Browse: April 2008

Although some of the sand pits are beginning to emerge on the Vail Golf Course, it would be a stretch to call it green … or anything other than covered in snow.

Not to worry, though, crews are working to clear the Vail course, which is scheduled to open some time in May and all the golfing your heart desires can be found in the banana belt of Eagle and Gypsum.

Yes, the 18-hole Cotton Ranch and Eagle Ranch courses are already open for business. You’ll be amazed at how much more tropical (and less snowy) it is downvalley.

Also, if you’re not up for the 30-mile drive, take your clubs to the driving range at the Eagle Vail Golf Club. The range and the tee shop open May 3. For details on all the valley’s public, private and semi-private golf courses, visit golfvailvalley.com.

With all the lingering snow on trails, mountain biking season in the Vail area could be a bit delayed this season. Luckily desert riding isn’t far away.

Ghost town that it is around these parts through the end of April and May, hundreds of area fat-tire enthusiasts head West for sun, sand and slickrock.

Moab, Utah, is about 3 and a half hours west of Vail and is recognized throughout the world as a mountain-biking mecca. It is also a haven for Jeeping and hiking, but everyone generally finds their way up and down the trails respectful of each others’ mode of travel. Moab’s bike trails range from wide dirt roads to the famed slickrock terrain – a type of sandstone that, unless wet, is really not very slippery. It’s mind-boggling, really, the way bike tires attach themselves to this magical surface. Riding up and down this stuff will make you feel like a superhero.

To reach Moab from Vail, simply take Interstate 70 West. The faster route is about 221 miles down the road, to exit 182, which is about 32 miles south to Moab on US 191. The more scenic route, which adds about a half-hour of travel time, involves exiting earlier off of I-70 at the second Cisco exit (204) and following signs to route 128, which takes you on a breathtaking, 45-mile drive along the Colorado River.

Moab is a rustic town sporting many restaurants and hotels, while paid camping can be found at Sand Flats, nearly on top of the Slickrock Trail, and free camping up Cane Creek Rd. See specifics on Moab bike trails.

A closer, less frequented option for spring mountain biking is Fruita, located about 2 and a half hours West of Vail (exit 19) just short of the Utah border. While boasting significantly less slickrock riding than Moab, Fruita’s trails at the Loma exit (15) consist of dozens of miles of both smooth and rock ledge-filled single track on top of a mesa skirting the Colorado River.

To get there, simply turn left off the exit ramp at Loma from I-70, cross over the highway and follow the dirt road to the Kokopelli trailhead. Alternately, hit the Book Cliffs trails (sandier and fewer trail options, but equally as fun) and free camping. Take the Fruita exit and turn right through town (Fruita isn’t much of a town, but has a couple of bars and a great coffee and bike shop). To get to Book Cliffs, continue straight through the roundabout in town, go two blocks and turn left on Maple Street. Go 4 miles north on Maple St. (17 1/2 Rd). Turn right at N. 3/10 Rd, .5-mile to 18 Rd. Go north on 18 Rd for 7.5 miles to a parking area on the left. Learn more about Fruita’s bike trails.

Don't forget your sunscreen, seatbelts, heavily padded shorts and lots of water.

Kim Williams sat down with her husband Erik and their beautiful baby Bella to talk about The West End, a new mixed use development in Edwards, CO.

It wasn’t just the mountain that closed last week. Several of our favorite restaurants and stores are taking a brief nap for the off season, typically mid-April to late May or early June. Still many of the Valley’s best are remaining open for the off season and are offering locals and visitors alike some fantastic deals on some truly fine dining. Below is our list of off season dining deals. Be sure to check back in with us as more deals are sure to be added as restaurants return from their off season naps.

Gashouse Restaurant: 50% off dinner entrees

Montauk Seafood Grill: $19.95 entrees

vin48: 48% off large plates and bottles of wine

Grouse Mountain Grill: Three-course dinner for $36

Matthew’s Restaurant: 50% off all entrees

Nozawa Sushi & Asian Kitchen: 25% off sushi rolls and entrees all day

Ray’s Restaurant & Lounge: 30% to 50% off chops and entrees; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

ZaccaZa!: Different off season specials nightly; check www.zaccaza.com

For all of the Valley’s fine dining, check Plum’s Restaurant Guide.

Ah, the winter of 2008 ... how could we ever forget it? Check out these instrumental highlights from the 2008 Bon Appetit Culinary and Wine Focus, the Honda Session and tidbits from Jackie Greene and other big names who passed through town.

Who said Vail’s ski season is finished? The chairlifts are no longer turning at Vail or Beaver Creek, but, as we can see, there are still powder turns awaiting those willing to work for them.

• The first thing you need to ski uphill is a pair of telemark or AT skis (regular skis with bindings that lock and unlock and boots to match).

• The second accessory you need is a pair of skins – straps that stick to the base of your skis so you don’t slide backwards when you climb.
• The third and most important item would be a solid pair of lungs.

As some of us recently discovered during a hike up Vail Mountain, skiing downhill all winter doesn’t necessarily condition a person for hauling oneself up the ski runs in the springtime. Oh yes, if you want to know exactly how out-of-shape you are, skinning up the mountain is a sure-fire way to find out.

Although crews have begun pushing snow off of Vail’s service roads, we found a nice, untouched line up the Cat track leading down to Cascade and then up the slopes of Pride. Let us warn you that it’s slow going, especially on the steep areas, where we found it easier to hike up making our own switchbacks rather than straight up the steep pitch. If new snow has fallen, we recommend climbing up a snowmobile track or even someone else’s downhill line. Those uphill steps are much easier when you’re not loading up your skis with extra weight in snow.

Finally, if you’re skinning up Vail, Beaver Creek or anywhere in the backcountry and are planning on skiing down a steep area of with a vertical of 25 degrees or more, make sure you prepare for avalanche dangers.

Happy hiking!

It’s a big job, and the crews at Vail have wasted no time in getting started pushing the snow off of Vail Mountain.

It’s not often that the ski area finishes the season with an 80-inch base, accumulating snow up until the final day.

Yes, Vail polished off the winter with about four feet of snow the last week and needless to say, it’s going to take a lot of sun and spring warmth to get rid of it all.

But the SnoCats were already out in force beginning the Tuesday after Sunday Closing Day, and the mountain’s service roads are the first areas the Cats are clearing of snow.

This doesn’t bode well for locals who enjoy skinning or snowshoeing up the mountain and skiing or riding down, but perhaps it will expedite the melting process and mountain-biking/hiking season, which, it’s probably safe to bet, might come later than usual this year.

We shall see … All we know for sure is that we’ll be seeing snow on the peaks for a long, long while. Mud season, we might be welcoming you in June.

Singer/Songwriter Robert Selvaggio, also known as Big Water, stopped by Fresh Tracks on March 27, 2008, to share some material.

Young filmmaker Andrew Machol stopped by Fresh Tracks to discuss his blossoming film career. The 17-year-old participated in the film festival's 48-hour event.

Don Cohen of the Economic Council of Eagle County stopped by Fresh Tracks in April 2008 to discuss the West End development and local affordable housing.

Best Life publisher Michael Wolfe made a stop by Fresh Tracks to enlighten us on his magazine's involvement with the film festival and Taste of Vail.

Actor Tim Daly discusses the differences between TV and film and also the humble beginnings of his acting career.

It’s a big job, and the crews at Vail have wasted no time in getting started pushing the snow off of Vail Mountain.

It’s not often that the ski area finishes the season with an 80-inch base, accumulating snow up until the final day.

Yes, Vail polished off the winter with about four feet of snow the last week and needless to say, it’s going to take a lot of sun and spring warmth to get rid of it all.

But the SnoCats were already out in force beginning the Tuesday after Sunday Closing Day, and the mountain’s service roads are the first areas the Cats are clearing of snow.

This doesn’t bode well for locals who enjoy skinning or snowshoeing up the mountain and skiing or riding down, but perhaps it will expedite the melting process and mountain-biking/hiking season, which, it’s probably safe to bet, might come later than usual this year.

We shall see … All we know for sure is that we’ll be seeing snow on the peaks for a long, long while. Mud season, we might be welcoming you in June.

Leading up to the 2008 Taste of Vail, Chef Tony Aiazzi of New York City's Aureole stopped by Fresh Tracks and taught Plum Vail how to make a delicious salmon salad.

Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy visited Fresh Tracks in April 2008 to discuss Street Survival - how to drive defensively and responsibly.

Elite Limousine
0215 Eldon Wilson Rd
Gypsum, CO 81637
888-216-7328

Mechelle and Steve Cappel have had a long-time presence in the valley with Elite Limousine. The service has a flight tracker system, personalized service and a solid circle of regulars it's known for years.

Not many people made it across the pool, but it wasn't due to lack of effort. We caught a few big splashes and some zany getups at the 2008 World Pond Skimming Championships at Vail.

The Hotel Cafe made a stop through Vail during the 2008 Film Festival and musicians Jay Nash and Greg Laswell claim it's a great time to be an idependent musician.

It’s almost mid-April, yet by the looks and feel of things atop Vail mountain, it’s as snowy as we’ve ever seen it. Seriously … who’s playing a trick on us? It’s January, right?

On Friday, Vail reported a 24-hour total of 13 inches on the mountain and we’re willing to bet that nearly another foot fell on top of that throughout the day.

The whooping and hollering rang loud and clear as skiers and snowboarders transformed into wispy clouds flying down Vail’s Back Bowls, many exhausting themselves on the first few deep turns and settling for a couple painless somersaults to go with their glee.

Not only was there nothing close to a patch of dirt anywhere in sight, but literally, conditions felt and looked arctic.

The crowds were minimal, too, which meant the longest lift line was about three minutes and there were face shots to be found all day. Truly, there were fresh patches of untouched snow in which to cut a turn until 3 p.m. on nearly every (ungroomed) run.

Game Creek, China Bowl, Mongolia and Siberia are closed for the season, but never fear … there’s plenty of powder every else.

We never thought we’d be saying this in April, but you’d best bring out your best pair of powder legs to deal with the “spring” closing weekend. Refer to our powder pointers for guidance.

Also … leave your shorts and spring-skiing bikinis at home. Bundle up instead

Claire Smith of Belvedere Vodka enlightens Plum on some secrets about the clear tasty beverage and shows us how to make a hot pomegranate martini.

Documentary filmmaker Armen Evrensel paid a visit to Fresh Tracks to discuss his festival offering, "Binty."

John Jatinen of Epson America paid a visit to Fresh Tracks to discuss his compnay's involvement in the 2008 Vail Film Festival and Taste of Vail.

Filmmakers Judson Morgan and Kelly Overton stopped by Fresh Tracks to discuss the experience behind their collaborative film, "The Collective."

Filmmaker Jeremy Redleaf stopped by Fresh Tracks to discuss his short film, "Door Number Two," which shares a glimpse of a young woman moving into her first apartment.

Mother Nature is confused in Vail this April. Someone turned her clock back to January, because it is STILL snowing. After receiving nearly 450 inches of snow this season for the best season ever in resort history, you’d think Vail’s base would begin diminishing and the dirt would begin poking through now that it’s officially been spring for a few weeks.

Instead we’ve got mid-winter conditions on the mountain and many have commented that it’s a shame Vail and Beaver Creek are closing shop this Sunday (April 13) because there’s more than enough snow to last through the end of the month.

Since Vail and Beaver Creek lease their land from the US Forest Service, they must declare a closing date and stick to it. April 13 is the day.

The snow is supposed to taper off by Friday night and the forecast is suggesting we might get up near 50 degrees by closing day. That will bode well for the crazies who show up scantily clad in rubber shorts and capes for the last day of the season.

Enjoy the last weekend at Vail. Don’t forget your costume and your powder skis!