Mountian Pine Beetle Effects on Winter Park Resort Skiing

Winter Park Mountain Pine Beetle

Did you hear the one about the tourist who wanted to know where he could get one of those pretty red pine trees to take back home? If you haven’t heard it, you don’t live in Colorado.

Mountain Pine Beetle here in Winter Park, Colorado is no laughing matter.  The trees and the health of the forests that surround our homes and businesses here have great effect on everything from the economy to quality of life.  At our home in Tabernash we have removed over 300 trees at not an insignificant cost, and the 400 left need to be sprayed each year.  It is even a matter of life and death for, if God forbid, our surrounding forests would sustain a major fire more likely than not we will be talking about fatalities. So I do not take the pine beetle lightly.

With all the doom and gloom though I found an article in Ski Magazine about the pine beetle infestation that says this may be a bit of good news for ski resorts.  It is hard to believe that all the dead trees could be good for the ski resorts in Colorado but I think there is some truth in this article.  We have suppressed fires for so long that the mature trees are susceptible to the beetle and here in Winter Park we have a mostly lodge-pole pine forest with not a lot of diversity.  As the Ski Magazine article says the loss of most of the lodge-poles will bring new species such as aspen and fir to creat a more diversified forest.

How will this affect skiing? The predictions, perhaps surprisingly, are mixed. There are places where it will enhance the skiing by opening up areas, while other areas may have to be closed.  Researchers are investigating possible impacts on the snowpack. Loss of the forest canopy means there will be more snow on the ground . But the resulting loss of shade will trigger an earlier spring melt. North-facing slopes will remain the best places to find powder long after a storm because these areas contain spruce and fir trees, which beetles tend to ignore. South-facing slopes, where lodge-pole thrive, could be snowier than ever just after a storm due to fewer treetops intercepting snow.

I would really like to see the beetles just up and die but that doesn’t seem realistic, so I will cling to the hope that in the long run the pine beetle will produce a more viable forest.

And we will keep spraying our trees.

Grand Adventures in Winter Park has new snowmobiles!

Grand Adventures, our local go-to for snowmobiling in Winter Park, has purchased brand new fleets of snowmobiles for the winter season! The new snowmobiles are 2 seater Yamaha Venture Lites (for guided tours) and 1 seater Yamaha Phazers (for unguided tours). Here are the specs, with translation for those of you who aren’t professionals:

Fourstroke: Quieter, more efficient, and larger than two stroke engines. Also, the professionals over at Grand Adventures tell me  you won’t get any of the fumes that come with two stroke engines.

Ergonomic: They are designed to fit your body, resulting in a super comfortable ride that requires less work from you.

Smoother acceleration: So you don’t have to deal with whiplash while you’re cruising on the continental divide at almost 12,000 feet

Heavier: In the words of the Grand Adventures professionals again, this means that the snowmobiles “won’t dance around, but will plow through the snow.”

AND, these new snowmobiles burn 1/2 as much fuel, making them more environmentally friendly. Plus, they’re quieter, making it easier for you to get a good look at all the wildlife you might run into.

Check out Grand Adventures’ website: http://www.grandadventures.com/ for more information on rentals, tours, rates, and more. Snowmobiling really is one of the most fun ways to check out some incredible views of the mountains and Winter Park, not to mention being quite a bit easier than hiking up a mountain in the middle of winter. Have fun!

Winter Park Colorado Snow Forecast|El Niño Packs A Wallop For 2010

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an article on July 9th, stating that they “expect this El Niño to continue developing during the next several months, with further strengthening possible. The event is expected to last through winter 2009-10.” 

So what in the world does that mean for us? Since the Colorado Rockies have enjoyed exceptional snowfall during past El Niño winters, it means there’s a great chance that Winter Park has an exceptional powder-filled winter on its way. Cross your fingers for tons of snow for us this winter. And think ahead for lodging in Winter Park so you can come enjoy the white stuff!

Outdoor Gear Swap in Winter Park

Epic Mountain Sports is hosting the first ever gear swap for the Fraser Valley community this Saturday, August 1st. Bring all of  your unwanted skis, boards, boots, bikes, tents, raquets or any other outdoor equipment to sell or trade with other locals, and get some great deals on used gear.  The swap will be held in the parking lot in front of Epic Mountain Sports in the Park Place Plaza (where Conoco gas station is).

All you have to do is drop your stuff off between 7am and 9am on Saturday morning, fill out a sale form and mark a sale price for your gear.  At 9am the trading/selling begins and you’re free to browse the other goods from your neighbors and grab some deals! You can then come back after 5pm to collect your profits.

The Park Place Plaza businesses, including Mirasol Cantina, Rise & Shine Cafe and Divide Snowboard Shop will be offering deals and specials for the event. Plus all of the businesses in the plaza will donate 5% of their sales to the Headwaters Trails Alliance, a non-profit organization that takes care of our hiking trails in Grand County. All  equipment that isn’t sold or traded can be donated to the Headwaters Trails Alliance as well. For more information call Epic Mountain Sports at 970-726-2868 or go to their website.

Farmer’s Market Coming to Fraser this Summer

There’s not much of a growing season up here in Winter Park and Fraser, so it’s is awesome to hear that even if you can’t grow your own fresh produce, you can still get your hands on some.

Starting on Sunday, June 28th, you can get fresh, locally-grown produce, fresh baked goods and even ice cream at the Fraser Farmer’s Market. And again on each Sunday after that from 9:30 am to 1:00pm until August 2nd.  I’m stoked!  They’ll set up at the vacant parking lot next to Timberline Thai and Ryan Real Estate on the main street in Fraser.

Winter Park Wedding Ideas

Whether you are planning a small, intimate wedding or a wedding gathering for hundreds of your friends and family, Winter Park has some beautiful settings that are perfect for tying the knot. Some reasons why Winter Park is a great environment to start the next stage of your life with your one and only:

• the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains
• the blue sky and gentle breezes
• the beauty of the natural wildflowers 
• the sound of the nearby stream or river
• the mountain lake surrounded by stunning peaks 
• the wild moose and foxes running by nearby
• the multitude of activities to keep everyone entertained

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Weddings

One of the most beautiful and popular sites for a weddings in Winter Park is Devil’ Thumb Ranch. The wedding specialists at Devil’s Thumb Ranch have been providing dream-like weddings for years. I hear it can be really expensive, but I’ve only heard good feedback from those that experience a wedding there.

Ceremony and Reception Rooms

The amazing 2,900 square foot Broad Axe Barn is where they host receptions for 50 to 100 people. It has 25 foot ceilings, huge windows and an authentic and romantic feel. Interestingly, it is a barn that was built at an Indiana Farm during the civil war days, which has been beautifully refurbished and restored to it’s original condition (with some modern touches in decor).

They use the  Timber House for more intimate weddings, perfect for a small reception of up to 30 people. It has amazing views, 240 degrees-worth to be precice, since most of the walls are glass, and it opens up to a huge deck.

Spa Facilities

They also have a brand-new state-of-the-art spa for some serious pre-wedding pampering. Even the changing rooms are so nice, I could just hang out there in the comfy robe (provided) and use the rain-drop shower and steam room and be completely satisfied.  They have all sorts of fancy treatments that are perfect for the bride and her maids, like hot stone massage, facials and steam treatments.

Rachel’s Pool and Outdoor Jacuzzi has a pond-shaped pool that is both indoor and outdoor, plus an outdoor hot tub to melt away muscle tension. Beautiful river stones line both the pool and hot tub with views of the Continental Divide, so you feel like you are right in the middle of nature. 

Dining

One of the best restaurants in the area is here at the Ranch. Aptly named the Ranch House Steakhouse, the delicious meals served here are prepared by a well-known chef with only the freshest ingredients, organic beef and pork and all home-made sauces.   

The newest restaurant, Heck’s Tavern, serves more casual (and affordable) fare in a rustic room with high-ceilings and a huge wood-burning fireplace right smack in the middle.

Then there is John L.’s Wine Cellar & Uncorking Room, where you can have a private special dinner for two to twelve people. The beams and wine racks that surround the room are made of original growth cherry wood from New York and hold hundreds of bottles of wine.  

More at the Ranch…

There are tons of trails here for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Fly-fishing can be done on site, with professiona guides at your service. You can even take advantage of the Cabin Creek Stables for horseback rides, wagon rides or even riding lessons.  I’ve seen lots of wedding photos from Devil’s Thumb Ranch that feature their horses, too.

Another noteworthy tidbit is that Devil’s Thumb Ranch is very committed to the environment and practices sustainable building practices. They even received an EPA Award in 2004 for Environmentally Sensitive Remodeling and Expansion. One of my favorite method’s they use is geothermal heat for heating their water and buildings by using the earth’s own natural heat. They also use a water sand filtration system, partner with local farmers who also work to protect the environment and are committed to finding green solutions for other improvements.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch is a great place to get married. You can contact them at 800-933-4339 or download a wedding brochure for more information. More Winter Park Wedding Ideas will be posted on our blog over the next several weeks – stay tuned!

Even in Winter, We’re Green

Winter Park was one of only three Colorado ski resorts featured in an article on www.onthesnow.com about resorts that are making strong efforts to reduce their energy expenditures and their impact on the environment.

All of Winter Park Resort’s new chairlifts, including the Eagle Wind and the six-pack Super Gauge, as well as all future chairlifts, are powered with renewable energy through the purchase of sustainable wind-energy credits.

As part of their new Connexion program, there is also improved education for staff and guests on renewable energy, the use of biodegradable resources for single-use items and an improved recycling program. For more details, see the in-depth press release directly from Winter Park Resort. Here’s to being green!