for Referendum 1A, aimed at providing reliable funding for early childhood needs. The company has given $200,000 to Little Red Schoolhouse, and recently committed another $50,000 toward local childcare needs as part of a trade-off on a density transfer from town up to the ski area base. The ski area also works with other local childcare providers on a ski program and donates up to $500,000 to The Summit Foundation through the Medallion Pass program.

"We provide subsidized daycare for our employees, but we can't afford to do that for everyone in town," McCarthy said.

New CEO for Vail Resorts, Inc.

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) has named Robert Katz as Chief Executive Officer, effective today. He will succeed former Chairman and CEO Adam Aron, who announced plans on January 30, 2006, to resign from the Company and relinquished those positions and board seat today. The Company also announced that Joe R. Micheletto has been elected as Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Micheletto issued the following statement on behalf of the board regarding the appointment of Mr. Katz to CEO:

“Rob Katz is uniquely qualified to serve Vail Resorts as its next CEO by virtue of his talent, dedication and experience as a hands-on director whose guidance has been instrumental in supporting every major milestone achieved by the Company over the last 14 years. We are confident in Rob’s ability to provide resolute focus toward continuing the growth of our mountain resorts, realizing the full potential of our real estate holdings, maximizing the profitability and selected growth of our lodging operations, and pursuing future strategic acquisitions.”

Mr. Katz, 39, most recently served as the Company's Lead Director and has been intricately involved in guiding Vail Resorts' strategic direction and operations since 1992. Since 1990, he has been associated in various capacities including as a Senior Partner of Apollo Management, L.P., an affiliate of the former majority shareholder in Vail Resorts. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School in 1988, and has lived in Boulder, Colorado since 2002.

“I am honored by the opportunity to work with the industry’s best management team and employees in continuing Vail Resorts’ legacy as the nation’s premier mountain resorts company,” said Mr. Katz. “After many years with the Company as a shareholder and board member, I am looking forward to guiding the Company’s strategic initiatives, including the many exciting resort upgrades, development opportunities and marketing programs already underway. I intend to keep my focus on our core value of providing our guests unforgettable vacation experiences.”

Silverthorne Couple in The Amazing Race

Silverthorne residents Fran and Barry Lazarus have climbed all 54 of Colorado's 14ers together, traveled to more than 45 countries with each other and have competed twice in the grueling Triple Bypass road bike race from Evergreen to Avon.

Now the couple, who've been married for 40 years, will see if they can add reality television show winners and millionaires to their list of life's accomplishments.

The Lazaruses are one of 11 teams of two who will vie for $1 million in the upcoming season of CBS' popular "The Amazing Race" reality TV show.

The adventure series pits the teams against each other as they travel to exotic locations across five continents to complete unknown tasks.

At Fran's age of 61 and Barry's at 63, they are the oldest competitors on the show, but in an interview posted on CBS' web site, Barry dismissed any concerns about the generation gap.

"We bring a new dimension to the older person that's been on the show in the past," he said. "We're competitors. We're not showing up to say, 'Oh, we had a good run, gee we're happy.' We really want to win."

Peaks Trail Endangered?

The impending development of residential and commercial facilities at Peak 7 and the associated relocation of County Road 3 have spurred concerns about impacts to the popular Peaks Trail, connecting Breckenridge and Frisco along the flanks of the Tenmile Range.

The trail is already heavily used and could get even more use once the new development is completed, according to several members of the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Council (BOSAC).

Also at issue is the limited amount of trailhead parking, which is being used by people accessing the ski area's lifts.

The trailhead near Peak 7 will be very close to the new base area complex. Project architects said that, based on preliminary plans, there will be a 30- to 40-foot buffer between the development and the trailhead.

BOSAC members discussed the Peaks Trail at a January meeting, with several members of the group advocating for a new trailhead further away from the base area.

Vail Resorts Partners with Grand Timber Lodge

The new base area at Peak 7 will be developed in a partnership between Vail Resorts Development Company (VRDC) and Grand Timber Lodge Development Company, according to documents filed with the town's planning department.

Grand Timber is under contract with Vail Resorts to purchase part of the private land at Peak 7, but some final contingencies of that contract are still pending, said Rob Millisor, who owns Grand Timber with his brother Mike and another partner, Mike Dudek.

Until that contract is finalized, there are limits on what the partners can publicly say.

The Millisors began their Breckenridge development career with the 49-unit Gold Point complex on Mount Baldy in 1985, and then began selling interval ownerships in the 159-unit Grand Timber Lodge in 1998.

Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake said he is pleased with the pending deal, and praised the Millisor's involvement in the community.

Winter Triathlon Nationals in Breckenridge

The Winter Triathlon National Championship race comes to the Gold Run Nordic Center in Breckenridge this Saturday, February 25.

The event serves as a qualifying race for elite athletes to compete in the World Winter Triathlon Championships in Sjusjoen, Norway, on March 25.

There will also be a category for recreational athletes who are interested in participating. Winter triathlon is a sport consisting of three disciplines: snow running (or snowshoeing), mountain biking on snow and cross country skiing.

At Gold Run there will be a "long course" and "short course." The long course will consist of a 7K-9K run, a 12K-14K bike and a 10K-12K ski. The short course will be half the distance of the long course.

Winter triathlon is a popular sport in Europe, and is finally making its way to the United States. Summer triathlon made its Olympic debut 10 years ago and there are some who believe winter triathlon could someday have a place at the Games.

Saturday's event will start at 10 a.m. The short course will go off first. The long course will follow at 10:15. Those interested in participating are encouraged to sign up at www.active.com. There is also information about the event at www.racingunderground.com or by e-mailing the event coordinator at danelle@colorado.net or calling (970) 389-4838.

Town Takes Over Frisco Historic Park

The town of Frisco will take over day-to-day operations of the Frisco Historic Park from the Frisco Historical Society at the end of this month.

The historic park property, on Main Street near Second Avenue, and seven of the 11 buildings located there, are owned by the town.

The historical society, an independent nonprofit organization, has operated the museum and maintained the park's collection of historic artifacts for more than two decades.

Financial support for the society from the town has increased steadily in recent years. For 2006, the town committed to contributing $51,000, or more than half the park's annual budget of nearly $90,000. The historical society was responsible for raising funds to cover the remainder of the operating expenses.

Under the new arrangement agreed on by the council Tuesday, the historic park will now be town-run. Museum staff will become Frisco employees and the town will pay for the park's utilities and building upkeep. Impetus for this change came from the society's board of directors. Executive director Rita Bartram resigned in January after six years.

Breckenridge Woman Competes in Olympics

Katie Uhlaender wants a re-do in her Olympic skeleton debut.

The 21-year-old from Breckenridge finished sixth Thursday behind gold medalist Maya Pedersen of Switzerland, Great Britain's Shelley Rudman, who took silver, and Canadian bronze medalist Mellisa Hollingsworth-Richards.

Uhlaender missed the podium by less than a second.

Pedersen, a two-time world champion and winner of four World Cups this season, won the race with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 59.83 seconds. Rudman finished in 2:01.06 and Hollingsworth-Richards in 2:01.41. Uhlaender's time was 2:02.30.

Biomas Heating for Summit County?

Summit County is proposing an ambitious project to heat several buildings at the County Commons near Frisco with boilers burning wood waste and slash, foregoing traditional natural gas for steam energy created by burning biofuels.

"One thing that is important to recognize is that the use of biofuels is in it's infancy," said Steve Hill, the county's special projects manager researching the proposed project.

"As to use of biofuels within the nation and world, we've got some real experience we can count on and use."

Europe leads the world in biomass experience; countries from Scandinavia to central Europe are increasingly embracing natural sources of energy.

In Austria, whose alpine environment most resembles the Summit County landscape, nearly 70 percent of domestically-produced power came from renewable sources in 2003, the most recent data available. Biomass accounted for 11.2 percent of the country's total primary energy supply and 21 percent of heat production, according to the International Energy Agency. And at one of Austria's leading ski resorts, Lech, a biomass plant provides 90 percent of the town's heat.

Seedling Trees and Shrubs Available

Summit County CSU Cooperative Extension and the Colorado Forest Service are making available 60 species of seedling trees and shrubs to local residents.

Trees are available in bare root lots of 50 for $30.50, or small and large potted lots of 30 for $26.28 and $39.20.

To qualify for the program, you must have two acres of land. Seedlings must be used for conservation practices such as reforestation and creating windbreaks, and must not be used in ornamental or landscape planting.

Varieties include aspen, Colorado blue spruce, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, limber pine and bristlecone pine.

Order early for the best selection. Trees will be available for pick-up on May 3, 2006.

For an order form, call (970) 668-4140, or log on to the website at www.coopext.colostate.edu/summit.

Kinderhut at Beaver Run to Close

Kinderhut, the childrens center at Beaver Run will close at the end of this ski season.

Kinderhuts lease, along with several other businesses at Beaver Run, expires at the end of the ski season. All have been informed that Vail Resorts is the new tenant for the commercial spaces at the Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, as the ski company continues to expand its retail reach in Summit County.

For Vail Resorts and the Canadian-based Beaver Run Development, it's a strategic move.

"We looked at what was the best for guests of Beaver Run in the long term," said Rod Corbett, Beaver Run Development's vice president. "Vail's just the better option for us." Corbett said.

Forest Service to Sell Public Land

The U.S. Forest Service plans to raise up to $800 million in much-needed cash by selling off 200,000 acres of land across the country, including three parcels in Summit County.

The proposed land sale would be authorized under a Congressional amendment to the 2,000 Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The law is intended to help rural communities that have seen National Forest logging-based revenue drop as timber cutting dwindled across the country.

The news of the land sale came as a surprise to White River National Forest officials in Glenwood Springs, who said they were still reviewing the proposed measure. The directive came from the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters through the regional office in Denver, where lands specialists identified about 1,240 acres of White River forest land that could be sold to the highest bidder in a competitive sale process.

The list is based in part on land ownership adjustment analyses that designate lands suitable for disposal. Most of the lands to be sold are parcels completely surrounded by private land or difficult to manage because they are surrounded on three sides by private land, according to White River National Forest spokesperson Kristi Ponozzo.

Dillon District Ranger Rick Newton said that holds true for the three parcels in northern Summit County, in the vicinity of Green Mountain Reservoir. Newton said the three parcels are 40, 80 and 160 acres.

Newton said the Dillon District is reviewing the three chunks of land to make sure they meet the criteria for sale, but said they had been previously identified for disposal. Dillon District lands specialist Paul Semmer said the 40-acre parcel is completely surrounded by the Shadow Mountain Ranch. The 160-acre parcel is a "long, skinny sliver" bordered on three sides by the Lazy Shamrock Ranch, while the 80-acre piece is off Acorn Creek Road near a small lot subdivision. Specifics for the sale process and for determining the value of the land haven't been established yet, he said.

New Plan for Lower Blue River Basin

A new guide for growth has been adopted for the Lower Blue River Basin, detailing how development in the area should progress in the next few years.

The Lower Blue Planning Commission unanimously approved an update to the Lower Blue Master Plan, culminating a six month undertaking.

The Lower Blue River basin spans from the Dillon Dam to the Grand County line past Heeney.

The biggest sticking point during a public hearing held before the commission voted on the update was how to treat the marina off County Road 30 in Heeney that provides boaters access to Green Mountain Reservoir.

After a meeting several months ago in the small community, the planning commission decided that the majority of residents in attendance agreed with creating a new land use designation for the small marina. Labeling the area a "marine facility" was expected to improve marina amenities and reservoir access.

Dark Sky?

In a town where it's common to see high-tech biodiesel-fueled buses stopped in front of 120-year-old Victorian houses, it's no surprise that elected officials and planners often grapple with fundamental questions of new versus old.

The most recent debate along these lines is shaping up over a sidewalk master plan in French Gulch, where some neighborhood residents want to cut light pollution by using fixtures that focus light downward.

On the other hand, Breckenridge strives to preserve the historic integrity and character of the town, which includes using Welsbach-style lighting fixtures that hark back to the Victorian-era mining heyday along Wellington Road. Those lamps blot out the night sky by casting light up and out. They are also expensive and not energy efficient, according to Wellington Neighborhood resident Dave Rossi, who wants to stimulate a dialogue on the lighting issue with the town council.

"We thought we'd get some traction with the town by suggesting that for the French Gulch sidewalk we go with lights that cast downward and cost less ... in order to not only save money but to cut down on the light pollution in the outskirts of town," Rossi said.

The Welsbach lights for French Gulch would cost about $28,000, while the smaller, more energy-efficient lights would only cost a quarter of that, Rossi said.

Town manager Tim Gagen said the council discussed the lighting question extensively about three years ago.

"For us, it was one of those classic discussions," Gagen said, describing how elements of the town's long-term vision sometimes clash.

In this case, the conflict is between the goals of preserving community character and environmental sensitivity, Gagen said. The council decided at that time to balance the character of the town by using Welsbach lights throughout, Gagen said, explaining that some existing lights were replaced to achieve consistency.

"The disappointing part is that, apparently, when a decision is made it's never right to revisit it even when better and more cost effective and energy efficient options exist," Rossi said.

Based on the increasing awareness of light pollution issues, it might be appropriate for the town to take another look, he added.

"I think what many people are concerned about is the loss of the night sky ... The lights up Ski Hill Road are a prime example of how the pollution from these lights exacerbates a growing problem in communities statewide."

Those impacts are not just of concern for casual stargazers. They are felt regionally. Summit County's contribution to light pollution is still relatively small but has grown noticeably in the past 10 to 15 years, according to University of Denver astronomer Dr. Robert Stencel, director of the observatory atop Mt. Evans. Dark skies advocates use the phrase "light trespass" to highlight what they say is an infringement of everyone's cosmic birthright - an unimpeded view of the Milky Way and the rest of the universe. They advocate for common sense regulations and use of the best available technologies to cut down on skyward glare.

Double Nesters?

Second-home owners? Why not double nesters?

Ski town newspapers are rife with stories about second-home owners.

Owners are spending as much time in one home as the other. A headline for a story in The New York Times about this blurring phenomenon suggests a different, more neutral phrase: double nesters. And another word: splitters.

Although never mentioning ski and gateway towns, the story told by The Times is a familiar one: "Enabled by cheap airfares, flexible work schedules and technology like cell phones, Blackberrys and the internet, a growing number of people are shuttling between two or more homes, blurring the age-old distinction between the primary and the vacation home.

"Unlike previous generations, these 'splitters' do not think of themselves as living and working in one place and relaxing in another," reported The Times.

"On the contrary, they come and go as they please, making friends and doing business in places hundreds, even thousands, of miles apart."

The Times notes that this new peripatetic lifestyle is largely open to people who have outgrown the obligations of young families.

"Many splitters are in their late 50s or early 60s, closer to retirement than to mandatory attendance at PTA meetings. But instead of the traditional snowbird migration, they are electing to travel between their homes throughout the year."

The Times also explains that this expanded occupancy of one-time vacation homes has resulted in such things as more elaborate kitchens and home offices, but also more maintenance costs and an "underground economy" that helps splitters make the transition from one place to the next.

Now That's a LOT of Snow

Too much snow can be a bad thing if ice skating is your winter sport of choice.

The town of Silverthorne has determined that it will not open its ice rink at the North Pond this year because of heavy snowfall, according to public works director Bill Linfield.

The staff has not been able to clear the ice and prepare the rink's surface this year because of early and frequent snowfall, Linfield said.

The ice historically needs to be closed in late February or early March due to temperatures and runoff that makes the surface unsafe, so trying to get the ice ready this late in the season doesn't make much sense, he said. The town, which focuses its maintenance efforts primarily on streets and sidewalks, hopes to offer the free ice rink next winter.

It's also unlikely that the Meadow Creek Pond in Frisco will open this season for similar reasons, according to Frisco's public works department. The town issued a press release in late December saying the ice rink would remain closed until a later date because the high volume of early season snow had created unsafe conditions for employees to bring snow removal equipment onto the ice.

Those conditions have not improved, said town spokesperson Julie Sutor.

There are alternatives in the county. Copper Mountain, Keystone and Breckenridge all have ice rinks at or near the ski resorts, and the Stephen C. West Indoor Ice Arena in Breckenridge is open daily and offers public skate times.

Vail Resorts Up for Sale?

With the announcement Monday of Adam Aron's departure, talk of an imminent sale of Vail Resorts once again surfaced.

The name of one potential buyer making the rounds was Mike Shannon, a former Vail Associates executive who recently sold his interest in KSL Resorts for a reported $1.6 billion.

Vail Resorts' market capitalization - or total stock value - is about $1.2 billion.

"We don't comment on things like that," Aron said Monday, after a pause. "We never have."

Will Marks, an investment analyst with JMP Securities who follows Vail Resorts, said he had not heard any of the rumors, either.

In the summer of 2004, the Vail Resorts board was rumored to have received competing offers from Texas Pacific Group and Henry Kravis, a principal in New York investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

Monday, Vail Resorts stock dropped almost 4 percent, to $31.22, with a sales volume of 681,400 - about 163 percent above average. The stock has dropped 19 percent since its peak trading price Dec. 2, 2005 of $38.45.

Vail Resorts Adam Aron Resigns

Vail Resorts chairman and CEO Adam Aron announced Monday that he’ll be stepping down from the top job at the company. Vail Resorts owns both the Breckenridge and Keystone ski areas.

Aron will resign effective June 28, according to a company press release. The date coincides with Aron’s 10th anniversary working for Vail Resorts.

“I think I’m so proud of what we’ve done, I’m going to go out a winner,” Aron said in an interview Monday. The 51-year-old Aron stopped short of calling the step a “retirement,” adding, “I’m sure that there are some very exciting things in my future left to do.”

Over his 10-year stint at Vail Resorts, the company grew to four times its original size. In the release announcing his resignation, Aron said, “I am enormously proud of the progress that has been made. In its simplest terms, I have had a great run.”

Aron’s self-described great run is ending just as a number of high- profile, high-yield projects by Vail Resorts are either under way or nearing completion. The company’s Arrabelle at Vail Square project is the jeweled centerpiece of the current expansion. When finished in 2007, the Arrabelle will contain 67 condos and a 36-room luxury hotel. The project is valued at more than $110 million. Vail Resorts is also finishing the Gore Creek Place townhome project — a $50 million endeavor with 16 four- and five-bedroom condos, as well as the expansive “Front Door” redevelopment project and a total redesign of the ski area’s Lionshead gondola area.

Aron, though, also reflected fondly on the progress made at the two Summit County ski resorts the company operates — Breckenridge and Keystone. He particularly noted a decade of progress making Breckenridge “the world class ski resort that the town deserves.”

Team Breckenridge Wins Gold in Snow Sculpting Championships

Team Breckenridge took home the gold in the 2006 Budweiser Select International Snow Sculpture Championships Saturday. Their sculpture titled "Discovery" depicted a puppy discovering its reflection in a large mirror.

This is the first time in the event's history Team Breckenridge has taken the Gold Medal.

Team Switzerland won the silver medal with their sculpture "Somersault" a graceful round shape balancing on a pedistal.

Team Germany's "Coming Home" won the bronze with one of the more thought-provoking sculptures of two lovers enveloped by the world.

Team Canada's "Touchdown in Two" received an honorable mention.

Thousands of spectators watched this week as 13 teams from nine countries participated in the event, now in its 16th year.

The finished pieces are achieved without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants - just the ingenuity of man and a medium that lends itself, if only temporarily, to the persuasion of chisels, saws, chicken wire and even carrot scrapers.

With more snow and cool temperatures in the forecast, the sculptures should remain in display at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge until February 5 - weather permitting.

Snow Sculpting Championships Have Long History in Breckenridge

Long before it was an international competition, Breckenridge residents used piles snow and water to make their works of art. It began as an event at Ullr Fest with sculptures lining Main Street.

Local businesses created all sorts of sculptures up and down Main Street during the annual winter festival.

Team Breck captain Rob Neyland, who first entered the contest in 1979 with the staff at his real estate office, described the sculptures then as "spontaneous grassroots street art."

Neyland, Ron Shelton, Randy Amys and Bill Hazell won that year and Team Breck continued winning the local event. Soon enough they were exposed to the greater aspect of the sport - national and international competitions.

"When we found out people did this elsewhere, we knew that we had to make this happen for Breckenridge," Neyland said. "Breckenridge is a great big world of snow and it's the perfect blend of art and sport."

Neyland petitioned for state certification and in 1986 participated in (and won) the Colorado State Snow Sculpture Championships hosted by Breckenridge.


In 1991, with the help of the ski resort's specially made snow, the town hosted their first International Snow Sculpture Championships.

International Snow Sculpture Championships Return to Breckenridge

The Budweiser Select International Snow Sculpture Championships return to Breckenridge for the 16th year, January 24-29, 2006. This year, 13 teams from nine countries, including, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States will participate in the competition. The event takes place at the Riverwalk Center, located in the heart of Breckenridge between Main Street and Park Avenue. This event is attended annually by over 30,000 people from across the U.S. and the world and has been named by USA Today as one of the top 10 ways to celebrate winter. The event begins at 11 a.m. on Tuesday with the Starbucks Shotgun Start. The complete Schedule is attached.

The Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships have long been known for bringing together diverse cultures. “Each year, the competition steps up to create even more amazing works of art than the previous year,” notes Sally Croker, Breckenridge Resort Chamber Event Director. “I believe the camaraderie between the teams during the competition contributes to that excellence.”

Each year, four-person teams are assigned 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made snow. These teams work within a five-day period to create sensational sculptures. From these blocks of snow, the teams often create enormous pieces of whimsy, although some deliver powerful political or social commentary. Some sculptures are even interactive and allow spectators to experience the tactile as well as visual grace of the fleeting exhibit.

The finished pieces are achieved after a total of 65 intense hours of work without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants – just the ingenuity of man and a medium that lends itself, if only temporarily, to the persuasion of chisels, saws, chicken wire and even carrot scrapers.

When the sculptures are finished on Saturday, January 28, a panel of well-known artists and patrons of the arts serve as judges and present awards to the first, second and third place sculptures. Awards are also given for People’s Choice, Kids’ Choice and Artists’ Choice. There are no cash prizes; the artists instead revel in the reward of hard work, forged friendships, freedom of artistic expression and the satisfaction of long hours of preparation that lead to the event.

For a more information, visit www.gobreck.com or call 877-864-0868.

American Freeski Tour Comes to Breckenridge

American Freeski Tour

DATE / TIME: Friday Feb 3 - Sunday Feb 5, 2006

LOCATION: Peak 8, Freeway Terrain Park, Breckenridge, CO.

RESORT CONTACT: Heather Nordquist

GENERAL INFO: Toll-Free: 1.800.789.SNOW
Direct: 970.453.5000

Web: http://www.breckenridge.com/ www.americanfeeski.com

EVENT OVERVIEW: The Paul Mitchell American Freeski Tour provides skiers with an opportunity to compete in nationally televised Superpipe and Slopestyle competitions. Currently one of the top freeski tours in the nation, this event promises to attract some big names and even bigger prizes. Witness the best of new-school skiing at the American Freeski Tour!

TV COVERAGE: One-hour show broadcast nationally on OLN with six airings of the show in February and March. International Distribution reaching 100 countries and 300 million subscribers.

REGISTRATION: Register online at americanfreeski.com before the competition. Credentials pick up at Gray Media trailer next to the Bergenhof Friday Feb 3-5..

Schedule of events:


2/3/2006 (Fri)
8am-5pm
Registration
Media Trailer Pk 8

10am-2pm
HP/SS Training
Freeway

5pm
Athlete Meeting
TBA
2/4/2006 (Sat.)
8am – 9am
Registration
Media Trailer Pk 8

8:30am – 9:45am
Slopestyle Practice
Freeway

10am
Slopestyle Starts
Freeway

1:30pm
SS Finals
Freeway

4:30pm
Athlete Meeting
TBA
2/5/2006 (Sun.)
8am – 9am
Registration
Media Trailer Pk 8

8:30am – 9:45am
Halfpipe Practice
Freeway

10am
Halfpipe Starts
Freeway

1:00pm
HP Finals
Freeway


OPEN TO PUBLIC: Spectators are welcome to view the Super pipe competition from the pipe decks and from the base of the pipe. You can access the pipe by walking up from the base of Peak 8. The Slopestyle event is best viewed from the top of the freeway terrain park, just off of Four O’Clock Run.

More Affordable Housing for Breckenridge

Development of a second phase of affordable housing in the Wellington Neighborhood remains on track for an April 1 groundbreaking, as applicant David O'Neil and the town council worked out the last remaining details of an annexation agreement last week.

The deal outlines who will pay for sidewalks in and around the neighborhood, addressing critical pedestrian safety and access issues in the entire French Gulch residential corridor.

Along with the town, O'Neil committed additional financial resources toward the improvements, and also agreed to deed several acres to the town for a potential daycare facility. The exact daycare location is still up in the air, pending final development plans and discussions with neighborhood residents.

The town will provide cash up-front to enable the work to be done this summer, in conjunction with work on the new Wellington units. Nearby residents lobbied hard for the mitigation of existing traffic impacts as part of the approval, and town officials listened. O'Neil will repay his share as the first two filings for his project are approved.

Mayor Ernie Blake said he will take on the task of convincing county officials that they also need to be part of the equation.

Realtors Meet in Keystone

Real estate brokers from around the Rocky Mountain Region gathered at Keystone Friday to compare notes on real estate trends around the region.

All agreed that certain unique attributes characterize mountain resort markets, setting them apart from other types of real estate markets.

The conference was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance (RMRA), comprised of more than 3,000 real estate agents from nine real estate boards in Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and British Columbia, Canada.

Nearly all the speakers from the various resort areas agreed that inventory is tight, with the law of supply and demand keeping prices high.

186 Inches of Snow Reported on the Mountain

Snow, snow and more snow!

Since October 1 the Breckenridge Ski area has received 186 inches of snow (as of yesterday).

In town it's the first time since the 1995-1996 winter with four straight months of above-average precipitation, said Breckenridge weather watcher Rick Bly, referring to the current string of wetter-than-average months dating back to September.

Bly, who measures snow and rain totals for the National Weather Service, said he tallied 41.9 inches of snow for the month at his backyard gauge, a far cry from the record 149 inches in Dec. 1893, but 52 percent more than the long-term average of 21.9 inches.

December didn't bring anywhere near record snows, but if you take the 111 inches that fell in October, November and December, it adds up to the fourth-snowiest early winter ever, he said.

Bly said the snow-water equivalent (melted snow) at his station was also well above average for December at 3.16 inches, compared to 1.48 inches. This total bodes well for water storage and runoff in the Colorado mountains, where all the northern river basins have above-average snowpack.