By Christopher Kolomitz
Early 1920s improvements in the San Isabel National Forest west of Pueblo created a robust tourism industry and set the stage for national forest officials to consider a new era of recreation on public lands.
christopher Kolomitz
Mine Spills Not That Rare
By Christopher Kolomitz
When the Gold King Mine blew out in southwestern Colorado above Silverton in early August, it sent millions of gallons of toxic sludge into the Animas River, turning the popular river orange and prompting closure of the waterway.
The blowout reminded Central Colorado residents of two eerily similar incidents that fouled the Arkansas River in 1983 and 1985. The toxic discharges on the local river occurred in a period of time when the Environmental Protection Agency was beginning Superfund clean-up of old mines around Leadville. The culprit of both discharges was the Yak Tunnel, which was one of three constructed to drain mines in the district.
Leading up to Superfund designation, the years of inaction were becoming a public health emergency. Drainage ditches in Leadville neighborhoods were turned orange or red because of the heavy metals coming from the historical mines. Annual discharge from the Yak Tunnel was pumping 210 tons of heavy metals into California Gulch, which was then reaching the river, according to the EPA.
Regional News Roundup
Mine Spills Not That Rare by Christopher Kolomitz When the Gold King Mine blew out in southwestern Colorado above Silverton in early August, it sent millions of gallons of toxic sludge into the Animas River, turning the popular river orange and prompting closure of the waterway. The blowout reminded Central Colorado residents of two eerily …
The Pass Creek Trail
By Christopher Kolomitz
On summer days, when Central Colorado is overrun with out-of-state tourists making questionable vehicular movements, a quick escape from town into the high country is sublime.
The Pass Creek Trail, west of Poncha Springs, is a fine place to stretch the legs, and on a recent summer weekend only one car was in the trailhead parking lot. The hike terminates after four miles at an elevation of 11,360 at Pass Creek Lake. If you are looking for an easy, short hike which is close to town and contains history, water, wildflowers and some classic Colorado scenery, this place is for you.
Regional News Roundup
By Christopher Kolomitz
Leadville Hospital gets $1M Grant
In Leadville, a $1 million grant has been awarded to St. Vincent Hospital by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. The money will be used for repairs on the heating and ventilation system, which will cost about $2 million. There are seven patient rooms without heat because of the poor condition of the system, reports the Leadville Herald Democrat. The hospital is going after additional loans for additional facility upgrades.
School IT Director Pleads Guilty of Theft
The former information technology director of the Gunnison school district has pled guilty to two counts of felony theft of more than $400,000 from the district. Cannon Leatherwood faces up to 18 years on prison on the charges. Leatherwood is free on bond and sentencing is set for early June, reports the Gunnison Country Times.
State House Update
By Christopher Kolomitz
The Colorado legislative has passed the halfway point and session ends May 7. Lawmakers haven’t been as controversial as last year and they’ve made some bipartisan headway on flood relief, fire mitigation efforts and business stimulation.
For the upcoming second half of the session, look for plenty of debate regarding state finances and the budget, especially as it relates to education, lawmakers have said. A March economic and revenue forecast indicates lawmakers will have $924.3 million more to spend in the general fund during FY 2013-14 than the amount budgeted for FY 2012-13. The report indicated the state’s economy is growing and easing into a more stable period.
REGIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP
By Christopher Kolomitz
Snow – and Headaches – Pile Up
Snowfall in early February has helped the region’s snowpack considerably and has caused a few headaches at the same time. At Monarch Mountain, the magical 100-inch base was reached after it snowed more than 11 feet in two weeks, creating some epic powder days. The big dumps made for dangerous avalanche conditions, with slides hitting and closing U.S. 50 on multiple occasions, blocking the Taylor River Road for 24 hours and taking out a vault restroom near Gothic. Big rigs, including a tanker, rolled off the road in Gunnison County during one of the storms; and near Kebler Pass a snowmobiler was killed when buried by an avalanche. Heavy snow collapsed the roof of the 74-year-old Sayer-McKee building in downtown Leadville after 20 inches of snow fell in one day. And the multiweek burst of moisture caused Leadville leaders to begin work on a snow removal plan. Apparently the “Cloud City” has never had a formal plan.
REGIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP (and other items of interest)
by Christopher Kolomitz Monarch Finish in the Works for Pro Bike Race A stage finish on Monarch Pass, with a start in Gunnison, is part of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge course next August. Mt. Crested Butte will be the location for a stage finish as well. The host communities were announced in early November, …
Regional News
By Christopher Kolomitz
Rockslide Tragedy
Dwayne, Dawna and Kiowa-Rain Johnson, all of Buena Vista, plus two other relatives visiting from out of state, died in a rockslide Sept. 30 while they were hiking at Agnes Vaille Falls. Gracie Johnson, 13, was seriously injured after being trapped in the rubble. The deaths were a big blow to the community, Dwayne was an electrician, landscaper and football coach, Dawna was a popular waitress in town and Kiowa-Rain was a senior at the high school.
More than $50,000 has been raised for the Johnson Family Fund and an additional $10,000 was raised for a scholarship by Gracie’s fellow middle school students, reports The Chaffee County Times. The popular hike to the falls has been closed by the U.S. Forest Service and no timetable has been set for its re-opening.
Alpine Station
By Christopher Kolomitz
At more than 11,500 feet in elevation and reached via a modest four-wheel-drive road, a driving adventure to Alpine Station and the west portal of Alpine Tunnel makes a superb trip into Central Colorado’s high country.
The journey provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of one of the state’s most ambitious and short -lived railroads – the Denver South Park and Pacific. Construction on the line started in 1878, and in 1889 the original owners defaulted. Shortly after, history’s cruel ways intervened and the line never made it to the Pacific, only reaching the Gunnison area and Leadville via Boreas and Fremont passes.
New Trails: The Little Rainbow
By Christopher Kolomitz
The Little Rainbow Trail outside of Salida stretches about 7.5 miles, from the east flank of Methodist Mountain near the Burmac road, to west of CR 110 where the trail ends at Sand Gulch.
About 1,500 feet lower in elevation, wider and more intermediate than its big brother, the Little Rainbow is another success story written by the volunteers at Salida Mountain Trails.
The group has long championed the idea of building non-motorized, multiuse trails around the Salida area; they took off in a big way around Tenderfoot Mountain, where a series of trails has blossomed into a wide-ranging network.
Hot Springs City, Colorado
By Christopher Kolomitz
Easing the car off the highway and into the dirt parking lot at Joyful Journey Hot Springs, visitors gaze east out across the landscape which is nearly free of obstruction.
Few trees, even fewer buildings and a steadily blowing breeze greet them as they hustle into the warmth of the now modern and popular hot springs facility just south of Villa Grove in Saguache County.
It’s hard to imagine that more than 100 years ago, a city once formed here with great hopes of becoming a tourist destination and prosperous site. However, the brutal climate, the Great Depression, a floundering agriculture economy with poor soil, and life’s hardships ended that hope.
State House Update
by Christopher Kolomitz
69th General Assembly
A Democratic-led Colorado House and Senate have tackled a handful of hotbed social issues during a furious first three months of the 69th General Assembly.
Limits on the size of ammunition clips, gun background checks for all, approval of civil unions for same-sex couples, and granting in-state tuition for illegal immigrant students have all been approved by lawmakers. The session ends May 8.
Ghosts of Slopes Past
By Christopher Kolomitz
Skiers seem to always go big.
Big air, big adventures and big falls.
And they dream big, too. This year, many are dreaming of massive amounts of snow following a lackluster season last year. More than 30 years ago, developers of two ski areas in Central Colorado were dreaming as well.
Separated by about 80 miles, the Conquistador and Cuchara ski areas share a remarkably similar and sad fate. They were both within a day’s drive of Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma, and no major mountain passes had to be navigated, which was good for marketing. Both were affordable, low key and offered beginners the chance to learn. They were nestled in idyllic valleys, home to historic ranches and scenic vistas.
Dance Hall Days
In Smeltertown, the historical epicenter of partying, dancing, eating and socializing is one particular building. Located at 7595 CR 150, it’s currently serving as a tango dance studio and private residence. Before that it went through more than 80 years as a buzzing hub for the town and the region serving as a restaurant, nightclub, 3.2 bar and fraternal hall.
Its owners have been long-time Salida locals, some of whom still remain here. Countless patrons, once barely old enough to be served, and now grandparents, remember the good times in the building and sometimes stop to tell the current owners how much fun they had.
During the heyday, hefty paychecks from mining, railroading, trucking and Western commerce created an atmosphere of good times and prosperity.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
By Christopher Kolomitz
Seeking to maximize buildable lot space and spur urban infill, a new take on an old solution is gaining steam in Salida and around the region as more and more people begin to construct accessory dwelling units.
The units are basically a second living space constructed on a lot with an existing structure. They’re called ADUs by people in the know, carriage houses by those politically correct and mother-in-law houses by those not. They’re a hit with homeowners looking for extra space when visitors arrive. They can also be used as separate living quarters for a disabled child or aging parent and they can create added income through rental.
Regional News
By Christopher Kolomitz
Molly on the Move
LEADVILLE – Climax Mine shipped its first bag of molybdenum concentrate on May 10 following a restart of the legendary mine atop Fremont Pass in Lake County. It was the first “moly” to be shipped from the mine in 17 years, the Leadville Herald Democrat reported. The mine first opened in 1916 and was a major economic stimulus to the region for decades before finally shutting completely down in 1995. Restart of the mine began in 2010 and has totaled about $700 million with projections that 20 million pounds of moly will be produced by 2013. About 300 people work at the mine which is owned by Freeport-McMoRan. In early May the company foundation awarded more than $550,000 to non profit organizations in Lake, Chaffee and Summit counties.
Regional News Roundup
By Christopher Kolomitz
Farewell Campy
SALIDA – Laurence Campton, a well known Salidan, died April 13 at the age of 95. Known as “Campy” throughout the community, Campton moved to the area in 1949 and had just celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary with wife Daisy. He survived imprisonment during World War II, was the 1959 FIBArk down-river race champion and in the early 1950s and ‘60s served as the manager of the Salida Chamber of Commerce, The Mountain Mail reported. He retired from the Chaffee County Road and Bridge Department in 1984 and a few months later began a 21-year stint as the county veteran service officer.
The Return of Alces alces shirasi
Moose foothold gaining strength in Central Colorado
By Christopher Kolomitz
Once considered a rarity in the state, moose are quickly becoming another attraction to the Colorado wild lands, right up there with snow-covered peaks, blazing aspen stands and cold, clear streams.
Specifically, it’s the Shiras moose that has tourists and locals doing a double-take. Typically smaller than their cousins to the north in Canada and Alaska, the Shiras moose has gained a foothold in Colorado, thanks to reintroduction efforts by state wildlife officials, a lack of natural predators and abundant suitable range.
Regional News Roundup
By Christopher Kolomitz
Parolee dies in Chaffee Barn Fire
BUENA VISTA – A parolee sought by Chaffee County authorities was identified through dental records after his body was found March 8 in a burned out barn southwest of Buena Vista. David Butler, 46, of Summit County, was found in the small residential barn following a search for him in the area near Maud Lane, which is just a little north of the Chalk Creek drainage. While conducting the search for Butler, authorities spotted smoke and responded to the barn fire and subsequently found Butler’s body, reported The Mountain Mail. It was unclear whether the death was a suicide or accidental, or what prompted Butler to flee from authorities.
