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Archive for June, 2010

Awards our Lodges have Earned!

15 Jun

We have worked hard over the years to provide an exceptional experience for our guest! I am not saying we have not had our challenges, but all in all we give our guests all we can!

That being said,  Murphy’s Law has come in to play! Like the time we had 75 Skiers arrive and an hour before their arrival my manager calls and informs me we were having heating issues…in February. It took a bit, but we got it handled and all were warm!;)

Or when we had a Bear visit the Lodge and scared the daylights out of our guest! I told them to put their trash in the dumpster instead of the front porch!!( our guest agreed;)

Anyhow please enjoy our Lodges and make memories that last a lifetime!


 
17 Comments

Posted in Colorado Facts, Lodge News

 

See the Mountains by Boat!

13 Jun

Touring Lake Dillon by boat is something the entire family can enjoy. We rent a house boat each year and every time we seem to find something new to explore.  We back a huge cooler with a picnic lunch and lots of beverages to enjoy throughout the day! The weather can change VERY quickly so I recommend starting in late morning because the storms and high winds tend to arrive in mid afternoon. A few years back we got pinned down in a very active storm with winds reaching in excess of 4 miles per hour…the kids thought it was a blast, but we all got pretty wet! Oh yes did I mention sunblock…lots of it!

DILLON — Want to scope out marmots, bear and birds while learning tantalizing details of Dillon history?

You can do all this while relaxing in your very own guided pontoon boat on Dillon Reservoir. For only $7 each, up to 14 people can fit in a boat on a one-hour cruise. Tours will be conducted Mondays and Tuesdays throughout June.

Whether you’re visiting Summit County or call it your home, there’s something for everyone on an “EXPLORE Lake Dillon” interpretive tour of the lake (and Denver Water’s main water source). Just don’t forget to dress in layers and slather on sunscreen. At almost 9,600 feet, the Dillon Reservoir can at one minute be hot and sunny, then cool and breezy.

Manned by a captain and Summit County Historical Society’s tour guide Linda Kelly, guided tours start June 14 and last about an hour. With the help of the boat captain, Kelly will narrate the ride, covering different facets of Dillon Reservoir, the old town of Dillon which that was located beneath the lake, and the surrounding area.

“This is a first-year trial,” said Dillon spokeswoman Susan Fairweather. “If it’s received well, we’ll consider adding additional dates.”

Though the actual boat route could vary due to wind, tours will generally cover where the old town of Dillon used to be, what’s what in terms of mountains and other landmarks, Roberts Tunnel (how the water is transported to Denver from the reservoir), the Dillon Nature Preserve, lodgepole pines and its decimation by the mountain pine beetle, the early days of the railroad, and Summit County’s mining history.


The Dillon Marina will soon be giving guided tours on their pontoon boats in conjunction with the Summit Historical Society. The tours will relate to the history of the reservoir and surrounding areas including old Dillon, mining and the mountain ranges visible from the lake.
Summit Daily/Mark Fox
More info:
“EXPLORE” Lake Dillon boat tours will be conducted Mondays and Tuesdays: June 14, 15, 21, 22, at 9:45 a.m.
Tours will start at the Dillon Marina for $7 per person, and reservations are a must.
Minimum age: 7
Call (970) 468-5100 or visit www.dillonmarina.com for more information.
 
11 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Colorado Facts, Dillon Area

 

Improving the Fish Habitat

08 Jun

As you have probably concluded we love Colorado for many reasons! Reason Number 76 is the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) does an unbelievable job of repopulating fish in our Rivers. Below describes one such effort. I find it interesting how much effort goes into making  Colorado what it is today!

As part of an ongoing effort to improve river habitat for several endangered fish species, releases from various reservoirs will be increased this week and next as part of the Coordinated Reservoirs Operations Program.

Iniated in 1995 as part of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, the coordinated release effort is aimed to enhance spring peak flows in the Colorado critical to the survival of four species: the humpback chub, razorback sucker, bonytail chub and Colorad pikeminnow. Friday and Saturday, Green Mountain Reservoir releases were increased by 200 cubic feet per second, and outflows from Wolford Mountain Reservoir were increased by 200 cfs above inflow over the weekend. Increased outflows may continue through Wednesday.

“The release boosting this year’s Colorado River peak are a tonic that will make the river healtheir, and that benefits everyone from water users, to recreation and all the fish that call the river home,” said Bart Miller, Water Program Director for Western Resources Advocates.

 
35 Comments

Posted in Colorado Facts, Fishing around Our Lodges!

 

Friends, Reunions Ski Teams and More!!!

06 Jun

Family reunion 2009 Brother Scott, Lisa, Kattie, Carly and Meridith! This spot is a 3 mile hike out the back door of the lodge!

Best Buddy from Thunderbird, is chill’in at A-basin as we wait for the Brats to heat up! Nothing beats a sunny day at North America’s highest ski mountain!

Walt and Connor Lee and Tyler Davison enjoying A-Basin Beach BBQ! Oh what a Day!

Climber extraordinar, Ben Clark, an Everest summiter I might add!

 
7 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Guest Comments

 

50 Free Great Activities to Enjoy in Summit County!!

05 Jun

I am always told that our guests have a tight budget and I say we understand that! We try and experience as many FREE activities as we can pack into a day! Below are 50 of them to get you started! Let us know if you make it through the list!!;)

FRISCO 1. Travel back in time at the Historic Park and Museum. Experience how the first settlers lived, walk through a schoolhouse, jail and chapel, or (for only a quarter) watch a train travel through Frisco 100 years ago. 2nd & Main St., 970-668-3428. 2. Visit eight historic attractions within walking distance of downtown. Pick up a map at the Information Center. 300 Main St., 970-668-5547. 3. Play and picnic at one of Frisco’s seven parks. Most offer tables, shelters and grills. 4. Hike one of Frisco’s many trails. Explore Rainbow Lake, North Ten Mile, the Rec Path to Breckenridge or Dillon and Meadow Creek/Lilly Pad. Visit the Information Center for directions. 300 Main St., 970-668-5547 5. Watch glass-blowing demonstrations at GatherHouse Glassblowing Studio & Gallery, where audience participation is encouraged. 110 2nd Ave., 970-485-2909 6. Take your knitting needles to What’s Needling U for free public knitting sessions Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. 279 Main St., 970-668-0381 7. See the county aboard the free Summit Stage shuttle. Pick up a bus schedule at the Info Center or view it online at summitstage.com. 8. Grab some gear (and a Colorado fishing license) and fish local rivers. 9. Take the kids to Story Hour on Wednesdays at the Frisco Library. County Commons on Peak One Blvd., 970-668-5555 10. Stroll Main Street Frisco or Breckenridge for some prime window shopping. Most stores are individually owned and filled with unique items.

BRECKENRIDGE 11. Relax and take in the views along the Riverwalk just west of Main Street. 12. Take a historic walking tour of some of the town’s earliest cabins, churches, courthouse and school. Visit gobreck.com or call 970-453-2913 for tour times. 13. Housed in a 19th-century log cabin, stop by the Breckenridge Welcome Center and browse the museum while picking up info on activities, shopping and dining. 203 S. Main St., 970-453-5579 14. Take a one-mile guided hike of Iowa Hill and learn how gold was extracted from the surrounding hills. www.breckheritage.com/site/iowa-hill, 970-453-9767 15. Take your pooch to the dog park where he can run off-leash and hang with the locals. Carter Park, four blocks east of Main St., south end of High St. 16. Visit the Red, White & Blue Fire Museum and view equipment and uniforms from the earliest days of fire fighting. 308 N. Main St., 800-980-1859 17. Bike the paved path from Breckenridge to Frisco. The 9.5-mile long trail is pedestrian-friendly and a popular summer route. 18. Stop at vehicle pullouts and snap some frame-worthy shots along scenic Boreas Pass or Hoosier Pass. 19. Attend Kingdom Days June 19-20. The annual heritage celebration offers historic mine tours, gun fights, live music, old time arts and crafts, storytelling, kids’ activities and more. gobreck.com, 970-453-2913 20. Celebrate Breck Bike Week July 5-11 with guided group rides, bike-in movie nights, children’s races and other free activities. gobreck.com, 970-453-2913

COPPER MOUNTAIN 21. Enjoy 3 Ring Weekend July 2-4. The free family event features live music, a conscious carnival, “Primp my Ride” kid-powered parade and fireworks. coppercolorado.com 22. Fridays at Copper July 9-Sept. 3 offer free evening concerts and outdoor movies. coppercolorado.com 23. Kids 12 and under can take free roundtrip rides on the American Eagle chairlift starting June 18. coppercolorado.com 24. Hike to the peak of Copper Mountain, stroll along the Colorado Trail or observe the plants and animals in the forest.

DILLON 25. Attend The Secrets of Mountain Rescue on June 26 with Dan Burnett. He’ll describe the real fun of Mountain Rescue.The rescue truck wll also be on display. 26. Take a spin around Lake Dillon on the bike path. 27. Check out the two new BOCCE courts in Town Park. townofdillon.com 28. Take free country dance lessons Thursday nights in June. Lake Dillon Amphitheatre, townofdillon.com 29. Stroll downtown Dillon’s Friday Farmers’ Markets and catch live entertainment from 10:30am to 1pm. Buffalo St., townofdillon.com 30. Hike the Dillon Nature Preserve and take in the views on the Meadow Trail Loop. 31. Go on a Saturday Morning Adventure. Offered June 26-Aug. 14, the children’s programs range from wildflower walks to trail hikes. townofdillon.com 32. Fourth of July celebrations countywide include live music, parades and spectacular fireworks. Dillon goes all out with pie and watermelon eating contests, a boat parade, free concert and fireworks display over Frisco Bay. 33. Browse the Dillon Arts Festival July 16-18 in downtown Dillon. 34. Stop by the Summit Historical Society’s old-fashioned ice cream social July 17 for 5¢ ice cream cones. Old Dillon Schoolhouse and Museum, 403 La Bonte St. 35. Catch a free performance of Disney’s Aladdin by the Young People’s TheatreWorkshop July 24-25. lakedillontheatre.org 36. Bring your lawn chairs to Marina Park and watch the Dillon Open Regatta July 31-Aug. 1. dillonopen.com

KEYSTONE 37. Head up Swan Mountain Road between Keystone and Breckenridge to Sapphire Point for stunning views of Lake Dillon Reservoir and the Tenmile Range. 38. Bring the little ones to Kid’s Discovery Days, Tuesdays June 15-Aug. 10 for magic shows, zoo animals and sing-a-longs. keystoneresort.com 39. Stories Alive Story Hour Tuesday evenings in July at the Quaking Aspen Amphitheater hosts an evening of live storytelling for kids of all ages. 40. Take in the Music in the Mountains Concert Series on select Sunday mornings in July and August in Keystone’s River Run Village. 41. Learn swing, line, salsa and tango dancing on Tuesday nights in August at the new Pavilion at Keystone in Keystone’s River Run Village. pavilionatkeystone.com 42. Learn the proper biomechanics for an efficient golf swing. Held Saturdays, 2 to 3 p.m. at the River Course at Keystone. Call 970-496-1520 for reservations. 43. View movies featuring some of the world’s best skiers and riders Friday nights in September at the Pavilion at Keystone. pavilionatkeystone.com 44. Take a scenic bike ride along the Rossetter Trail, a three-mile path around the Keystone Ranch Golf Course.

SILVERTHORNE 45. Rip it up at the Silverthorne Skate Park with rails, ramps and jumps. Or grab a seat on the sidelines and watch the pros. 430 Rainbow Dr. 46. Take the kids to the free Fishing Derby on June 5 at Trent Park. 47. Enjoy free ice cream sundaes and live tunes by the Summit Concert Band at the Silverthorne Pavilion. Call 970-262-7300 for exact time and date. 48. Visit the Silverthorne Elementary School for a free barbecue at the annual Safe Summer Kick Off sponsored by the Silverthorne Police Department June 5.

HEENEY 49. Visit this sleepy little lakeside town for prime bird watching. Hummingbirds are abundant here. 50. Walk the two-mile roundtrip around Cataract Lake. Stop to take in the falls plunging 300 feet down the cliffs into a creek.


 
98 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Dillon Area, Frisco Area, Lodge News, Silverthorne Area, Special Deals

 

Summit County Summer activities! 2010

05 Jun

One thing is for sure there is always something do here in the mountains! Some of my “Do not Miss List Items” are the Dillon Amphitheater concerts…usually FREE and great family fun. Yes and then of course a the weekend festivals at the big resorts-Keystone Copper and Breckenridge.

Summit County Calendar of Events

What’s Happening in Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne

June-Aug :: Summer Music in Breckenridge :: More than 40 classical and non-classical concerts and ensemble performances. Riverwalk Center. Box Office: 970-547-3100

June 3, 10, 17, 24 :: 6pm :: Country Dancing, first half hour of instruction
will feature the basics followed by open dancing until 8pm, Dillon Amphitheatre


June 5 :: Marina Season Opener, Frisco Bay Marina

June 5 :: Kids Fishing Derby, free fishing derby for children 14 and under, Trent Park, Silverthorne

June 10-13 :: Breckenridge Festival of Film, 970-453-6200, www.breckfilmfest.com

June 11, 18, 25 :: 9am-2pm : Farmers’ Market, live entertainment 10:30am-1pm, Buffalo Street, Downtown Dillon

June 12 :: 8am :: 34th Annual Run the Rockies, Registration at Frisco Recreation Building

June 14, 15, 21, 22 :: 9:45-11am :: “Explore” Lake Dillon Boat Tours. Reservations required. Dillon Marina. 970-468-5100, dillonmarina.com

June 15, 22, 29 :: 11am :: Kid’s Discovery Days, Keystone Resort

June 17-19 :: Colorado Barbecue Challenge. Kick-off Concert, June 17, 8pm, Main Street Frisco

June 18-20 :: Lift-Off Summer, Copper’s opening weekend with activities, specials and live music,
Copper Mountain

June 19-20 :: Kingdom Days, Breckenridge’s annual heritage celebration, Corner of S. Ridge St.
and Washington Ave.

June 23, 30 :: 5pm :: Family Fun Nights, Keystone Resort

June 25-27 :: Genuine Jazz & Wine : Fri, 9pm; Sat, 1pm & 9pm; Sun, 9:30am; www.genuinejazz.com, The Village at Copper

June 25-27 :: 10am :: Merchant Tent Sale, Keystone Resort

June 25 :: 7pm :: Friday Night Concerts, Dillon Amphitheatre

June 26 :: 6th Annual World Music Fest, Keystone Resort

June 26 :: Annual Flea Market,Silverthorne Recreation Center Parking Lot

June 26 :: 10am :: Saturday Morning Adventures, Marina Park Pavilion by the Dillon Amphitheater

July 2 :: Noon-5pm :: Arts District Grand Celebration, Arts District of Breckenridge (corner of S. Ridge St. and Washington Ave.)


July 2-4 :: Frisco’s Fantastic Fourth of July, parade, kids fishing derby, live music, Green Art Festival, Founder’s Day celebrations, fireworks. Main Street Frisco and Frisco Bay Marina


July 2-4 :: 3 Ring Weekend, free family event featuring live music, conscious carnival, “Primp my Ride” kid-powered parade, fireworks, Copper Mountain, 3ringweekend.com

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 :: 9am-2pm :: Farmers’ Market, Buffalo Street, Downtown Dillon

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 :: 10 & 11:30am :: Rapunzel: A Rock-n-Roll Fairytale, Quaking Aspen
Amphitheater, Keystone Resort

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 :: 7pm :: Friday Night Concerts, Dillon Amphitheater

July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 :: 7pm :: Sunset at the Summit Concerts, Dillon Amphitheater

July 3 :: 10am :: Frisco’s Founder’s Day, Frisco Historic Park

July 3, 17 :: 11am :: River Run Kidzfest, Keystone Resort

July 4 :: 11am :: Breckenridge Independence Day Celebration, 10K trail race, “Firecracker 50″ bike race, Main Street parade, various activities and music throughout town. Main Street Breckenridge, www.gobreck.com

July 4 :: Noon :: 4th of July Celebration, National Repertory Orchestra in the morning followed by
music by DooWop Denny, children’s bike parade, BOCCE tournament, pie-eating contests and more. Downtown Dillon

July 4, 11, 18 :: 1pm :: Afternoon Concerts, Dillon Amphitheater

July 5-11 :: Breck Bike Week, 970-453-2913, www.gobreck.com

July 6, 13, 20, 27 :: 11am :: Kid’s Discovery Days, Keystone Resort

July 6, 13, 20, 27 :: 6-7pm :: Stories Alive Story Hour, Quaking Aspen Amphitheater, Keystone Resort

July 7, 14, 21, 28 :: Noon :: Historical Lecture Series, Gazebo, Frisco Historical Park

July 8, 15, 22, 29 :: 6pm :: East Coast Swing/Jitterbug, Dillon Amphitheater

July 9, 16, 23, 30 :: 6pm :: FAC – Fridays at Copper, free concerts and outdoor movies, Copper Mountain

July 10, 17, 24, 31 :: 10am :: Saturday Morning Adventures, Dillon Marina Park Pavilion

July 16-18 :: Parker Artists Guild Village Art Walk, www.parkerartistsguild.com for times, Village at Copper

July 16-18 :: Dillon Arts Festival, Downtown Dillon off of Lake Dillon Drive

July 17 :: 10am :: Historic Frisco Town Tour. Enjoy a free, guided tour of Frisco’s Heritage attractions. Frisco Historic Park & Museum.

July 18, 25 :: 11am :: Music in the Mountains Concert Series, Keystone’s River Run|

July 21 :: 6pm :: John Adams & Friends Summer in Colorado Concert, Dillon Amphitheater

July 24 :: 8-10pm :: Saturday Concert Series, Copper Mountain

July 24 :: 4pm :: River Run Rocks, Keystone’s River Run

July 24-25 :: 10am-2pm :: Frisco’s Classic Weekend, classic wooden boat show and marina parade, Frisco Marina

July 25 :: 9am:: ‘Vettes on the Rockies, more than 500 Corvettes on Main Street Frisco

July 29 :: 7pm :: Smokey Joe’s Café: The Music of Leiber and Stoller, River
Run at Keystone

July 30-Aug 1 :: Colorado Gold Panning Championships, Breckenridge, www.gobreck.com

July 30-Aug. 2 :: 21st annual Children’s Hospital Courage Classic, Copper Mountain, www.couragetours.com

July 31-Aug. 1 :: 11am :: Dillon Open Regatta, Dillon Marina

July 31-Aug. 1 :: 14th Annual Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Keystone Resort

Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 :: 1pm :: Sunday Afternoon Concerts, Dillon Amphitheater

Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 :: 11am :: Music in the Mountains Concert Series, Keystone’s River Run

Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 :: 7-8:30pm :: Dancin’ in the Rockies Dance Series, free lessons in swing, line, salsa and tango. Final Tuesday in August will culminate into Summit County’s Biggest Dance Party, Pavilion at Keystone

Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 :: 9am-2pm :: Farmers’ Market, Buffalo Street, Downtown Dillon

Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 :: 7:30pm :: Friday Night Comedy Series, Pavilion at Keystone,
www.keystoneneighbourhood.com

Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 :: 7pm :: Sunset at the Summit Concerts, Dillon Amphitheater

Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25 :: Noon :: Historical Lecture Series, The Gazebo, Frisco Historical Park

Aug. 5, 12, 15, 19, 26 :: Smokey Joe’s Café: The Music of Leiber and Stoller, Thurs.,
7pm; Sun., 2pm, River Run at Keystone

Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 :: 6pm :: Fridays at Copper, Free concerts and outdoor movies, Copper Mountain

Aug. 6-7 :: 10am-10pm :: Dillon BBQ at the Summit, Town of Dillon, www.bbqatthesummit.com

Aug. 7 :: 5:45-8am start :: Copper Triangle Bicycle Tour, www.coppertriangle.com

Aug. 7 :: 9am :: Canine 4K, Dogs and their humans run or walk the 4K course, Frisco Main Street

Aug. 7-8 :: Art on Main Street to the Rockies, Fine art show, Frisco Main Street

Aug. 6-8 :: Mountain States Cup, largest full-discipline race series in the U.S., Keystone Resort

Aug. 12-13 :: Guitar Town Guitar & Songwriting Clinic, Copper Mountain, www.copperguitartown.com

Aug. 13-15 :: Guitar Town, the world’s best guitarists come together at Copper for the 5th annual festival, www.copperguitartown.com

Aug. 13 :: 5pm :: Dillon Bluegrass Festival, Dillon Amphitheatre

Aug. 14 :: 11am :: River Run Kidzfest, Keystone Resort

Aug. 14 :: 11am :: The Collision, skate park competitions, Frisco Skate Park

Aug. 14 :: 25th Annual Music on Main, free concert, Main Street Frisco

Aug. 21 :: 10am-3pm :: Frisco Free Family Fun Fest, Frisco PeninsulanRecreation Area

Aug. 21-22 :: Warrior Dash Rockies, Copper Mountain

Aug. 21-22 :: 6th Annual Blues Festival and Art Show, Keystone Resort

Aug. 22 :: 7am :: Blue River Century Ride, bike race to benefit the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, Keystone Resort

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 :: 9am-2pm :: Farmers’ Market, Buffalo Street, Downtown Dillon

Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24 :: 7:30pm :: Adrenaline Movie Series, Pavilion at Keystone, www.pavilionatkeystone.com

Sept. 3 :: 6pm :: FAC – Fridays at Copper, Free concerts and outdoor movies

Sept. 3-5 :: Copper Country, Free Labor Day festival tradition, coppercountryfest.com

Sept. 3-5 :: Fri., Noon-6pm; Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., 10am-2pm : Dillon Craft Fair, Downtown Dillon

Sept. 3-6 :: Breckenridge Labor Day Weekend Festivities, 970-453-2913, www.gobreck.com

Sept. 4 :: 7pm :: Sunset at the Summit Concerts, Saturdays, Dillon Amphitheater

Sept. 4 :: 22nd Annual Taste of Keystone, Keystone Resort

Sept. 5 :: 1pm :: John Adams & Friends Fan Appreciation Concert, Dillon Amphitheater

Sept. 6 :: 2pm :: Marina Mutt Contest, Registration starts at Noon, Dillon Marina

Sept. 10-12 :: Copper Criteriums, Cyclecross & Fall Colors Ride, www.coppercrits.com

Sept. 11 :: Beetlefest, Frisco Main Street

Sept. 17-19 :: 16th Annual Breckenridge Oktoberfest, 970-453-2913, www.gobreck.com

Sept. 17-19 :: The America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament, Frisco, Blue River and other local rivers

Sept. 24-26 :: Camp Experience, Oneof- a-kind retreat exclusively for women, Copper Mountain. CampExperience.com

Sept. 25 :: Annual Flea Market, Recreation Center Parking Lot, Silverthorne

OCTOBER
Oct. 31 :: 6-8pm :: Trick or Treat Street on Main Street Frisco

 
8 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Dillon Area, Frisco Area, Silverthorne Area, Ski Mountains!

 

Rafting In Summit County 2010

05 Jun

Ok friends, it looks like the 2010 rafting season will be another great year! The Blue River that runs right through our Riverside Lodges East and West is navigable! This means the surrounding rafting rivers are also going to be a blast! Do not miss out on this exhilarating activity! Remember to bring your sunscreen or you could end up like me, burned to a crisp! (I have done this m0re than once)

Sure, Colorado may be best known for its skiing, but the same snow-covered peaks that give us our world-class slopes also provide another unique recreational asset — rivers, as in rafting.

“Colorado is the Mecca,” veteran river guide Duke Bradford said regarding the quality of the area’s whitewater. “The fact we have these huge mountains with incredible grading, it’s remarkable. The water, coming down that grading, makes for amazing rivers.”

And the areas in and surrounding Summit County are great examples of that.

In close proximity, Bradford said, there’s a stretch of water for “anyone,” regardless of ability or fitness level.

“Right in our own backyard, we have some unique circumstances,” said Bradford, who’s the director of Breckenridge-based Arkansas Valley Adventures. “The Continental Divide provides both the Eastern and Western slopes with great whitewater, and we have access to it all.”

The Blue, Arkansas and Colorado rivers, along with Clear Creek, all provide world-class rafting, and Bradford said the seasons for each look very promising.

The same couldn’t have been said just a few months ago.

Along with the rest of the state’s whitewater enthusiasts, Bradford was a bit concerned about what the summer would hold — or rather, if the rivers would be holding much at all.

The snowpack was low, and the outlook for whitewater was even lower around March. But a late cold snap in April and May vaulted the moisture levels back near average numbers, and, as Bradford put it, “more snow means more whitewater.”

“The water’s looking great,” Bradford said. “It’s up, but not to the point you have to be worried about it being dangerous in stretches.”

A true sign of the season, Bradford said, is that there’s a season at all on the Blue River. Some years, the river’s flows (below the Dillon Reservoir) are far too low to raft at all.

That’s not a problem this year.

Bradford said the Blue is currently running well. And, as the river may hit its peak in the coming weeks — possibly even days — now’s the time to go down it.

“It’s anyone’s guess how long it’ll last, but we should have at least a couple weeks,” he added about the Blue.

The Arkansas, however, is looking to have a long season, possibly past the end of August, due to high amounts of winter precipitation on Hoosier Pass. Bradford said the “Ark” is commonly consistent for boaters, as it has controlled releases from the reservoir.

Clear Creek, in the stretches near Idaho Springs, is already running well and should continue to do so until early August.

“That’s the closest, most consistent whitewater we have,” Bradford said.

And in each of the rivers, Bradford said a boater of every ability can find the stretch that’s right for them.

For instance, the Colorado River has arguably the best stretch of class IV and V rapids anywhere in the country in Gore Canyon near Kremmling. There’s a waterfall, long runs, and Bradford said the stretch is strictly for the “active and aggressive” boaters with a whole lot of experience. (Swimming tests — including recovery from under the raft — are required to paddle down the area.)

On the other hand, the Colorado also offers some pretty leisurely paced float trips.

“It’s all about finding the section that’s right for you,” Bradford said. “There are so many options, you just don’t want to be over your head.”

Bradford said any of the county’s many outfitters would easily steer a boater in the right direction.

After all, finding the right run, Bradford said, can lead to one of the best experiences Colorado offers.

“Being out on the river — It’s just a big, majestic place,” he said. “The environment a river takes you to is off the beaten path, it’s not something you see doing anything else. To experience something like that is certainly unique to Colorado.”

 
4 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Colorado Facts, Lodge News, Silverthorne Area

 

What Determines The Flow Of the Blue River That Runs Though Our Property?

02 Jun

It is important to understand how the water flow in the Blue River is determined. This effects our fishing and rafting in it! The simple guide line is in the Spring and early Summer the flow is generally higher and in Fall and Winter it is less. But when in doubt just check with the Forest Service office about 1 mile North on Hwy 9! Remember, as shown above the Source for the River is a Dam, that is why the River produces HUGE trout and large swings in CFS water flow amounts!

Water from Dillon Reservoir began flowing through the morning glory spillway into the Lower Blue River at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Water spills through the “glory hole” when the reservoir’s water level reaches its full elevation of 9,017 feet.

Water also flows through the waterworks and into the Blue River from the bottom of the dam. The spillway ensures water never flows over the top of the dam.

Outflows into the Lower Blue reached 235 cubic feet per second (cfs) Tuesday, with 220 of that coming from the bottom of the dam. As the snowpack continues to melt, the percentage of water coming from the top of the reservoir, via the spillway, will increase.

Outflows into the Lower Blue are forecast to peak at 1,100 cfs on June 9. Inflows are forecast to peak at 1,300 cfs on June 9.

Actual peak flows will vary from the forecasts depending on weather: Warm, sunny weather would produce higher peak flows over a relatively short period of time; cooler, cloudier weather — resulting in slower snowmelt — would translate to a lower-

volume peak spread over a longer period of time.

The Lower Blue is generally fine for rafting at flows higher than 500 cfs. To reduce the likelihood of flooding along the Lower Blue, Denver Water tries to ensure that peak outflow doesn’t exceed 1,800 cfs.

“There is always some risk of flooding downstream,” said Denver Water’s manager of raw water supply, Bob Steger. “The reservoir could be spilling, and we could get a bunch of rain. That’s a risk we have every year while we’re spilling.”

The historic average peak inflow is about 1,700 cfs, and Steger said this year’s flows would not likely reach that level. Average peak outflow is about 1,100 cfs and occurs around June 20.

“People in Silverthorne still need to be kind of diligent in understanding that anything can happen as far as weather is concerned,” Steger said.


 
96 Comments

Posted in Activities for the Family, Colorado Facts, Fishing around Our Lodges!, Silverthorne Area