RIDE THE ROCKIES COMING TO THE ROARING FORK VALLEY
Carbondale—Hundreds of cyclists will descend upon the Roaring Fork Valley this summer for the annual Ride The Rockies tour. The 403 mile cross-state tour will begin June 12th in Carbondale before heading to Aspen then to Copper Mountain, Grand Lake, Estes Park and finishing in Fort Collins June 17th. Being a host city has it’s economic benefits. Each host community sees about a quarter million dollars in economic activity in addition to a five thousand dollars grant to give to a local charity. The 2016 Ride the Rockies tour will cover nearly 30.000 vertical feet.
“UPHLLING” CATCHING ON
Glenwood Springs—It’s a lot of work but the appeal of skiing when the sun goes down is attracting a growing crowd of hearty, outdoor enthusiasts. More and more people are hitting the slopes after dark in what has become known as “uphilling.” Skiers and boarders in increasing numbers are choosing to climb the slopes to carve a few more turns under the stars at local resorts like Aspen and Sunlight Mountain. Many resorts prohibit the practice or impose strict limitations. Those that do allow uphill skiing have certain regulations in place to ensure safety is a top priority along with avoiding the snowcat drivers on the slopes.
ASPEN SAYS, “SHHHHH” TO CONSTRUCTION CREWS
Aspen—Construction crews in Aspen will have to muffle the sounds of nail guns and power saws this summer after the city council imposed a new ordinance. The new law will require that contractors put up a temporary sound barrier to cut down on the noise and attract more summertime tourists. The concept seemed to work last year when sound walls were built near the Pitkin County Courthouse as part of the Galena Plaza work and at a number of residential construction projects. Last summer, contractors also had to include plans to minimize impacts to traffic, parking and the landfill.
SUMMIT COUNTY’S ‘LEGEND’ GETS THE GREEN LIGHT TO EXPAND
DENVER (AP) – Arapahoe Basin’s plan to expand backcountry terrain is going forward. The U.S. Forest Service has issued a draft environmental impact statement that is one of the final stages of approval. The plans include a new lift and expansion into the steep terrain known as the Beavers and Steep Gullies.
