Colorado remains on edge of fire
RED CLIFF – From the deck of his office, Jim Lamont can look down on the Eagle River, normally swollen in late May with melted snow from along the Continental Divide.
RED CLIFF – From the deck of his office, Jim Lamont can look down on the Eagle River, normally swollen in late May with melted snow from along the Continental Divide.
Water normally crowds the top of a large boulder in the river. This year, the water has been near the base, 2 to 3 feet lower, says Lamont, who is the executive director of the Vail Homeowners Association. Vail is 8 miles away from Red Cliff, although the slopes of the Vail ski area are but two miles away.
On most creeks and rivers originating in the Colorado Rockies, peak runoff shuffled past this year, barely noticed. Snowfall last year was among the lowest in the last century, and spring arrived early, almost hot. March in Colorado was the third warmest, with records dating to 1895, and tied with one another for the driest on record. April was the fourth warmest on record.
The Eagle River, near where it flows into the Colorado River 45 miles downstream from Lamont’s office in Red Cliff, is forecast to flow at only 43 percent of average. More broadly, the Colorado River basin at less than 50 percent.
The last time Colorado suffered so severely from drought was 2002. That year, three major fires erupted on June 10, one of them the Missionary Fire near Durango. This year, by some measures, the drought is even worse. Plus, millions of trees have died since 2002 as the result of beetle epidemics.
While scientists debate how much the beetle kill elevates the risk of wildfire, several fires in the foothills west of Denver and other Front Range communities since March have escalated apprehensions. In one fire, three people were killed.
More wary of the potential for wildfire than he was in 2002, Lamont says that this year he has removed his prized photographs and important documents to a safer location in Vail.
In Vail, the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District has not imposed any restrictions on outdoor water use, but over the weekend urged customers to adhere to regulations that allow up to three days of lawn watering per week.
It could get wild and crazy this summer. Or maybe it will start raining. Right now, people are on edge.
Struggling trees contribute to haze
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Smog and haze in the West may be exacerbated by the epidemic of bark beetles that have killed millions of lodgepole pine as well as other evergreens.
Gases called volatile organic compounds are released from the holes bored into trees by the beetles as a defense mechanism at rates up to 20 times that of healthy trees at ground level, according to the study.
The study was conducted in part by scientist Gannet Hallar of the Desert Research Institute, which operates the Storm Peak Laboratory atop the Steamboat ski area. While proving that infested trees produce more VOCs and identifying the type of VOCs, the study does not allow researchers to conclude how much the chemicals contribute to haze.
The paper reporting the results was published in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.
Jasper wardens use both carrots, sticks
JASPER, Alberta – Wardens in Jasper National Park have announced they will offer carrots as well as carry big sticks when dealing with dog-owners.
People with free-roaming dogs can be issued big fines. But Parks Canada also intends to occasionally give out free passes to the Miette Hot Springs to owners who keep their pets on leash and under control.
Jasper’s Fitzhugh newspaper explains that the strategy was precipitated by incidents, such as one this spring. An off-leash dog chased a deer, which in its fright tried to run through a window at the town’s activity center.
Roaming can also yield unhappy endings for the dogs themselves. In one case, an elk in Jasper stomped a dog to death. In another case, a black bear ran out of the bush, chasing a dog – which, of course, returned to its owners for safety.
Clothing no option in Chainless Race
CRESTED BUTTE – Somebody’s going to lose an eye if there isn’t more order in Crested Butte’s Chainless Race. That’s what the adults in Crested Butte are saying as they attempt to get participants to wear helmets and slack off the booze and drugs before embarking on the eight-mile thriller.
Also mandatory this year: clothing.
The Crested Butte News says that “costumes, carnage and fun have always been a draw” in the informal event. Participants remove the chains from their bikes, then coast from 10,000-foot Kebler Pass, shedding more than 1,100 feet in vertical before coasting to a finish in downtown Crested Butte.
Three serious injuries were suffered last year, requiring the use of all local ambulances to transport victims to a hospital 27 miles away. Had somebody else had a heart attack, he would have been out of luck.
The News notes that town and chamber officials insist on a cap of 200 racers and promise to install 100 bales of hay where the road steeply descends and then takes a right-hand turn onto Elk Avenue, the town’s main street.
Edwards’ mistress perplexed in Aspen
ASPEN – When Reilly Hunter, the mistress of former presidential candidate John Edwards, was being sequestered, so as not to hinder Edward’s candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president, she spent time in Aspen. An associate of Edwards owned a mansion in Aspen.
Citing testimony in the trial of Edwards, who is accused of misappropriating campaign funds, the Aspen Daily News uncovers this gem: While lunching at a restaurant, Hunter became concerned when a Reuben sandwich she ordered came out with a dressing she had not requested.
In response, she called her spiritual advisor for guidance, says the Daily News, which adds: “Sounds like she would fit right in any number of restaurants here.”
Widow of avalanche victim sues area
WINTER PARK – The widow of a man killed in an avalanche last January at the Winter Park ski area has sued the ski area operator, Intrawest.
The lawsuit alleges that Winter Park officials should have known that slopes within the boundaries of the ski area could have been prone to avalanche.
The victim, Christopher Norris, died Jan. 22 while skiing in a forested area called Testle Trees.
James Heckbert, an attorney on behalf of the victim’s family, told the Sky-Hi Daily News, that avalanches are not part of the inherent risk of skiing that, by Colorado law, protects ski area operators from suits.
“Ski areas are the experts. There is inherent risk as a part of skiing. You may hit a rock. That is part of skiing in a ski area. That is an inherent risk. An avalanche is not part of the inherent risk at a ski resort,” he said.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center on that weekend had warned that triggering avalanches on any snow-covered slope of 30 degrees or steeper was likely. “Triggering slides will be easy today,” said the report.
Film studio and more in the works
PARK CITY, Utah – One way or another, Park City was going to get a film studio on the edge of town. Summit County had been poised to approve the 29 acre project, so Park City chose to annex the property while approving the development.
Raleigh Studios, a studio based in Hollywood with several other locations across the country and one in Hungary, will have a hotel, an entertainment center, and a digital-media center. Just how the film studio will be used isn’t clear.
No bear encounters on streets of Aspen
ASPEN – Bears have been spotted in and around Aspen since early March, but conflicts with humans have been few. Wildlife officials warn of escalating problems if dry conditions prevail, limiting the natural offering of berries and nuts in the backcountry.
Officials tell the Aspen Daily News that interactions can be minimized if people don’t make food available, such as was the case recently at a nearby campground. Bears were drawn to coolers that had been left open.
Three years ago, the city adopted a law mandating that all trash be locked in bear-proof containers. Bear-proof containers are a step-up from wildlife-resistant containers.
Nonprofits migrating out of Aspen
BASALT – Basalt, located 18 miles down-valley from Aspen, is becoming a magnet for nonprofits. A big boost is the announcement that the Rocky Mountain Institute, a 30-year-old think tank and advocate, intends to leave behind its rural location near Snowmass in favor of a half-acre site in Basalt.
Founded in 1982 by energy guru Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins, then his wife, the organization has been a powerful voice in arguing for a shift from centralized fossil fuel generation to improved energy efficiency and greater deployment of renewables in local, or distributed, microgrids.
RMI recently celebrated its 30th anniversary at New York’s Empire State Building. The Aspen Daily News explains that the organization oversaw an energy overhaul of the iconic building that cut its energy use by 40 percent.
Aspen weighing need for lower-cost lodging
ASPEN – For decades, Aspen has been resisting the image of being an exclusive resort that caters to only the world’s wealthiest residents. But can a case be made that a deliberate strategy must be adopted to deliver a lower price point for tourists?
That’s the fundamental question examined in a new lodging study sponsored by the city government. The study found that average hotel lodging rates grew 40 percent during the rah-rah years of 2003-07. This run-up produced a gain of 49 percent in lodging tax revenues for the city government.
Another revealing statistic: Aspen lost 27 percent of its total bed base inventory between 1994-07.
The new report, according to the Aspen Daily News includes interviews with various individuals and groups in Aspen as to their views. One view is that government need not tinker with the marketplace. “You have to pay for the quality of Aspen: the natural environment, the scenic view, the recreation, the arts and culture, the historic buildings,” according to long-time planning consultant Stan Clausen.
But the Aspen Skiing Co. sees a soft underbelly to its own success. The company operates the valley’s four ski areas along with its plushest hotel, the Little Nell. Despite the loyalty of visitors to the Little Nell, as they move past 60 and 70, they’re visiting less often. The task, says the ski company, is to stay relevant to young people – something the company has tried to do through its sponsorship of the X Games.
“Young people are more adventuresome and value conscious, and they’re getting bombarded by marketing,” said the company in its response to the study. “This generation will have 15 jobs in their lifetime, while the older generations had two – in general, the sense of loyalty is not as strong as it was.”
Aspen does have a hostel, but the proprietor says that “our phones aren’t ringing off the hook,” according to the Daily News. One theory is that prices that seem too low for Aspen cast a suspicion on the quality of the product.
Adopted earlier this year, the Aspen Area Community Plan specifies the goal of beefing up the lower end of the market to help attract the next generation. Among the proposals to be examined in coming months is whether the city should donate or sell some of its land to a developer of affordable lodging, or provide zoning bonuses.
– Allen Best
In this week's issue...
- January 25, 2024
- Bagging it
State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies
- January 26, 2024
- Paper chase
The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.
- January 11, 2024
- High and dry
New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows