July 2005

As expected the Summit Lift, which will go near the top of Peak 8, and the reconstruction of Chair 6 are again being challenged by watchdog groups. There were questions raised about possible lynx sightings as well as a complaint that the wetlands impact study was done in the fall and not at peak spring runoff. The wetlands will be reevaluated this year. The lynx habitat will be revisited but the contention is that there is little prey nor den building potential for the reintroduced cat in the area affected by the new lifts. There is still hope that the new lifts could be ready for this coming season.

At the Western Governors‘ Association annual meeting, recently held in Breckenridge, energy was a major topic. With the vast natural gas, shale oil and coal reserves in the west we will soon be affected like never before. The Energy Secretary, Mr. Boldman, of course gave his endorsement of the President’s program based on fossil fuels, while one of the governors asked why more wasn’t being addressed as far as wind and solar power, also abundant in the west. A Wyoming based coal producer spoke on the advances made in eliminating the pollution produced by coal, one of our most abundant resources. His company’s goal is zero pollution from coal as an energy producer. The Governors’ Association adapted a resolution pledging to work together to enhance and diversify energy development in the west.

Another topic of the Governor’s Conference was the declining health of our forests. The governors of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico signed a charter that creates institutions to find solutions to the situation. The Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes will be located in a number of universities and will supply the best science available to policy makers on the subjects of forest ecology, restoration and management. The goal is to protect the forests while preventing wildfires.
More good info can be found at: http://www.BestoftheRockies.com.

Aspen Skiing Company has put together an ingenious way to harness Mother Nature’s energy. Snowmelt coming off of Snowmass ski area is channeled into a holding pond and then through a pipe used for snowmaking in the fall. The water rushes 4000 feet down the mountain to turn a turbine at the bottom. The turbine generates about 2400 kilowatt-hours per day and will run for about three months before the water runs out. That’s enough to power 50 Aspen size homes for an entire year. Mother Nature puts the water on the hill and Aspen gathers the energy as it runs back down, and it’s all pollution free. We should all get this creative about our natural resources. Kudos to ASC.

One of the best events of the summer are the free concerts at The Lake Dillon Amphitheater. Every Saturday night at 7pm stop by one of the prettiest venues in The Rockies, with a backdrop of Lake Dillon and The Ten Mile Range, to hear a variety of musical styles. Everything from classic rock to Oldies to jazz-fusion will take the stage. Seating is on concrete steps or the grass behind so plan accordingly. These shows always fill up so get there early and perhaps have a picnic dinner. See ya there, rain or shine.

The Summit Foundation has passed the $7 million mark in giving to support non-profit organizations and graduating high school seniors in Summit County and surrounding areas. All the money the foundation gives away is from donations and fundraisers. At the spring presentation $316,000 was given to 33 organizations and $98,000 in scholarships were awarded to 34 students from Summit High, Vail Mountain School and West Grand High.
In the different categories:

Art and Culture: $28,000 to six organizations

Health and Human Service: $79,000 to seven organizations

Education: $109,000 to nine organizations, including the school district’s early education and adult high school

Environment: $37,000

Sports: $30,000

Good Neighbor Grants: $30,00 including The Leadville Community Theatre and Tabor Opera House and the Park County Senior coalition for transportation.

See http://www.SummitFoundation.org/

The first construction project to come out of the bond issue passed by voters in November will help improve the last elementary school to see recent renovations. Frisco Elementary will get a $3.6 million facelift to upgrade the facility, add three classrooms and rebuild the Funground, an exciting wooden apparatus with a variety of activities integrated into it.

Now considered one of the top elementary schools in the state, Silverthorne Elementary School’s Principal was recently honored. Steve Riggins, one of my favorite people on the planet, was awarded the Summit School District’s “Administrator of the Year” recently. Steve was quoted recently as saying his role models are Millie Hamner, Summit Superintendent, and Peggy Kastberg, Assistant Superintendent. Steve says that in a few short years they have transformed the district into a climate that is positive, optimistic and founded on respect. I have toured the school with Steve and let me say that Silverthorne Elementary is definitely demonstrates this climate with exuberance.

The Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees voted Monday to eliminate the 9.4-acre parcel behind Safeway in Frisco from consideration for a new Summit County campus. The college is looking at two parcels of U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to Frisco for the campus . CMC looks to bring all its Summit campuses together at one site.

The Landon Sawyer Freestyle Training Center was unable to come to an agreement with Vail Resorts over liability insurance despite months of negotiations. Originally slated to occupy the old Keystone Tennis Center with conditioning equipment, trampolines and a huge slide with water landing for inverted aerial training, it was going to be the finest facility of its kind. The good news is Steamboat has offered support and all the equipment has been moved there pending the location of an actual space to operate from. The center will have to forego the water slide but there is already one in town operated by the local ski club. Our Team Summit is very disappointed but as they already trek to Steamboat for the inverted aerial slide, having the additional training center there will be a plus.

Driving across Colorado you marvel at the massive peaks, but after you have spent some time exploring you also marvel at the high plains and prairies. This is the land where the buffalo and the antelope still play. You can see real cowboys riding fences and doing round-ups. If you want to get a feel of the old west, Colorado is home to an abundance of down home Rodeos that take you back in time.

When you go to a small town rodeo like Buena Vista or the Chaffee County Fair you immediately get the sense that perhaps you have crashed someone else's family reunion. Everyone knows each other as well as most of the contestants who are local kids looking to score some points to make it to the next level. The good old vets from the local VFW will be working the snack stand so don't expect fast service because the social aspect is more important than the food. Instead of getting impatient thank the fine gentlemen for the sacrifice they made to preserve your freedom. Then, be prepared for something you don't see enough of these days, which is the Benediction (oh no-public prayer) and The Star Spangled Banner where the crowd is proud to sing along. Don't be surprised by the patriotic speech about our great country and gratitude for those VFW guys. If it brings tears to your eyes to be proud that's OK, you probably won't be the only one.

When the rodeo starts it's usually with mutton busting. If you are not familiar with this it is small kids, pre-kindergarten usually, trying to ride sheep. If they hang on for more than a few seconds they are sure to be a winner. If they don't they still get a trophy. It always provides some laughs and gets everyone in the mood. When the big kids ride you will quickly see that the animals are more experienced than the cowboys, but the crashes are the best part of rodeo. If someone makes it to eight seconds it is cause for a major ovation. Pay attention to the clowns, now called bullfighters, who save uncounted lives every show while risking their personal safety keeping the bulls away from the fallen riders. It takes lots of fortitude and savvy of bull intelligence to stay alive as a fighter. Without them we would run out of bull riders pretty quick.

The top rodeo in this part of the world is Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. The arena is huge that without space constraints they give the animals a much bigger head start, which also means they are going faster when the action hits. You don’t see too many amateur cowboys either. Most can rope the cattle and ride the bucking stock without a flaw. At this level it comes down to style points and the quality of the animal that is drawn. One point or tenths of a second often separates the money winners from the rest of the participants. Frontier Days runs the last full week in July and includes lots of other activities like a pancake breakfast, air-show, music concerts, etc. Go to Cheyenne Frontier Days.

After you’ve experienced the excitement of a few rodeos it gets in your blood. The sights, sounds and smells become a trigger for joy. Seeing the animals, hearing the cheers and catching the aroma of hot dogs and funnel cakes you know it has to be a rodeo...eventually you even learn to love the smell of the corrals.

Contact Me if you need further tips on where to stay, eat or play.

The U.S. economy will expand 3.4% in 2005, down from 3.9% in 2004, but still a “healthy and sustainable pace,” according to the Council of Economic Advisers in its twice-yearly economic forecast. The first quarter saw a solid 3.8% growth rate. Spending on housing projects increased at an 11.5% annualized rate.

The average for 30-year fixed mortgage rates for the week of June 9 fell to 5.56%, the lowest level in 14 months. The rate for five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate mortgages was 5.01%, down from 5.10% a week earlier.

Denver and Boulder are two of four American cities where London’s Sunday Times recommends foreign investors should buy property because of relatively low housing price inflation. Dallas and Memphis, Tenn. are the other two.

The American Automobile Association is predicting that more than 40 million Americans will travel over 50 miles over the Fourth of July weekend, a record for a long weekend, and up 2.8% from last year and up 8% from last Thanksgiving.

Don’t wait ‘till rates and prices go up further; Contact Me Today!

Colorado Ski Country USA also announced the third busiest season ever at 11.8 million skiers (and snowboarders) at their member resorts statewide. Even better was a 28% increase in international skiers. These visitors are important because they stay longer and spend more money than the local skiers. Great Britain is Colorado’s largest contributor with a 31% jump from last year with Australia #2 at a 25% increase. Overall, Colorado hosts 55% of all skier visits in the Western US.

Sales of the 2005-2006 season passes are up 35% over a year earlier at Vail Resorts, as competition on the Front Range for the early purchase of season passes heats up. Intrawest, owner of Copper Mountain Resort and Winter Park and a rival of Vail Resorts in the season pass battle, reports that spring sales are going “extremely well” and are up over last year.

Vail Resorts ’04-05 skier visits in millions and percent increase over previous season:

Breckenridge 1.47 4.9%

Keystone 1.02 8.0%

Vail 1.57 0.8%

Beaver Creek 0.82 6.0

Heavenly 1.04 9.6%

Retirees are moving here in droves. The over 55 population increased 38% between 2000 and 2003. The rate is expected to increase over the next five years. New facilities and services as well as special housing will be needed. The Northwest Council of Governments is spending about $8500 to study the situation and make recommendations to the powers that be.

What’s all this got to do with Summit County real estate?

What has all this got to do with mountain real estate? Contact me and we can discuss things.