Out There » Dave Philipps

The snow ahead

Dave Philipps — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:07:44 +0000

Much of the Western Slope is under a winter weather advisory for 24 hours as another storm hits the mountains, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction.

Up to 7 inches of new snow could hit much of the northern and central mountains.

This is the magic week in which most ski areas will open for the season. Monarch, Crested Butte and Steamboat open Wednesday. Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Telluride open Thursday. Purgatory opens Friday.

That just leaves a few hold-outs in the Aspen family, and good ol’ Ski Cooper, which relies on natural snow fall, and expects to open Dec. 4.

Beautiful, fluffy flakes but no significant accumulation are expected along the Front Range today.

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Vail opens Friday.

Dave Philipps — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:06:27 +0000

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Uncle Sam says listen to nature

Dave Philipps — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:33:53 +0000

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced an extensive public service radio campaign urging Americans to connect with nature and visit a National Wildlife Refuge.

The public service radio campaign consists of eight 60-second spots extolling the sights and sounds of refuges and their efforts to preserve some of these species. Listen to them here.

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Happy 70th Monarch!

Dave Philipps — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:43:17 +0000

Mountain opens the day before Thanksgiving for its 70th season. Read the ski area history Monarch has received 60 inches of snow so far this season and currently has a 36 inch mid-mountain base. The forecast is calling for snow showers this weekend. The area will have 3 chairlifts; Pioneer, Panorama & Tumbelina and the Children’s Ski School carpet lifts in operation. Garfield and Breezeway chairs will open the following Saturday.

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City parks, now what?

Dave Philipps — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:14:54 +0000

The Trails and Open Space Coalition looks at this question at their annual meeting taking place tonight:

Thursday, November 19th at 7 p.m.

Penrose Library, Carnegie Reading Room, 20 N. Cascade Ave.

Top members of the Colorado Springs Park staff and TOSC will brief the public on the proposed budget-cuts and how those will negatively impact the city’s parks, trails and open space – and offer sustainable solutions.

There will also be an opportunity to find out how volunteers can step in and help minimize the damage.

Everyone is invited.

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No Joke, skiing with the stars.

Dave Philipps — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:42:08 +0000

I’m not even going to rewrite this press release in an ironic way because it is just so silly all by itself:

Utah’s Deer Valley Resort kicks off its winter ski season again with its annual Deer Valley Celebrity SkiFest, Dec. 5-6. The invitational ski event pairs former Olympic ski legends with television and film celebrities.

The Deer Valley Celebrity SkiFest will include giant slalom races on both Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6 on Deer Valley’s Birdseye ski run. The competition will be televised by CBS on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. EST following the NFL.

Celebrities scheduled to attend at this time include: Cheryl Tiegs, Larry David, Bobby Kennedy, Jr., Max Kennedy, Chris Kennedy, Cheryl Hines, Gloria Rueben, Rob Morrow, Neil Patrick Harris, Dylan Bruno and David Conrad.

While I am willing to admit that child surgeon Dougie Howzer may also have mad ski skills, I pitty the Olympian who gets stuck with Larry David.

Who will be the three snarky judges at the bottom who critique the stars’ turns? And who will win?

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Beware West Side trailhead break-ins

Dave Philipps — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:47:32 +0000

I was in Red Rock Open Space yesterday and cops stopped me to make sure I was locking my car and hiding valuables. Apparently there have been a string of smash-and-grabs at west side hiking areas. There have been at least 28 cases since September, police say.

Garden of the Gods, Red Rock Canyon, Bear Creek, and Cheyenne Canon have all been hit. The suspects are gaining entry into unlocked vehicles or breaking a window.

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Happy 70th Winter Park

Dave Philipps — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:37:42 +0000

The old-school, Denver City-owned ski area, which is now managed by IntraWest, first opened in 1939. Today it opens for its 70th season with 33 acres, three chairlifts, two trails and the Sorensen Park beginner area. Seven features in the Re-railer terrain park, including rails and jibs, will also be open.

“We’ve put finishing touches on The Village at Winter Park, the ski train from Denver is back and we have great deals for early season guests, like free lift tickets with a two-night stay now through Christmas day,” said Rob Perlman, vice president of sales and marketing at Winter Park Resort.

Early season lift ticket prices are adult: $65; child: $45; senior: $55, 70+: $35; half-day: $59. Season passes begin at $369, available at www.skicolorado.com.

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Mud Alert

Dave Philipps — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:11:45 +0000

Was just at Red Rock Canyon, and boy this slow melt is making everything super muddy. Avoid the usual suspects: Stratton Open Space, the east end of Red Rock Canyon, parts of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

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Suffering is relative

Dave Philipps — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:43:45 +0000

I was feeling a little sorry for myself this morning when reached the bottom of the Manitou Incline at about 5:45 a.m. It was cold and snowy and I didn’t really feel like climbing 2000 feet before breakfast, but what with having a seven-month-old, if I don’t go early, I don’t go at all. Anyway, I put on my Micro Spikes and trudge up the ties. About 1,500 feet up, I ran into one of those Scout and Atticus moments where you learn your lot in life is not so tough. A platoon of young grunts in full battle gear (minus rifles) was lugging huge packs up the Incline, struggling to stay upright on the slick snow in their combat boots. I bet their sergeant got them out of bed at 4 a.m.

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