Another use for snow

The colder weather may mean the sculptures at the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge last through the weekend. I drove up Saturday with my mom to check them out. Un-freaking-believable.



These guys are about 10-12 feet tall, and just as wide/deep. The detail is unreal.


It was crowded, but worth finding a parking place (the toughest part of the day) and walking around. A great apres ski activity, or a reason for a nonskier to make the trip with you.

You can see photos of the sculpting process here.

State moves to clamp down on off-roaders

Just saw this on the wire.

DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers voted to tighten the rules for off-road vehicles Tuesday despite objections that the state is taking away access to federal lands.

“This is not a privilege, this is a right to use your land, and it’s being turned into a privilege,” said Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose.

The measure (House Bill 1069) would prohibit motor vehicles from using public lands, trails, or roads unless it’s authorized by a sign or other means. A violation would be a misdemeanor with a $100 fine. People who violate the law while hunting, fishing, trapping would also have 10 suspension points applied to their licenses.

Violations in designated wilderness areas would carry a $200 fine and 15 license suspension points.

The bill passed on a voice vote and faces a third reading and a recorded vote before it goes to the Senate.

Silly vista

Dave said he wanted a trip report, so...

My wife's continuing quest to ski every lift-served ski area in the state took us to Sol Vista on Sunday (Powderhorn and Howelson Hill yet to go) . Skiing was free, thanks to the GEMS card, and worth every penny.

Seriously, I'm not knocking beginner areas. I've run into Texans at Ski Cooper who come up and ski there because, hey, if you only ski once a year and aren't going to do anything tougher than an easy blue, why pay $75 for a lift ticket?

But I'm a little confused why anyone would buy a house or a condo next to Sol Vista. Even if you have young kids, they're going to outgrow the area in a couple years. Sure, your house would still be close to Winter Park/Mary Jane, but living next to any ski hill is probably a lot more expensive than just buying a place in Granby (Civic motto: "Let our giant, armored bulldozers bring the Granby spirit right to your door. Heck, through your door!").

We did three runs, one labeled black, one blue and one green. You can downgrade each of those one category if you're comparing them to a normal ski area. I'm not sure what green downgrades to, though - lime? Sea mist?

On, by the way, Silverton got pounded.

I mean, pounded. 36 inches in 24 hours. More on the way.

Aspen shrines documented

A few years ago I wrote a story on Aspen Mountain's collection of secret, informal shrines (i.e. places to smoke pot) in the woods. Now there's a website documenting them all (but not their locations.) Check it out here.
Liberace has a shrine. Jimi Hendrix has a shrine. But no Neil Diamond? What's going on?

Interesting cloud on Pikes Peak today

From downtown, it looks just like a veil, thinly covering the eastern cirque. It's not quite a lenticular, not blowing snow. Any weather folks out there care to educate us.
On Monday, also, there was an odd cloud over the mountains. I was riding my bike downtown at about 10 a.m. and a bank of clouds, as dark as a summer thunder storm but without any hard edges rose over the mountains, swept into the city, and pelted me with a few large, wet pieces of grappel. I went into the bank to cash a check, but the time I got out, the bank of clouds had already swooped east, and the sky was blue.

Katie Compton DNFs at World Cyclocross Champs

A few weeks ago we had a profile in Out There of Colorado Springs Cyclist Katie Compton, who was one of the favorites to win the women's World Cup Championships in Cyclocross in Italy Sunday. According to Velonews, she, instead ran into trouble early.
The bicycle news Website said she dropped out in the first lap, and that "Compton has been suffering from a recurring muscle ailment that has kept her off her bike for the past two weeks and has left her with a noticeable limp at times. Before the race on Sunday, Compton said she planned "to start and then see how I feel, but right now, I'm not too sure."

Steep opens at Tinseltown

If you missed it in today's Go! section,"Steep," the big mountain skiing documentary that includes footage of Colorado ski legends Lou Dawson and Chris Davenport opens its local run today.

It follows the history of extreme skiing and includes what Gazette writer Andy Wineke says is awesome scenes of, well, steeps. And shots of skiers riding out an avalanche that are mind boggling.

Read Andy's story about filmmaker Mark Obenhaus here.

Read his review of the movie here.

Link to showtimes here.

Scroll down a bit and watch Andrew McLean, who survived that avalance, talk to Steve Colbert on The Colbert Report.

The best trail website for the region

Is www.gazette.com/outthere. Where else can you find free maps, descriptions and photos for over almost 100 local trails? We have popular classics such as Waldo Canyon and Barr Trail, and more obscure gems, such as the long way up Mount Rosa, and little-climbed Mays Peak. Check it out.

Look what I found in a box in my basement!

It's the first ever (and maybe still only) mountain bike guide to the Pikes Peak region, "Where to Ride Guide" by Rika Newton Moore, circa 1989. Inside you'll find lots of pedal clips, big Bell helmets and not a shock in sight. Interestingly, despite a surge in mountain biking in the 20 years since it was written, there are not many more mountain bike trails. The classics still stand: Captain Jacks, Chutes, Section 16. There are a few intriguing trails I don't know. Anyone ever ride Mule Creek near Woodland Park?

Can tolls reduce ski traffic

That's the simple question a very complex plan by State Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver. He wants to do something to discourage drivers from heading to the slopes on I-70 between about 7:30 and 10:30 on weekend mornings, either by charging those who do, or rewarding those who don't. Romer, who is a skier and investment banker says he would drive during peak time anyway, since the toll, which could be as much as $12, is mere pocket change worth nothing compared to his time.
Problem is, there is no easy way to collect a toll, and no conceivable way to accurately and efficiently award non-peak driver.
Maybe they should stick with the idea of the monorail.

This weekend: Get OUT THERE!

(Almost at Monarch!)

There's plenty to do this weekend.

The International Snow Sculpture Championship in Breckenridge

Winter X Games 12 at Buttermilk in Aspen

Mary Jane's Birthday Bash and Winterfest at Winter Park

14th annual Country in the Rockies at Steamboat Springs

Mardi Gras Race - it's open to all - and College Day ($27 tix) at Wolf Creek

Snowboard Cross - or hit the tubing hills at Copper Mountain

For a list of Colorado ski areas - you can check each resort's site for other activities - try Colorado Ski Country USA

Not a snow fan? Head to a local hiking trail. If you want to learn as you hike, check out the planned activities at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

Or follow our Happy Trail advice and head to the Paint Mines.

Need another place to hike, check out our searchable Web site.

Bleiler shines at hometown X Games

(AP photo of Gretchen Bleiler of Aspen in the pipe Thursday at the X Games at Buttermilk.)

Gretchen Bleiler is wowing the crowds at the X Games at Buttermilk in Aspen. Read Gazette reporter Brian Gomez's report here. The games continue through Sunday. Pack the car and go. You'll see some of the best riding in the world.

Poacher sought in elk killing

As Out There friend Zen mentions and The Gazette reported today, officials are seeking information that will lead to the person who apparently killed an elk at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument last weekend. Read the story here.

Hunting is allowed in Colorado. But you can't hunt on the grounds of the monument and you can't hunt in the city. C'mon.

Suburban poachers sport arrows

No joke, someone is using a bow and arrows to shoot deer in Rockrimmon in northwest Colorado Springs. In the past two weeks, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has found evidence that at least three deer were shot with arrows in the vicinity of Allegheny and Oak Hills.
"In each case, the deer where shot with archery equipment," said District Wildlife Manager Steve Cooley.
I've often thought it would be cool to hunt and eat an urban deer, but it sounds like someone is making pot shots that just injure the animals. Not as cool.
Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity, or has information about this case, is asked to contact the DOW at (719) 227-5282. Or, they can call Operation Game Thief toll-free at 1-877-265-6648.

McLean on Colbert

Why not a ski license plate

Colorado Ski Country USA, the umbrella marketing group for Colorado's ski resorts, is lobbying for the return of the skier license plate. And why not? The state already had a skier license plate back in the good ol' days. Plus, we have vanity plates for things as obscure as 'Survivor of Pearl Harbor" and "Greyhound Lovers." I'm the proud owner of an adopted greyhound, but come on, how many of those does the state really sell?

Which leads to the real question. If there is a state ski license plate, would you pay extra for it?

X Games hit Aspen

Today there plenty of practice and the men's ski SuperPipe elimination at the Winter X 12. Thursday is snowboarding the SuperPipe, some slopeside, some snowmobiling. Check the entire schedule, through Sunday, here.

There's plenty to see, the scene to take in, and free music, too. See the band lineup here.

The Gazette's Brian Gomez, who also covers Olympic sports, is there. He'll have daily updates in the sports section. We'll share any special highlights here on the OT blog.

Skier Billy Poole dies in Utah

Details here. And a lot of fond memories here.

From the description, it sounds like he was filming for Warren Miller and attempting a massive jump in the backcountry between Solitude and Brighton and hit hard on the landing.

Prints point to wolf in Rocky Mountain NP

(That's not the wolf print from RMNP, it's a photo taken by someone at the University of Montana that's used in its environmental studies program. Dang big print, regardless.)

Biologists say rumors of a wolf in Rocky Mountain National Park may be true.

A paw print found Thursday is large enough to be that of a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid.

The only other dogs that would leave a print that size are a "massive malamute or a great Dane," said Dave Augeri, a Denver Zoo biologist.

The track was about 4 inches across and found off a trail heading into open fields.

Park volunteers said they saw a wolf about six weeks ago.

Although wolves are native to Colorado, the predator was wiped out by ranchers, government agents and others about 80 years ago.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife confirmed that a large black animal caught on video by wildlife officers last February in northern Colorado was a wolf.

In 2004, a dead wolf was found along Interstate 70 west of Denver. Its radio collar showed that it was from Yellowstone National Park.

Augeri and his crew have placed 5 cameras in the park in hopes of gathering more evidence.

Here's a piece in the High Country News about what wolves would bring to the ecosystem.