Elusive Summit County ponderosa pine bears fruit after 10 years

#Colorado

Courtesy Summit Daily News

Summit Daily News Link

An environmental enigma in Keystone at least a decade in the making was finally cracked this past week, and the unpredictable event could have ramifications for generations to come.

The ponderosa pine features prominently across the Western United States, but within Summit County is a bit of an arboreal marvel. The thick, orange-barked conifer that's been called "a Clint Eastwood of a tree" due to its lean, rugged appearance is hidden in plain sight, and a singular patch is nearly all that remains of the mysterious foliage in the Dillon Ranger District.

Actually locating the slender evergreen locally, however, requires finding a pine needle in a tree stack of its cousin — the omnipresent lodgepole. But in spite of environmental challenges, sustain the tree has, even if its lone site of any significance in the area only makes up about 10 acres near the county landfill.

"It's maybe 100-to-120 trees total, so it's pretty small," said Sarah Pearson, the reforestation guru of the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest. "In terms of forest, that's nothing. And in fact, looking at the imagery, it's hardly considered a forested stand."

Which is why the 30-year timber improvement specialist — 22 of them here in the region's national forest — has been eagerly watching the diminutive tree collective for years with some optimism. The hope was that it would finally bear fruit in the form of a quality pine cone crop and she could help aid its long-term survival should a catastrophic incident like a large-scale wildfire ever strike the last group of holdouts.

Fifteen years since the previous harvest, the county's last group of holdouts on public lands at long last complied and rewarded the patience with 16 bushels of cones. The consenting act will now ensure the tree's prolonged existence.

"I think I've been trying to collect cones there for 10 years," said Pearson. "This is why it was kind of a big deal for me. You always have to kind of pay attention and take advantage of all the opportunities that you get."

Due to U.S. Forest Service constraints, transferring seeds from one zone or wilderness district to another is forbidden, so mining what's already there is one of the few options to eventually restore a species. The largest quantity of ponderosa in the White River, between 200 and 300 acres, lives in the neighboring Eagle District north of Dotsero, for instance, but because those trees are at a lower altitude they are not fully adapted to survive in Summit County.

The experts say maintaining a mixed forest is key to safeguarding against total loss if either an ailment or hungry insect rolls through town with a particular craving. It makes the ecosystem more resilient, especially for the limited variety within the Dillon District, and in the specific case of the ponderosa it has the added benefit of being both fairly drought- and fire-resistant.

"In the arid, high-elevation mountain, we have less species to begin with that can live here," explained Bill Jackson, ranger for the Dillon District. "So we're already starting at a lower diversity level compared to the Northeast, Southeast or Southwest. That's why this pocket of ponderosa is pretty important, and if we can help it along it allows us to maintain that diversity."

To do that, though, seed must first be obtained and sent off for processing, seedling production and seed bank storage at the federal agency's tree nursery in Nebraska. And before the fortuitous collection last week, the previous ponderosa seed from the area stemmed from the 1960s and was fully exhausted during prior replanting efforts at two forest campgrounds in the district.

Why the ponderosa pine has struggled so mightily in the area is somewhat puzzling as well. The tree tends to thrive in hot, drier climates and can grow at elevations approaching 10,000 feet.

That it's also seemingly taken to the one site in Keystone is equally curious. Anecdotally, forest staff theorizes that the Tenderfoot Mountain area is often the first to dry out on the county's north end each year from the amount of direct sunlight.

"I call it 'The banana belt of Summit County,'" said Jackson. "It just seems hotter and sunnier right there in Dillon, though it is pretty bizarre. But it's probably one of the reasons why they're still there — the habitat is good for it."

Extracting the seeds and yielding starter trees for eventual reforestation activities takes two years unto itself, and Pearson isn't sure yet when she'll file the formal request. Once ready though, selecting where to plant the trees to give them their best chance at success is the next decision — one that also comes with consequential implications because, again, it's unclear the next time the mature trees will offer another chance to stockpile more cones.

"Everyone wants to know, 'What are you going to do with it?'" she said. "It's hard to say, but the big thing is just to have it, and we should have seed for another 10-to-20 years now, at least. But when you get something good, you have to take advantage of it because theoretically you may not have another chance for eight (to 10) years."

White River National Forest officials reiterate guidelines for E-bikes

#Colorado

Summit Daily News

Summit Daily News Link

Because of an increase in the use of electric bicycles, or E-bikes, officials at White River National Forest are reminding riders to make sure they know when the vehicles are appropriate.

According to a news release, E-bikes are allowed only on designated motorized routes shown on the Motor Vehicle Use maps, including National Forest System roads and trails that are open to all vehicles. Certain roads and trails may only be open during specific times of the year.

Additionally, E-bike riders should stay on designated roads and trails that open to E-bikes; minimize wheel spin and avoid roosting around the apex of turns when climbing or brake-sliding during descent, both of which gouge the trail; and drive over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trail.

E-bikes should also slow down when lines of sight are poor, cross streams only at designated fording points, obey all posted signs and respect barriers.

The best source for information can be found on the White River National Forest Motor Vehicle Use maps. Hard copies are available at all forest offices and are posted online at fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/home/?cid=stelprdb5328680.

Best fall hikes for aspen leaves in Summit County (before they’re gone!)

#Colorado

Courtesy Summit Daily News

Summit Daily News Link

I'd always heard that aspen trees were classic Colorado, that their colors would be awe-inspiring. Humbling. It seems like just yesterday that summer arrived and the aspens started to finally bloom in rich, verdant hues. Now, every fresh morning turns them more rusted, golden. Soon enough, sidewalks, roads and trails will have more leaves than the trees themselves. Fall is rushing by.

For those who feel the urge to be completely submerged in this golden scenery, this hiking guide is for you.

SURPRISE LAKE, EAGLESMERE LOOP

My backpack feels like a ton of bricks as I start a steady climb through thick aspen groves.

These are some of the most thick, burly aspen trees I've ever seen — so thick I can barely clasp my hands around their trunks (insert tree-hugger joke). The aspens closest to the trail are engraved with hiker script.

Within 20 minutes, I break from the trees for views of the parking lot and Lower Cataract Lake. I squint, barely able to make out my car below. There's a brief stretch of open vantage points, then back into a deep aspen and pine forest.

As I walk the trail, I'm kicking up golden leaves. Like ornaments, aspen leaves rest on the boughs of fir and pine trees. It all feels magical, and more so when the wind picks up, sending whispers through the forest.

I descend deeper into the forest, where it becomes heavily shaded, mossy and dank. I choose to take a 1.5-mile out-and-back detour to Eaglesmere Lake. This takes about 35 minutes and brings some decent elevation gain.

Returning to the Gore Range Trail from Eaglesmere Lake, I head towards Tipperary Lake. Surrounding me are plenty of streams, miniature waterfalls and alpine wetlands, dazzling in sunlight. During this section of the trail there are a series of footbridges to skip across — or walk, whatever bridges compel you to do.

Breathtaking views greet me as I descend from the thick woods. I can see unbelievably jagged peaks, with and Tipperary Lake resting just under 10,000 feet. From this point I weave through dense pine forests, shaded by their enormous heights.

After about 1.5 miles I reach Tipperary Lake, surrounded by sheer rock wall and alpine wetlands. I take my pack off at the lake's opening and walk the social trail that encompasses Tipperary. Plenty of colorful fish dance underneath the surface, camouflaged by the tall grass in the water. This is to be my camping spot for the night, and I have the whole lake to myself.

I eat my breakfast looking out toward Tipperary and it is hard to convince myself to hit the trail again. Serious elevation gain greets me ahead as I move toward Surprise Lake some 3 miles away.

There are not many openings for views in this stretch, just the serenity and silence of the aspen and pine forest again. This push is tough, but reaching Surprise Lake is most definitely a reward. I return and the traffic on the trail starts to pick up significantly. Soon enough I've come full circle returning to the parking area near Lower Cataract.

Get there: To access the Surprise Lake, Eaglesmere Loop, enter I-70 and take exit 205 for Silverthorne. From here, hop on Highway 9 and head north for about 17 miles. Make sure to be on the lookout for Heeney Road on the left. I missed the turn — it's hard to pull your eyes from those mountains, most of them unnamed in the Eagle's Nest Wilderness.

Take Heeney Road for about 5 miles to a left onto Cataract Creek Road. The trailhead awaits about 2 miles down this gravel road.

WHEELER LAKES

For the first 3 miles or so, the Wheeler Lakes Trail follows the Gore Range Trail with some serious elevation gain. I am thankful to be carrying my daypack for this hike, instead of my 65 liter Osprey.

Not more than an hour into the hike I enter a warm forest of aspen trees. Although there is a high concentration of trees in this section of trail, the wind pushes through. The breeze is delightfully audible.

Dancing and rotating on their stems, the aspen leaves make a sound unlike any other leaf. Perhaps it's their dry, paper-like texture that lends this beautiful sound — as repetitious and soothing as the ocean tide.

The aspens here were bent from the wind, curving toward each other on either side of Wheeler Lakes Trail. For some time I walk the middle of this golden tunnel. It's easy to follow and relatively flat for a change.

I welcome a break in the trees, offering views of Copper Mountain ski area below and the Tenmile Range to the east.

From this expansive viewpoint it's another quarter mile to Wheeler Lakes, and in about five minutes I reach their deep reflections: cumulous clouds resting in a bluebird sky are mirrored in the still, serious lakes.

From this point, it's another 2 miles to Lost Lake and 3 miles to Uneva Pass. I decide the lakes are reward enough and that I'll wait for an Osprey-pack day to reach these upper points on the map.

Get there: This trail is ridiculously easy to access from I-70 and became a favorite summer spot of mine. From the interstate, take Exit 196 at the scenic overlook. There are plenty of parking spaces here to choose from with easy access to the trail.

ANGLER MOUNTAIN

Even in September clusters of wildflowers run along the trail like a delicate fence. The trail quickly enters a grove of aspens and lodgepole. Like stained-glass windows, the aspen leaves pour golden light onto the trail.

What a stark contrast between the rich blue sky — not a cloud — and the deep, warm hues of the forests. Some of the trees are yellow, others a vibrant red or orange. A few trees are a rare mixture of colors. Meanwhile, leaning in the wind, the lodgepole pines creak like the staircase in an old house.

The Angler Mountain Trail is a jaunt and quickly opens up to views of the Gore Range and Silverthorne. Upon reaching the Ptarmigan Trail, there are opportunities to keep hiking in this WIlderness area for a backpacking stint. That, too, is for an Osprey pack day.

Get there: Also near SIlverthorne, the Angler Mountain Trail is north on Highway 9 for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Bald Eagle Road, and head for about 0.5 miles toward the trailhead, which is on the right.

BY THE NUMBERS

SURPRISE LAKE, EAGLESMERE LOOP

Length: Roughly 11 miles round-trip (without detours to the Eaglesmere or Tipperary lakes)

Time: About 10-12 hours, depending on experience (backpacking is suggested)

Elevation gain: Roughly 1,673 feet

WHEELER LAKES

Length: Roughly 6 miles round-trip

Time: About 3-4 hours, depending on experience

Elevation gain: Roughly 1,408 feet

ANGLER MOUNTAIN

Length: Roughly 5 miles round-trip

Time: About 2-3 hours, depending on experience

Elevation gain: Roughly 1,200 feet

Hyperloop One coming to Summit County?

#Colorado

Hyperloop One

Summit Daily News Link

What seems like a far-out, sci-fi mode of transportation hit home Thursday as Colorado was named one of the 10 finalists for the Hyperloop One competition to build a vacuum-sealed tunnel that will shoot pods between Cheyenne, Denver and Pueblo at up to 700 miles per hour.

But don't get too hyped about the trip just yet. The Los Angeles firm Hyperloop One, which sponsored the competition, now moves to the next phase where it will invest its own time and resources to narrow down the candidates. Colorado, however, may have the advantage. The company liked Colorado's proposal so much, it announced that it is partnering with the state's Department of Transportation to work on a feasibility study to build the futuristic transportation system anyway.

"Now that we've been named a winner and I'll put air quotes around that, we're setting up the model for a public-private partnership," Shailen Bhatt, CDOT's executive director. "There's a chance that this doesn't come to fruition. But I'm sure there were a lot of people who told the Wright brothers they would never fly. Or transcontinental railroads wouldn't work. We have significant challenges in both public safety, freight and congestion issues and if there's technology out there that can help us solve it, it's our (duty) to explore it."

Iron Springs bike path detour in place near Frisco

#Summit #Colorado

Summit Daily News Link

The Colorado Department of Transportation is temporarily re-routing bike path traffic along southbound Highway 9 near the Iron Springs bypass to the newly constructed Blue Mountain Bikeway.

The Dickey Connector Path will serve as the detour until construction crews complete the remaining bike path, which will travel through an underpass at the north end of Iron Springs.

The detour began on Wednesday, Sept. 13, and will remain in place until construction is completed. During that time, path users should expect to be temporarily stopped by flaggers at times. Temporary detour signs will be in place to guide users.

For additional information about Iron Springs project, call the project information line at 970-401-0901 or email the team at CDOTIronSprings@gmail.com.

Top six drives to see fall foliage near Breckenridge, Colorado

#Colorado

Special to the Summit Daily

Summit Daily News Link

The month of September is one of the best times of the year to visit the High Country when it comes to breathtaking views. An explosion of reds, oranges and yellows from the fall foliage transforms the landscape into an artist's palette. As locals know, the aspen leaves change suddenly and dramatically, and then in the same fashion, disappear. If you blink, you'll miss it.

There are many places in and near Summit County for spectacular fall foliage viewing, and it just depends on whom you ask as to which one is the best.

1.) BOREAS PASS

Elevation: 11,488 feet

Boreas Pass in Breckenridge is an option for phenomenal views year-round, but even more so this time of year. The road is open to vehicles during the summer, or park in the lot and hike or bike up. The road has a gradual ascent to the summit, making it a relatively easy hike. Boreas offers an expansive view of the Blue River Valley and the Ten Mile Range, and also boasts views of Breckenridge Ski Resort.

"Boreas Pass showcases the best of both worlds, panoramic views and tight clusters of golden aspen," said Rachel Zerowin with the Breckenridge Tourism Office. "You can drive the road or explore the singletrack, and both options give you that tunnel feel, with the changing leaves on all sides."

In the late 1800s, early 1900s, the road was used as a narrow-gauge railroad, running from Breckenridge to Como. Closed to motor vehicles in the winter, the gravel road is drivable in the summer with any passenger vehicle. The pass is approximately 6.6 miles one-way, and it's a popular spot for both summer and winter recreation.

General directions: In Breckenridge, follow Main Street to the south end of town (toward Blue River). At the southern end of town limits, turn left onto Boreas Pass Road (also known as County Road 10). Follow road for 3.5 miles to Bakers Tank Trailhead, with parking on the left, or continue on the road to drive over the pass.

2.) TOP OF THE ROCKIES NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY

In Summit County, the Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway starts at Copper Mountain and travels over Fremont Pass to Leadville, where travelers can take one route to Granite or, to loop back to Summit, follow the extension to Tennessee Pass, through Camp Hale, Red Cliff and Minturn, and back to I-70 East.

"That's a gorgeous drive," said Carly Holbrook, director of public relations at the Colorado Tourism Office. "There's a lot of aspen on that route and a lot of wide-open spaces where you get expansive views of 14ers and fall colors."

General directions: From Summit County, start the Top of the Rockies at Copper Mountain. Take CO-91 South to Leadville. At Leadville, there is an extension that continues south, or take US-24 West all the way to Minturn.

3.) HOOSIER PASS

Elevation: 11,542 feet

Distance from Frisco: 30 minutes; 20 miles

A route many Park County dwellers drive every day to get to Summit for work, Hoosier Pass separates the two counties. There is a large parking lot at the top of the pass for picture taking, as well as hiking trails for the adventurous.

"The wonderful thing about going to Hoosier Pass is it's one of the highest passes in Colorado that you can actually drive to with a solid road that's paved," said Veronica Anderson-Bodnar, a sales clerk with the South Park Historical Museum and Visitor Center. "You can look over onto Summit County, you can also look over into Park County. Right on the top of that is Montgomery Reservoir. Montgomery Reservoir is a really nice place to go on a short hike — it's not a very difficult hike. It's also a great picture place; they have waterfalls there and you can actually fish."

General directions from Frisco: Follow CO-9 about 20 miles south. The pass straddles the line between Summit and Park counties.

4.) GUANELLA PASS

Elevation: 11,670 feet

Distance from Frisco: 1 hour; 39.5 miles via I-70

Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway is a 23-mile route through Pike and Arapaho national forest land that links Georgetown and Grant. From Georgetown, about 10 miles of the road is paved, with the remaining 12 to Grant unpaved, according to the town of Georgetown's website. Although maintained for passenger vehicles, slower speeds will be required. Guanella Pass is a less busy tourist destination because the road is rugged, Holbrook said.

Along the byway, catch views of Gray's and Torrey's peaks, both Colorado 14ers.

General directions: Follow I-70 East to Georgetown. Take exit 228, drive to Guanella Pass Road

5.) KENOSHA PASS

Elevation: 9,997 feet

Distance from Frisco: 1 hour, 10 minutes; 52 miles

Take a drive through Park County toward Denver along Highway 285 to hit Kenosha Pass. The Colorado Trail crosses the summit of Kenosha Pass, and there are many hiking and biking trails nearby to take in the scene. There is a large parking lot at the top of the pass to stop, but it is super busy this time of year, especially on the weekends, so watch for slowing traffic and pedestrians when getting close to the top.

"This time of year, if you can drive (Kenosha Pass) during off-peak times, is probably the best advice I can give — for any of these drives really," Holbrook said. "If you're hitting them on the weekends, try to go really early in the morning, which is actually really gorgeous for photography if you can hit some of these areas for sunrise."

Directions: From Frisco or Breckenridge, follow CO-9 South toward Fairplay. Once in Fairplay, turn left onto US-285 north. Follow 285 to Colorado Trail, turn right.

6.) KEBLER PASS

Elevation: 10,007 feet

Distance from Frisco: 3 hour, 45 min; 182 miles

The West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway includes the 30-mile Kebler Pass road, and travels through the towns of Crested Butte, Gunnison, Montrose and Carbondale. The route also runs through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park between Montrose and Gunnison. Although a decent drive from Summit County, Kebler Pass boasts major aspen.

"Kebler Pass between Crested Butte and Paonia has the largest aspen grove in Colorado," Holbrook said. "It's probably our most iconic scenic fall drives. You also get McClure Pass on that drive, which is also stunning."

The whole historic byway loop is 205 miles and takes around six to eight hours.

Directions: Follow I-70 West to CO-91 South. Take exit 195 for CO-91 South toward Copper Mountain/Leadville. Take US-50 West to N. Main St. in Gunnison. Take CO-135 North to Co Rd 12.

OTHER OPTIONS

Travelers looking for a day trip can take a loop to combine Loveland Pass, Guanella Pass and Kenosha Pass. From Silverthorne, follow US-6 East, passing Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and over Loveland, hop on I-70 East to Georgetown, hit Guanella Pass, then Kenosha. From Kenosha Pass, take US-285 back to Fairplay, and hop on CO-9 North back to Breckenridge.

For a less heavily traveled thoroughfare, try Ute Pass Road north of Silverthorne. Follow CO-9 North for about 15 miles from Silverthorne before turning right on Ute Pass Road.

For those looking to stay close to town and get out of the car, Vanessa Agee, marketing and communications director with the town of Frisco, recommends hiking the Perimeter Trail in Frisco. That area has been heavily logged due to the pine beetle, resulting in expanding aspen groves and incredible views, she said.

"The views from the Perimeter Trail and from the top of the ridge are amazing," she said. "First you see Ptarmigan Mountain and the changing aspen there, then you see the area around Wildernest and below Buffalo (Mountain), and then you see views of the aspen below Peak One above Frisco. It was the most broad and expansive view of changing aspen that I have likely ever seen."

Access the trail from the new, paved parking lot at the entrance to the Frisco Adventure Park (intersection of Peninsula Road and Recreation Way).

During the prime leaf-peeping season, “you can't really go wrong with any of the mountain passes," Holbrook said, although that could change quickly with a cold snap or big snow.

Disclaimer: These are generalized directions from Google Maps, and do not include every single turn. So don't get lost and blame us.

Originally published in September 2015 and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Frisco saves historic cabin in exchange for zoning waivers for condo project

#Frisco #Colorado

Summit Daily News Photo

Summit Daily News Link

Bob Deming, born in Frisco in 1907, was only a teenager when he shot his eye out trying to fix an old rifle he found at the Giberson Ranch.

A trip up Fremont Pass in the dead of winter saved his life, and despite the missing eye, he went on to be one of the best marksmen in town.

Bob died in 1963, but his story typifies the Demings, a hardscrabble bunch that came to Frisco in the 1890s and later became known for setting off big boxes of explosives every 4th of July at 4 a.m.

A bit of their history, however, might have been wiped from the town were it not for a zoning deal struck with a developer that will preserve one of the small Deming family cabins on the corner of 5th Avenue and the Galena Street alley.

The project won town council approval last month. It was the first time the town had used a historic overlay district, where developers earn zoning waivers in exchange for preserving old buildings.

Members of the town staff say it provides a model for how a town with almost nonexistent rules for historical preservation might hang on to some its oldest and quirkiest buildings.

"I do think this process worked the way it was intended to," community development director Joyce Allgaier said. "These decisions can become hard because there are trade-offs involved … but the outcome was that we were able to save this historic building."

The project, called Deming Crossing, will consist of four townhouse units in two separate buildings. The town exempted developer Jamie Haass from a requirement that he reserve the fourth unit for workforce housing and also approved waivers for the building's mass and setbacks.

In exchange, Haass will move the cabin with a crane to a more prominent spot on the lot and fix it up according to U.S. Department of Interior preservation standards. It will be incorporated into the final development and feature a plaque commemorating its history.

"The cabin was just sitting there for years and years on this cold, dark space, but now it's going to be revitalized," Allgaier said. "If the building went away, we would've lost its stories."

That has been the fate of many of Frisco's old buildings over the years, as the town's hands-off approach to preservation runs up against scarce land and the need to build.

Like any property owner in town, Haass had the right to scrap the old cabin, built around 1936 with old telephone poles. That contrasts with preservation policies of other mountain towns, including Breckenridge, where certain historic buildings are protected.

"Frisco did not adopt mandatory preservation requirements like some communities did," Allgaier said. "So what we've done instead is provide the carrot instead of the stick" through zoning incentives.

The trade-offs that requires can be tricky. Councilwoman Deborah Shaner, for one, was not convinced that the arrangement was worth waiving a workforce-housing unit. She was the lone 'no' vote against the re-zoning last month.

If perhaps an imperfect deal, the re-zoning is a promising proof-of-concept for future developments, including a proposed hotel adjacent to the Foote's Rest property on Main Street, Allgaier said.

Owner Kelly Foote has acquired the historic Staley House next door, and plans on incorporating it into a hotel development. Once his design drafts are complete, he will go through the same historic overlay negotiations with the town.

"Frisco doesn't have a long history of historical preservation as part of its development ethos," Allgaier said. "But I think people are starting to talk about it more and worry about community character, and historic preservation plays a role in that. Frisco has a lot of old, funky buildings, and people want to save them."

Breckenridge Town Council takes look at 2018 budget

#Breckenridge #Colorado

Summit Daily News Link

The Breckenridge Town Council will begin crafting its 2018 budget on Tuesday with a list of proposed capital projects that offer a glimpse into what residents might expect in the near future and some of the choices council will have to make.

Tuesday's budget retreat is expected to be an almost seven-hour marathon work session for town council, and the agenda calls for deliberations on the proposed budget to begin at noon and wrap up right before council's regular meeting at 7 that night.

Most basically, the town's budget can be broken down into two key components, operating expenses and capital projects. Operating expenses cover day-to-day costs — think police and snow plows — while the capital fund, which comes from the town's excise fund, is generally used to pay for one-time expenses like new construction.

It should be noted the proposed budget is only a working draft, and what survives and what doesn't remains to be seen.

REC IN BRECK

Altogether, the Breckenridge Recreation Department is seeking $1.9 million for capital projects in 2018. However, one of the listed projects is also lumped into a new green category, and only $1.3 million of the aforementioned total is expected to come out of the capital fund.

The lion's share of the money — more than $1.6 million — would go toward developing Oxbow Park, adjacent to the Denison Placer housing projects. According to the proposed budget, the town has already been awarded a $350,000 grant for the new park and will be reimbursed upon completion of the project.

The proposed construction work at Oxbow Park includes new infrastructure such as restrooms with water and sewer connections, a new path and a bridge connection to an existing recreation path, in addition to some play features.

Additionally, the rec department is seeking $100,000 to replace a 25-year-old outdoor hot tub and replace indoor water features.

There's another $150,000 in the proposed budget for new indoor lights at the ice rink, an upgrade that's directly linked to the town's goal of having all its facilities powered by 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025.

The rec department's wish list for 2018 also looks to throw some shade on the skate park — but not in the way some might think — as the proposed budget includes $70,000 for a new shade structure there.

The structure would give people who use the park a nice place to get out of the sun, rain or whatever weather conditions there might be that day, according to the budget, while still being able to keep close eyes on the skate park, a nearby playground and the recreation center's turf field.

TRAFFIC, ROADS AND A WATER PLANT

Breckenridge Public Works is seeking $2.8 million for a host of projects, including $850,000 for roadway resurfacing, $950,000 for roadway improvements at the McCain Property and $500,000 to rebuild the Ski Hill wall.

Other projects the department would like to secure funding for next year are the South Barton drainage design ($150,000), a fence for the rec center's parking lot ($100,000) and a Carriage House remodel ($300,000).

Down the road, the department is looking to spend $5.5 million to put a lobby in at the Riverwalk Center, but that request is not included in the list for 2018 and instead is scheduled to come before council in 2021.

Additionally, the proposed budget calls for more than $1 million in parking and transportation projects. Among them are new transit stop shelters and pedestrian improvements at Four O'clock Road, Village Road and the F-lot parking area.

The proposed expenditure for a new parking structure — which town council recently decided to pursue at the Tiger Dredge parking lot — is only listed with a question mark in place of the expected cost. Still, it's in the 2018 column of the five-year plan, and design work is underway.

Boosting the parking and transportation funding is the lift tax passed by voters in November 2015. The proposed budget forecasts revenue from the tax on lift tickets to come in at $3.5 million in 2018 and increase by about $70,000 per year over the next five years, putting the total contributed to town coffers at about $18.5 million over the next five years.

Councilman Mike Dudick has said that money could give the town a bonding potential as high as $70 million for parking and transportation upgrades.

Still, the biggest capital project the town is expected to pursue in 2018 is the construction of a new water treatment plant, which will cost upward of $50 million and be paid for largely by a loan.

GOING GREEN FOR 2018

A town-created task force that produced a road map for powering Breckenridge with 100 percent renewable electricity but struggled to get the resolutions it wanted from council this summer can take some satisfaction in this budget proposal.

The biggest problem for the council that generally supports green initiatives was committing to dual resolutions without more information on a clear path for achieving those goals.

As council was weighing the proposed energy resolutions, the task force was sent back to work on the proposal, and they returned with more information.

Ultimately, council wouldn't support one of the resolutions committing the entire town to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035, but council did pass the other resolution of having all town facilities powered this way by 2025 after changing the word "commitment" to "goal."

While the task force couldn't get both of the resolutions it wanted, its members have gotten some money for the effort in the proposed 2018 budget and even more funding for the effort in the five-year capital plan.

In that plan, the town is looking to commit $330,000 to those expenditures this year. This includes the aforementioned lighting upgrades at the ice rink, with another $150,000 for new LED lights at the town's ball field. The proposed budget also calls for $50,000 for a solar connect purchase and the five-year plan forecasts Breckenridge spending just under $1 million total between 2018 and 2022.

Town council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The complete budget proposal can be found on the town's website.

Plans for next year’s Colorado Classic are already starting. Where does Velorama stand after bumpy debut?

#Colorado

Courtesy Denver Post

Denver Post Link

A couple weeks after the inaugural running of the Colorado Classic, race chairman Ken Gart is making plans for next year with tweaks to the size of the Velorama Festival in RiNo, new host cities in the mountains and, perhaps, a new television model.

DP: So you said there were “three distinct successes” for your debut year? Tell us.

“Number one was the race. The race got a huge amount of accolades. We said we were going to do it differently for an American audience. I think point-to-point racing is not as interesting for an American audience and we proved that because we did circuits. Back to the history of the Pro Challenge, we thought that was something that worked better. It was a better economic model for the cities, with a better bed base and the restaurants fill up. Better for the audience and spectators because they see the riders multiple times. We heard that loud and clear and I think we proved that. The six-man team worked out to be good too. People seemed to like that. It was a little more interesting and a little less predictable. I think the racing was a home run.

Secondly, the music festival was very positive as well. There was great energy and excitement and I think the music alone was very, very successful.

Thirdly, I think RiNo turned out to be a big success. That was a real challenge for the team because I think the city worked hard to make sure we didn’t hurt businesses or inconvenience homeowners and that was a heavy, heavy lift for the team. Our feedback from the RiNo’s Brewers Association … is that every single person wanted it back next year. In general the feedback we got was that restaurants were busy, business was generally good.”

DP: What didn’t work?

“The challenges, for sure there were plenty of problems with the logistics. I got there on Friday night and we had really, really long beer lines. We had port-a-potty problems. We had logistical challenges that the team responded, too — certainly not perfectly but the beer lines and the restroom situation was better on Saturday than it was on Friday. Most importantly we can fix all those problems easily for next year.

But the biggest overall miss was the size of the footprint. It was just too large. To get from expo to the start-finish to another area all the way to the Flea and the music stage … it was just way too big. But ironically that’s something that cannot only be fixed, but we can save a boatload of money because if we put up less barricades … we will dramatically reduce our footprint and that will be a much better experience. The magic that we wanted to create where you see the music and hear the music and see the activity and the expo and you see the bike racers, we didn’t create that magic because the footprint was too big and that’s kind of the most disappointing thing.”

DP: Heading into the race you said your investment team “had a long runway” and they were willing to be patient as the race develops. Now that you’ve decompressed and absorbed the race, is the runway still long?

“Yeah. We have not gotten final numbers yet. But the feedback has been excellent. I think every investor is excited about what we did. The one thing that was most universal is that people were amazed by the scale and the ambition of the project. Which is both good and bad. It’s good because it’s cool to do something bold and ambitious and I’m proud of that. But the scale was big that is created some flaws, because we had trouble executing with that footprint. But everybody has been very positive. Sponsors too, they seem to be universally wanting to do more.”

DP: So there will be a next year?

“Yeah we are working our tail off right now to solidify that and I think it will happen. For sure the footprint will be shrunk in RiNo. But it will not be in the Springs or Breckenridge. They like the every-other-year model and that’s been our plan since the start. Some of these cities do not want to put the budget out every year, but if they can do it every other year they can still get the benefit, plan it out, use their budgets for other things. We are going to talk to Vail and Aspen and many other communities to and see if they are interested.”

DP: It was fun having women announcers, with Olympian Kristin Armstrong and Susie Wargin. I thought I’d miss Dave Towle, but the women were great. Although I did miss someone screaming “he’s a wattage cottage!”

“That had never been done before. I think it’s inspiring to have all women announcers. If we can attract more women to the sport and get more young girls to pay attention that’s pretty cool. Not doing the podium girls was another thing. I think that’s more modern and reflective to what America is about, you know.”

DP: You got sideways with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency when you invited Lance Armstrong to bring his webcast to the race. Was that a good call or a mistake?

“I can say both of those are true. It was a good call and a mistake.”

DP: Did you ever ponder challenging USADA’s demand to yank Lancefrom the sponsored race coverage?

“We didn’t want to fight that fight. They could shut us down. Still, he came and he wasn’t required to come.”

DP: Like the Pro Challenge, the race was plagued with television coverage issues, with relay planes grounded and lost signals. How can you fix TV for next year?

“I do not have the answer to that question. We are broadcasting at a higher elevation than any other race in the world. It’s a hard one. But I do think there’s another model out there besides NBC. I don’t know what that model is. We will obviously talk to NBC — we have a contractual obligation to talk with NBC — but I think in the age of YouTube and cellphone technology and crowd-sourcing, maybe there is a different model. I’m not an expert on that. David (Koff, the race co-founder) knows more about that stuff. Maybe we get a ton more motorcycles. What about drones? How much would that save? You would think that’s where things are going to go. Bring the costs down and bring the quality of the coverage up. I think we have opportunities here to look at other models.”

Will Summit County see above-average snowfall this winter? It depends on who you ask

#Colorado

Courtesy The Old Farmer's Almanac

Summit Daily News Link

Whether it's "The Old Farmer's Almanac" or meteorologists pointing to the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, most early predictions call for a colder, snowy winter this year. However, at least one local expert believes it's unwise to count any inches before they actually fall.

Since 1792, the Farmer's Almanac has published information on myriad topics, things like the tide tables for fishermen, sunrise and planting charts for farmers, recipes for cooks and, of course, its ever-popular, long-range weather forecasts.

The almanac stands as North America's oldest continuously published periodical, and stays far away from hot-button issues like politics, first-person essays or anecdotal stories. Rather, the almanac's "main endeavor is to be useful, but with a pleasant degree of humor," a mission statement that's been a mainstay of the publication for more than two centuries.

The Farmer's Almanac comes out every year in September, and its weather predictions, made 18 months in advance, are some of the books most well-read pages. According to the publisher, these projections have been found to be about 80 percent accurate.

That sounds like a good bet, but no one should take the book to the bank.

According to the almanac, the Intermountain Region — stretching from Arizona to Washington state — is in store for a colder, wet winter.

"Breckenridge Ski Resort welcomes the news of a potentially snowier-than-normal winter season this year," wrote Zak Sos, the resort's communications manager, in an email.

"Typically Breckenridge's high altitude offers a longer ski season than most major resorts in the United States," he continued. "We're looking forward to kicking off the winter ski and snowboard season on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017."

And there's more where that forecast came from. Not related to the Farmer's Almanac, some meteorologists such as Chris Tomer with FOX31 Denver are pointing to the El-Niño-Southern Oscillation as a likely factor for a winter with above-average precipitation for much of the country.

As such, Tomer is predicting that Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho could see "normal to above-normal snowfall this winter at the ski areas."

ENSO is a naturally occurring fluctuation of ocean temperatures near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Warmer waters basically oscillate back and forth across the Pacific, and the phenomenon is known to cause variations in regional climate patterns.

Featured at OnTheSnow.com, Tomer's take offers optimism and caution for skiers: "Keep in mind this is an early season, broad-brush forecast. It's important to watch ocean temperatures in September and make adjustments. This forecast might be helpful if you're booking a Christmas or winter ski trip. The Intermountain West is trending in a wet direction, but the wildcard for early season ski trips will hinge on temperature trends."

Other meteorologists like Joel Gratz, however, are urging winter enthusiasts to refrain from making any plans based on any of these long-term forecasts.

Gratz is credited with helping to create OpenSnow.com, a website that's quickly become one of the premier resources for tracking Colorado's powder days, and Gratz said people can't take these kinds of weather predictions too seriously.

"In a nutshell, long-range forecasts that attempt to predict snow three to six months away are not useful because they are rarely accurate and, even if they are accurate in saying that we'll have above-average or below-average snowfall, they can't tell us when the snow will fall during the season," he said. "Thus people cannot plan to ski during certain times when they know the snow will be best."

In a recent piece he wrote for his website, Gratz notes that none the long-term forecasts released in the fall of 2016 that he's seen accurately predicted last year's massive snow dumps on Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which is home to three ski areas. Nor did they see many of the deep powder days in the Pacific Northwest, Utah or Colorado coming, he added, especially in December and January, the heart of the ski season.

"In the fall of 2016, I looked back at the predictions for the 2015-2016 season and concluded that most forecasters were not accurate in their outlooks for the season ahead," Gratz wrote. "Fast forward one year to now, the fall of 2017, and I am basically writing the same article as I did last season."

Gratz said he believes there may come be a time when long-range forecasts can be consistently accurate, "but that time is not now."