Summit Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog postshttps://www.summitrealestate.com/blog/Copyright SummitRealEstate.com2024-03-16T15:53:29-07:00tag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36522Uptown 240 property in Dillon sold to new owner who plans to complete condominium project
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Ryan Spencer/Summit Daily" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/08/16162039/IMG_4699-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Uptown 240, a proposed 80-unit condominium development on Lake Dillon Drive on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.<br />Ryan Spencer/Summit Daily
A developer with major plans in Dillon has closed on the purchase of a property in the town core where an 80-unit condominium project is planned, according to Dillon Town Manager Nathan Johnson.
JGJP Dillon, LLC, closed on the stalled project — once known as Uptown 240 — on Feb. 26, almost five years after the development first broke ground. JGJP Dillon is owned by Jake Porritt, <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/dillon-town-council-to-discuss-proposed-development-that-could-transform-the-town-core/">the developer proposing a major redevelopment of the town core</a>, including along the <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/dillon-colorado-waterfront-redevelopment-plan/">Dillon Reservoir waterfront</a>.
Johnson said during a Town Council meeting last week that the new owners plan to complete the proposed condominium project the town had previously approved for the 240 Lake Dillon Drive property.
“(The new owner’s) goal — or at least the goal they told me individually — is they want to show a good faith effort to remedy the site and clean up all the safety issues,” Johnson said. “They’re also going to rebrand it, too. So it’s not going to be Uptown 240.”
JGJP Dillon has plans to hire a general contractor to demolish the existing structure with the aim of starting reconstruction shortly after demolition, Johnson said. He said the new owners are attempting to mobilize crews within the next 60 days.
Uncertainty has hung over the property for years but only intensified after Uptown 240 filed for bankruptcy last year. The local restaurateurs-turned-developers behind Uptown 240 had <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/why-should-we-trust-you-dillon-officials-remain-skeptical-as-uptown-240-claims-it-could-emerge-from-bankruptcy-complete-project-in-18-months/">promised for years to complete the condominium project themselves</a>, including as <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/why-should-we-trust-you-dillon-officials-remain-skeptical-as-uptown-240-claims-it-could-emerge-from-bankruptcy-complete-project-in-18-months/">recently as this past spring</a>.
Twists continued throughout last fall as the bankruptcy sale of the condo project in downtown Dillon was <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/uncertainty-continues-after-dillon-developments-bankruptcy-sale-is-vacated/">vacated</a> then reinstated. In January, a last minute tiff halted the sale again — but it finally went through in February.
A federal bankruptcy judge last month approved the sale of the property to JGJP Dillon LLC for $12,750,000, court documents state. The property was set to be sold free and clear of any and all liens, claims and other interests, according to court documents.2024-03-16T15:52:06-07:002024-03-16T15:53:29-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36521How to recreate during Summit County’s springtime mud season
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-448299" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07002455/e4fe24d8-183e-5532-a22a-bced72957a77-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />Summit County local Mike Tuinstra gets ready to splitboard up Mount Baldy with his dog, Porter, on Friday, April 1, in Breckenridge. Individuals have about a month left to continue winter recreation as the county moves into its spring season, also known as mud season.Ashley Low/For the Summit Daily News
There’s a reason that people call Summit County’s spring season “mud season.” During the months of April and May, when temperatures are warming up and spring skiing is coming to a close, the snowpack begins to melt. As it does, trails become soft and sloppy, making it difficult to immediately ditch snowboards and skis for hiking boots and trekking poles.
Local experts warn that there’s more at stake than just a pair of muddy boots. Recreating on soft and malleable trails means there’s a greater risk for causing damage like erosion and the widening of paths.
Why spring is a fragile season
“The term ‘mud season’ — that kind of hits it right there. There’s a chance of going out there and encountering trails that are kind of in transition between winter and summer, so when you encounter trails that have a whole lot of mud in them, tracking through them is going to make the trails worse,” said Justin Ibarra, operations manager at Colorado Adventure Guides.
Ibarra said that when individuals plan to set off for an excursion, they should plan to encounter varying conditions on a single trail. For example, a trail might appear dry and stable for the first couple of miles, but if there’s a long stretch of mud, it might be best to turn back.
Dillon Ranger District Recreation Manager Cory Richardson said hiking through or even around the mud can cause more harm, mentioning it might not be worth it to continue forward.
“Hiking on those trails when there’s mud, it can kind of exacerbate erosion,” Richardson said. “You don’t think about it as much when hiking, but as you’re squishing into the mud, it can damage that trail prism or the actual footprint of the trail. When hiking, one of the issues is the trail is kind of muddy, and a lot of times it gets deep when people hike in the mud, and water starts to run down those sections.”
The same kind of damage can happen when people veer off the trail and go around the mud. This flattens and kills the surrounding vegetation, widening the trail, which can lead to the trail washing away more quickly over time. It’s not just foot traffic that causes this kind of damage. Richardson said mountain biking and motor vehicle use are just as likely to cause harm.
Where to recreate during these months
While this season is a delicate one in terms of trail use, Richardson said it’s not that individuals should stay clear of outdoor recreation entirely. He pointed out that the Dillon Ranger District doesn’t close trails during this season — like <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/28/colorado-hiking-spring-shoulder-season-muddy-trails/?fbclid=IwAR1R6LVvJfcq0MuQRDLPlnKA-ceFincTAcvMXhhCVViXvcfBenTWbQab9Hg" target="_blank">other districts on the Front Range migh</a>t — partly because the Dillon Ranger District has such a large network and partly because it doesn’t want to limit public access to federal land.
Richardson said those who wish to recreate during this time of year should plan to do so in the morning when the ground is still firm. As for where to recreate, Richardson said the areas that usually dry quickest are <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=41299&actid=50" target="_blank">Tenderfoot Mountai</a>n P<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/recarea/?recid=41295&actid=51" target="_blank">tarmigan Mountai</a>n and Soda Creek, which receive more sun.
Ibarra noted that Colorado Adventure Guides still hosts guided hikes during these months but that they take extra note of changing weather patterns when planning trips. Typically, the organization is booking snowshoe excursions through April and are only taking clients to areas they know are still snow covered. Come May, they switch gears and take clients on hikes they have already scoped out and have deemed safe to use.
As hikers and mountain bikers set off to find a trail that’s in good condition, they might find there are varying conditions around the county. This is to be expected since it might take longer for trails to dry out in some areas depending on how much tree coverage they have and whether they face the sun.
“Today, you can find some trails that are muddy and south facing. Then as soon as you go around to the northern aspect, you’re going to be in 2 feet of snow,” Richardson said.
Exploring other areas
For those who want to avoid Summit County’s mud season altogether, Ibarra and Richardson said this time of year is a good time to explore other areas of the state. Both pointed out that trails near the Front Range typically dry out faster than Summit County’s trails, and they said these areas make for good day trips.2024-03-16T15:46:29-07:002024-03-16T15:51:59-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36520Hi Neighbor - Glen Cove in Dillon, CO with Deena HeppnerJoin Deena Heppner as she explores Glen Cove!2024-03-16T15:39:36-07:002024-03-16T15:46:23-07:00Deena Heppnertag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36517Shoutout Saturday - Sports Buffet in Silverthorne with Kelie GrayTune in to learn more about the Sports Buffet in Silverthonre! With Kelie!2024-03-16T15:27:41-07:002024-03-16T15:38:34-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36514Summit County Mud Season Fun!Make the most of your Mud Season this year with some awesome recommendations from our Summit Real Estate Team! Just because you can't do all of the fun activities we're used to here in Summit County, doesn't mean there's nothing to do! Tune in to find out some of our favorite things to do when Mud Season rolls around!
Dillon, Colorado: - Elevation Bowl- Skyline Cinemas
Silverthorne, Colorado: - Sports Buffet - The Art Spot - Theater SilCo - The Recreation Center
Frisco, Colorado: - Frisco Escape Room - 10 Mile Music Hall - Thrashing' Axes
Breckenridge, Colorado: - Ready, Paint, Fire - Stephen C. West Ice Arena - The Arts District - The Recreation Center
Keystone, Colorado: - Keystone Tennis Center
Outdoors: Arapahoe Basin for Spring Skiing Water Sports on the Blue River Biking on Summit County Paved Paths2024-03-16T14:24:00-07:002024-03-16T14:28:03-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36237Scavenger Weasels Move a Step Toward State Reintroduction
<img width="1024" height="638" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-1024x638.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-1024x638.png 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-300x187.png 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-768x479.png 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-1536x957.png 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/03184758/Screen-Shot-2024-03-03-at-6.47.12-PM-2048x1276.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The Cascades Carnivore Project shared this photo of a young male wolverine approximately one year old taken in the wild in Jan. 2022 at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.<br />Kayla Shively/CascadesCarnivore.org
Wildlife experts hope the encounter of one young male wolverine on the hunt for a new home range will change in a few years. They hope Colorado will once again become home to a viable breeding population of wolverines in high-Alpine areas. Trapping and poisoning wiped out the animals in the state some 100 years ago.
Experts believe less than 400 wolverines exist in the lower 48 states today.
“They are just this amazing Alpine species that we lost from Colorado,” said Stefan Ekernas, a wildlife biologist and director of field conservation for the Denver Zoo. “Ethically speaking, we killed the last wolverine, trapped and poisoned every last wolverine in Colorado, so it’s up to us to be the solution now and help the species come back.”
The wolverine is the largest land-dwelling member of the weasel family, and the solitary scavenger has a fierce reputation. Wolverines reach up to 35-40 pounds and live at high Alpine elevations primarily eating rodents and carrion.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have worked on <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Wolverine.aspx" target="_blank">a wolverine reintroduction pla</a>n since 2010. Wolverines have long been a state-protected species, and in November, the North American wolverine received federal protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
“Current and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation are imperiling the North American wolverine,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/8/2024/02/29214039/Wolverine-pic-for-one-time-use-from-Cascades-Carnivore-Project-1024x728.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-423579" />The Cascades Carnivore Project shared this photo of a young male wolverine approximately one year old taken in the wild in January 2022 at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington.
On Friday, Colorado Senator Perry Will, a retired wildlife officer, planned to introduce a bill that would give Colorado Parks and Wildlife the authority to reintroduce wolverines into the state. In his Feb. 22 online newsletter, Will noted, “By introducing and hopefully passing this bill we can take the bull by the horns on this issue. The goal is to provide the legislature with oversight authority of the reintroduction to allow for more public participation in the process.”
“The species can have the greatest chance at a successful reintroduction when state and federal agencies work hand in hand with farmers and ranchers, ski industry, mining industry,” said Will, a Garfield County resident.
Wolverine experts and reintroduction modeling say high elevation areas in Routt County with extended snowpack into spring would be prime wolverine habitat. Females den very deep in the snow, so areas that hold snow longer are the best habitat. Ivan said the weasels have wide feet well suited to traveling on snow and live most of their lives above 10,000 feet.
Megan Mueller, who grew up in southern Routt County, now works as a conservation biologist for nonprofit <a href="https://rockymountainwild.org/wolverine" target="_blank">Rocky Mountain Wil</a>d, a science-based organization working to conserve wildlife and wildlands in Colorado.
“I spent a lot of time hiking and backcountry skiing in the Flat Tops and the Sawtooth Range, which have excellent habitat for wolverines, but I had to travel all the way to Denali National Park in Alaska to see a wolverine in the wild,” Mueller said. “It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.”
“As the climate changes, Colorado’s high elevation mountains are expected to stay snowier and colder than other places where wolverines live,” Mueller explained.
Wolverines currently exist in the contiguous U.S. only as small populations in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming and northeast Oregon due to habitat loss, trapping and human disturbance, according to Rocky Mountain Wild.
Ivan said the closest breeding population to Routt County is in the Wind River Range in west-central Wyoming. However, since young female wolverines remain near the range of their mothers, females migrating to Colorado is very unlikely.
“The reason we need an active reintroduction is female wolverines are simply not going to disperse into Colorado,” Ekernas said.
Assuming the reintroduction process moves forward in Colorado, releasing wolverines likely trapped from Canada would not happen before 2026, Ivan said. The initial plan is to release 10 females and five males each year for three years in three high-elevation zones.
The Colorado Parks & Wildlife biologist said he is certain there is no viable population of wolverines in Colorado due to the extensive amount of wildlife research, surveys and baited game cameras, especially as the agency studies lynx that were reintroduced in 1999.
Experts say wolverine reintroduction is not expected to be controversial because of the solitary scavenging nature of the weasel, with only two documented cases of wolverine killing sheep in the past 100 years.
“There’s always fear about carnivores, but with wolverines, it’s more about the perception than what the reality will be,” Ekernas said. “Colorado has a long and rich history of reintroduction including river otter, Canadian lynx, bison, black-footed ferret and grey wolves. The last species remaining that we have not brought back is wolverines.”
This article was written by Suzie Romig for the Steamboat Pilot and was reposted by the Summit Daily.2024-03-04T10:03:43-07:002024-03-04T10:14:05-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36230Shoutout Saturday - Breckenridge Rec CenterBreckenridge Rec Center! We’re Shouting You Out!
We love a good Recreation Center and the one in Breckenridge is something special 👏
They have a whole section dedicated to fun for kids! So if you’re looking for some fun playtime out of the cold weather you can bring the whole family on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to the Breckenridge Recreation Center gymnasium! 🤸 They have two inflatables set up along with gym mats and other play equipment so kids can have a roomy, warm, indoor space for active play and socialization.
Here are some things to remember:
✅ Parent supervision is required for children under 12.
✅ Admission includes use of the indoor playground
✅ No registration is required.
✅ A drop-in fee is due upon arrival at the Recreation Center Front Desk.
✅ You can buy a $40.00 10-punch pass and get your 10th session free!
✅ No shoes may be worn on mats or inflatables.
✅ Residency verification required for local’s rate.
When?
Days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Time: 9:00am-6:00pm
Dates: October 27 - May21
Fees: Locals - $5 per child, 10-Punch Pass - $40
Non-locals: $10 per child
Parents are FREE!2024-03-04T09:20:24-07:002024-03-04T09:24:27-07:00Trisha Mooretag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36228Summit High School Hockey Team to go to State Finals!
<img width="1024" height="682" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-1024x682.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-768x511.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-2048x1364.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Summit celebrates after defeating Liberty High School, 4-3 in the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
Despite entering the 2024 Class 4A state hockey tournament as the No. 10 seed — the last team to make the playoffs — the Summit High School boys hockey team is on a roll.
The Tigers first made history against No. 7 Colorado Academy <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-hockey-team-wins-first-playoff-game-in-over-10-years/">on Thursday, Feb. 22</a>, when the team managed to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in over a decade with a dominant win, 5-2.
With playoff momentum beginning to build, Summit then traveled to Steamboat Springs <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-hockey-sinks-steamboat-springs-sailors-in-overtime-thriller-advances-to-state-semifinal/">on Wednesday, Feb. 28,</a> where the team once again made the history books by defeating No. 2 Steamboat Springs High School in double overtime to successfully advance to the semifinal match.
Summit entered its game against No. 3 Liberty High School of Colorado Springs on Saturday, March 2, eager to keep its playoff magic alive and advance to the state final.
With Highland Ranch’s South Suburban Sports Complex filled to the brim with fans adorned in the green colors of Summit and the red of Liberty, the state-final-clinching game quickly got underway with Summit charging down the ice, establishing possession and firing a wrist shot at the net.
The shot from the stick of junior Jevin Palmquist came as a shock to the Liberty Lancers’ goalie as it broke into the back of the net and gave Summit a 1-0 lead less than 50 seconds into the game.
Off to a strong start, the Tigers continued to pursue the net heavily while the Lancers tried to settle down and establish an offense. After several back-and-forth possessions, Liberty began pinning the puck into its offensive zone, but the team’s attempts at a goal were dashed by Summit’s defense.
At one point, Summit senior goalie Finn Schroder made two impressive glove saves that sucked the air out of Liberty. Buzzing on both ends of the ice, Summit expanded its lead to 2-0 when senior Luke Weir crept toward the goal and fired a shot into the net.
Skating circles around Liberty, Summit went into the first intermission leading 2-0.
The Summit boys hockey team celebrates in the locker room after knocking off Liberty High School in the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Chris Miller/Courtesy photo
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02145410/2B2775FE-E24C-45D8-9448-273CC6C09A9D-1024x767.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Chris Miller/Courtesy photo" />
Summit senior goalie Finn Schroder sets up his crease during Summit’s state semifinal game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02122119/IMG_9315-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Summit High School hockey fans line the stands at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch for Summit’s state semifinal game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02122205/IMG_9318-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
The Summit High School boys hockey team huddles around the goal prior to its state semifinal game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02122222/IMG_9319-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
The Summit boys hockey team celebrates after Jevin Palmquist scores a goal less than 50 seconds into its game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02122230/IMG_9328-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Eli Powers and Wyatt Boeckers chase down a loose puck during Summit’s state semifinal game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 3.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02130455/IMG_9345-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Summit’s Wyatt Boeckers skates the puck down the half wall in the waning moments of the second period f the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02130541/IMG_9359-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Finn Schroder takes a moment to get in the zone before skating onto the ice for the third period of the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140711/IMG_9361-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Jackson Weir skates towards the puck while facing Liberty High School in the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140720/IMG_9363-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
Summit celebrates after defeating Liberty High School, 4-3 in the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02140729/IMG_9377-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
The Summit boys hockey team celebrates in the locker room after knocking off Liberty High School in the state semifinal on Saturday, March 2.<br />Chris Miller/Courtesy photo
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02145410/2B2775FE-E24C-45D8-9448-273CC6C09A9D-1024x767.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Chris Miller/Courtesy photo" />
Summit senior goalie Finn Schroder sets up his crease during Summit’s state semifinal game against Liberty High School on Saturday, March 2.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
<img decoding="async" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/03/02122119/IMG_9315-1024x682.jpg" data-no-lazy="1" alt="Cody Jones/Summit Daily News" />
“That’s always our game plan — is to set the tempo, play a 200-foot game,” head coach Chris Miller said.
Beginning the second period on a double-minor power play, Liberty swiftly set up its offense and began firing shots at Schroder. The Summit defense fought off several fiery shots, but a goal soon snuck its way in, bringing the score to 2-1.
Once fighting off the latter half of the penalty, Summit was able to reestablish possession of the puck for a minute or two, but it was not long before Liberty was back in front of the net. The Lancers were eventually rewarded with a second goal when senior Micah Newton put a shot behind Schroder, tying the game at 2-2 with the majority of the second period yet to be played.
Feeling the tide of the game begin to shift, the Tigers went on back-to-back, two-minute power plays where the team recorded a slew of shots on net before a tripping call led to a little over a minute of four-on-four hockey.
Back at full strength, the Tigers tried to score before the final intermission, but tough defense stopped them.
“We have been focused on this underdog mentality,” Miller said. “Halfway through the year, I made the kids watch “Kelce,” the documentary about this football guy, an undersized center who made a hall-of-fame career. Before the game I showed them a speech that he made before they won the Super Bowl, saying they shouldn’t be here or this guy isn’t good enough. I went back to that before the second and the third. We focused on that mindset that we need to go prove that we are willing to win.”
With the game tied, Summit and Liberty began the fresh period with the intensity turned to an all-time high.
The ferocity eventually resulted in a penalty from Liberty, which led to a power-play goal after junior Carter Conroy fired a shot that was deflected into the net by sophomore Karston Kerr.
In true playoff hockey fashion, Summit enjoyed its lead for a couple of minutes before Liberty senior Ethan Graber once again tied the game with 12 minutes remaining in regulation.
Both teams chased the puck up and down the ice, but each team’s defense played strong against the onslaught of quick-moving action. Summit even fought off a nail-biting, two-minute penalty to keep the score tied.
With everyone back on the ice, Summit fought through the Liberty defense, sent a pass in front of the net where Palmquist came up with the goal on the doorstep of the blue crease, putting Summit up 4-3.
The Palmquist goal electrified the Summit fans as the team realized it was four minutes away from the state final.
As the seconds slowly ticked off the clock, cheers from Summit rang down from the stands while the Tigers worked to get in front of shots and passes.
A minute ticked off, then two, then three before Liberty sent a final surge toward the net. Summit remained stoic though, leaning on its team culture, fighting off the advances and earning its spot in Tuesday’s state final game.
“Adversity is something that has to be experienced, not read about or watched,” Miller said. “We wouldn’t be where we are without losing those tight games or being in those tough moments. It takes time. Fortunately, we have hit our stride, and we have had enough adversity to understand that we have that poise and can handle that pressure.”
Summit will face No. 4 Durango High School in the state final game at Denver University’s Magness Arena on Tuesday, March 5, at 5 p.m.
Like Steamboat Springs in the quarterfinal, Durango will be a familiar foe for the Tigers after playing them twice in Mountain league matchups throughout the regular season. Summit split its games against Durango earlier in the season, losing the first meeting, 5-2, and winning the second, 3-2.
This article was written by Cody Jones for Summit Daily News 2024-03-04T09:12:26-07:002024-03-04T09:17:16-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36074Dear Ally - Buildout in Summit County?On this episode of ‘Dear Ally’ Allison Simson is posing her own question in the form of some Summit County 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗔!
Is there a Buildout Looming for Summit County? Certainly you’ve seen the amount of building happening all around Summit County- but will there come a point where there is no more land to build upon?
❓Trivia Question: What year did the headline “Summit County Buildout” appear in the Summit Daily?
❓Our Question: When will the buildout actually happen in Summit County?
𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗪! 👇
Follow Ally on instagram! @allisonsimson @summitrealestatecolorado 2024-02-26T09:58:27-07:002024-02-26T10:05:00-07:00Allison Simsontag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:36073Did You Know - Summit County Has a Food Scrap Program Did You Know? 🧐
Summit County has a food scrap program! 🥦🍎
What started as a small, subscription-based program for residents to recycle their food scraps is today a free community resource! It’s all thanks to the Strong Future ballot initiative passed by voters in 2018.
The process is simple:
👉 Residents drop off food waste at one of 8 convenient locations.
👉 It’s all transported to the Summit County Resource Allocation Park.
👉 Here it’s combined with wood waste from the pine beetle epidemic and transformed into a nutrient-rich soil amendment
FUN FACTS:
• More than 2,300 households currently participate
• Residents are composting an average of 32,000 pounds of food waste each month
• More than 1,000,000 pounds of food waste has been composted over the life of the program, which is equivalent to keeping 228 cars off the road annually.
• When food waste ends up in the landfill, it releases methane, a pollutant 38 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
By composting our food waste, we prevent harmful pollution that contributes to climate change. And in the process, we create a valuable resource that nourishes soils and conserves water.
For more information on the Summit County Food Scrap Program, visit highcountryconservation.org
Follow Kelie and High Country Conservation on instagram! @keliegray.summitrealestate and @hc3summit 2024-02-26T09:53:28-07:002024-02-26T09:57:57-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35959Here’s how much property taxes went up on average in Summit County — and what homeowners can do to seek reliefA Summit Daily News analysis found that, on average, taxes on residential properties rose half as much as the increase in value
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123213/HOAWildernest3-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The Wildernest neighborhood near Silverthorne is pictured on Jan. 25, 2024. A surge in home values over the past two years have caused residential property taxes to jump — but not necessarily by the same amount. An analysis shows average property tax bills increased by around 30% from 2023 to 2024 while residential property rose in value by roughly 60%.<br />Robert Tann/Summit Daily News
The moment Summit County homeowners have long been bracing for has arrived property tax notices have hit their doorsteps.
Driven by a surge in home values, property taxes rose for most Colorado homeowners in 2024, prompting a scramble by the state legislature to pass some form of relief. In Summit County, residential property value <a href="https://gis.dola.colorado.gov/Residential_Value_Change/" target="_blank">increased on average by 63</a>% since the last valuation cycle in 2021.
But whether that’s translated to a similar rise in property taxes depends on where homeowners live.
According to Summit County Treasurer Kathy Neal, property tax revenue in 2024 was $195 million, up from $149 million in 2023. That includes taxes on all types of property including residential, commercial and vacant land and represents a 30% increase.
“There is no question that for many in Summit County, 30% is unaffordable,” said Commissioner Tamara Pogue, adding that other cost increases driven by inflation have created a compounding effect.
Still, for residential homes, the average property tax bill appears to have grown less than the average assessment value.
Because property taxes are based also on the taxes collected by local organizations like county governments, schools, fire and sanitation districts, the bills homeowners will pay vary wildly. These taxes are called mill levies and are set at different amounts by each taxing entity. One mill represents a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value.
In Summit County, the average total mill for all taxing entities is 70.672 for property tax bills to be paid this year, down from 77.547 for property tax bills paid in 2023, <a href="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/15113350/2023-Tax-Area-Table-Collection-2024-Incl-Effective-Tax-Rate.pdf" target="_blank">according to data from the Summit County Assessor’s Of</a>fice.
That’s because some mills are set at a fixed dollar amount and will decrease when property tax revenue is higher. This was the case for Summit County government’s mill, which naturally decreased by 2.8% for bills to be paid in 2024. County commissioners contemplated a further reduction under state legislation passed last year that allows local taxing entities to temporarily lower their mills — <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-county-commissioners-approve-2024-budget-with-majority-voting-to-retain-property-taxes-oppose-mill-reduction/">but they ultimately decided against it</a>.
Colorado Mountain College is one organization <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/colorado-mountain-college-approves-mill-levy-reduction-to-provide-property-tax-relief/">that did use that authority to reduce its mill levy</a>, which also factors into why the overall average mills in the county is lower.
When accounting for the average increase in residential value, the current average mill levy, the statewide assessment rate and the property tax relief provided by state legislation last year, Summit County homeowners are seeing a smaller tax increase compared to the increase in valuations, a Summit Daily News analysis shows.
What did increases look like on average?
Using a <a href="https://app.calconic.com/public/calculator/6453b40d4830060029b8eb19?layouts=true" target="_blank">digital calculator built by The Colorado Su</a>n, the Summit Daily was able to produce tax bills for a range of homes.
For example, a home valued at $500,000 in 2021 would be paying $2,623 in property taxes in 2023. That’s calculated by multiplying the value with the statewide assessment rate, which in bills to be paid in 2023 was 6.765%, as well as any mill levies that property pays into. If looking at the average combined mill, it would be 77.547.
For bills to be paid in 2024, if that same home rose by the average increase in value, 63%, it would have been assessed at $815,000. That would then be multiplied by the statewide rate which, for tax bills paid in 2024, fell slightly to 6.7% as part of property tax relief legislation that went into effect at the end of last year.
That legislation also included a $55,000 exemption in home value from taxation, which would be factored into this property tax bill under this scenario. Finally, that figure would be multiplied by mill levies which, if just looking at the average for bills paid in 2024, were slightly lower at 70.672. That produces a property tax bill of $3,598 — a $975 increase, or 27% jump, from the 2023 tax bill.
Homes with higher values that saw larger appreciations would have also seen higher property taxes.
Using the same formula, a $1 million home that increased in value to $1.63 million, a 63% increase, would have paid $5,246 in property taxes in 2023 and $7,457 in 2024 — a $2,211 tax increase, or a 30% jump.
A $2 million home now valued at $3.26 million would have paid $10,492 in property taxes in 2024 and $15,175 in 2023 — a $4,683 increase, or a 31% jump.
For Pogue, the county commissioner, the figures show there was some success at the local and state level in dampening property tax bills.
“Certainly my hat and my credit goes to entities like (Colorado Mountain College), which significantly decreased their mills,” Pogue said.
Still, these figures represent averages and are not reflective of every property tax bill in the county. Depending on the exact mill levies a home pays and the valuation increase in that property, taxes could be higher or lower than the average increase.
Property taxes will also be different for commercial properties and vacant land, which are currently taxed at a statewide assessment rate of 27.9% — quadruple that of residential properties.
These properties also saw different average increases in value compared to residential properties. Vacant land, for example, increased on average by 90% in Summit County, meaning taxes on those properties are likely to be much higher than on homes.
Property taxes for deed-restricted homes, which come with a wide variety of stipulations that can include appreciation caps, will also be varied based on the rules for each deed restriction.
Pogue, who currently sits on a <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-county-commissioner-gives-update-on-commission-exploring-property-tax-reforms/">state-commissioned task force exploring property tax reform</a>, said she hopes to see more solutions for cost-burdened homeowners.
As the lone commissioner to support a larger mill levy reduction at the county level, Pogue said the effort could be revisited in this year’s budget talks. But she’s also looking at the potential impacts of state bills like <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-002" target="_blank">S.B. 24-00</a>, which, if enacted into law, would allow counties the ability to provide property tax rebates for homeowners. Pogue said it could be a tool to support homeowners who offer long-term rentals to working residents.
Another measure being explored by the property tax commission would stretch the valuation cycle for homes beyond the current two years.
“You see these sorts of peaks and valleys from assessment cycle to assessment cycle. We saw it in reverse in 2008 when we saw a significant decrease in our property values,” Pogue said, adding that extending the two-year timeline “means that the tax payers are seeing more of an average increase” and less volatility.
“Does it totally (fix) the problem? No,” Pogue said. “But does it sort of soothe out the problem over a number of years? Yes, potentially.”
What relief programs are there for homeowners?
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-1024x683.jpg" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" class="wp-image-458726" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/30123304/HOAWildernest5-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Homes in Wildernest pictured on Jan. 25, 2024. A a 19-member commission seeking solutions to Colorado’s rising property taxes is set to present policy recommendations to the Colorado governor and state legislature in March. The recommendations could be adopted by lawmakers before the end of the legislative session in May. Robert Tann/Summit Daily News
While those property tax proposals could be in the near or distant future, current programs exist to provide homeowners some relief this year or next.
Homeowners who’ve seen more than a 4% increase in their property taxes over the past two years may be eligible to defer their payments under the state’s Property Tax Deferral Program.
The initiative allows homeowners the ability to defer up to $10,000 in property tax payments that are then paid back to the state with interest. Deferrals can be spread across multiple years until homeowners hit the $10,000 cap while seniors and active military can defer every year of homeownership with no cap.
“In many places, you’re seeing 30%, 40%, 50% (property tax bill) increases,” said Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young. “Clearly, people are going to be eligible for this, but whether or not they take advantage of this is a financial decision they’re going to have to meet.”
Young stressed the program is “not free money” but rather a loan paid by the state. Because local taxing entities like counties and school districts rely heavily on property taxes to provide services, the state government backfills them while it waits for repayment.
Interest isn’t compounding, but it does change based on federal rates which have increased. The current interest rate for the program is 4.125%.
Young said homeowners considering the program should ensure they’re in a financial position to repay their taxes, adding that deferring is meant to help residents experiencing a temporary financial hardship, such as the loss of a job.
“We don’t want people to lose their homes because of these property taxes,” Young said. “If they’re experiencing monetary hardship, this can be a great safety valve until their finances catch up again.”
Applications are due April 1. Eligible property owners must be applying for their primary residence and cannot be using that home for financial gain, meaning second-home owners who short-term rent, for example, wouldn’t be able to apply.
More information is available online at <a href="http://colorado.propertytaxdeferral.com/" target="_blank">Colorado.PropertyTaxDeferral.co</a>
Property owners have two options for paying their property taxes this year. They can split their payments into two sums, the first of which is due by Feb. 29 and the second by June 15. Taxes can also be paid in full, with those payments due on April 30.
At the local level, county assessor’s offices process two relief programs for seniors and veterans and their spouses. Both programs must receive applications the year before their taxes are due in order for the relief to be applied to that tax bill, meaning applicants this year could see lower tax bills in 2025.
The Colorado Senior Property Tax Exemption is for seniors who are at least 65 years old by Jan. 1 of the qualifying tax year, meaning a senior who turns 65 later this year will not be eligible to apply until Jan. 1 2025. The applicant must have owned their home for 10 years or more and that home must be their primary residence.
The program exempts $100,000 in home value from taxation. Summit County seniors can apply through the Summit County Assessor’s Office and must send their application in by July 15 for it to be approved for the 2025 tax bill.
The office also handles applications for the Veteran Property Tax Exemption. Like the senior exemption, it removes $100,000 in home value from taxation, said Summit County Assessor Lisa Eurich.
The program is for veterans with a disability rated by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs as 100% permanent or for those who are completely medically retired, meaning they have a medical condition that makes them unable to serve.
“If somebody owns multiple properties, only one can qualify for the exemption and that would be their primary residence,” Eurich said.
Unlike the senior exemption, veterans only need to have lived at their primary residence for at least one year. Spouses of veterans who previously received the exemption and have since died are also eligible to receive it on their property tax bill, Eurich added.
The deadline to apply for that program is July 1.
More information on both the senior and veteran exemption is available on the Summit County Assessor’s website at <a href="https://www.summitcountyco.gov/120/Exemption-Programs" target="_blank">SummitCountyco.gov/120/exemption-program</a>
This article was written by Robert Tann for Summit Daily News
2024-02-19T16:16:23-07:002024-02-19T16:20:35-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35943Shoutout Saturday - Ace Hardware in Silverthorne, Colorado There’s a new Ace Hardware in town!
Join Kelie Gray as she chats with Todd, one of the co-owners of the new Ace Hardware in Silverthorne! Located in the Summit Place Shopping Center at the old Tuesday Morning location, this one stop shop will provide you with everything you need PLUS amazing customer service!
We are SO excited to have them in our community!
📍209 Summit Place in Silverthorne, CO
Monday through Friday 8AM-6PM
Saturday 9AM-6PM Sunday 10AM-4PM
(970) 760-68102024-02-18T12:01:37-07:002024-02-18T12:06:21-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35880Join Allison for a Home Tour of 1714 Estates Drive!2024-02-15T09:43:39-07:002024-02-15T09:49:51-07:00Allison Simsontag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35786Shoutout Saturday - Colorado Mountain College Culinary Program Bon Appétit!
For this week’s Shoutout Saturday, Deena is shouting out the Colorado Mountain College Culinary Program!
Not only did Deena take a class, she also indulged in their amazing Chef’s Dinner! Whether you’re looking to expand your culinary knowledge, or just want a fun night out with friends or your partner- we HIGHLY recommend this program!
For more information on Chef’s Dinners or classes visit their website at: https://coloradomtn.edu/campuses/breckenridge-dillon/classes/culinary/2024-02-11T15:32:41-07:002024-02-11T15:35:58-07:00Deena Heppnertag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35785Dillon Reservior Lake Loops Closed until Further Notice The trails and ice rink on top of Dillon Reservoir are closed until further notice due to unsafe ice conditions, according to a social media post by the town of Dillon on Wednesday around 1:30 p.m.
Dillon Town Manager Nathan Johnson said two ski steers fell through the ice Wednesday around 1 p.m., but no one was injured.
The Lake Loops, which are groomed trails on top of the frozen water, opened Jan. 23 after warm temperatures in December kept the lake from freezing over quickly. The town warned of “extremely variable conditions” around that time due to the warming and freezing cycles throughout the season and the lack of snow.
“Currently, there is a layer of snow, on top of slush, on top of solid ice, so do expect some postholing in areas, and consider leaving your skis at home until conditions cooperate more and we can groom a better skiing base,” the town said in a Jan. 22 Facebook post.
On Friday, the town announced that the annual Colorado Youth Pond Hockey Tournament and the Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament will be relocated out of caution for the safety and well-being of attendees and participants.
“Despite our best efforts and thorough assessments of the ice conditions, recent weather fluctuations and unforeseen environmental factors have led to deteriorating ice quality on Dillon Reservoir,” the town said in a statement. “In the interest of ensuring the safety of players, spectators and event staff, we have concluded that continuing with the tournament would pose an unacceptable risk.”
For updates on the trail and ice rink closures, visit TownOfDillon.com/winter-rec. For updates on the youth tournament, visit SummitHockey.org. For updates on the adults pond hockey tournament, visit ColoradoPondHockey.com.2024-02-11T15:22:06-07:002024-02-11T15:25:36-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35784Colorado wildlife officials are tracking a mountain lion that attacked an 85-pound dog, possibly other pets and goats in Summit County
<img width="955" height="537" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174517/IMG_6188.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174517/IMG_6188.jpg 955w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174517/IMG_6188-300x169.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174517/IMG_6188-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px" />Silverthorne resident Cody Thomas said the Ring Video Doorbell on his front door caught this video of a mountain lion in his yard just days before one of the predatory cats attacked his 85-pound dog Timber on Sunday night, Feb. 4, 2024.<br />Cody Thomas/Courtesy photo
Silverthorne resident Cody Thomas knew mountain lions lived in his backyard. He’d seen them on a security camera, lurking feet from the front door.
So, even though Timber — the family’s 85-pound black lab — is a “real athletic” hunting dog, Thomas said he was careful whenever he let the dog out at night. But standing on the porch just before bed Sunday, Feb. 4, Thomas heard an “awful howl-cry.”
He said he knew instantly that a mountain lion had attacked Timber, who had wandered just out of sight onto the driveway behind the detached garage, not more than 30 yards away. It was about 9 p.m.
“That lion had my dog pinned down on the driveway and my dog was yelping,” Thomas said. “I just started running at (the mountain lion) and yelling. I could tell the lion was a little bigger than Timber. A little longer. But not quite. Honestly, it couldn’t have weighed a whole lot more.”
Thomas said he came within a few feet of Timber before the wild cat let go of the dog and ran off in the direction of the Silverthorne Elementary School, directly adjacent to his house. Timber is currently recovering after being rushed to an emergency animal hospital in Denver.
Other pets in the area haven’t been so lucky, though. Colorado Parks and Wildlife district wildlife manager Alex Strasser said there have been a handful of reports of missing pets in and around the Ptarmigan Mountain neighborhood over the past month.
At least three goats have also been killed in the same neighborhood since the start of the month. It is safe to assume that the culprit behind at least some of the attacks is a mountain lion that has become too accustomed to humans, Strasser said.
It is also possible — though impossible to say for certain — that the same mountain lion was involved in an attack on a dog a week earlier near Keystone, he said. Those pet owners saved their dog after <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/colorado-mountain-lion-attack-dog-keystone/">tracking the mountain lion through the snow</a> and firing two gunshots.
“The attacks are becoming more frequent,” Strasser said. “It’s never good. Especially when we’re having multiple lion attacks over such a condensed area. That’s a lion that has been habituated to people, and it’s not looking at its natural prey. It’s looking at goats. It’s looking at dogs.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174759/123_1-2-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-458940" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174759/123_1-2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174759/123_1-2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174759/123_1-2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174759/123_1-2.jpeg 1457w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Timber, an 85-pound black lab, prior to being attacked by a mountain lion in Silverthorne on Sunday night, Feb. 4, 2024.Cody Thomas/Courtesy photo
The Colorado Rocky Mountains provide natural habitat for mountain lions. Also known as cougars, panthers and pumas, mountain lions are powerful, elusive predators that usually hunt deer or elk. People rarely get more than a brief glimpse of a mountain lion in the wild.
But as Summit County has grown over the years, <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/ring-doorbell-captures-video-of-5-mountain-lions-in-silverthorne/">more and more people have moved into “mountain lion country,”</a> Strasser said. While people can coexist peacefully with the predators, there is a real concern for people’s safety when a mountain lion starts to feel comfortable in residential neighborhoods, he said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is actively attempting to trap the mountain lion behind the recent attacks in Summit County in order to either relocate the cat or kill it, Strasser said. The wildlife agency will either lure the cat into a trap with a carcass or track and corner it with hounds, he said.
Anyone who encounters a mountain lion or has a domesticated animal go missing in Summit County should contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Hot Sulfur Springs office to file a report, Strasser said. Residents and visitors should also take preventative steps to avoid wildlife encounters, he added.
“In a case like this lion, where it’s hanging out in the same area, it starts to be a human health concern,” Strasser said. “We want to get that lion out of there. If we hear about these things, we can go look for tracks when it’s still fresh.”
Mountain lions stalk prey and attack with a sudden rush — often from behind — using powerful jaws to break the windpipe or break the neck of their prey, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. An adult male mountain lion can be up to 8 feet in length and weigh up to 150 pounds, while females may be up to 7 feet long and 90 pounds.
Understanding and respecting mountain lions and their habitat can help prevent dangerous encounters, the website states. To reduce problems with mountain lions, people should make noise when coming or going around dusk or dawn, install outdoor lighting and landscape yards to remove hiding spots for lions, especially around play areas.
Pet owners should not let their animals out alone at night and keep pets within eyesight — or better yet — on a leash, Strasser said. Most of the time, a mountain lion will flee from loud sounds or shouting, he said.
In Colorado, pets are considered personal property, so it is illegal to shoot a mountain lion that is attacking or eating a domesticated dog or cat, Strasser noted. But if a human life is on the line, lethal force can be used, he said.
In a face-to-face encounter with a mountain lion, don’t run since that could trigger the cat’s predator instinct. Anyone that encounters a mountain lion should remain calm, attempt to make themselves look big and fight back with rocks, sticks or nearby objects if the cat acts aggressively, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
After the mountain lion attack in his driveway, Thomas said he is afraid for the safety of his wife and their infant twin boys as well as children who may be walking to or from the nearby elementary school.
Because his dog is larger than some children, Thomas said he didn’t really think a mountain lion would attack Timber.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I guess because I was there, I wasn’t far from him and he’s a big dog,” Thomas said. “He didn’t even have time to bark. This (mountain lion) was just sitting behind my snowmobile trailer and — boom! — just got him behind the neck, just as quick as I could even think.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174915/123_1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-458941" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174915/123_1.jpeg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05174915/123_1-225x300.jpeg 225w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Usually full of energy, Timber is recovering after a mountain lion attack in Silverthorne on Feb. 4, 2024.Cody Thomas/Courtesy photo
At 4-years-old, Timber has always been full of energy, earning him the nickname Tigger after the “Winnie the Pooh” character who is always bouncing around, Thomas said. The veterinarian at the animal hospital believes Timber fought back after the mountain lion got hold of him, he said.
Timber, who Thomas described as “like a kid to us,” sustained bite marks on the top of his head and around his neck as well as claw marks on his underbelly. Heavily sedated, Timber does not have his usual energy but is recovering.
“It was just a sneak attack really. It was really fast,” Thomas said. “I was naive despite my experience with cats and hunting. They’re usually scared of dogs. Timber is a huge dog. But this cat was pretty bold.”
This article was written by Ryan Spencer for Summit Daily News
2024-02-11T15:10:33-07:002024-02-11T15:20:45-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35783Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to be sold to Ikon Pass owner Alterra Mountain Co.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-1024x683.jpg" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" class="wp-image-458932" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161813/ABasin4-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The early afternoon sun hangs high above the base of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Sitting on the patio of a base-area restaurant that day, Denver resident Benji Perez said he had mixed feelings about A-Basin being sold to Alterra Mountain Company. “My first thought is, ‘Oh god, this isn’t going to be the small, peaceful place that it was before,” he said.Robert Tann/Summit Daily News
Alterra Mountain Company, a ski resort conglomerate that owns the Ikon Pass, plans to purchase Arapahoe Basin Ski Area this year, according to statements released by both organizations on Monday, Feb. 5.
A-Basin is currently owned by Dream Unlimited Corp., a Canadian real estate company based in Toronto, which acquired the ski area in 1997. The sale, if it goes through, would bring Alterra’s portfolio to 18 year-round mountain destinations throughout North America. In Colorado, Alterra owns Steamboat Ski Resort and Winter Park Resort.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth said the sale could be completed sometime later this year, adding there will be no changes to Ikon Pass access at A-Basin this ski season.
The ski area has partnered with Alterra to provide limited days on the Ikon Pass <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/arapahoe-basin-ski-area-joins-ikon-pass/">since winter 2019</a>. Before that, it was part of the Epic Pass owned by Vail Resorts.
“We haven’t even started talking about what the future’s going to be like in terms of specifics,” Henceroth said in an interview with the Summit Daily News. “But (Alterra’s) buying A-Basin because they like it and they like what we’re doing.”
Hailed for its no-frills skiing and smaller weekend crowds, <a href="https://www.5280.com/how-leaning-into-its-status-as-an-anti-resort-made-a-basin-more-profitable/" target="_blank">A-Basin achieved an “anti-resort” status</a> despite its partnership with two industry giants — Alterra and Vail. When the ski resort pivoted from the Epic to the Ikon Pass in 2019, it cited overcrowding as a key reason.
A-Basin currently offers five days of access on the Ikon Base Pass and seven on the full pass and <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/sports/winter-sports/in-an-unusual-move-for-the-ski-industry-arapahoe-basin-works-to-reduce-skier-numbers/">has succeeded in curbing visitation</a> in a bid to preserve a more relaxed and intimate ski experience. Visitation during the 2022-23 season, for example, <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/skier-visits-at-arapahoe-basin-rose-compared-to-last-season-but-remained-lower-than-when-the-ski-area-was-on-the-epic-pass/">was 75% of what it was during the 2018-19 season</a> — the ski area’s last with Epic.
Henceroth said he’s confident A-Basin will continue to keep the same atmosphere under Alterra’s ownership.
“The people at A-Basin are what make it great, and I don’t just mean the employees, but I mean the whole culture of people,” Henceroth said. “Everybody here is really committed to having the Basin be this incredible place to spend a chunk of your life at. And I know Alterra gets that and they’re committed to that too.”
Henceroth, who has been with A-Basin for 36 years, will continue as COO under Alterra. The resort conglomerate <a href="https://www.alterramtn.co/news/alterra-mountain-company-to-acquire-arapahoe-basin-in-colorado" target="_blank">stated he will lead the resort’s daily operation</a>s as well as future capital improvement plans, such as expanding parking and snowmaking.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-1024x683.jpg" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" class="wp-image-458929" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161721/ABasin1-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Skiers and riders descend the mountain at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Opened in 1946 as Summit County’s first operating ski area, A-Basin has changed ownership a number of times. With the announcement of a pending sale to Alterra Mountain Company, Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth said A-Basin has seen “a lot of big changes” but added that he doesn’t believe it will change the ski area’s culture.Robert Tann/Summit Daily News
A-Basin regulars said they hope the ski area can maintain the lower prices and crowds that have drawn them to it for years.
“It has a nice not over-commercialized feel,” said Wendy McCaffrey, a former Summit County resident who now lives in Arvada. “It’s not that kind of place, and we don’t want that.”
McCaffrey said she’s been skiing at A-Basin since 1993 while her husband, John Wickershein, has been skiing it since 1974. For the past few years, they’ve bought four- and five-day passes at A-Basin, adding that other neighboring resorts have become too expensive.
“We don’t want to buy a season pass because we don’t ski that much. So offering that is critical to us,” Wickershein said.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-1024x683.jpg" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" class="wp-image-458931" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161757/ABasin3-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />The base of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is pictured on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. A-Basin announced that morning that it would be sold to Alterra Mountain Company, a ski resort conglomerate that owns the Ikon Pass, sometime in 2024. Details have not been released about what that might mean for passes but it will not affect pass holders this season.ABasin3-sdn
Denver resident Benji Perez said he’s been skiing at A-Basin since 2014. For the past four seasons, he’s chosen to forgo an Epic or Ikon Pass in favor of a full-season A-Basin pass. Part of the reason is because of how much quieter the ski area is compared to others.
“When you come here during the height of the season, there’s often not many people here,” Perez said. “I love that about this place.”
Perez said if A-Basin “manages to maintain the same atmosphere” under new ownership, “we’ll keep coming.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-1024x683.jpg" alt="Robert Tann/Summit Daily News" class="wp-image-458930" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/02/05161742/ABasin2-sdn-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A skier ascends the Black Mountain Express lift from the base of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Longtime skiers of A-Basin said they hope prices don’t increase under new ownership by Alterra Mountain Company.Robert Tann/Summit Daily News
Aaron Landau, a friend of Perez who also lives in Denver, said A-Basin “has become my home mountain.” Having grown up skiing Mt. Baker Ski Area in northwest Washington, Landau said he sees a similarity between the two.
Mt. Baker “has a very strong sustainability culture but also a culture of self-reliance and everybody taking care of each other,” Landau said. “I feel like Arapahoe Basin, of the mountains I’ve skied in Colorado, best exemplifies that.”
Landau said he’s reassured to know that Henceroth will continue at the helm under Alterra, adding that he and his team “have been a big part of building that atmosphere.” Still, he’s concerned that new ownership could mean more access to Ikon pass holders and a surge in skier traffic.
Henceroth said A-Basin is committed to a good experience, “and that means we can’t have too many people here.”
While he acknowledged there’s been “some criticism, some fear, some concern out there,” regarding the sale, Henceroth said, “The Basin’s going to be just as awesome as it has been. I don’t have any doubt about it.”
This article was written by Robert Tann for Summit Daily News
Local
2024-02-11T15:02:05-07:002024-02-11T15:08:09-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35519Red Gerard wins first-ever gold at X Games2024-01-29T11:55:36-07:002024-01-29T11:56:29-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35517Avalanche training park at Frisco Adventure Park now open for the season
<img width="1024" height="768" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n-1024x768.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/26090145/420088272_757314313098341_5439357208010923931_n.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Members of Summit County Rescue Group practice their transceiver search skills at the avalanche rescue training park at the Frisco Adventure Park on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.<br />Summit County Rescue Group/Courtesy photo
The avalanche rescue training park at the Frisco Adventure Park is now open for the season, providing a free location for people to practice searching for buried avalanche transceivers.
Summit County Rescue Group said in a social media post Thursday, Jan. 25, that backcountry adventurers can now sharpen their transceiver search skills at the training park. Located on the left after the Nordic Center and Frisco Day Lodge at 621 Recreation Way, the training park is a collaboration between the town of Frisco and the rescue group.
Backcountry officials recommend that <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/how-to-be-prepared-for-any-winter-journey-in-the-wilderness/">anyone traveling in potential avalanche terrain</a> carry an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel — and to know how to use that equipment in the case that someone is buried.
2024-01-29T10:58:20-07:002024-01-29T11:27:32-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35514Summit High Tigers Nordic Ski Team Dominate the Podium
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/02/17233623/DSC_2946-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Carter Niemkiewicz cruises to a seventh place finish while competing at the 2023 state skiing championships in Frisco on Thursday, Feb. 16 2023.<br />Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
Editor’s Note: The article has been updated to correct where Vail Mountain School’s Will Brunner resides.
Although the Summit High School Nordic ski team had its first competition just a little over<a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-nordic-fights-nasty-weather-en-route-to-first-wins-of-the-season/"> two weeks ago</a>, the team is already halfway through its slate of regular season meets. The athletes are now preparing for the state Nordic skiing championships from Feb. 22-23.
Over the last week, Summit competed in its second and third meets of the season.
In the team’s first classic state-qualifying race of the season, which was held at the Steamboat Ski Touring Center on Saturday, Jan. 20, Summit put 11 athletes under the state-qualifying mark, and junior James Sowers won his second-consecutive race.
In the boys race, Sowers and Summit sophomore Carter Niemkiewicz worked off one another throughout the 5-kilometer course. Although the race had an individual start, the duo stayed close to one another time wise, but it was ultimately Sowers who skied across the line in first place in a time of 16 minutes, 3.8 seconds.
Nearly five seconds back, Niemkiewicz took second in 16:08.4. Brody Henning placed 14th in 17:50.2.
“I felt pretty good,” Niemkiewicz said. “The snow conditions were a little bit interesting. There was a lot of slipping and you had to rely on your double pole. The course catered pretty well to me. I was pretty excited to be that close to James, and I think my training has been going really well. I just have to keep pushing myself. I feel like I am in good shape, and I am happy to keep racing.”
Parker Osborn rounded out the scoring for Summit in 20th place (18:20.2) and was soon followed by Josh Shriver in 22nd (18:30.7). Sowers, Niemkiewicz, Henning, Osborn, Shriver along with Bryce Oppito, Griffin Heins and Cain Steinweg all placed under the state-qualifying mark to finish within the top 51 athletes at the meet.
The Summit boys Nordic ski team secured its second team title of the season after collecting 209 points, beating out Poudre School District in second with 201 points and Battle Mountain High School in third with 197 points.
“I think it is pretty cool to race as a team and have a good team,” Niemkiewicz said. “I think it makes it more fun when you have to worry about the team standings and how you will affect the placement of the team. I think we have even more depth than last year, and I think we will probably be able to get another state title.”
After easily winning the first race of the season in Leadville, junior Ella Hagen faced some fierce competition in Steamboat Springs. Bolting off from the start line at hot pace, Hagen began navigating the adverse conditions on the course.
After nearly 20 minutes of racing, Hagen crossed the finish line in seventh place. Lake County High School’s Brynna Lenhard placed first in 19:05.4, Battle Mountain’s Lindsey Whitton placed second (19:15.2) and Lake County’s Susie Bullock placed third (19:28.2).
Two Tigers followed Hagen. Heidi Frey placed 24th (21:55.7), and Katherine Williams placed 30th (22:44). The Summit girls Nordic ski team secured 152 points to match its finish from Leadville, seventh, while Lake County won the meet with 225 points.
Hagen, Frey and Williams all met the state-qualifying mark in the classic discipline.
Four days later on Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Summit Nordic ski team, led by head coach Eva Hagen, was back on the start line for a 5-kilometer skate race at the Vail Golf Course. Coined the “Under the Moonlight” Nordic ski race, athletes strapped on headlamps and began racing across the relatively flat course.
Oppito, a junior, led the Summit boys Nordic skiing team, slicing through the falling dusk and placing third overall in a time of 14:36.0. Steamboat Springs High School’s Conner Fristhen placed first overall (14:31.0). Vail Mountain School’s Will Brunner took second (14:32.0).
Shriver was the next Tiger to finish the race, placing eighth in a time of 15:08.0. Freshman Malachi Love placed 17th (16:31), Griffin Heins finished in 32nd (17:26), Donovan Ramey placed 34th (17:31) and Owen Fallon placed 38th (17:55).
Even thought Niemkiewicz and Sowers didn’t compete in the Vail race, Summit managed to narrowly place second with 190 points behind Battle Mountain’s 191.
Hagen returned to her winning ways in the girls race in Vail, winning the race by close to 24 seconds in a time of 16:54.0 and scoring 60 points for the team. Lake County’s Chloe King placed second, and Whitton placed third before Summit’s Fiona Florio could make it across the finish line in 23rd place with a time of 19:17.
Summit placed fifth overall at the meet with 177 points while Lake County ran away with the girls team title with a total of 224 points.
With three meets remaining before the state Nordic skiing championships in Granby, Summit will turn its focus to a classic race at Maloit Park in Minturn on Saturday, Feb. 3, before hosting a home skate race at the Gold Run Nordic Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Both races will be the final opportunities for athletes to punch a ticket to the two-day state championship event. The home race is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.
This article was written by Cody Jones for Summit Daily News
2024-01-29T10:32:58-07:002024-01-29T10:44:47-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35374International Snow Sculpture Championship is This Weekend! Breckenridge’s International Snow Sculpture Championships presented by Toyota is a world-renowned snow sculpting competition where teams from around the world descend on Breckenridge, Colorado to hand-carve 25-ton blocks of snow into enormous, intricate works of art. Artists are only allowed to use hand tools, creativity and inspiration to bring their ideas to life. No power tools allowed! Teams sculpt countless hours across five days (totaling around 94 hours), resulting in a temporary outdoor art gallery in historic downtown Breckenridge!
Join us at the 2024 International Snow Sculpture Championships presented by Toyota:
Sculpting Week: January 22-26, 2024
Viewing Week: January 26-31, 2024
We encourage spectators to view the sculptures Sunday, Jan. 28 – Wednesday, Jan. 31 when reservations are not required.
The sculpture viewing area will be closed at 5:00pm on January 31
The weekend of viewing, Friday, Jan. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 28, is historically the most-popular time for sculpture viewing. To help ensure the best environment for artists and viewers timed entry reservations will be required on Saturday, Jan. 27.
There is no cost for a timed entry, but availability is limited. Spectators can sign up for a Saturday sculpture viewing at 10:00am, 12:00pm or 2:00pm.
We encourage spectators to view the sculptures Sunday, Jan. 28 – Wednesday, Jan. 31 when reservations are not required.
<a href="https://breckcreate.org/events/international-snow-sculpture-championships">CLICK HERE to make a viewing Reservation</a>
<a href="https://gobreck.com/event/international-snow-sculpture-championships">CLICK HERE to learn more about the incredible event!</a>2024-01-23T15:59:10-07:002024-01-24T09:04:16-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35345Summit County Ski Resorts Snow and Terrain UpdateThe heavy snowfall has led to new terrain openings at local ski areas. With several more inches of snow being reported on Thursday morning, Jan. 18, ski patrol teams are working around the clock to drop ropes to even more powder-filled ski runs.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="526" height="1024" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2-526x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-458285" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2-526x1024.jpg 526w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2-154x300.jpg 154w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2-768x1494.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2-790x1536.jpg 790w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18154053/Open-terrain-at-Summit-County-ski-area-2.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px" />Open terrain at Summit County ski area – 1
Copper opens runs in Spaulding and Copper Bowls
On Thursday morning, Copper Mountain Resort reported another foot of snow, bringing the resort’s snow totals to 42 inches over the last seven days and 61 inches so far this month.
Copper opened several runs in Spaulding Bowl on Wednesday, including So Fine, Atlantic Cornice and Pacific Cornice. Over in Copper Bowl, Copper recently opened Julie’s Vision, Golden Crest, and Six Shooter.
“There is a lot of snow out there, and more terrain is expected to open over the next week as storms clear and patrol can prepare trails for public,” senior communications manager Loryn Roberson said.
On Saturday, Jan. 20, Copper will open the Peace Park terrain park and will also be hosting a party in celebration of the park opening on Sunday, Jan. 21. Guests can enjoy music from a live DJ, swag giveaways and an after party at Slice Slide in Center Village.
The event is free to attend and is presented by Mountain Dew. More information can be found at <a href="https://www.coppercolorado.com/things-to-do/events/january-events/party-in-peace-park-2024" target="_blank">CopperColorado.co</a>
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-1024x683.jpg" alt="Copper Mountain Resort/Courtesy photo" class="wp-image-458280" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18140527/CM_Winter_Snowboarding_1-17-24_CD_04-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A snowboarder enjoys the powder while at Copper Mountain Resort on Wednesday, Jan. 17.Copper Mountain Resort/Courtesy photo
Breckenridge opens Freeway terrain park, begins assessing Imperial Bowl
Seeing 40 inches of snow across Breckenridge Ski Resort’s five peaks over the last week, the ski area is cruising into the weekend with over 2,050 acres of jaw-dropping skiing and riding conditions.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Breckenridge’s terrain park crews officially opened up access to the resort’s largest terrain park — Freeway — located on Peak 8. The terrain park features an 18-foot halfpipe, a large jumpline and seven rails. Freeway can be easily lapped with the upgraded Five Superchair and the parks team plans to add more rails and features as the season progresses.
Breckenridge opened half of Wonderland on Peak 6 and The Windows on Peak 9 sometime during the day on Thursday.
According to Senior Specialist in Communications Sarah McLear, Breckenridge has begun assessing Imperial Bowl and the resort’s hike-to terrain after the most recent storm spanning from Wednesday night through Thursday.
“Snow safety work is a huge priority for our patrol team, and they are taking the time necessary to make sure they get it right,” McLear said. “Stay tuned for more updates on the remainder of our high Alpine terrain, soon.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-1024x683.jpg" alt="Katie Young/Keystone Resort" class="wp-image-458284" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18144024/20240118_KY_Young_003-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A group of skiers and riders celebrate the fresh snow at Keystone Resort on Thursday, Jan. 18.Katie Young/Keystone Resort
Keystone Resort prepares to open Erickson Bowl and Starfire trail
Keystone Resort has seen over 34 inches of snow over the past week, which has led to incredible skiing and riding on all three of the resort’s peaks.
“We all expected great snowfall last weekend, but some of this week’s storms exceeded even our own expectations,” Communications Manager Max Winter said.
The significant snowfall led to a handful of new trail openings across the resort, including Mineshaft and Ballhooter on Dercum Mountain. Additionally, Keystone saw the return of Foxtrot, a mellow scenic blue trail off the backside of North Peak that was reintroduced to the ski area with the opening of the Bergman Express lift.
Over the next couple days, Keystone will focus on opening up Erickson Bowl. According to Winter, Keystone is on target to see the bowl open over the next few days.
Keystone recommends that the public keeps an eye out for an official Erickson Bowl opening announcement on the resort’s social media channels this weekend.
Starfire — one of Keystone’s most anticipated openings every season — is also expected to come online this weekend after loads of work from the resort’s mountain operations teams.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="819" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-1024x819.jpg" alt="Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin Ski Area" class="wp-image-458282" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-300x240.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-768x614.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/18141134/1.15.24-epic-blizzard-day-lucas-herbert-lowrez-14-2048x1639.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A skier swallows a mouth full of powder while enjoying a day of skiing at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Monday, Jan. 15.Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
A-Basin unlocks more terrain off of The Beavers and Pallavicini lifts
According to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Communications Manager Shayna Silverman, the recent string of winter storms gave way to some of the best powder days A-Basin has ever had. The powder days ultimately fueled more terrain openings at the ski area with the slopes seeing 8 inches of new snow as of Thursday morning.
A-Basin’s ski patrol teams have been busy in The Beavers looking to open up more — if not all — of the terrain offerings in the area by this weekend. Additionally, A-Basin hopes to have almost all of its terrain off of the Pallavicini lift open this weekend.
Boosting its percent of acreage open to 40%, A-Basin will now look to open Montezuma Bowl. A-Basin currently has two snowcats back in the bowl and is making progress toward getting the area ready for the public.
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Loveland to start spinning Lift 4 Friday
Loveland Ski Area also enjoyed the influx of new snowfall. The ski area opened up some more expert terrain off of Chet’s Dream over the last week with trails including Cat’s Meow, Tiger’s Tail, Busy Gully and Holy Cat.
The ski area also introduced some intermediate trails off of Ptarmigan, including Poma Line, South Chutes and Tomahawk.
Seeing seven inches of snow on Thursday morning, Loveland plans to open Lift 4 on Friday, Jan. 19. Lift 4 will be open to the top with access to all of the trails off of the lift except No. 4 Headwall and West Ropes.
With the addition of Lift 4, Loveland gives guests access to eight lifts, 56 trails and 805 acres. Additionally, Loveland has 100% of its beginner terrain, 66% of its most difficult terrain and 21% of its most difficult terrain currently open.
This article was written by Cody Jones for Summit Daily 2024-01-22T15:27:58-07:002024-01-29T11:44:27-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35335Summit Fun - Remembering the End of 2023Can you believe we are half way through the first month of 2024? Time flies! Take a stroll with Kelie on her favorite moments of the end of 2023! What was your favorite moment of 2023? Tell us below! .2024-01-22T12:34:32-07:002024-01-22T12:43:01-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35334Shoutout Saturday - Vine Street Social A new wine bar in Frisco?! Yes please! 🙏 For this week’s Shoutout, Deena is shouting out Vine Street Social Wine Bar in Frisco, Colorado! This is the spot we’ve been needing in Frisco! The vibe is awesome, the wine is amazing, and the owners Debbi and Eric Anderson so lovely! Vine Street Social is the start of a new and exciting chapter in their lives. They hope that this wine bar will soon become a staple of the Frisco community! We hope you love it as much as we do! For more information on Vine Street Social visit their website at: vinestreetsocial.com and don’t forget to check out their Instagram: @vinestreetsocial CHEERS! 🍷 2024-01-22T12:22:38-07:002024-01-22T12:32:58-07:00Deena Heppnertag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35025What did tourism look like in Breckenridge over the holiday? The answer might surprise you.
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="JP Douvalakis/Breckenridge SKi Resort" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/23091151/20231222_BR_Douvalakis_026.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Breckenridge remains on track with tourism numbers for the 2023-24 holiday season.<br />JP Douvalakis/Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge houses approximately 45% of the short-term rentals in Summit County and generally hosts the most tourists, according to short term rental data.
While this ski hub generally sees a healthy, or sometimes overwhelming, amount of tourists, travel experts had some trepidation about what the Christmas and New Years holiday weeks could bring this year.
Given the timing of many school breaks this year, travel experts were wary that Breckenridge was going to have a lower number of tourists this holiday season.
“When the school break falls at a convenient time for travel or sets up a really nicely aligned week for families to travel, you might see that have an impact,” Melissa Andrews with the Breckenridge Tourism Office said.
As luck would have it, despite tricky travel times, Breckenridge did not see a dip in tourists.
Breckenridge saw a very slight uptick in visitations this holiday season with 2023’s number beating out 2022’s by around 4%.
The Breckenridge Tourism Office utilizes lodging occupancy data to get an outlook on travel and said the data from this year indicates that the holiday timeframe is still strong for bookings.
The Breckenridge Tourism Office reported that from Dec. 22 through Jan. 7 Breckenridge was at 71.4% lodging occupancy. During this time last year occupancy was at 67%.
Lodging occupancy data demonstrates that Dec. 28 and 29 remain the peak occupied nights with Jan. 3-5 coming in as a close second.
Andrews said Breckenridge saw travelers from its usual top areas, such as Texas, Florida, Illinois and California. The town also saw tourists from nearby states like Kansas and Missouri.
Breckenridge officials similarly reported seeing a slight increase in tourism from last year based on short-term rental data specially for Breckenridge properties. Last year, short-term rental occupancy for the Christmas and New Years holiday hit 58.%. This year it hit 61.7%.
While occupancy rates rose slightly, average daily rates and length of stay for short term rentals dropped slightly.
Breckenridge’s market saw a $34 drop in average daily rates, dropping from $826 last year to $792 this year.
Breckenridge Resort Managers’ data showed that average daily rates peaked on Dec. 29 at $964 and hit a low point on Dec. 20 at $529.
President Toby Babich chalks up the drop in price to overall inventory being up and property owners shifting around how they do things to increase occupancy.
“This would be pure speculation but we’re seeing a drop in (average daily rate), which is at a $30 drop, and we’re seeing a drop in length of stay. People are probably dropping rates and allowing shorter stays to increase occupancy,” Babich said.
He said he suspects short-term rental owners could be nixing their minimum lengths of stay, which is generally five nights in Breckenridge, in order to increase occupancy when demand might be low.
He noted the drop in the length of stay was minuscule, with last year’s average being 4.4 nights and this year’s being 4.3.
He said an interesting trend his organization has noticed is that while that holiday week had an increase in occupancy, overall Breckenridge is down for the month of December.
“I think the interesting part is the overall 3.7% drop in occupancy when looking at the entire month of December, due to a slow early December,” Babich said.
Written by Kit Geary for Summit Daily News 2024-01-08T11:48:54-07:002024-01-08T12:11:55-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35023Mobile veterinarian clinic prepares to debut services in Summit CountyMeet Passion Fur Paw, a mobile veterinary clinic that will soon roll its way into Summit County
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-1024x683.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172104/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Pawsss-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Danielle Jehn-Campbell poses for a photo with a patient in her new mobile clinic, Passion Fur Paws.<br />Danielle Jehn-Campbell/ Passion Fur Paws
Many veterinarians will tell you it was their lifelong dream to be in the profession. That wasn’t necessarily the case for veterinarian Dr. Danielle Jehn-Campbell.
Instead, she became passionate about becoming a veterinarian after she unintentionally ended up in a lab in Michigan testing cows for tuberculosis. At the time, she was in school studying human medicine and surgery, but she decided to make a pivot in her career trajectory after her high school science teacher set her up with the state-run lab.
“It never occurred to me to be an animal doctor until I started getting hands on with the state and realized how much I loved it,” Jehn-Campbell sAfter working with the lab, Jehn-Campbell decided her junior year to “make the switch and hurry up and cram animal medicine credits.”
Just as Jehn-Campbell’s journey to the profession was unconventional and unique — so is where she practices. Her veterinarian practice is on wheels. The mobile clinic, which is operated in a specialty medical truck, is coming to Summit County this February.
Jehn-Campbell’s career in Summit County began in 2017 with the Frisco Animal Hospital before she broke off to start her clinic on wheels, Passion Fur Paws, in May 2023.
Due to a noncompete policy that barred her from doing business in Summit County until February 2024, Jehn-Campbell had to start her practice in Grand County, operating out of Kremmling.
With February just around the corner, Passion Fur Paws is getting ready to hit the ground running. She said she knew there was a need for a clinic that could bring services directly to people’s homes based on her interactions with patients.
She explained that often patients would say, “‘Hey, can you come to my house and do this euthanasia? Or, ‘Hey, my dogs are having trouble getting up, and I don’t know how I’m gonna get him into the car.'”
She said at-home euthanasia services have been popular as some people want to carry out that process in the comfort of their own home.
Despite limitations due to the size of the vehicle she operates out of and her staff’s size, her clinic on wheels has nearly all the same capabilities as a typical veterinary hospital.
“We have in-house lab machines. We have in-house cytology. X-rays, we can do dentals and full dental X-rays,” Jehn-Campbell said. “We can do full abdominal surgery. We have full anesthesia capabilities … We have a portable ultrasound.”
Her clinic also offers spay and neuter services for dogs that are under 100 pounds.
To celebrate the grand opening of Passion Fur Paws in Summit County, she is throwing a party at Broken Compass Brewing Company on Airport Road in Breckenridge Feb. 2. from 3-7 p.m. At the grand opening, there will be a raffle with proceeds going to Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment Dogs.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-457753" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2024/01/05172243/Danielle-Jehn-Campbell-Passion-Fur-Paws-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Danielle Jehn-Campbell in front of her new mobile clinic, Passion Fur Paws.Danielle Jehn-Campbell/ Passion Fur Paws
“They’ve asked me to be one of their main contacts for veterinary care for the avalanche dogs … and so all of our proceeds from that raffle will go towards that group and their handlers for any gear, food, supplies, training — whatever they need,” Jehn-Campbell said.
Jehn-Campbell continues to work on growing her staff, but for now her staff size will allow her to operate Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. She said this could change as time goes on. To book an appointment text or call 970-485-1916 or email <a href="mailto:info@passionfurpaws.pet" target="_blank">info@passionfurpaws.pe</a>
Written by Kit Geary for Summit Daily News
2024-01-08T11:25:26-07:002024-01-08T11:32:28-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:35022Hi Neighbor - Peak 7 in BreckenridgeHi Neighbor! 👋 Are you looking for a beautiful mountain community that is close to the slopes and located in a picturesque mountain town? We have the PERFECT neighborhood for you! Welcome home to the Peak 7 neighborhood in Breckenridge with Kelie Gray! 🏔️ In our Hi Neighbor 👋 series, we are giving you the inside scoop on neighborhoods throughout Summit County! 🏘 All these insider tips are to better help you make a choice on the PERFECT neighborhood for YOU! 2024-01-08T11:17:35-07:002024-01-08T11:21:13-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34625Hi Neighbor - Sail Lofts in Dillon with Deena HeppnerHi Neighbor! 👋
Welcome home to the Sail Lofts in Dillon, Colorado with Deena Heppner!
Have you ever seen a property For Sale, but you weren’t really sure what the neighborhood was like? Well, we are here to help! We are giving you the inside scoop on neighborhoods throughout Summit County! 🏘 All these insider tips are to better help you make a choice on the PERFECT neighborhood for YOU!2023-12-19T11:20:08-07:002023-12-19T11:22:00-07:00Deena Heppnertag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34622Summit County Ski Resorts! Summit Real Estate's Winter CompassJoin the Summit Real Estate Team as they explore Summit County's Ski Resorts!2023-12-19T10:34:34-07:002023-12-19T10:39:02-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34535National Forest Service takes control of a Colorado 14er
<img width="1024" height="903" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM-1024x903.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM-1024x903.png 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM-300x264.png 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM-768x677.png 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM-1536x1354.png 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/15105651/Screen-Shot-2023-12-15-at-10.55.04-AM.png 1552w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Hikers on the Decalibron loop pass through private property on the way to three 14er summits. A deal with a landowner has transferred 289 acres of private land on Mount Democrat to the Pike National Forest.<br />The Conservation Fund/Courtesy photo
The Forest Service has a new 14er in Colorado.
The Conservation Fund has moved Mount Democrat over to the Pike National Forest, ending a thorny access issue that has haunted the popular Mosquito Range 14er for years.
“It’s so exciting. This takes care of a big issue for us,” said Jason Robertson, the acting supervisor for the Pike-San Isabel National Forests.
John Reiber sold the 289 acres atop Mount Democrat to The Conservation Fund in September. The owner of mining land spanning three 14ers in the Mosquitos above Alma had closed access in previous years, citing concerns that hikers injured in the old mining structures on the peaks could sue him.
Read more from Jason Blevins at <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2023/12/15/mount-democrat-transferred-to-forest-service/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 24px;">ColoradoSun.com</a>
<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2023/12/15/mount-democrat-transferred-to-forest-service/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 24px;"></a>The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization dedicated to covering the people, places and policies that matter in Colorado. Read more, sign up for free newsletters and subscribe at ColoradoSun.com.2023-12-16T16:10:35-07:002023-12-16T16:15:03-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34534Colorado company puts ski resort trail maps on the palm of your hand!
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="737" height="1024" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-737x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-456477" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-737x1024.jpg 737w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-216x300.jpg 216w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-768x1066.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-1106x1536.jpg 1106w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-1475x2048.jpg 1475w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/12/01152553/Steve-Bright-Courtesy-photo-scaled.jpg 1844w" sizes="(max-width: 737px) 100vw, 737px" />Husband and wife Steve Bright and Ashley Curry started a skins company that features Colorado ski resort trail maps.Steve Bright/Courtesy photo
Steven Bright was on a chairlift at Breckenridge Ski Resort a couple years back with his wife Ashley Curry when the two started examining the outfits of other resort-goers.
“We saw all the colorful elements of a typical ski outfit, except that everyone was wearing the same boring black gloves, including us,” Bright said.
On the lift, they chatted about how hands are one of the most expressive parts of the body, but when it came to slope-style apparel gloves and mittens were always fairly muted.
They began brainstorming ways in which people could express more individuality with gloves, while also noting how cold it could be taking off gloves to pull up a trail map on a phone when you’re lost at a ski resort.
That chairlift brainstorming session would later go on to inspire their business. In September, Curry and Bright began selling <a href="https://www.skittenz.com/products/beaver-creek-trail-map-skittenz" target="_blank">Skitten</a>z— mitten skins that have trail maps on them. Skins go over gloves, which allows them to be interchangeable.
“At some point, everyone has been lost on the mountain and hasn’t wanted to take out their phone and have cold fingers. … We thought it would be convenient and sensible to have trail maps in the palm of your hands,” Bright said.
The Golden-based couple contacted Vail Resorts and got licensing to make skins with trail maps of Breckenridge Ski Resort, Keystone Resort, Beaver Creek Resort and Vail Ski Resort.
Bright said he has calls out to more resorts to further expand the amount of Skittenz trail maps.
“If you have a skin, you can slide it on at Keystone one day and Breckenridge the next day and still have your good mittens or good gloves underneath them,” Bright said.
Curry and Bright both work in health care and, with much consideration, decided to take the leap into the apparel business this year.
Given their longtime careers in health care, neither knew much about entrepreneurship or the apparel industry. Bright said this deterred them from pursuing the idea for a while. That was until Bright found a National Public Radio podcast that changed his mind.
“I started listening to the <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this" target="_blank">How I Built Thi</a>s podcast … and realized that these founders or creators are very ordinary people who just take that first step, take that leap, which I’d never done before and this seemed like a good enough opportunity to do it,” Bright said.
Curry and Bright wanted to have their gloves manufactured in Colorado, so their first stop was American Made Apparel Manufacturing in Aurora. They later picked up another Colorado manufacturer, Hookfish Manufacturing out of Denver.
Bright said the company would love to partner with Colorado artists to get their prints on the skins as well.
The skins are made of either a blend of polyester and spandex or nylon and spandex. Bright said they included spandex to give it the ability to conform to a user’s glove or mitten and it makes sizing a little more universal. For now the skins come in medium and large.
The skins are coated in NikWax Coating, which Bright said “bonds the material tightly to that fabric, and creates a very effective water repellent layer.”
In addition to the four trail map skins there are also other skins with a variety of designs. Generally the skins go for $35 but for the month of December they are on sale for $24.99. More information can be found at <a href="https://www.skittenz.com/" target="_blank">Skittenz.c</a>om.2023-12-16T16:06:38-07:002023-12-16T16:10:31-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34533Federal judge allows wolf reintroduction in Colorado to proceed
<img width="1024" height="665" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-1024x665.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-1024x665.png 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-300x195.png 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-768x499.png 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-1536x998.png 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/05/17222045/Screenshot-2023-05-03-at-2.41.13-PM-2048x1331.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Colorado Parks and Wildlife is expected to reintroduce wolves to Colorado by the end of the year.<br />Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Courtesy photo
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be allowed to move forward with its plan to begin the process of reintroducing wolves in the state this weekend after a federal judge on Friday denied a motion made by a group of ranchers to delay the process.
The Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ and The Colorado Cattlemen’s associations filed a lawsuit Monday, accusing the state and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of not completing the required environmental impact studies on the reintroduction.
In her ruling posted just after 7 p.m., Judge Regina Rodriguez said that while the ranchers’ concerns are understandable, their complaints aren’t sufficient “for this court to grant the extraordinary relief they seek.” She added that a pause to the reintroduction process would be against the public interest because of the voter approval of Proposition 114 in 2020.
The ruling came one day after a three-hour hearing at a federal court in Denver where representatives from both sides of the lawsuit made arguments in front of the judge.
An attorney for the state told the court Thursday the state planned to begin the process of transporting wolves to Colorado from Oregon on Sunday, with a possible release date as early as Monday.
The wolves are set to be released on private or state lands somewhere in Eagle, Grand, or Summit counties.
The ranchers’ lawsuit claims that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should have conducted environmental impact statement reviews beyond what has already been completed.
For the reintroduction process to have been delayed, the attorneys for the ranchers needed to prove they would be likely to win the overall case. In her ruling, Rodriguez said theyhad failed to do that. She also said they failed to show there would be irreparable harm if she allowed the reintroduction process to proceed.
“CPW has devoted substantial public resources to this effort, and presented evidence that some of those would be lost if it were forced to delay its efforts,” according to the ruling.
Advocates for wolf reintroduction celebrated the ruling Friday evening, calling it “excellent news.” A spokesperson for the Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association said the group would continue to look closely at the impacts wolf reintroduction will have on its members.
“A serious effort to resolve those conflicts remains to be undertaken,” according to a written statement.
A spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the agency won’t comment on the ongoing litigation.
CPW plans to put tracking collars on the wolves before releasing them in the state. In her order, the judge noted this means the wolves could be recaptured if ordered by the court.
On Thursday, lawyers for the state called the filing an “11th-hour” attempt to delay a process that has been underway for years. Under Proposition 114, which was approved in 2020 by a narrow margin of 57,000 votes, wolves are required to be reintroduced in the state before the end of this year.
Ranchers across the Western Slope have protested the decision by voters, citing concerns over their livestock being killed and their way of life irreparably damaged. In response, the state has created a fund to provide $15,000 for any livestock killed by wolves. The federal government also issued a 10(j) ruling, changing the way wolves are classified in Colorado and allowing ranchers to kill the animals if they attack their livestock.
State officials in Oregon agreed to provide wolves for Colorado’s reintroduction after several other states – including Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho – declined to do so. Colorado officials plan to capture five wolves in Oregon, tranquilize them, and then transport them to Colorado. Only five wolves can fit into the transport airplane at one time, Reynolds said. It’s also possible they will need to be driven to the state, which takes at least two days.
Another suit filed
The Colorado Conservation Alliance filed a separate case against the reintroduction on Thursday. That filing has similar allegations about the requirements for an environmental impact study. Both cases cite requirements under the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act as arguments against the process.
The new lawsuit focuses on concerns about how the gray wolves, which are set to be introduced in Colorado before the end of the year, could interact with Mexican wolves, which exist in Arizona and New Mexico. The lawsuit includes several other hypothetical concerns as well, including the possible spread of diseases and the impacts of many wolves eventually settling in the state.
While the initial lawsuit asked for an immediate, temporary restraining order to halt the reintroduction, a similar ask has not yet been made in the latest lawsuit. That may give the state beyond its set timeline — which could be as early as Monday — to respond.2023-12-16T13:36:59-07:002023-12-16T16:06:33-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34403Silverthorne completes it largest workforce housing development yet with construction of more rental units on the waySilverthorne recently completed the buildout of the Smith Ranch Workforce Housing Neighborhood, which is the town’s largest investment in workforce housing yet.
The completed part of the development consists of 214 homes. This features 50 single-family houses, 68 duplexes and 96 townhomes, which are all for-sale and deed-restricted units. No short-term rental licenses will be permitted for these 214 residences, according to the Summit County Housing Authority.
The town has begun construction on another aspect of this development, the Smith Ranch Apartments, which will include <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/silverthorne-council-gives-final-approval-to-build-income-based-smith-ranch-apartments/">135 affordable housing rental units.</a> The project consists of 79 one-bedroom units, 25 two-bedroom units and 31 three-bedroom units.
Assistant town manager Mark Ledial said that applications to live in the rental units should open in the fall.
With the housing portions of the developments completed and underway, the town still has land associated with the development that is set aside for commercial uses. Adjacent to the Smith Ranch Apartments, the town reserved land for future commercial development, including a grocery store.
“We’ve preserved enough land for about 50,000 square feet of commercial, so that would include a 30,000-square-foot grocery store, roughly, and then 20,000 square feet of other retail uses,” Leidal said.
The town has no timeline for when construction for this parcel will begin, he said, and there have been no talks about what grocery store brand will occupy the space.
The town noted that all units for the Smith Ranch Workforce Housing Neighborhood are already occupied, with the last family moving into their unit in October.
The 214 units in the development are eligible for people who fall into the range of 80% to 120% of the area median income.
The single-family homes were listed in the ballpark of $435,000 and have three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The area median income breakdown is as follows: 15 units at 80%, 13 units at 85%, 10 units at 90%, 27 units at 95%, 36 units at 100%, 10 units at 105%, 36 units at 110%, 16 units at 115%, 51 units at 120%.
Leidal said the single-family homes fall on the higher end of the range. The townhomes fall in the middle, while the duplexes and apartment units fall on the tail end.
The 135 rental apartments that are being built will be split into three buildings, two of which will be income-capped at 80% to 120% of the area median income and one of which will be capped at 30% to 60%.
The town began planning Smith Ranch back in 2008 when it purchased the 51 acres for about $3.5 million after a housing needs assessments demonstrated a need for more workforce housing.
This followed a 2006 ballot measure, <a href="https://summitcountyco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/22467/HousingAllowanceRestrictiveCovenant_Fact-Sheet-6-5-18?bidId=#:~:text=On%20November%207%2C%202006%2C%20the,used%20for%20affordable%20housing%20purposes.">5A</a>, in which Summit County voters approved the usage of temporary sales and use tax revenues as well as a development impact fee on new construction or affordable housing.
Ledial said that these 5A funds allowed the town to make its first significant workforce housing investment. While the land was purchased in 2008, construction did not begin until 2017.
“It’s pretty exciting, from the town’s perspective, to have it built out within the five year timeframe from when we started and to have it now be complete,” Leidal said.
Silverthorne issued a request for proposals looking for a developer and signed a development agreement with Compass Homes Development and Summit Homes Construction for the 214 units. Leidal said the developer Gorman and Co. will be doing the 135 rental apartments.
Silverthorne set aside 21 acres for open space and 1.8 acres for a childcare center, which the<a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/long-awaited-summit-county-child-care-center-prepares-to-open-bringing-nature-based-learning-to-dozens-of-children/"> Wildflower Nature School moved into in September.</a>
Construction began on the first 60 units, known as Phase 1, during summer 2018, with the first family moving into Smith Ranch in early 2019. Prior to this construction, infrastructure work was done to square out things such as roads and sewers to be able to develop units.
The cost to the town included $3,550,877 for infrastructure, $3,569,710 for the land and $12,914,409 in subsidies. The total contribution from the town for the development of 214 units was just over $20 million. Silverthorne invested a cash subsidy of just under $1.63 million for the 135 rental units.
“Out of all the 214 units, we are subsidizing them to the tune of about $93,000 per unit,” Leidal said.
This article is from Summit Daily News, published on December 10th 2023 by Kit Geary.2023-12-11T16:10:50-07:002023-12-11T16:31:57-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34186Shout Out Saturday- Vantia Hardwoods & InteriorsHardwood floors- a BEAUTIFUL upgrade to any home. But what happens after you have three dogs, two kids, countless guests, and a rollerskating party? You might need to refinish those beautiful floors! For this week’s Shout Out Saturday, Allison is shouting out a local favorite here in Summit County, Vantia Hardwoods and Interiors in Frisco! Not only did they do an AMAZING job 🤩 but they are so kind, and so responsive! 10/10 across the board! Not only are they experts at refinishing wood floors but they are a premium supplier of hardwood flooring, reclaimed wood products, barn siding, wall materials, interior doors- from modern to traditional and everything in between!2023-12-04T12:58:34-07:002023-12-04T13:02:45-07:00Allison Simsontag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:34185What Colorado ski resort saw the most snow from this weekend’s storm?December and winter arrived with a bang in Colorado.
Storm totals
Steamboat Resort – 33″<br />Winter Park Resort – 26″<br />Copper Mountain Resort – 23″<br />Vail Mountain – 22″<br />Breckenridge Ski Resort – 21″<br />Keystone Resort – 15″<br />Loveland Ski Area – 14″<br />Arapahoe Basin Ski Area – 12″<br />Beaver Creek – 11″<br />Aspen Highlands – 11″<br />Aspen Mountain – 11″<br />Buttermilk – 11″<br />Snowmass – 11″2023-12-04T12:49:55-07:002023-12-04T12:55:21-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31862Hi Neighbor - Summit Sky Ranch in Silverthorne, ColoradoHi Neighbor! 👋 Are you looking for a beautiful mountain community, with modern architecture, and amenities galore? We have the PERFECT neighborhood for you! Welcome home to the Summit Sky Ranch in Silverthorne with Kelie Gray! 🏔️ In our Hi Neighbor 👋 series, we are giving you the inside scoop on neighborhoods throughout Summit County! 🏘 All these insider tips are to better help you make a choice on the PERFECT neighborhood for YOU!2023-11-12T12:45:37-07:002023-11-12T12:51:42-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31861Shoutout Saturday - Climax Jerky in ColoradoKelie is so excited to Shout Out one of her favorite local and family owned businesses here in Summit County, Climax Jerky! If you haven’t already tried their amazing selection of fresh & delicious jerky- you’re missing out. But don’t worry, don’t worry. Now is a GREAT time to start thinking about your next purchase! With holidays right around the corner Climax Jerky makes the perfect gift for someone in your family. I’m thinking STOCKING STUFFERS? Yes please. And great news- they’re having 15% off on their website for Black Friday & Cyber Monday 🎉 Visit their website for more information at: climaxjerky.com YOU’LL THANK US LATER 👍2023-11-12T12:36:42-07:002023-11-12T12:41:50-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31860Leave your Dead Leaves on the Ground this Fall
When colorful autumn leaves accumulate in your garden this season, it may be worth just leaving them there.
Leaf litter, commonly considered an eyesore, is a surprising microcosm of biodiversity. It serves as a cover for the most species-rich habitat: soil, which hosts more than half of all life on earth. Beneath piles of leaves, twigs, and bark, a variety of creatures flourish, from small reptiles such as salamanders and frogs to invertebrates like snails, earthworms, and spiders.
When invertebrates consume leaf matter, they break it up into smaller pieces. Then, tandem forces of bacteria and fungi decompose these pieces and <a href="https://www.amnh.org/content/download/35188/518925/file/life-in-the-leaf-litter.pdf" target="_blank">convert them into valuable nutrients</a> such as nitrogen, calcium, and sulfur that helps feed trees and other plants.
Those natural processes help replenish the soil and contribute to the life cycle as dead plant matter transforms into sustenance for living plants. Although leaf litter can look deceivingly stagnant, a microscopic world of activity teems beneath the foliage.
Environmental benefits
As a microhabitat, leaf litter is diverse. Structurally, it’s made of plant rubble such as leaves, flowers, bark, seeds, and twigs. Chemically, it contains substances such as<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/plant-litter" target="_blank"> cellulose and lignin.</a> A 2023 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169534722003342" target="_blank">study </a>suggests leaf litter strengthens ecosystem biodiversity by making soil more fertile and reducing the risk of pathogens left behind by animals.
Leaf litter goes through three stages of decomposition to produce soil. The observable top layer is the litter layer. The second layer, composed of rotting leaves, is the fermenting layer. The last, completely rotted layer is built up of a thick and dark organic matter called humus, a type of soil that provides the ideal environment in which plants grow and thrive.
Think of that soil as an entire ecosystem, says Sue Barton, a plant and soil scientist at the University of Delaware.
“The soil system contains the mineral component, which is the sand, silt, and clay. It also has spaces that are filled with air or water, and then it has organic matter,” she says. “Then a living component, like earthworms and fungi and bacteria. It’s good to refer to soil as a complex system, rather than a single entity.”Not only does leaf litter decomposition help release nutrients into the soil, but it can also store carbon in the ground. Forests sequester this greenhouse gas by capturing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, carbon transforms into biomass, which eventually dies and becomes leaf litter or deadwood.
Leaf litter is also an important habitat for animals. When the bitter months of winter arrive, dead leaves provide wildlife a place to shelter and hide from the elements. Below the detritus, moths and butterflies cocoons lie nestled, and bumblebees burrow to avoid the cold, hibernating over the winter months.
“Most butterflies and moths overwinter in the landscape either as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises or adults,” says Barton. “Luna moths, Baltimore checkerspot butterflies, and wooly bear caterpillars tuck themselves into a pile of leaves for protection from cold weather and predators. Red-banded hairstreaks lay their eggs on fallen oak leaves. Swallowtail butterflies disguise their cocoons and chrysalis as dried leaves, blending in with the real leaves.”
What to do with leaf litter
There are several options for saving your leaf litter.
Barton suggests raking the leaves off your lawn and into your landscape beds, because letting the leaf litter cover the lawn doesn’t allow light to penetrate and prevents the lawn from photosynthesizing. To avoid leaves fully covering your lawn, you can use a mulching mower to cut the leaves into small pieces.
Doing this, says Barton, “improves the quality of the soil, so the plants that are growing in that area have more nutrients to take up. They'll have a looser, more open soil with better soil structure. That promotes better root growth, which of course, promotes healthier plants.”
She warns against sending leaf litter to the landfill.
“What you shouldn't do is put them in a plastic bag and send them to a landfill somewhere because you are getting rid of a resource. If you send it off to a landfill, that resource won't be able to be reused in somebody's landscape.”
A second option is composting the leaves. You can compost your pile of leaves and put it back on your lawn or around your plants. The goal is to recycle the litter, and either putting them in landscape beds or turning them into compost will achieve that.
This article is from National Geographic, published on Oct. 12, 2023 by Sruthi Gurudev
2023-11-12T12:25:43-07:002023-11-12T12:30:08-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31661Colorado dog sledding business looking to rehome more than 100 dogs ahead of its final seasonThe order comes after a settlement with the town of Snowmass Village approved in July deemed this 2023-24 winter season the dog sledding operation’s final.
Krabloonik needs about 115 dogs to operate this season, said owner Dan Phillips, and he’s hoping they will all get adopted by the time the season ends April 1. It will have until June 1 to end its operations and vacate the property, according to the settlement.
But Krabloonik may have more dogs on the premises that will need to be adopted, according to Krabloonik’s wind down plan submitted to Snowmass officials in August as part of the settlement agreement.
“This estimated number is not a commitment to have only 115 dogs on the premises, as sometimes having some semi-retired dogs in reserve is necessary; but it is currently the best estimate of the number of dogs that will be needed,” according to the wind down plan, which the Times obtained through a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request.
Two dogs have been adopted since the settlement was approved, Phillips said. Once the season starts on Dec. 15, “it’s going to be really easy to adopt the dogs,” he said.
“The guests love the dogs,” he added. “We’ll have the working dogs pre-adopted, so maybe in January, someone wants to take one of the dogs, but we’ll set it up for mid-April, so that they can then pick up the dog and take it to their new home.”
Krabloonik is working with the Colorado Animal Rescue in Glenwood Springs, which will list adoptable dogs on its website, he said. In an adoption update sent to Snowmass Town Manager Clint Kinney on Oct. 1, he said Krabloonik is struggling to adopt senior dogs.
“I appreciate your patience through this process, and we all hoped we would have some seniors adopted by now,” he wrote. “But this will be the hardest group to move. The younger working dogs will be much easier.”
Krabloonik is required to send monthly adoption updates to the town as part of the settlement agreement. The Times also obtained the October adoption update through a CORA request.
The settlement between Krabloonik and its landlord Snowmass Village was approved after the town took steps to evict Krabloonik for violating its lease agreement concerning the treatment of its dogs. The dog sledding operation has received criticism from animal activists and employees over its treatment of the dogs for over two decades. Phillips bought Krabloonik in 2014 from Dan MacEachen, who opened the restaurant and dog sledding attraction in 1976.
The agreement required Krabloonik to provide sled-dog rides for at least 100 days between Nov. 1 and March 31 to allow for the adoption of the dogs.
The season will begin Dec. 15, and the dogs will begin training on Nov 1, Phillips said.
“The decision that we made to settle was in the best interest of the dogs,” he said. “It gives us time to rehouse these dogs, so they have a next chapter in their lives.”2023-11-03T15:18:30-07:002023-11-03T15:21:41-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31521A watershed year for the Dillon Reservoir bodes well for another season of rafting on Summit County’s Blue RiverThe Dillon Reservoir had a record-breaking year as consistent precipitation helped keep the reservoir full through much of the summer and allowed rafters to enjoy more than three weeks on the Blue River.
The water year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year, was the 11th-wettest on record for Denver in 2023, according to a recent newsletter on Denver Water’s Dillon Reservoir operations.
That record-breaking precipitation translated into the lowest June water use among Denver Water’s customers since 1969, just six years after the completion of the Dillon Dam. Denver Water’s service area has added 540,000 people since 196
For Performance Tours Rafting, the precipitation meant one of the longest commercial rafting seasons on the Blue River — the only commercially raftable stretch of river in Summit County — since 2019.
“It was fantastic. It’s a great run and it’s just nice having a local option in Summit County,” Performance Tours Rafting president Kevin Foley said. “It’s a great Class 3 run, moderate-level whitewater run, suitable to all different ages and abilities. We get a lot of that demographic in the summer.”
Foley said Performance Tours hadn’t offered commercial options on the Blue River since 2020, when the company was able to raft for about only about a week on the stretch that offers “beautiful scenery” with the Eagles Nest Wilderness as a backdrop.
Inflow to the Dillon Reservoir peaked at 1,248 cubic feet per second on June 8, and reservoir outflow peaked at 1,068 cubic feet per second on June 24, according to Denver Water. In total, there were 22 days of raftable flows on the Blue River below the reservoir.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-1024x683.jpg" alt="Performance Tours Rafting/Courtesy photo" class="wp-image-448935" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-300x200.jpg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-768x512.jpg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07004113/BlueRiver_JuneStoke_BoulderCanyonRapid-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Rafters lift their paddles in the air as they make their way through a series of rapids on the Blue River as the Gore Range rises above the scene. This year was the first weeks-long opportunity to raft down the Blue River since 2019.Performance Tours Rafting/Courtesy photo
While there was a relatively strong snowpack last year, Foley noted that the reservoir started out pretty low and snowpack went mostly to filling the reservoir. Still it was not only cool and wet up in the mountains through the spring and early summer, but also down in Denver, which he said helped to keep demand low.
Due to extremely low demands in the Denver Water service area, the Roberts Tunnel that sends water down to the Denver metro area was closed from May 12 to July 17, which helped support the rafting season and kept the reservoir full.
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At one point in the summer, a massive downed log fell across the Blue River creating a life-threatening hazard to rafters and prompting the Summit County Sheriff’s Office <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-county-sheriff-closes-blue-river-to-watercraft-rafting-until-further-notice-due-to-life-threatening-tree-across-river/">to close the river</a> to all watercraft on June 19.
The log appeared to have brought an early end to the rafting season, though the Blue River still flowed strong. T<a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/blue-river-rafting-season-saved-after-community-unites-to-haul-life-threatening-log-with-video/">he season was saved</a> when a local towing company, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and rafting enthusiasts came together to haul the log from the river.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07003434/Strainer-1024x575.jpeg" alt="Summit County Sheriff's Office/Courtesy photo" class="wp-image-448985" srcset="https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07003434/Strainer-1024x575.jpeg 1024w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07003434/Strainer-300x168.jpeg 300w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07003434/Strainer-768x431.jpeg 768w, https://swiftmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/mountain.swiftcom.com/images/sites/2/2023/06/07003434/Strainer.jpeg 1079w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A downed tree across the Blue River prompted the Sheriff’s Office to close the river until further notice Monday, June 19.Summit County Sheriff’s Office/Courtesy photo
The Dillon Reservoir was full and spilling from June 14 to Aug. 10. Denver Water was able to meet and exceed, its goal of maintaining the reservoir elevation of 9,012 feet from June 18 to Labor Day, which also allowed both the Dillon and Frisco marinas to be fully operational.
As of mid-October, the reservoir was 91% full, according to Denver Water. With an El Nino year on the horizon, Denver Water said in its newsletter that it is looking forward to another potentially record-setting year in 2024.
The high reservoir levels heading into next year could be a good sign for another season of rafting on the Blue River, Foley said. And perhaps the El Nino year will also help stave off drought and keep the river flowing for next season, he said.
“We sure hope so. We always remain optimistic that we will have a good snowpack year,” Foley said. “Obviously there are a lot of factors out there. But if conditions are fairly normal with a solid snowpack we’re hoping for the Blue season of 2024.”2023-10-28T15:03:19-07:002023-10-28T15:06:16-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31520Dear Ally - Seller Tips For Multiple Offer Situations2023-10-28T14:55:38-07:002023-10-28T14:57:13-07:00Allison Simsontag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31339Shoutout Saturday - Thrashin’ Aces with Allison SimsonFor this week’s Shoutout Saturday, Summit Real Estate’s Allison Simson is shouting out Thrashin’ Axes in Frisco 🪓 🎯 If you haven’t been to Thrashin’ Axes, you’re missing out on a GREAT TIME! They are an indoor urban axe throwing venue that has fun projected axe throwing targets! It’s the place to go to have fun with friends, co-workers, and family – or make new friends! For more information, FAQs, and reservations- visit their website: thrashinaxes.com For more information on our team, visit our website SummitRealEstate.com2023-10-22T10:08:32-07:002023-10-22T10:15:32-07:00Allison Simsontag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31338Home Prices Are Not FallingDuring the fourth quarter of last year, some housing experts projected <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/09/08/home-price-forecasts-revised-for-2023-infographic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home prices</a> were going to crash in 2023. The media ran with those forecasts and put out headlines calling for doom and gloom in the housing market. All of this negative news coverage made a lot of people have doubts about the strength of the residential real estate market.
If it made you question if you should delay your own <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/09/22/how-remote-work-helps-with-your-house-hunt-infographic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plans to move</a>, here’s what you really need to know.
Home Prices Never Crashed
Disregard what you saw in the headlines. The actual <a href="https://www.zillow.com/research/data/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">data</a> shows home prices were <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/09/05/expert-home-price-forecasts-revised-up-for-2023/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">remarkably resilient</a> and performed far better than the media would have you believe (see graph below):
<a href="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/branded/images/20230929/20231003-Percent-Change-In-Home-Values.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="lightbox-added"><img src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/branded/images/20230929/20231003-Percent-Change-In-Home-Values.png" /></a>
This graph uses <a href="https://www.blackknightinc.com/data-reports/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reports</a> from three trusted <a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/research/indices/house-price-index" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sources</a> to clearly illustrate prices have <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/08/11/home-prices-are-back-on-the-rise-infographic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">already rebounded</a> after experiencing only slight declines nationally. That’s a far cry from the crash so many articles called for.
The declines that did happen (shown in red), weren’t drastic but were short-lived. As Nicole Friedman, a reporter at the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), <a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/the-fall-in-home-prices-may-already-be-over-3496d6bb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">says</a>:
“Home prices aren’t falling anymore. . . The surprisingly quick recovery suggests that the residential real-estate downturn is turning out to be shorter and shallower than many housing economists expected . . .”
Even though some media coverage made a big deal about home prices pulling back, the slight correction that happened is already in the rearview mirror. Basically, this data shows you home prices aren’t falling anymore – they’re actually going back up.
What’s Next for Home Prices?
The consensus from experts is that <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/09/12/what-experts-project-for-home-prices-over-the-next-5-years/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home price growth</a> will continue in the years ahead and is <a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/09/26/the-return-of-normal-seasonality-for-home-price-appreciation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">returning to normal</a> levels for the market. That means we’ll still see home prices appreciating, just at a slower pace than the last few years – and that’s a good thing.
Some news sources will see home price growth slowing and put out stories that make you think prices are falling again. The return of misleading headlines like those is already having an impact on how homebuyers are feeling again. You can see how this affects general opinion in the <a href="https://www.fanniemae.com/research-and-insights/surveys-indices/national-housing-survey/national-housing-survey-archive" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Consumer Confidence Survey</a> from Fannie Mae (see graph below):
<a href="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/branded/images/20230929/20231003---of-Americans-Who-Think-Home-Prices-Will-Go-Down-over-the-Next-12-Months.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="lightbox-added"><img src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/content/branded/images/20230929/20231003---of-Americans-Who-Think-Home-Prices-Will-Go-Down-over-the-Next-12-Months.png" /></a>
While the percentage of Americans who think prices will fall has been slowly declining this year, the latest Consumer Confidence data indicates that’s ticked back up recently (shown in red). This change is surprising especially since the home price data shows prices are going up, not down. It tells you the impact the media still has on public opinion.
Don’t fall for the negative headlines and become part of this statistic. Remember, data from a number of sources shows home prices aren’t falling anymore.
Bottom Line
Even though the media may make things sound doom and gloom, the data shows home prices aren’t falling anymore. So, don’t let the headlines scare you or delay your plans. Lean on a real estate professional so you have a trusted resource to cut through the noise and tell you what’s really happening in your area.2023-10-22T09:52:59-07:002023-10-22T09:57:12-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31146Free pumpkin composting to be available at recycling centers throughout Summit CountyHere at Summit Real Estate, we appreciate the efforts made towards sustainable practices in Summit County. This year, free pumpkin composting bins will be available at the Breckenridge, Frisco and Silverthorne recycling centers from Oct. 21-Nov. 12, according to a news release from High Country Conservation Center.
Candles, artificial lighting, paint, glitter and any other kinds of decorations should be removed from pumpkins before they are composted. The pumpkins will be taken to the Summit County Resource Allocation Park, where they will be mixed with food waste and other materials for composting.
The three recycling centers are located at 284 Coyne Valley Road, Breckenridge; 221 Peak One Blvd., Frisco; and 1198 S. Adams Ave., Silverthorne.2023-10-15T12:53:35-07:002023-10-15T12:56:58-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:31145Did You Know? - It’s Hunting Season with Kelie GrayIt’s Hunting Season 🦌 Did You Know? 🧐
This week Summit Real Estate’s Kelie Gray is giving us some valuable information for all you non-hunters out there! Planning on getting a few more hikes in before the snow? You’ll want to tune in to this! 👆 For more helpful information on Hunting Season visit: cpw.state.co.us2023-10-15T11:48:30-07:002023-10-15T12:00:59-07:00Kelie Graytag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:30996Summit County signs lease with White River National Forest to bring up to 177 affordable rental units to workforceIn a historic move, the White River National Forest and Summit County signed a 50-year lease of the 11-acre <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/all-the-eyes-are-on-us-summit-county-hopes-to-set-national-precedent-for-housing-solutions-as-us-forest-service-project-moves-forward/">Dillon Work Center administrative site for the development of affordable workforce housing</a>.
The signing of the contract on Wednesday, Sept. 27, marks the first lease to be signed under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which provides the Forest Service with the authority to enter long-term lease arrangements at qualifying administrative sites in exchange for cash or non-cash considerations.
The lease will help meet the workforce housing needs of the local community and U.S. Forest Service by allowing for the development of up to 177 affordable, long-term rental units of mixed configuration along with a neighborhood community center, residential parking, public transit connections and upgraded infrastructure and utilities.
The redevelopment will provide affordable workforce housing to permanent and seasonal Forest Service employees, Summit County employees and other Summit County residents who qualify.
Work on the ground is currently expected to begin in 2024.2023-10-07T14:59:53-07:002023-10-07T15:03:48-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:30886What to Do With Your Old Tennis Balls? Several of us at Summit Real Estate share a common bond with our canine companions, as they have an affinity for tennis balls. However, this predilection leads to a high consumption of these tennis balls. Apart from those naturally redistributed within Summit County's dog community, this National Geographic article offers valuable insights on recycling tennis balls effectively:
The U.S. Open is now in full swing, and nearly 100,000 new tennis balls will be used. Unfortunately, that means thousands of tennis balls will soon be useless to the tournament’s top players.
After being whacked by racquets, balls quickly lose their signature bounce—which is why they’re regularly replaced at professional matches.
Producing and discarding those felt-covered, rubber-cored balls takes an environmental toll. Harvesting rubber contributes to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/deforestation">deforestation</a>, and nylon used for the exterior is typically made with petroleum. Every year, about <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/returning-service-tennis-ball-supply-chains.html">300 million</a> tennis balls are produced but only a fraction is recycled or repurposed.
To reduce the impact of these fuzzy green balls, recycle them properly or give your old ones a second life.
Why tennis balls are so hard to reuse
If you’ve ever opened a fresh container of tennis balls, you know the satisfying release of air audible after the metal top is popped open like a soda can. That’s because tennis ball containers are pressurized.
When tennis balls are manufactured, they’re pumped with air so that more air pushes from the inside rather than the outside, making them bouncier. Sealed cans create an environment in which the air pressure in the can is equal to the pressure inside the balls.
Once the can has been opened, the outside air pressure drops, allowing the pressure inside the ball to slowly escape its rubber barrier and lose bounce.
And unlike footballs and soccer balls, which are also pressurized, tennis balls can’t easily be pumped back full of air. To keep playing with a ball at peak bounciness, you have to open a new container—and throw out the balls you’ve been serving, backhanding, and volleying.
For recreational tennis players, <a href="https://tennisproguru.com/tennis-ball-saver/">resealable pressure containers</a> can help extend a ball’s life. But they won’t bring it back to its original bounce.
Send them to a recycling facility
Tennis organizations and environmental nonprofits are pioneering more sustainable alternatives to the landfill. At the U.S. Open, some of the balls will be<a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/about/green_initiatives.html"> collected and donated</a> to tennis programs, and the nonprofit RecycleBalls will recycle a large portion of the balls used in matches.
Tennis balls are notoriously difficult to recycle because you have both rubber and felt, and the adhesive attaching the rubber to the felt is really difficult to break,” says Erin Cunningham, the executive director of RecycleBalls.
Since 2009, the French Tennis Federation has been collecting used tennis balls and sending them to recycling facilities that remove their exterior and use the rubber for tennis courts.
In the U.S., RecycleBalls partners with gyms, athletic clubs, and players to collect used tennis balls and ship them to its recycling facility in Vermont where a bespoke recycling machine separates and processes the balls’ rubber and felt.
People in the U.S. with at least a hundred old tennis balls can <a href="https://www.recycleballs.org/quicklabel-program-form/#:~:text=It%20costs%20our%20non-profit,any%20balls%20you%20send%20us.">ship them to RecycleBalls</a> and receive a receipt for their tax-deductible donation.
And don’t forget the cans; they’re typically made of a <a href="http://www.pennracquet.com/initiatives.html">type of plastic</a> that can easily be recycled but often doesn’t make it to the blue bin.
<aside class="InlineElement InlineElement--below-paragraph InlineElement--content-width InlineElement--desktop InlineImage" aria-label="Image">
<img alt="Little dog running on green grass with tennis ball in its mouth." data-mptype="image" src="https://i.natgeofe.com/n/e1f985f1-77b6-4653-9e0c-ac6d305d5c4c/STOCK_Departments_2310_Alamay_JCEEMK.jpg?w=636&h=425" />
One way to give a second life to discarded tennis balls: Turn them into toys for active dogs.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXEI_TM, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
</aside>
Around the House
An old tennis ball may not be suitable for a pro, but if it’s still bouncy, it has other uses.
“Before we even start looking at recycling, we look at reuses first,” says Cunningham. “The more times you can use a tennis ball, the better it is for the environment.”
One common reuse is for the bottom of chairs or walkers. Slice an X into one side of a ball and slide it over each of the legs of a chair to prevent it from noisily moving over the floor, or do the same for a walker to help keep it stable.
Used tennis balls can also help with sore muscles. Throw one inside a sock or on the floor and lie or step on them to release muscle tension.
With a little creativity, an old tennis ball can take on multitudes: Toss them with the laundry to speed up drying time, use them as an alternative to packing peanuts, throw them in your pool to collect any oil residue on the water’s surface, or coat them in petroleum jelly and hang them nearby to ward off mosquitoes.
While you might be tempted to toss a used tennis ball to your dog, limit the time your dog spends chewing on it: A ball’s fuzzy covering can wear down tooth enamel.
And don’t be afraid to get creative. Tennis balls can make for unique material for art projects or collages.
“I like to think of tennis balls as having multiple adventures,” says Cunningham. “Its life doesn’t end on a tennis court.”
2023-10-02T10:46:32-07:002023-10-02T10:57:21-07:00Gavin Corneliustag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:30885Did You Know? - The Closing of A-Cafe with Trisha MooreA very somber ‘Did You Know’ this week… Tune in as Trisha Moore and the entire Summit Real Estate team bid farewell to a true gem here in Summit County, Arapahoe Cafe. Or as it’s more fondly known to those who love it, A-Cafe. Be sure to come show your support for this most beloved spot until October 15th! From the owners: “It is with a very heavy heart that we are making this announcement. During this very troubled development process, we have asked numerous questions and received no answers. This has been a very unfortunate time for our employees and us. The future looks pretty uncertain for us all, as all we know is what we read in the newspaper and what we hear in the street. As a result of this uncertainty, we have decided to close our doors at the end of business on 10/15/23. This is the fair thing to do as it allows our employees time to secure future employment and for us not to be blindsided by the development process. (It also allows you to get your last licks and kicks at the cafe.) We have had an incredible run here at the cafe, and we very much appreciate all of vour ears of support and loyalty. We will miss you all very much and will also miss our faithful, hard-working staff. This has been a very, very hard decision for us to make, but we feel it is the best for us all. Once again, thank you for all you have meant to us and for all of the relationships we have developed over the last 20-something years. Stay tuned for more updates. Yours Truly, Doug, Julie, Bonnie, and Noah”2023-10-02T10:14:47-07:002023-10-02T10:58:24-07:00Trisha Mooretag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:30881Summit Fun- Paddle Boarding the Blue River with Deena HeppnerHave you ever tried paddle boarding? How about down a river? The Blue River has some great mild sections that are perfect for getting out there and trying a new hobby! This video features Deena Heppner and her family taking on the rapids! 2023-10-02T09:20:14-07:002023-10-02T09:45:07-07:00Deena Heppnertag:summitrealestate.com,2012-09-20:30870Breckenridge Officials Aim to Get Back on Track to Become a Certified Dark Sky Community
Breckenridge is back on its way to become a certified <a href="https://darksky.org/places/" target="_blank">International Dark Sky Communit</a>. If it’s certified, it would join 42 other currently certified dark sky community across the world. With the town’s gameplan to have an application in for 2025, certification could come in the next several years.
Assistant community development director Julia Puester Tuesday Puester presented a multi-year plan to the Breckenridge Town Council on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to get the town and its residences into compliance. In total the effort is estimated to cost the town $3.6 million. A state <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1382" target="_blank">bill passed</a> last year will allow the town to tap into technical assistance grants.
Breckenridge started working to become a <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/improving-night-sky-views/">dark sky community in 2007</a>, when it passed new exterior lighting rules. Since then all new buildings and remodels have required dark sky compliant lighting. The town had originally set July 1, 2022, as a deadline for all exterior light fixtures to match the new code, but in 2020, during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, the town <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/breckenridge-to-extend-deadline-for-dark-sky-friendly-lighting-requirement/">moved to extend the deadline</a> to 2025, but no other major steps have been take to attain certification in the years since.
In January, Blue River resident Martie Semmer, who works as the western Colorado regional coordinator for Dark Sky Colorado, made a public comment at a Council meeting urging the town to be more active in pursuing certification. Puester later reached out to Semmer to voice her support in boosting the town’s efforts.
The two hope to calm concerns from those who think the feat is unattainable, saying many who hear the term “dark sky community” may misinterpret what it means. They emphasized that becoming a dark sky community does not mean entirely shutting lights off at night, but it does entail redirecting the light and using it intentionally. Requirements include making sure lights are in useful areas, targeted, controlled, within the appropriate color spectrum and are not too bright.
“Out of all the contaminants and pollutants, this is one that can be easily resolved,” Semmer said. “It’s instantaneous — turn off the light, or shield the light and use it only when necessary.”
While advocating for multiple communities in Summit County to become “more dark sky friendly” Semmer has stressed that the effort needs collaboration. She said it is not something one person or even one group can take on.
Puester was has worked to bring in other Breckenridge entities, including the town’s public works, information technology and police departments.
Semmer noted it was especially important to loop in law enforcement to break the notion that “brighter means safer." The International Dark Sky Association cites<a href="https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/effects/safety/" target="_blank"> numerous studies</a> on their website debunking this notion. Semmer said motion-activated lights are widely considered to be safer than bright constant street lights.
“We have had conversations within the dark sky realm about how perpetrators know how to work the shadows,” Semmer said.
Motion activated lights are better able to catch perpetrators off guard and draw the attention of others, said Semmer.
A pillar of the dark sky movement is the improvements it can provide for human health. The organization has highlighted research on how humans evolved with the light-dark cycle of nature and how moving away from this can impact a person’s circadian rhythm. The International Dark Sky Association says artificial light disrupts circadian rhythms and tampers with sleep patterns.
Aside from human impact, the dark-sky movement also places a large focus on artificial light’s <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/did-you-know-holiday-light-displays-can-affect-the-environment-heres-how-summit-county-can-help-with-that/">impact on wildlife</a>. The organization looks to draw attention to the fact that many species are nocturnal and rely on natural light at night. It especially effects birds, which often hunt at night, and species living in wetland habitats whose ability to reproduce can decrease because of light pollution.
Next steps to become certified will include updating the engineering standards, taking required development code changes for private properties forward to the Breckenridge Planning Commission and reaching out to property owners.
“Over the next two years, we are going to be putting forth a really big effort to get our private property owners educated that aren’t that are not in compliance, and help them find light fixtures that are conforming,” Puester said.
The full article can be found in the Summit Daily at <a href="https://www.summitdaily.com/news/breckenridge-officials-aim-to-get-back-on-track-to-become-a-dark-sky-community/">https://www.summitdaily.com/news/breckenridge-officials-aim-to-get-back-on-track-to-become-a-dark-sky-community/</a>2023-10-01T12:45:27-07:002023-10-01T12:54:04-07:00Gavin Cornelius