Dillon Marina Wins Award

Being hundreds of miles away from the ocean didn't stop Dillon Marina from gaining recognition as being one of the best in the country. Marina Dock Age magazine, a nationally recognized trade publication, recently named Dillon Marina as its Marina of the Year in the large category.

To earn the distinction, marinas must go through a long application process and are judged under 10 categories, such as facility improvements, customer satisfaction, environmental responsibility and more.

“I think we've got a lot going on and Bob Evans, our marina manager, is excellent and strives for excellence,” said Susan Fairweather, director of economic development, marketing and communications in Dillon. “This certainly speaks to his commitment, as well as the town's commitment.”

This marks the first time the Dillon Marina has won this award, though not for lack of trying. Evans said he has applied for the award for the past five or six years. While he feels that the recent improvements made to the marina have helped win the award, he also said it's more than that.

“It's not doing one thing well, it's doing everything well. That's what it takes to win this award,” he said.

Evans likens Dillon Marina's win to that of a movie winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

“Everything has to be top notch or you don't win,” he said. “It's based on all the players on the team. There are a lot of people behind the scenes. It's not just the marina, it's the town and all the help that the marina gets from all the departments. You couldn't just do it by yourself. You gotta have everything right.”

The marina, which dates back nearly 40 years, has 260 long-term slips and 36 short-term slips, making it a “large” marina at more than 250 slips. Evans estimates only about 10 percent of the nation's marinas are considered large and many of those are along the coast. Dillon Marina occupies a 56-acre footprint with more than 6,000 feet of docks. In 2012, more than 55,000 guests visited the marina. Improvements to the marina, including the parking lot, longer ramps and utility lines, will continue in the spring.

“We're looking forward to an exciting year,” Evans said.

Posted for Nancy Yearout, RE/MAX Properties of the Summit
nyearout@colorado.net
http://www.realestate-breckenridge.net
970-485-0293

Silverthorne's Town Cneter Project

The town of Silverthorne is once again taking steps towards developing a walkable, pedestrian-friendly town center. Town council and consulting experts have been reviewing previous plans and studies and have scheduled an open house on Feb. 6 for interested parties to attend, view a presentation and ask questions.

The desire to create a downtown center is not a new one for Silverthorne. The Silverthorne Urban Renewal Authority was created in 1996 with the purpose of improving and revitalizing areas of the town that needed it through economic development efforts. This point of focus included the idea of a downtown core.

“Since then, we've gone through a lot of different processes,” said Ryan Hyland, Silverthorne assistant town manager.

The concept was revisited in the 2008 comprehensive plan, when changes were made to allow taller buildings and on-street parking, among other things. The goal was to create a new and improved blueprint for the town's commercial areas.

In 2011 the town brought in Downtown Colorado, Inc. and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to further discuss the plans, gather information and make an assessment. A community survey showed that the public felt strongly about concentrating on economic development and the development of a downtown core.

One of the changes made from the original 1996 urban renewal plan is the size of the area concerned. The original plan included the entirety of the commercial districts within the town, while the new plan shrunk the town core boundaries. The town core now stretches from the north side of Interstate 70 to Sixth Street. It includes the Blue and Green villages of The Outlets at Silverthorne, as well as the commercial property on the east bank of the Blue River and along Adams Avenue.

Silverthorne Town Councilwoman Ann-Marie Sandquist believes that one reason the downtown area has been so long in the planning stage, without actually getting off the ground, is that the previous size of the town core was too big.

“Too big a chunk got bitten off,” she said. “We're trying to be focused; we're trying not to bite off more than we can chew.”

Another reason for delays was funding. Projects like the one proposed cost money and the question was where that would come from. According to Sandquist, the town had previously been waiting for private money to come in and start the development, but that didn't happen.

“As we have talked about this and gone through the process, we realize that it does have to be a public/private partnership to do that,” Sandquist said.

One of the tools the town is using is called tax increment financing (TIF). This is not a new tax but rather a new source of tax revenue. A tax baseline is established, then an analysis is done on what additional taxes may be generated when the improvement project is completed. The urban renewal authority can then use that amount for a portion of project costs and other publicly beneficial improvements.

A blight assessment must be done in order to use the TIF. A blighted area is property that is deteriorated, unhealthy or unsafe. The last blight assessment was done in 1996 and needs to be performed again in order to update the new plan.

The next step is the upcoming Feb. 6 meeting, where the public is invited to watch a formal presentation and ask questions about the project.

Hyland said that the open house is for “anyone who's interested in the potential future of a pedestrian-oriented downtown in Silverthorne; anyone who is a resident, business owners, property owners, maybe even people from outside Silverthorne who are interested in seeing another downtown area in the county.”

The new plan goes to the planning commission's Feb. 19 meeting. If it is approved there, it will come before the town council at its Feb. 27 meeting. Both meetings are open to the public.

“I think it's really an exciting piece, an evolution of trying to get all the pieces in place to create that downtown,” Hyland said.

Sandquist is optimistic about the work ahead.

“I feel like we have a pretty dynamic council right now that's really on board with it and interested in making it work, and we've been going through the process for a couple of years with our downtown core study and things like that. I'm excited,” she said. “It's time to get that done. People have been clamoring for this for a long time.”

Top Ten Housing Predictions for 2013 by Dave Liniger

Top Ten Housing Predictions for 2013 by Dave Liniger

Want to know what the “Top Dog” of RE/MAX International has to say about what the real estate housing market will do in 2013? 

Check out the You Tube video published by RE/MAX International!

Click the link below to view the video (you may need to open it in a new page - just click "OK" to open it in a new page).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Trbvc5-2nU&feature=em-uploademail

Breckenridge exhibit showcases 100 years of Summit County skiing

For whatever the reason, skiers, snowboarders and other downhillers seem to love dressing up and hitting the hill in retro gear on April Fool's Day and other holidays. It may seem funny now, but back in the day, those high-waist ski pants and one-piece suits were the trendiest things on the slopes. The culture and industry have changed a lot since then, from clothing to equipment.

The Summit Ski Exhibit in Breckenridge celebrates rarities such as vintage clothing, skis, photographs and other objects in its show at 308-B S. Main St. The new Breckenridge Heritage Alliance exhibit, open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., takes up the entire downstairs of the building. It spotlights the changes that the Colorado ski industry has experienced since its early days, now expanded to include Breckenridge Ski Resort's 50 years in existence.

Numerous historical objects, donated and loaned by locals, help tell the story of snow sports in Summit County.

“Many wonderful friends and supporters of the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance realized the importance of keeping this history alive by sharing these articles from the past,” said operations manager Cindy Hintgen.

One of the articles in the exhibit is a “Sno-Surfer,” one of the earliest snowboards, manufactured in the 1960s by Minnesota's White Bear Water Ski Company.

The Payne family, from McKinney, Texas, visited the exhibit and was surprised by some of their discoveries. “I didn't realize that snowboards were around in 1985. The first time I remember hearing about it was in the 90s,” recalled Michelle Payne.

In fact, in spite of the occasional rivalry between skiers and snowboarders, snowboards contributed to the rebirth of skiing, according to Gordon Brownlow, a guide at the exhibit. “Snowboarding saved the skiing industry. Around the 70s or 80s, until Burton started pushing the snowboards, I really believed that skiing was becoming a diminutive activity,” he said. According to Brownlow, snowboards also helped the development of modern skiing equipment, whose shapes and materials evolved influenced by snowboard manufacturing.

Learning how ski shapes have improved and the way physics played a part in it was a highlight for Cailey Payne, who visited the exhibit with her family. The outfits were also a favorite for Cailey and her sister Olivia, who found the development of Breckenridge Ski Resort to be an interesting feature too.

Another curious piece on display is U.S. Pro Mogul team head coach Scott Rawles' banana-print denim trench coat. According to The Denver Post, Rawles bought the coat at a yard sale for 25 cents when he moved to Breckenridge in 1979. The coat inspired the nickname “Banana Man” after he made it his daily uniform, wearing it day and night around town.

Maureen Nicholls, a 47-year Summit County resident, loaned many items to the exhibit, including a National Ski Patrol Jacket and a first-aid belt for the Breckenridge Volunteer Patrol, dating to 1963-74, approximately. The original splints are still in the belt. Though she noticed dramatic changes in Breckenridge Ski Resort throughout the years with the expansion of peaks 8, 9, 7 and 10, one thing still remains the same: “even though skis were used as a way to go around in the early days, they have always been used mostly for fun. Skiing has always been a recreational activity,” she said.

A response letter to a job application from Breckenridge Ski Corp. — then-owner of the ski area — is also featured in the exhibit. John Timmons was looking for a snowmaking job on the mountain in 1976. Breckenridge Ski Corp. wrote back to inform Timmons that they didn't need anyone to make snow because of the ski area's location at 10,000 feet.

Other highlights include an exhibit showcasing items donated by members of the original 10th Mountain Division, which helped shape the Rocky Mountains' early ski areas such as Vail and Aspen.

“I highly recommend this exhibition. I think that everybody who is a skier or a snowboarder should visit it,” said Kent Payne on his way out of the show.

Baby it's Cold Outside!

A wave of frigid weather that lingered over Summit County this past weekend kept local churches and auto repair shops busy as people struggled to deal with the three-day cold snap.

The temperature bottomed out somewhere in the negative teens or 20s with some reports of readings as low as -30 degrees. Alamosa reached -34 degrees Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather generated business for local auto repair shops over the weekend. Across the county, cars stalled out with dead batteries and flooded injectors.

Ski Country Shell and Towing co-owner Jeff Lewark said he's fielded between 30-50 temperature-related calls for service over the course of the last few days.

“What really compounds it for us at this elevation is the combination of the cold temperatures and thin air,” said Lewark, who noted that the conditions can cause cars to flood injectors with fuel keeping the engine from starting.

Other local mechanics reported an increase in requests for winter wipers, fluid and tires as the mercury dropped.

“We always have a lot of tire-related stuff with freezing temperatures,” said Sergio Alvarez, manager of Big-O Tires in Frisco. “People are sliding, so we're recommending a lot more snow tires.”

Alvarez said as much as a fourth of his business has been related to the cold weather over the last few days.

Local churches have also seen an increase in business in recent days as more of Summit County's homeless come looking for assistance in finding respite from the cold.

Father Dyer United Methodist Church uses discretionary funding to provide hotel rooms for individuals in need.

“We've seen it pick up in the last three weeks,” pastor Loren Boyce said. “When it's cold like this it's hard for me to turn them away.”

Five people came to the church looking for temporary lodging on Monday alone, including one individual who said he had found shelter in a local carport that protected him from the snow, but without walls, did nothing against this weekend's bitter cold.

Aside from a single electrical fire, there were no serious emergencies caused by the temperature drop this weekend, but officials say they likely won't see the worst of the damage until the weather warms up again.

“We don't see the results of hard freezes until it thaws again,” Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Lipsher said. “That's when the pipes start bursting.”

For most local residents, however, the cold weather is an inconvenience more than anything, making ski runs and other outdoor plans less comfortable.

“The SHS alpine team raced Friday night in brutal conditions at Keystone,” Frisco resident Luke Wignall told the Daily in an email Monday. “Standing for hours taking hand times for each racer left me with toes still numb today. Meanwhile the kids were waiting their turn in their speed suits. Talk about athletes!”

The temperature is expected to top out in the mid-teens in Frisco today, but forecasts for the rest of the week call for sunshine and warmer weather. Highs could reach 32 degrees by Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather and Climate Summit in Breckenridge

Talking about the weather isn't always just idle chitchat. Some people take it very seriously — and, as it so happens, they are descending on Summit County this week.

Leading scientists and meteorologist will converge in Breckenridge on Monday for the 24th annual Glen Gerberg Weather and Climate Summit, which lasts through Jan. 18.

Television meteorologist from local networks to CNN to The Weather Channel will join climate scientists from NOAA and various universities to discuss the changing state of our weather.

StormCenter Communications, Inc. is co-organizing the multi-day event, which will take place at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. The summit's objective is “to increase understanding and awareness of extreme weather and climate events and to foster critical relationships between the media and scientists,” according to a news release.

Monday's events will begin at 8 a.m. with an introduction from Dale Eck, the Global Forecast Center director for The Weather Channel and the summit organizer who will kick off every day of the summit with a weather briefing. A panel discussion on weather preparedness will follow. After a break, Bob Rutledge, the lead forecaster at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, will discuss how space weather impacts the infrastructure outside our planet's atmosphere.

On Tuesday, Greg Carbin, a warning coordination meteorologist with NOAA and the National Weather Service, will talk on the latest technology for predicting high-impact weather events.

At 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jennifer Francis, a scientist at Rutgers University, will deliver a lecture titled, “Wacky Weather and the Disappearing Arctic Sea Ice: Are They Connected?”

“Unprecedented snowfall in Alaska, the worst drought in two generations, the warmest March on record, ‘Frankenstorm' ... have the weather gods gone mad? It's not your imagination. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity all around the Northern Hemisphere,” Francis writes in the summary of her talk.

Also on Wednesday, celebrity meteorologist Jim Cantore will speak at a town hall-style event from 6-7 p.m. Free parking will be available at the Beaver Run parking lot.

“Last year was the first year we held the Weather Summit in Breckenridge,” stated summit organizer Eck in a news release. “We were so impressed with the community, the ski area and the level of interest locals have in the weather, that we decided it would be fun to include a public event in this year's program.”

Cantore attended last year's event and agreed to come back this year and present.

“He is the perfect ambassador from our conference to discuss weather events and his experience in the field with the local community,” Eck said.

Cantore has also reported from events such as the Winter X Games, PGA tournaments, NFL games and more. After NBC Universal's acquisition of The Weather Channel in 2008, Cantore has occasionally filled in for Al Roker on “Today.” He also hosted weather segments for NBC during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, according to a news release.

At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Margaret Davidson, the acting director of the NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, will deliver a talk entitled, “Sea Level Rose, Coastal Vulnerability and Extreme Events — How Big Should My Water Wings Be?”

At 10:15 a.m., Jeff Lukas with the University of Colorado will talk about what trees can tell us about extreme droughts.

Each day of the summit will end with a question and answer session with the speakers.

The Glen Gerberg Weather and Climate Summit, established in 1985 to bring together television weathercasters and meteorologist with leading scientists and researchers, allows for an exchange of ideas to foster improved communication and collaboration between the media and the science community. The ultimate outcome of this summit is the establishment of improved media-scientist relationships that fosters continued dialogue for improved scientific communication to the public, according to a news release.

The summit is sponsored by Breckenridge Ski Resort,Vail Resorts, Breckenridge Resort Chamber, Double Tree by Hilton Breckenridge and Image Audiovisual.

“Weather extremes and adaptation to the changes that are occurring are becoming increasingly part of our daily lives,” event organizers said in a news release. “The impacts can be felt from our local regions to our wallets. These extremes are affecting business, politics, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure. The impacts of Superstorm Sandy will be far-reaching with costs over the next few years exceeding $50 to $100 billion.”

Occupancy Trend Looking Up

While occupancy numbers for resort bookings in Summit County are still suffering from last season's poor snowfall, that trend looks to be making a turnaround.

The month of December was down in occupancy by 2.6 percent from 2011.

“It is no surprise that December's business is down from last year,” said Ralf Garrison, director of the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). “Advanced reservations have shown that trend for the past six months since the trend came forward.”

The reasons for the downward trend, Garrison said, were due to last year's lack of snow combined with this year's slow start, as well as the relative uncertainty of the economy. Discussions about the economy during the presidential election quickly became discussions about the fiscal cliff, which affected consumer confidence.

“Last year was a bad year and there's a little bit of a hangover effect,” Garrison said. “Guests were concerned about whether the resorts would be back in Mother Nature's good graces. They sat on the sidelines longer and waited … for insurance.”

The snow that the mountains received around Christmas was positive, said Garrison. Although it was too late for out-of-state visitors to take advantage of, those closer to the area, such as people on the Front Range, got the “snow message” and have started coming back.

“Now the elections have come, the fiscal cliff has come and the snow has come,” Garrison said. “The rhetorical question is if there's enough momentum being created now that we can offset the slow start.”

According to the numbers in MTRiP's latest occupancy report, the answer to that question is “yes.” Midweek occupancies in January are consistently pacing above last year by at least a few points each day and some days by as much as 15 percent higher. Overall levels will be between 40 and 60 percent occupied each day. The weekend revolving around the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday is looking particularly positive.

The positive trend looks to continue into February. The day of the Mardi Gras Ball, Feb. 9, may even push past 90 percent occupancy. Predictions for the month of March show a decline in the first half of the month with an increase in the second half. The winter season, overall, is currently pacing 5 percent above last year's occupancy at the same time.

The increased amount of visitors during the past few snowfalls is positive in more ways than just numbers, said Garrison, as they will act as messengers to others.

“They bring with them smartphones, that have the communications power of a broadcast studio and a social network the size of the universe and they begin to communicate a message to the rest of their friends and network about how the Christmas season was,” Garrison said.

2013 Starts off with a Bang

The first week of 2013 is about the same as 2012’s first week. Eight properties closed this year and nine closed in 2012. The average sold price for the first week is down about 12%. Properties placed under contract are up almost 100% as the activity from 2012 keeps its momentum going into 2013.

  

The current inventory of properties under contract is up as well by about 5.5%. Overall the first few moments of 2013 are showing positive signs of, yet another, year of potential improvement in the number of properties selling.

 

Preliminary numbers for 2012 overall, show a very strong gain in sold properties that, right now, looks like it will be around 17%. The average sold price is basically showing flat with about a 1% countywide improvement. Active properties for sale are down about 15%.

Click on the link below for a full report:

http://weeklyreactivity.com/

December Snowfall Exceeds Average

Summit County got the white Christmas many snowsports enthusiasts had been pulling for, rounding off a December that exceeded average snowfall accumulations.

“Conditions could have been much worse if we had not received the moisture we did in December,” conservationist Phyllis Ann Phillipps stated in a recent release.

Statewide snowpack piled up to 112 percent of average in December, but it wasn't enough. Snowpack in the Colorado River Basin is 68 percent of average, and statewide, snow accumulations are still behind last year's readings, according to data from the National Resources Conservation Service.

Experts say the winter season has been dominated by high-pressure systems and an uncooperative jet stream that left Colorado in a dry spell through much of November.

Storm patterns changed in early December, with a few productive storms elevating the snowpack from just 36 percent of average on Dec. 1.

But the bluebird skies returned after the new year, and weather watchers speculate it could be the end of the week before Summit County gets another dose of powder.

A storm is on track to move inland off the Pacific coast on Thursday and reach Colorado by Friday or Saturday.

“Right now there are several options available for this particular storm,” NWS meteorologist Dave Barjenbruch said. “For Summit County, things are looking definitely like we're going to see a pretty good chance of light snowfall.”

But forecasters expect frigid temperatures, rather than snow to be the defining feature of the upcoming system for the north-central Rockies. The mercury, which settled comfortably in the mid-30s throughout the week is expected to plunge into the single digits during the day through the weekend and well below zero at night, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

“It could be a rather extended cold snap, with those very cold temperatures from Saturday through maybe the first half of next week,” Barjenbruch said.

Snow accumulations are expected to be modest through next weekend's maybe-storm, with forecasters calling for a few inches on the slopes and an inch or two in the towns.

Colorado's depleted reservoirs and streams depend on a healthy snow season this year. Statewide reservoir storage was 68 percent of average and 38 percent of capacity at the end of December, according to the NRCS.

March and April are usually the snowiest months of the year for Summit County.

The local push

While forecasters are only mildly optimistic for new snow this week, locals will be pushing hard for some fresh powder during the 50th annual Ullr Fest, a weeklong tribute to the Norse god of snow that continues today.

The off-beat Breckenridge celebration is marked by a week of unusual events and a temporary trend of horned Viking hats on the slopes. Tonight, the festivities continue with a family night of Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and bonfire at the Gold Run Nordic Center on Tiger Road.

Additional information about Ullr Fest is available online at www.GoBreck.com.

Ullr Fest's 50th Anniversary

The town of Breckenridge is busy preparing for its 50th year of Ullr Fest, starting Sunday. The weeklong festival sweeps through town every year, drawing crowds with its events, contests and parade down Main Street. Its impact on the local businesses in town, however, is less about money and more about town culture and atmosphere.

“The restaurants usually benefit the greatest, although the retail merchant sector is the largest base of business,” said Sheri Shelton, owner of the Hand and Glove store on Main Street. “My shop does OK with it. It's kind of a mixed bag.”

One thing that can be said for Ullr Fest is that it brings in the crowds, though they may or not be shopping at local businesses.

“I definitely see the impact,” said Bryan Etkie, supervisor at the Breckenridge Welcome Center. “A lot of people come out every year around that time. A lot of people come through and as soon as they experience it they come back.”

Etkie said that about half of those visiting the welcome center are aware of the festival, while the other half are surprised and learning about it for the first time. Some have come specifically for Ullr Fest.

“I remember this group of nine ladies from Texas that (said they) have been coming every year for nine years,” Etkie said. “It's growing in popularity.”

At Holly's Pizzazz Boutique, the business doesn't necessarily pick up, but people do come in, mostly to buy Ullr hats.

“I don't think it does (pick up) except for (that) we do sell the Ullr helmets,” said Sally Ensign, a tailor who works out of the boutique. “People do run in on the day of the parade yelling ‘I need horns! I need horns!' which is great.”

Steve Lapinsohn, who owns three stores — Main Street Outlet, Columbia Breckenridge and The Northface Breckenridge — with his wife, Susan, prefers to look at the big picture when it comes to the festival.

“I think, in general, any event helps our business,” Lapinsohn said. “I think that any event that we have … brings people to town and gives them a good feeling about what Breckenridge is, and brings them back.”

Shelton agreed.

“You have to have events to bring people to town and to show the town off internationally,” she said. “It brings a nice culture to Breckenridge and people remember how fun and really different Breckenridge is and that's really good too. We don't try to be Vail and … we don't want to be Aspen. We want a few distinctive events that really say ‘Breckenridge.'”

Wow! 16.4 percent up

Yesterday was the last day to tally up closings for 2012 and with that thought 2012 is 16.4% ahead of 2011 for sold residential Summit County Properties and with any closings that occur today that 16.4% is only going to improve!

Today our market in Summit County has virtually the same number of properties getting ready to close as it did last year at this time. The number of properties for sale today is down 11% from last year. An interesting point: The average list price last year at this time was close to $750k and today the average list price is close to $700k.

Average list prices are down and the number of sales are up even with a smaller inventory of properties for sale - interesting stuff. The average sold price in Summit County is up 1%.

A terrific end to 2012!

 

Click the link below for a complete update:

 

How's the Market Update

Lots of Fireworks on Tap for Tonight

New Year's Eve just wouldn't be the same without fireworks. What better way to ring in another year than to fill the sky with bright, colorful, sparkling explosions? Summit County offers several different options to watch fireworks displays against a beautiful mountain backdrop.

Explosive Copper

Properly titled En Fuego, Copper Mountain Resort's celebration starts off with a glowlight parade for children and a torchlight parade by Copper Ski & Ride School instructors. The real pyrotechnics start at 7 p.m. over West Lake. This is a specially designed close-proximity show, due to the tight location of the mountain. It will consist of 14 separate types of fireworks. Some will be loud, booming reports while others are aerial mines, which look like shotgun blasts.

Following this pre-show is the main display taking place at the base of the American Eagle Lift at 10 p.m. Nearly one thousand pounds of pyrotechnics will be used, which will start out with 20 heavy bomb Titanium Salutes to catch everyone's attention.

Following the salute will come 150 designer three-inch shells ranging from crossed rings to draping willows to gold palms, which will travel more than 300 feet in the air. Shells of color- changing peonies and gold spiders will shoot 400 feet high, while shells of bees, colored waves and silver kimuros will reach at least 500 feet. Newly featured this year is the addition of 25 multi-shot boxes that fire more than 2,500 low-level rounds which are designed to fire directly underneath the larger aerial shells. Adding to the light display will be fish and whistle tourbillions, which make a distinctive whir and whistle sound.

The grand finale will be fired after a short pause in the main show. More than 300 shells will be fired off in a period of 30 seconds for a true bang.

Colorful Keystone

Keystone Resort will also feature a torchlight parade by its Ski & Ride School as well as two fireworks displays at Lakeside Village at 6 and 10 p.m. Each show will consist of 35 cases of all types and styles of pyrotechnics, lasting from 15-20 minutes.

“With two displays this year we hope to offer all of our guests a chance to enjoy a spectacular show, whether they're ending their evening or just getting started,” Laura Parquette, senior communications manager at Keystone Resort, stated in an email.

Later in the night, guests can enjoy live music and a midnight balloon drop at the Tenderfoot Lodge. Additionally, Keystone plans to continue its fireworks display each Saturday at 7 p.m., viewable from River Run and Lakeside areas, all the way up to March 23.

Blazing Breckenridge

Breckenridge Ski Resort will host a glow worm parade for children and its annual torchlight parade descending from Peak 9. Breckenridge will put on its own fireworks show at 9 p.m. between peaks 8 and 9, which on a clear night can be visible from many spots in town.

Frisco's Peak 1 memorialized in new book

As a child, Dutch immigrant Jon Anton Vierling loved to hike Peak 1 near Frisco, Colorado. It was the mid-1950s and his father, whom the kids called “Pop,” worked as a mining engineer at the molybdenum mine in Climax while the family of nine made their home in a self-built log cabin on Bill's Ranch in Frisco.

Later, Vierling served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He earned a Doctorate of Science and a Master of Science from Harvard University, among other degrees. In his career, he wrote 27 professional books — but it was not until “Peak One: The Journey Up” (The Waterfront Press, 2012) that he had the opportunity to document his formative journeys to the top of the local peak.

In “Peak One,” Vierling takes the reader on a visual and narrative trip up to the peak's summit, starting at the trailhead at the south end of 2nd Avenue in Frisco. Along the way, the armchair enthusiast is invited to experience local flora and fauna, the Masontown mining ruins and remains of a primitive ski jump above Zach's stop.

Eschewing what he calls “a lack of consistency in the findings” and “vastly different conclusions” on Masontown, Vierling opts for a first-hand account of his experiences there and on other stops along the hike.

The full-color, landscape-oriented 8x10-inch softcover book features photographs by Karin Prescott, formerly of Dillon. Prescott, who worked as a photographer for the Summit Daily News from 2000-03, now lives on the south side of Hoosier Pass near Alma. Her photographs have appeared in Women's Day, Christian Science Monitor and The Mountain Gazette, among others. A dedicated humanitarian, Prescott has traveled to Uganda and Jordan to photograph for nonprofit organizations.

She shot the photos for “Peak One: The Journey Up” over the course of six months in 2012. Colorful, captivating and rendered in large-scale throughout, the images are among the book's strongest features.

Throughout the journey up, Vierling weaves facts, stories and reflections, including a section on beetlekill followed by a section on Hester's Log and Lumber Mill in Kremmling, which processes beetlekill wood for building. Vierling highlights Hester's, he writes, because he used the mill's products in his Frisco house, what he calls a “period home” that dates to the “2005 invasion of beetles.”

The story arrives at its finish above treeline, past lichen-covered rocks and along the steep hogback ridge to the peak, where on a clear day, Vierling recounts, “Copper Mountain Ski Area, Keystone Ski Area, Mount of the Holy Cross, Tenmile Peak, Buffalo Mountain, Mount Baldy and of course, Lake Dillon” are visible.

“Peak One: The Journey Up” is geared toward all lovers and would-be lovers of Peak 1 — those who have already hiked it, those who wish to hike it and those who just want to live vicariously through the author's experiences.

Summit County Animal Shelter Makes a Difference

“I've always wanted to have a dog of my own.”

This statement could be attributed to hundreds of people throughout Summit County and even more statewide. On Wednesday, it was Jenny Ackers, who spends her spare time volunteering for the Summit County Animal Shelter.

She said she started volunteering at the shelter “with the idea in mind that some day I'd walk in there and the perfect dog would be waiting for me.” A month passed, and then one day there was Harvey, a border collie-Anatolian shepherd mix.

“I just walked into the kennel area and he was sitting there and he just looked up,” she said. “He didn't bark or anything and I said, ‘You want to go for a walk?' and he stood up and wagged his tail.”

That one walk was enough to cement what could become a lifelong companionship.

All creatures great and small

 

Harvey's story is just one of many that come out of the animal shelter every day. Though the shelter isn't near its maximum capacity of 46 dogs and more than 40 cats, it does fair trade in adoptions from month to month. If it happens that there is a lull, they will take in transfers from other shelters in nearby counties.

“When we get low on dogs, instead of saying we only have a couple of dogs up for adoption, we go to other shelters that are in need — a lot of times (those are) kill shelters — and transfer over dogs that are already vaccinated, neutered and ready to go and then we get them up for adoption over here,” said Meg Leroux, operations manager at the shelter. “We're (also) creating more selection.”

In addition to the usual dog and cat options, the shelter also periodically houses rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and other such pets. For feathered and reptile friends, they work closely with nearby rescue groups.

Animals come to the shelter in a variety of ways. Some are found as strays after becoming lost or simply abandoned. Others are surrendered by owners who can no longer keep them, whether because they can't afford to feed them, spend time with them or have encountered another reason such as a newborn with allergies.

Owners surrendering pets can bring the animal right into the shelter, where they can fill out paperwork and give the history of their pet. Another option is the “drop box,” a door near the front of the shelter with access to empty kennels and space to leave the animal and also helpful paperwork.

“We have a drop box, so anybody who has an unwanted pet can put them in the drop box at night, and it's gonna be safe in there from predators, it's not going to be at large near cars,” said Leroux.

While drop-offs can be anonymous, it's very helpful for those working at the shelter to have the paperwork and more information about the animal.

“The more information we have on the animals the better, because then we can do a better job of placing that animal in a more successful home,” said Donna Corcel, humane educator and administrative clerk at the shelter.

Make me a match

 

Knowing the background of an animal, both medical and behavioral, is immensely useful in finding a successful match with a new owner, Corcel said.

The adoption process starts off when a person walks into the shelter with the intention of finding a pet. By discussing lifestyle, experience, wants and needs with the potential owner, the staff can make a recommendation based on their knowledge of the animals available and their breed, temperament and history.

For example, said Leroux, if a highly active person came in and requested a less active breed such as a mastiff, she might suggest a different dog that could better meet that person's active lifestyle. Conversely, a couple that is older or more sedentary may not be happy with a breed like a husky that requires extensive exercise.

“We're just trying to help them find the right match for what they want,” said Corcel. “We don't' want to set them up to fail. Our goal is we've got an animal here (so) we're going to try to find the best match for them.”

Although staff works hard to make sure the best combination has been made between owner and pet, the adoption papers allow an animal to be returned within three weeks if need be. Without knowing an animal's history, behaviors such as trash digging or cat chasing may surface at home that were not readily apparent in the shelter. If an animal doesn't work out, however, Leroux said, the shelter is perfectly willing and able to take it back and try again.

“We want the dog or cat back at our shelter,” she said. “We don't want (the adopters) to just give it away or do whatever. We want the animal back here.”

Once the animal is back at the shelter, the process to find just the right owner can start again, perhaps this time with a bit more knowledge and understanding. Adopting from a shelter can carry an unknown factor which potential adopters should be aware of.

“It takes commitment,” Corcel said. “It's a commitment when you're adopting a shelter animal.”

Happy beginnings

Although sad cases of abandonment and abuse periodically come through the animal shelter, they don't stay that way. Hard work from the staff and adopting owners create plenty of happy endings to those hard stories. Or, as Corcel and Leroux prefer to look at it, happy beginnings with new families and new lives ahead.

“It's been great,” Ackers said, echoing many others who have brought a shelter animal home. “We feel so lucky.”

You can contact the shelter at 970-668-3230 or visit them online at http://www.co.summit.co.us/animalcontrol

Business is good in Summit County

The wait was worth it. Despite a slow start to the season, snow came to Summit County and with it skiing, holidays and a bumper crop of business.

The holiday season has been strong for local businesses, even for those that just got started during the slow shoulder season.

“I'm new in town, (but) more people are coming in,” said Chad Schultz, who opened his winter apparel store Moosely Hats in October on Main Street Frisco.

The colder temperatures have also helped Schultz, not only in selling out of scarves and beanie hats, but in bringing more traffic to his door.

“(The snow) has been helping a lot,” he said. “There are more people visiting the area, skiers and snowboarders. I get a lot of them in.”

Holly Stein of Flourish in Breckenridge has also seen an increase in business.

“As we have more snow and more people are in town, these are certainly better days,” she said. “The weather has the greatest swing on it. It's staring to snow and the holiday is here.”

Flourish sells jewelry and artistic items made mostly by Colorado artists. Though these items aren't seasonal, they are selling well.

“The products are changing all the time,” said Stein. “There are a variety of things that we've had to reorder because we sold out. … We're adding new work all the time in all different kinds of media. We're trying to keep the store fresh on a regular basis.”

As the streets of Breckenridge fill with snow enthusiasts and sightseers, local businesses prosper.

“It was definitely a slow start and I think that we all felt it,” said Jennifer Hopkins, owner of the Worldly Traveller in Breckenridge. “My number of transactions per day has doubled in the past few days and I think a lot of that is the run-up to Christmas shopping.”

Breck is certainly busier than it was a month or even a few weeks ago.

“The welcome center is pretty busy,” said Eitan Chinitz, an information specialist at the Breckenridge Welcome Center. “We're doing a significant amount of booking for people for activities (like) sleigh rides, snowmobiling, zip lines and tours.”

Tourists aren't the only ones shopping in Summit County, however.

“A lot of locals have mentioned that they want to do their shopping at their local businesses and I appreciate that,” said Hopkins.

Looking ahead

Holidays always draw a crowd and the important question for local businesses is whether or not their profits will continue. Though there's no way to be sure, the general feeling is one of optimism.

“It looks good. Every day it's steady traffic,” said Schultz. “There are slow periods but then I get busy again. It's a successful season and it will be better next season.”

Local Celebrations for the Holidays

Breckenridge Ski Resort is celebrating today's holiday with the most terrain offered in the county: A total of 1,201 acres, with a large spread of advanced and expert terrain, is now open.

The ski area's back bowls — Adios, Amen, East Snowbird, Hombre, Lobo, Middle Snowbird, No Name, Quandary, Solitude, Too Much, Upper Psycho and West Snowbird — are all fair game today.

“We are the place to be right now for both beginner and expert terrain,” said Alysa Hetze, spokeswoman for the resort. “Christmas at Breckenridge this year is going to be really epic — we're watching this storm that's supposed to be coming in very closely and we're looking forward to a snowy Christmas morning.”

Keystone Resort is celebrating the holidays with festivities for children, including the Snow Fort.

The resort offers 1,169 acres of terrain, with newly opened advanced and expert trails on Badger, Black Forest, Coyote Caper, the North Bowl, The Grizz and Timberwolf.

Copper Mountain opened the Rendezvous Lift along with Wheeler Creek and Union Park trails Monday.

Today, the ski resort will have the Lumberjack lift and the following trails open: Upper Roundabout, I-Way, Easy Feeling, CDL and the new Jeep Adventure Trail. Coppertone, See and Ski, Easy Road, Lower Sluice, and Timber Ridge are serviced by the Sierra Lift.

The NASTAR course also opened Monday afternoon on Copperopolis, said Austyn Williams, spokeswoman for the resort.

“We have a lot of variety on the mountain,” Williams said. “It's all weather dependent, so our ski patrollers and snowmaking teams are working hard everyday to get more terrain open.”

Arapahoe Basin opened Lenawee Parks, Humbug, Cornice Run, West Wall and Powerline on Monday. The ski area now offers 20 trails with 242 skiable acres.

Chief operating officer Alan Henceroth said Arapahoe Basin will offer a relaxed setting with a variety of terrain for the holiday.

“We have a lot of families that spend Christmas Day at A-Basin year after year because we have a really laid-back approach to the holiday,” Henceroth said. “It's just a great day of skiing and with the snow coming supposedly, it will be magical day.”

Loveland shifts their focus this Christmas Day to Front Range commuters, said John Sellers, spokesman for the ski area.

“With snow likely to be coating the roads, Loveland will be a great place to go for Christmas Day,” Sellers said. “We catch a lot of people who don't want to continue on through the Eisenhower Tunnel and we're going to have great conditions for the holiday.”

Celebrating the holidays in the county

Resort areas are also offering other holiday options after a day on the hills.

For families spending the day in Breckenridge, The Doubletree Hotel is hosting a Christmas Buffet Dinner from 4-8:30 p.m. at the 9600 Grill.

Offerings include a chef-attended prime rib carving station, slow roasted pit ham,and butternut squash. After dinner, guests can enjoy desserts like white and dark chocolate fondue and eggnog bread pudding.

The buffet is $40 for adults, $15 for children and free for kids under five. Call (970) 547-5555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (970) 547-5555 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting for reservations and more info.

Served from 5-9 p.m. tonight, Sevens Restaurant in the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 in Breckenridge is serving up a classic Christmas dinner.

Featuring entrees like “Duck Duck Goose!” which includes a slow-roasted duck confit, seared herb encrusted duck breast, and a fois gras medallion, and desserts like Figgy Bread Pudding with a Breck Bourbon Sauce, this menu could inspire a new family tradition. Call 970-496-8910 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 970-496-8910 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting for reservations and more information.

Copper Mountain Resort celebrates the holidays with lots of cheer, more snow, open terrain and family events. With the help of Mother Nature, Copper Mountain has open 487 acres for holiday powder turns. Copper Mountain has received 19 inches of new snow in the past 7 days.

Copper Mountain is offering festivities to ring in the New Year with a fireworks show slated at 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at the base of the American Eagle Lift.

Whole Foods a go for Frisco

With the developer reworking a number of architectural and logistical details since the Whole Foods project entered a lease agreement with the town in June, Frisco's planning commission approved a commercial complex that will be anchored by the popular store.

Set for the Lusher Court parcel at the Summit Stage Transfer Center behind Safeway, the 105,000 square-foot commercial complex's groundbreaking is slated for spring 2014.

The Dec. 20 planning commission meeting included the vacating of a right-of-way to add another 45,000 square feet to the parcel, on a total of 10.4 acres.

Developer David O'Neil, of Brynn Grey X LLC, said the project's high visibility from Interstate 70 will create “a new feel for Frisco and Summit Boulevard,” bringing new commercial traffic from the “15 million cars that drive past Frisco every year.”

O'Neil is known for developing the Wellington Neighborhood in Breckenridge and Peak One Neighborhood in Frisco.

“While we're not shopping center developers per se,” O'Neil said. “I think we know as much about place as just about anybody.”

The project has a proposed park in the midst of the parking area, outdoor seating, including outdoor dining space at Whole Foods and a restaurant elsewhere on the property, and elements such as a firepit at the gateway building and a buffer of trees on the interstate side.

Excitement outweighs concerns

And so far, it has had a mostly open-arms response from locals, according to Jocelyn Mills, director of community development for Frisco.

Calling the project a “catalyst” for new commercial activity, Mills said, “I would say the general response by the community has been very positive ... I would say 99 percent positive.”

Thursday's vote earned a “yes” from each of the planning commissioners present, but a few concerns and comments remained.

Commissioner Donna Skupien said she was excited about the project overall, but expressed some dismay about Whole Foods looking “flat” and the gateway building having a top-heavy appearance.

“I guess this is as good as it's going to get,” she said, expressing disappointment that a previous rendering of a more rustic, barn-like design had not been pursued for Whole Foods.

Thursday's meeting included several modifications to the buildings to address concerns by the commission. While there is no definitive “Frisco feel” for architecture, there are now more wood details to the front of Whole Foods.

The inline building has more horizontal and vertical elements to provide more visual interest, and the gateway building, which has an overall cabin look, is less bulky than originally planned, according to O'Neil.

Frisco Town Council will take up the conditional use permit for 10,000 square feet of office space Jan. 22.

Breckenridge Guest Numbers are Up

The long wait for snow this year, on top of last year's disappointing winter season, has affected tourists' plans for their holiday vacations. In general, resort bookings are down as potential visitors remain cautious.

Occupancy at 16 mountain resorts has decreased by 12.3 percent in December as compared with last December, according to data gathered by the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). The trend continues with on-the-books occupancy for December through May down by 2.8 percent.

But in Breckenridge, it's another story.

Research done by MTRiP shows that December on-the-books occupancy has increased by 2 percent in Breckenridge as compared with last year. The picture looks even better from December through May with a 7 percent increase.

“Last year was a relatively slow snow year, so consumers have been reluctant to engage this year until there's a big snow message that convinces the reluctant consumers that the resorts are back in Mother Nature's favor,” said Ralf Garrison, director of MTRiP.

Brand, location, variety

While low snow affects the resorts across the board, certain aspects at Breckenridge lend it a distinct advantage. Elevation, reputation and location are all working in favor of Breckenridge.

“The resorts who have high elevations and a good reputation and have a strong local following are picking up faster than other resorts are,” said Garrison. “A big brand is like a magnet — the bigger the magnet, the more it can attract.”

In addition to its tall mountains and good name, Breckenridge is conveniently located for visitors who are driving from nearby states and the Front Range. When snow comes late, short-drive travelers flock and Breckenridge benefits.

“It's a little bit of a fickle consumer environment now,” said Tom Foley, operations director at MTRiP. “The recent snow is doing everybody a ton of good and Breckenridge is on that list. Consumers are anxious to get out and ski and enjoy themselves.”

However, it's not just the snow that's calling visitors to Breckenridge.

“It used to be that skiing was the only thing you did at the resort. Nowadays there's an overall winter resort festive party,” said Garrison. “The more non-mountain things there are to do, the more the guests are assured that they're going to have plenty of options for their vacation time regardless of the natural snow.”

Breckenridge has more to offer than just ski slopes and the fact that visitors realize that shows in the numbers. Rachel Zerowin of the Breckenridge Resort Chamber cites shopping options and the vibrant art scene as further draws to the town.

“We can accommodate the whole range of traveler,” Zerowin said. “The artistic district is doing great things (and) between shopping and dining in town, a diverse group of people can come to Breckenridge and enjoy it.”

Looking ahead

Whether numbers were up or down at the time of the report, increased snowfall will provide positive effects.

“The snow conversation is going to carry on, no matter what happens over the short term,” Garrison said. “We're going to catch up over December, but not fully recover. Now it's what's going to happen in the second half of the game.”

In addition to hoping for snow, the resorts, particularly Breckenridge, can thank their current visitors for strengthening the season later on.

“The guests who come for Christmas go home with messages that have a lot to do with end of season,” Garrison said. “Nowadays anybody that has a smart phone has the equivalent of a broadcast studio in their pocket. With social media, they start conveying the message for the resorts. It's all about momentum. A good experience at Christmas communicated through social media … will have a lot to do with a positive balance at the (end of the) season.”

2013 Pro Challenge Details

Breckenridge will host both the Stage 2 finish and Stage 3 start of the seven-day USA Pro Challenge bike race in August 2013, race organizers announced Wednesday.

“It's very exciting,” Breckenridge Town Councilwoman Wendy Wolfe said. “It's a great early Christmas present for the town of Breckenridge.”

The race, which drew millions of spectators in its first two years, will start its third year in Aspen, with teams touring through Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail and Loveland-Fort Collins before heading into Denver for the Stage 7 finish.

“Riders now know there is no race in America like the USA Pro Challenge, and these host cities help ensure cycling's world stage returns to Colorado for seven days of grueling competition,” Pro Challenge CEO and co-chairman Shawn Hunter stated in a release announcing the host cities. “Each of these communities will be on an international stage as we partner with them to ensure the USA Pro Challenge takes its place as America's greatest race.”

The race has earned a reputation for being one of the most challenging, sending teams up to two miles in elevation as it crosses the Colorado Rockies.

For Breckenridge, the Pro Challenge has become a headline event of the summer season, continuing to draw spectators numbering in the tens of thousands.

This year, hosting a start and a finish, riders will spend the night in Breckenridge and the town will organize both evening and morning festivities around the event.

Breck officials said the town requested a back-to-back stage start and finish in this year's bid. Breckenridge hosted a weekend stage finish two years ago during the inaugural race and a stage start last summer.

“I think we've brought out as many or more people for our first-year finish and last year's start than almost any other town,” Wolfe said. “And our proximity to the Front Range makes us a good location to kind of connect this race together.”

A number of criteria are considered in selecting host cities, including lodging, volunteer recruitment, marketing, local tourism and the capability to host the athletes and promote the state, race organizers stated in Wednesday's release.

“The USA Pro Challenge has created an entirely new audience for our state,” Gov. John Hickenlooper stated in the release. “Not only is it the best American competition, it's essentially a week-long advertisement for our state with 128 of the best cyclists in the world acting as tour guides.”

Breck also approaches the race as a long-term event marketing investment.

Details regarding the exact locations of starting and finish lines as well as the exact route of the 2013 race will be announced in the spring, according to the statement.

All of the cities and towns selected for next year are returning hosts with the exception of Loveland and Fort Collins.

Next year's race will run from Aug. 19-25 and is again expected to draw upwards of a million spectators to the sidelines.

Breck Lands Start AND Finish for 2013 USA Pro Challenge

Breckenridge will host the Stage 2 finish and Stage 3 start of the seven-day USA Pro Challenge bike race in August 2013, race organizers announced Wednesday.

“It's very exciting,” Breckenridge Town Councilwoman Wendy Wolfe said. “It's a great early Christmas present for the Town of Breckenridge.”

The race, which drew millions of spectators in its first two years, will start its third year in Aspen, with teams touring through Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek, Vail and Loveland-Fort Collins before heading into Denver for the Stage 7 finish.

“Riders now know there is no race in America like the USA Pro Challenge, and these host cities help ensure cycling's world stage returns to Colorado for seven days of grueling competition,” Pro Challenge CEO and co-chairman Shawn Hunter stated in a release announcing the host cities. “Each of these communities will be on an international stage as we partner with them to ensure the USA Pro Challenge takes its place as America's greatest race.”

For Breckenridge, the bike race has become a headline event of the summer season, continuing to draw spectators numbering in the tens of thousands.

Vail Resorts Buys Ski Areas

To reach the large Midwestern market of skiers and snowboarders, Vail Resorts announced Thursday the addition of two Midwest ski areas: Afton Alps and Mount Brighton. What's more, Summit locals with the Epic Pass, Epic Local, Summit Value and Epic-7-day have instant access at the newest ski areas.

As part of the acquisition, Vail Resorts plans to enhance both the on-mountain and base area experience at each ski area.

“We plan to bring state-of-the-art racing, terrain parks, coaching and technology to the guest experience. We also will connect these urban ski areas to our world-class resorts in Colorado, California and Nevada with new season pass offerings, providing the chance to experience the best skiing and riding locally and in the West,” said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts.

These enhancements will include redesigned and updated terrain parks, coaching and instruction for all levels of skiers and riders, dedicated racing programs, expanded dining and entertainment options at the base area and integrated technology and social media programs like EpicMix, EpicMix Photo and EpicMix Racing.

Summit County's Minnesotan population, many of whom grew up riding and skiing at areas like Afton, are looking forward to the convenience from the additions.

Kelly Harber of Breckenridge said the addition is convenient since she still visits the state often, though “it will be strange to feel Vail's presence at the small, local spot” she skied at as a child.

“It will be really convenient for me as a native Minnesotan to have access to Afton,” Harber said.

“Last winter I was riding Afton, looking forward to moving out to the mountain — to Vail territory,” Harber said. “Now when I go back to Minnesota, we'll have a little piece of it there. Part of Afton's appeal for me was always its shabby, homey feel and I'm sure people will miss that, but it could definitely use some infrastructure in certain areas — it will be fun to see how (Vail Resorts) will update the parks.”

Matthew Fredericks, who moved to Breck from Lakeville, Minn. five years ago, said he is excited for his friends back home.

“I think it will be sweet for my friends back home to be able to buy the Epic Pass and be able to come out here and use their passes while they're on vacation,” Fredericks said. “I think that Epic Mix will do really well there too because that mountain really doesn't have anything like that.”

Vail Resorts has entered into agreements to purchase the two ski areas for $20 million, said Kelly Ladyga, spokeswoman for VR.

Both Afton and Brighton serve major snowsports markets in the Midwest with more than 468,000 active skiers and snowboarders in the nearby Minneapolis, St. Paul and Detroit metropolitan areas, according to a press release.

“We are thrilled to welcome Afton Alps and Mount Brighton to the Vail Resorts family,” Katz said. “These acquisitions are part of a new strategy for Vail Resorts to drive season pass sales and build broader guest loyalty by looking at premier smaller ski areas located near major urban markets.”

Getting to know the new ski areas

 

Afton Alps, nearing its 50th anniversary, is the largest ski area near a major city in the Midwest with 48 trails on nearly 300 acres, 18 lifts, four base areas, night skiing and riding, tubing and an 18-hole golf course.

The ski area is located 33 miles from more than two million people and more than 161,000 skiers and snowboarders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, according to the press release.

Open since 1960, Mount Brighton features 26 trails on 130 acres, six lifts, night skiing and riding and an 18-hole golf course. The ski area is located 43 miles from Detroit and is within reach of more than four million people and more than 307,000 skiers and snowboarders in the Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor metropolitan areas.

Effective immediately, Afton Alps and Mount Brighton season pass holders will receive a 25 percent discount off the window rate on lift tickets at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.

A-Basin to Consider Bio-Fuels

A nonprofit environmental group is teaming up with Arapahoe Basin to explore the idea of using bark-beetle affected timber as an energy source.

A-Basin chief operating officer Alan Henceroth called the alternative fuel source “fascinating.” However, before moving forward, A-Basin will conduct an energy audit and feasibility study, he said.

The Blue Knight Group, a nonprofit specializing in alternative fuel infrastructure, promotes biomass as a sustainable and economically feasible solution to the surplus of timber.

“The U.S. Forest Service doesn't know what to do about the dead timber — they're talking about burning these piles of timber when we could be utilizing it as an energy source,” said Rich Dziomba, director of the BKG.

Dziomba, Henceroth and Rob Davis, president of Forest Energy Corporation, toured a biomass setup Wednesday at Fairplay High School, a 120,000-square foot building heated entirely by biomass.

“We're on a fact-finding mission,” Henceroth said. “A few things have caught our eye: The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and our reductions in heating costs are very attractive, and I think anything that can take advantage of locally produced or available resources is good — there appears to be no shortage of biomass available in Summit County.”

The biomass system at Fairplay High School, which was installed in February, has been successful, according to school officials.

“We're looking at a seven-year payback on the initial investment,” said Foss Smith, the Park County School District facilities committee member. “It's the economic advantage of biomass versus propane that makes this a great energy source — plus it's all local forestry being utilized.”

Part of the biomass broiler installation requires a feasibility study and energy audit through which businesses may be required to add insulation and other energy-saving features to ensure maximum efficiency.

Along with a broiler, a business needs a wood chip storage bin. Available space at Arapahoe Basin is the main concern with a biomass energy makeover, as the ski area's base area is limited.

Jan Burque, the forest vegetation program manager for the U.S. Forest Service, said the availability of timber suggests such biomass systems are indeed sustainable in the long term.

“Trees are renewable, but at a slower rate,” Burque said. “There are a lot of potential products for these types of projects. What's good about biomass energy is that broilers can burn parts of the tree that are not typically useful, so there is actually a lot of sources for biomass-energy projects to be sustainable for the long term — it may take creativity and pursuing a variety of sources.”

Davis said such small, start-up biomass projects, like the proposed system at A-Basin, would alleviate economical barriers in forest health management.

“If someone would pay for this available material, it would help the Forest Service's economics and allow them to do more work as opposed to having to pay someone to do work and then it just gets piled into teepees on Swan Mountain Road,” Davis said. “Now we have someone that would give us something for the timber, and that enables the Forest Service to do more in their management plan.”

Forest Service officials say mitigating bark beetle-affected timber and creating a market for trees removed for forest thinning will bolster current efforts of the agency.

“The bark beetle epidemic has sparked a lot of creativity among environmentalists and entrepreneurs that are in a hurry to utilize the timber,” Burque said. “It's great food for thought.”

Henceroth still has his reservations though.

“It's very impressive equipment and there's obviously a lot that can be done with it,” Henceroth said. “But it appears to be complicated.”

Rail for I-70?

The days of traditional trains and railroad tracks may be long gone.

When transportation officials asked for mass-transit models connecting the Front Range to mountain ski resorts, industry experts came back with designs for elevated guideway systems, powered by magnets, electricity and air, that can travel hundreds of miles per hour, ferry cars or transport passengers in individual cars summoned with smartphones.

“We're looking at the full range of qualified technologies for the corridor,” stated Division of Transit and Rail director Mark Imhoff in a release from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Eight private companies presented distinct models for advanced guideway systems (AGS) — the modern-day equivalent of a previous generation's rail line — at a technology forum Thursday in Jefferson County. Two other firms have also submitted plans that meet CDOT's criteria for the corridor.

Though different, all of the systems are clean, safe, fast and designed to traverse the Rocky Mountains.

“I flew in from Pittsburgh,” said Colorado MagLev Group project manager David O'Loughlin, whose company is proposing an energy-efficient magnetic levitation rail system. “The idea would be, I have my skis with me on the plane. They just put them on the MagLev vehicle and I can be in Vail in an hour. That's possible with this technology.”

Other technology providers, like SkyTran, are proposing personalized rapid transit systems that would transport smaller groups of people on demand rather than on a schedule.

“SkyTran is a point-to-point transit system,” SkyTran CEO Paul Williamson said. “It only goes at the time you need it, 24/7. You get on a vehicle and say, ‘I want to go to 10th and Broadway,' and it takes you from that point to 10th and Broadway. You don't have to wait for anybody else.”

The computer-controlled system, powered by solar and hydrogen, would be able to transport passengers from the Front Range to Keystone in 45 minutes.

Another model re-envisions the century-old suspended rail car, combining passenger coaches with on-demand personal vehicles. Another would combine passenger trains with a vehicle transport component, allowing drivers to park their car on the system and be jetted up to the mountains at a rate of 125 mph.

Built for Colorado

 

All of the AGS models presented Thursday are designed to handle the specific challenges — including steep grades and extreme weather — of the I-70 mountain corridor while traveling faster than a car.

Some systems are designed to follow the highway, or within CDOT right-of-ways eliminating the need to acquire additional land. Most feature elevated systems, curbing environmental impacts and making the systems better able to handle snow, wind and ice than traditional train models.

Most of them are also far less expensive than existing rail systems.

But transportation officials aren't signing any contracts yet.

“None of us have extra money right now,” CDOT rail manager David Krutsinger said. “If we're going to use taxpayer dollars we have to be very sure that what we're buying on behalf of the public is a good use of money.”

While firms are proposing public-private partnerships, best estimates indicate ticket sales for an AGS would only cover operational expenses, leaving taxpayers on the hook for several billion dollars in construction costs, officials said.

CDOT's annual budget for the entire state, by comparison, is $1 billion.

With the help of the private sector, CDOT officials are looking to develop possible funding strategies and determine the likelihood of raising the money for an AGS next year.

Visions of transit

 

The name: American Maglev Transit

The concept: An optimized maglev (elevated) system that uses electric linear induction propulsion. The system is able to traverse steep grades in wintery conditions using frictionless traction. Cars will carry roughly 200 passengers.

The price tag: $19-$25 million per mile

The speed: Designed to travel at an average speed of 76 miles per hour. Total travel time from Golden to Eagle County Regional Airport is roughly 2 hours 13 minutes.

The edge: The system will be designed with airplane amenities in mind, rather than train service, according to developers. Only one vehicle accelerates from the station at a time, minimizing spikes in power consumption.

The name: Flight Rail's VECTORR

The concept: This light-weight elevated transit system uses vacuum/air pressure to propel passenger vehicles. The train operates without power.

The speed: Up to 200 mph on flat terrain; an estimated 100 mph on a 7 percent grade, like those in the I-70 mountain corridor.

The edge: Cars lock onto the rail with alloy steel wheels, allowing the train to take sharp curves at a high rate of speed. The wheels are also designed not to use traction, allowing the system to accelerate faster and handle steep hills more efficiently.

The name: General Atomics/Colorado Maglev Group

The concept: The system uses maglev technology and track-mounted power source to move elevated train cars. But the track uses power only in the sections where the vehicle is located, reducing energy consumption as well as wear-and-tear on the system itself, developers said.

The price tag: $58 million per mile

The speed: 150 mph

The edge: The model is based on $40 million in federal and privately funded research, and similar technology is being used to power planes for the Navy. A $14-million test track of the system has been constructed in California and proved to work.

The name: MegaRail's MegaWay System

The concept: An elevated multi-purpose system that electrically powers a family of rubber-tired vehicles, which would operate similarly to road vehicles on traditional highways.

The price tag: $20 million per mile for a starter system

The speed: 120 miles per hour

The edge: Some train vehicles are designed to carry pedestrian passengers, others freight and others, through a lock-in system, private cars with the drivers still sitting inside them.

The name: Public Personal Rapid Transit Consortium

The concept: A system featuring elevated pod-cars, holding up to four adults each, propelled on a fixed guideway by an air-lifting mechanism integrated with magnetic induction propulsion. The cushion of the air generated underneath the pod car takes the place of maintenance-intensive wheels, according to developers.

The price tag: $24 million per mile

The speed: Up to 200 miles per hour.

The edge: The system is described by designers as an on-demand, non-stop high-speed transportation system. Cars wait at stations to take passengers directly to their destinations.

The name: SkyTran

The concept: The system uses an automated transit network to provide non-stop, point-to-point service in two-passenger vehicles on an elevated track.

The price tag: $15 million per mile

The speed: Up to 150 mph

The edge: Developers say the system will leverage smartphone technology for payment as well as calls for on-demand service

The name: Swift Tram, Inc's Suspended Coach Automated Rapid Transit

The concept: A new take on the existing model of a hanging train, the electric-powered system would employ a combination of standard scheduled train service with on-demand pod service.

The speed: Average speed of 80 mph

The edge: A faster system than existing model that is better able to sense changing weather conditions than its predecessors. Hanging cars are able to travel faster in a network system, according to developers.

Old CMC Building New Again

Art, history and the housing authority topped the Breckenridge Town Council's list of possible uses for the extra rooms and offices designated as community space in the future library planned for the old CMC building.

“This is very exciting,” Councilman Ben Brewer said. “It's shaping up to be an amazing center. Hopefully, there will be synergy there among the organizations.”

Town officials said they want to dedicate extra space in the century-old school building to tenants that will serve the community, fit with the building's historic character and draw people to the library and community center.

Of eight local entities who expressed interest in the space, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance's proposal for an archive that would include meeting spaces and display cases featuring Summit County artifacts won the most support from the council.

“It's a natural fit,” Councilman Mark Burke said.

Town officials also talked about providing wall space throughout the building for the Breckenridge Art Commission to host rotating art exhibits, as well as possibly offering office and educational space to the Summit Combined Housing Authority.

The housing authority, which currently operates out of a smaller location in downtown Breckenridge, requested 2,000 square feet in the new library to be used for offices, file storage and a community room where buyer classes would be hosted.

“The majority of our work is done in the Upper Blue (River Basin),” director Jennifer Kermode said. “Our preference would be to stay in the Upper Blue to actually better serve more of the people.”

Breckenridge officials said they were interested in providing the housing authority space, but likely not the full amount requested.

Council members nixed requests for a yoga studio, storage and office space for the Backstage Theatre and exam rooms for the Community Care Clinic.

The council has not made any final decisions on use of the community space.

The old CMC building was constructed as a school at the turn of the 20th century. In later years it became the local Colorado Mountain College, earning its current unofficial moniker.

The town of Breckenridge purchased the building in 2009, intending to renovating it as a community facility. After years of debating different possible uses for the historic structure, the town partnered with Summit County government to refinish and transform the building into the new site of the south library branch.

The existing south branch, located near the justice center, is overcrowded and too small to meet the community's needs, according to library and county officials. The county was preparing to construct a new library building when Breckenridge officials suggested repurposing the old CMC structure instead.

“This partnership is in the best interest of our community at large, saving taxpayer dollars and protecting a Summit County historical icon,” County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier said of the project.

The controversial renovation project is expected to cost approximately $7 million, with the better part of the bill to be split between county and Breckenridge coffers.

Work on the building is set to begin in July 2013 and finish the following summer.

Finally, some snow in Summit County Colorado

Skiers and riders, now is your moment. Most lifts start running at 9 a.m. and a layer of powder awaits. Today is the first significant snowfall of December, following a mostly dry November.

To the delight of local ski areas, snowmaking efforts this weekend are complimented by a piling of natural snow — 5-8 inches were forecasted overnight for Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin.

“Sunday is going to be a great day to be out on the mountain,” said Joel Gratz, a meteorologist reporting for Open Snow.

Terrain update

 

Breckenridge Ski Resort opens Bonanza to the Cashier trail to Lower American on Peak 9 today with access from the Beaver Run SuperChair. The ski area has six lifts running, with eight trails open — a total of 186 acres of skiable terrain.

Breck officials said with additional snowfall and snowmaking efforts, more terrain will open soon.

Keystone Resort is planning to opening North Peak before Christmas. However, the date has yet to be determined and will largely depend on the amount of natural snow in the county leading up to the holiday.

The resort leads the county with the most terrain available. Night skiing and tubing are also up and running. The Keystone A51 Terrain Park has beginner boxes on Scout Trail, intermediate to advanced jibs in The Alley and jumps on Park Lane.

Ice skating at Dercum Square and the Lakeside Ice Rink are open. Ski area officials said the resort's snowmaking efforts will continue throughout this weekend's storm.

Copper Mountain offers 240 skiable acres this weekend. The ski area is also the only mountain in the county with a 22' superpipe feature. Throughout the weekend, riders and skiers can join ski area staff to celebrate Copper's 40th anniversary.

“Based on skier visits, (Saturday) has been our busiest day so far this season,” said Katherine Bush, spokeswoman for Copper Mountain. “We don't have any new terrain scheduled to open (Sunday), but the snow will certainly help Copper open terrain over the coming weeks.”

Arapahoe Basin reported 4 inches of snowfall by Saturday afternoon. The ski area has 100 skiable acres and seven trails open.

“It just feels good,” said Alan Henceroth, chief operating officer of the ski area.

“This skiing (Saturday) was excellent, soft and fluffy,” Henceroth said. “We had a good night of snowmaking last night and are making headway on opening Lower Sundance.”

Loveland Ski Area officials reported an accumulation of 8 inches of new snow from the storm.

“More snow is on the way,” said Dustin Schaefer, from Loveland's marketing department. “Think snow.”

More snow on the way

 

With most of the county set to receive up to 8 inches by Sunday, more snow is forecasted, calling for up to 4 additional inches possible at high elevations.

After a break in snowfall Sunday night, more snow will hit the northern half of the state on Monday and Tuesday morning, Gratz said.

“Expect just a few inches total from this storm, though a few areas along the northern Continental Divide north of Interstate 70 could see more significant snow,” Gratz said.

Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning will be dry, but another storm is forecasted to hit the High Country Thursday afternoon through Friday.

“This storm will likely favor the southern San Juans — they need it — but all mountains in the northern part of the state will see snow,” Gratz said.

Beyond Friday, only time will tell but the forecast is steering clear of sunny conditions with high temperatures ranging from 30 degrees down to the low 20s for the next week.

“The weather pattern beyond next week looks stormy, so hopefully your emotions are in a much better spot now than they were a week ago,” Gratz said.

Copper Mountain Celebrates 40 Years

Copper Mountain Resort celebrates its 40th season this weekend with discounted lift tickets ($40 of course) and a ‘far-out anniversary bash.' Revelers are encouraged to bust out the '70s threads (and lingo) and show up ready to ski and party.

The weekend

 

In true Copper style, the 1972 vibe will be rolling all weekend, and $40 lift tickets are available online now or at the lift ticket office today through Sunday. Also featured the entire weekend are: $40 Woodward Intro Sessions at the Barn; $40 Ski & Ride School lessons; $40 off youth group lesson packages; two sport ski or board rentals for $40 per day at Copper Sports Center; demo ski rentals for $40 per day at Copper Rocker; spend $40 at a Copper retailer and get a free commemorative koozie; and, when you dress in “full '70s attire” receive 25 percent off meals at any Copper restaurant. That's a lot of deals and some real motivation to bust out the costumes.

On Saturday, the festivities begin at 2 p.m. with cake and costume contests. Celebrate the vibe with Super Diamond, the Neil Diamond cover band, at 3 p.m., free in Burning Stones Plaza. Prizes and giveaways for best '70s costume include gear, skis, Copper Cash and passes. Also on Saturday is a scavenger hunt on the mountain — searching for a “ruby anniversary ring” and other prizes, and the Groovy Chase 5K Snowshoe Race (www.gobblerchase.com).

The North Face Park & Pipe Open Series (PPOS) superpipe qualifying rounds will be taking place Saturday, culminating in the finals on Sunday. In addition, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding athletes will gather at Copper Mountain on Saturday for the annual team-naming event at 2:45 p.m. in Burning Stones Plaza. Guests can enter to win a private meet-and-greet with America's snowboarding and freeskiing Olympic hopefuls at www.facebook.com/CopperMtn, www.facebook/US-Freeskiing and www.facebook.com/ussnowboarding.

Around the Village, take advantage of 72-cent beers outside Endo's from 1-5 p.m. and $40 bottle service at Escobar. Vintage candy is for sale at Sugar Lips plus $19.72 family packs including 24 mini-donuts with fancy schmancy toppings and two large hot cocoas. Lefty Lucy is playing at Jack's for après. McCoy's Mountain Market is offering free lollipop shot glasses with every $19.72 purchase, and 72-cent fountain drinks with any purchase. Funky Finds will have $4 rhinestone/sequin headbands and 72-cent hair accessories, plus other costume items for the concert.

Rooms are still available for this weekend through the Last Chance Lodging deal (www.CopperColorado.com).

The history

 

Chuck Froelicher and a group of 16 investors formed Copper Mountain Associates in 1968, purchasing the 280 acres at the base of Copper Mountain from Eugene Sanders, who was alleged to agree to the purchase only if Chuck Lewis would be in charge of developing the ski area. In a 1971 U.S. Forest Service study of 2,500 acres, the government said, “If there were a mountain that had terrain for skiing it would be Copper Mountain. It is probably the most outstanding potential ski area in the Arapahoe National Forest, and possibly Colorado. … The mountain has good snow and sparse tree cover created by old burns, which offers a tremendous opportunity to create natural-type runs that blend in with the surrounding countryside.”

Copper Mountain opened with snowcat operations in the winter of 1971. Construction of Copper's mid-mountain lodge, Solitude Station, began on July 4, 1972, and was completed by Copper's opening day in early December of that year. During the previous century, the junction between the Tenmile and Gore mountain ranges, where copper was discovered and miners and trappers traded with the Ute and Arapahoe, thrived under the inspiration of founder Judge John S. Wheeler.

According to old timers, Chuck Lewis was the real brains and vision behind Copper Mountain. “It is unbelievably amazing how closely the present-day Copper Mountain aligns with the original master plan,” said Chris Colman, Copper's director of planning, who served as a project manager for Solitude during the summer of 1972.

Colman said that, aside from a few modifications such as lift technology changes and an alternate location of the Shuttle Road, today's village area and mountain maps closely resemble the original master plan. “I think Chuck Lewis would be proud of what this place has become,” said Colman. Lewis formed the Thick and Thin Lumber Company to mill trees from trail cutting into the lumber that was used to construct the original buildings.

The cover of Copper's first trail map proclaimed: “Copper Mountain's for the Powder Buffs,” and described amenities that Copper planned to offer in the years to come: a complete village complex with condominiums, lodges, shops and restaurants, a ski school, an 18-hole golf course, convention center and more — and all of these amenities are available today and appeal to an enormous range of guests.

In the first year of operation, the daily lift ticket price was $7.50 and season passes went for $140; these accessed five lifts servicing 20 numbered runs (later they would be named through a trail-naming competition), and 120,463 skiers rode the lifts that year. Copper Junction was open for lodging and retail for the 1973 winter season.

Snowboarders wouldn't be allowed until 1987, beginning with the Copper Mountain Snowboard Series, currently the nation's longest-running amateur snowboard series.

Lewis served as president of the resort until 1982. Super Bee lift — Colorado's first six-passenger, high-speed lift — opened more of the east side of the mountain in 1988-89, and the resort installed Excelerator lift and built Copper Station and Copper Springs Lodge that same year. Copper constructed two more chairlifts, Mountain Chief in 1995 and Black Jack in 1997, adding 600 acres in Copper Bowl and Tucker Mountain.

According to the resort, skier visits jumped from 770,973 during the 1994-95 season to 967,074 during the 1995-96 season. In 1997 the resort was purchased by Intrawest. The construction of the Village at Copper in 1999 marked the beginning of the area's current landscape.

“For me it's really been about the people,” said Colman, who has 40 years of service at Copper. “It's [about] working with folks that are passionate about the mountain lifestyle,” he said. “The natural beauty of the place even today still kinda knocks my socks off.”

Timeline

 

Summer 1971- Mountain construction begins.

Winter 1971 - Copper Mountain Resort opens with only snowcat operations.

Winter 1972 - Copper Mountain opens for skiing (no riding until 1987) with 5 lifts and 20 trails.

Fall 1975 - First snowmaking at Copper Mountain Resort

Winter 1983-84 - Year of huge snow, 432 inches, 151 inches in December alone

Winter 1987 - Copper hosts the first annual Copper Mountain Snowboard Series, which currently stands as the nation's longest running amateur snowboard series.

Spring 1988 - First halfpipe at Copper Mountain built in Union Bowl

Winter 1995 - Copper Bowl opens.

Winter 1998 - Copper Mountain opens the Super Bee, Colorado's first six-passenger, high speed lift. Copper also makes significant snowmaking improvements and opens the Excelerator lift, Copper Station and Copper Springs Lodge.

Summer 1999 - Ground is officially broken on the new Village at Copper.

Winter 2002 - The opening of Passage Point marks the completion of the Village at Copper.

Winter 2004 - The Cirque opens, offering Copper's first quarter-share platinum-rated property.

Winter 2009 - The resort opens Woodward at Copper, a snowboard and ski training facility dedicated to park and pipe progression.

Winter 2011 - Copper partners with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) to create the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, an exclusive on-snow alpine ski racing venue designed to provide full-length downhill training by early November each season. This is the only training facility of its kind available worldwide during this time of year.

Summer 2011 - Copper upgrades the High Point Lift (1976) to the Union Creek High Speed Quad.

Summer 2012 - Copper installs the Alpine Rush Zip Line, where guests can soar 30 mph, 30 feet above West Lake year round.

Winter 2012 - The Grand Prix elevates to World Cup status, bringing international recognition in ski and snowboard halfpipe and slopestyle competition to Copper Mountain Resort.