Over Grooming the Slopes

My favorite ski resort has gone wild. Not in a good sense (if that's possible.) But their grooming

operations are out of control. I have to ask Copper Mountain to please stop the madness. You are grooming way too much snow.

First, I will say something good about Copper Mountain. They say they are 100 percent powered by wind power. You can read about it here. That is great. That is the good news. Now for the bad news:

I have been skiing at Copper Mountain pretty much exclusively for 25 years. It is, I think, a great mountain. It used to be "where the locals skied" (if I am not mistaken.) That was because it had GREAT skiing! But over grooming has diminished the quality of many runs. I was amazed looking at how many square inches, feet, miles, have been driven over by groomers. It is out of control. So I thought I would write about it.

I love Copper Mountain. It is my favorite place to ski. I will continue to ski there (as long as my pass runs.) But I will seriously need to consider where I ski from now on.

Of course, I understand that some grooming is fine. I enjoy a few cruisers. But not every single blue run on the front side! Groomers are fine on those easy green runs down the middle by American Flyer and Eagle lifts. That is where a lot of families ski. But take a break. Don't work so hard. Leave some areas un-groomed too.

A few years ago, Copper started over grooming (and making too much artificial snow) on the Bee Line lift. It is consistently icy under the Bee Line. When fresh powder falls, there is still a sheet of ice underneath on runs like Andy's Encore, Collage, and Rosi's Run. So even though the six person chairlift is fast and great...the skiing is like a skating rink much of the time. So, I purposefully only warm up a couple runs there, then quickly traverse across the middle, to the Timberline Express lift, where the skiing once was spectacular.

Now, they have ruined that side of the mountain too! They have groomed those fine runs, Copperfields and Windsong. What used to be great powder skiing (even when they only got a few inches) is now horribly groomed crud. Stop the grooming, please.

In the past, when a ski resort groomed, it was just down the middle. The sides near the trees were left untouched. So if a person wanted to actually "snow" ski, you could still ski the sides. I was astonished at how Copper has groomed every single inch of what appears to be every single blue and green run on the front side. Come on...who is responsible for this decision? It seems that the person deciding to groom every run is someone who does not appreciate what it really means to "ski a mountain." Copper mountain is not a theme park. Man made snow and groomed runs completely take away the natural experience of skiing.

Is there an effort to justify the existence of the grooming tractors and employees? Does the person making the decisions ski? Do they know how to ski natural snow?

So, after finding out that the Timberline Express lift area was completely corporatized by groomers, I quickly made my way to the TOP of Copper, away from the families and groomed runs. I took a right to ski down Timber Ridge. And you guessed it....it was groomed!! That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I went to the back of the mountain, Copper Bowl and it was fine. But I am seriously scared that the management of Copper will approve the destruction of great skiing back there too.

A message to Copper Mountain: Stop the over grooming. Give us back Copperfields and Windsong. Give us back the sides of the runs. You do not have to groom .... just because you have the equipment. Give us back the natural experience of skiing a great hill.

To be fair to Copper Mountain, that is primarily the only place I have been skiing for decades. Perhaps this is going on at other resorts? If so, let me know. If not, we would also like to hear about your favorite ski runs!

A Change in Scenery?

Change is constant. So what does that mean for Colorado? As I look over these vintage Colorado tourism pictures, I think about how Colorado used to be, and what it will become.

There is a new push for renewable energy sources. Colorado will see an increase in wind power generators and solor power as well (San Luis Valley). Ethanol will become more important. What else do you see as the future for energy in Colorado?

What about water? We all know that the snow and rain provide our water supply (along with some underground reserves.) What will the future hold for water supplies?

Air quality is a question mark too. Growth in populations, means growth in air pollution. How is that affecting Colorado? Simple questions with complicated answers. As I look at my vintage Colorado tourism brochures, I see clear blue skies, clean water, and wide open spaces. What will the future hold?

Clapton concerts - Past and Present

On March 7th, Eric Clapton will perform at the Pepsi Center here in Denver. This time around, I bought tickets for myself and a couple friends. The new CD by Clapton and J.J. Cale is quite decent. I've only given it a few spins, so it hasn't had the chance to grow on me yet. But I'm sure it will. Cale wrote the majority of tunes. I regret missing his concert when he came through town a few years ago.

I make it a habit now not to look ahead (on the internet or newspaper) to know what the songlist will be. I did that for a McCartney concert (two tours ago) and that will be the last time. The suspense and the excitement that comes from not knowing what song will be played next is part of the "value." Once you already know, then you lose that extra excitement. With ticket prices sky high, there's no need to diminish the value. So, I have no idea what Clapton will play, but I look forward to a great show.

Which brings me to the pictures I will post. I saw Eric Clapton at - of all places - Red Rocks, in 1983. It was a memorable day. Well, I take that back. I don't remember that much of it at all. What I do remember is getting to the Rocks somewhere between noon and 2:00 pm, bringing a picnic lunch, and also a few beers. (I think we were allowed to bring them in. I definately remember drinking them.)

As for the concert, I do remember Layla, Wonderful Tonight, and Lay Down Sally. Other than that, it's a fog. Check out the pictures, and send us yours! I am not in any of these...which might be a good thing.



-EB

Greetings from Me and Dave!

I am quite sceptical of "blogging." I have no desire to blog. I have nothing of interest to say, or write. Perhaps I can come up with something now and then, just to keep things interesting.

I don't have a political beef to grind on this blog. I am a journalist by nature. So I do not have a proclivity to expound my political beliefs publically. I do have political beliefs, but that's not the purpose of www.colorful-colorado.com. Perhaps others would like to write about their political thoughts. I would be happy to debate, but again, I am not going to build my website on politics.

So what does a person blog about? If he doesn't have a goal, or a debate, or a dog in a fight? As you can see, I will blog about having nothing to blog about. It's sort of like bragging but having nothing to brag about.

The picture I picked for today is one of me and Dave Letterman. This picture was a fun one for me to have taken. So I will introduce myself with this photograph.

Radio Goo Goo, Radio Ga Ga

"Radio Goo Goo, Radio Ga Ga"

Those have to be the silliest lyrics ever written. They belong to a Queen song I heard on Alice Cooper's radio show tonight driving home. It caught me and I thought, since I now can write whatever I want on this Blog...why not mention how goofy those words seemed to me.

I was heading over to see the Dixie Dregs at the Boulder Theater. It was a last minute thought to see them. But as I began the 40 minute trip, I stopped to get gas. The temperature was 3 degrees above zero. I figured the temperature when I started my trip home might be 5-10 below or so. So I gave up the Dixie Dregs and decided to stay home to digitize the History of Eric Clapton onto my computer instead. Plus a number of vintage Colorado items, which I will post on www.colorful-colorado.com as soon as I get around to it. Here is a sample:

There are a number of very cool vintage items I will post. Take a look above ath the vintage menu from Red Rocks. There was a restaurant there called, "The Pueblo." Go to the website to see more, and then notice the prices!

How C-C.com got started

It started in December 2005, when there was some clatter around the state about the removal of the state welcome sign, that reads, "Welcome to Colorful Colorado." These were old signs posted on the border. They are classic signs, but some thought out dated. As a matter of fact, the state thought so too, and decided to remove them and replace them with "Advancing Colorado."

The design of "Advancing Colorado" was uninspired at best. Horribly uninspired at worst. Words can't describe actually how uninspired the new signs were. (I'll try to post a picture.) They had absolutely no design, color, creativity, or lasting impression. And why did they have to abandon the state's motto, "Colorful Colorado?"

The outcry began. Stories appeared in newprint. It was then that I simply wondered if anyone had register the domain name, "Colorful Colorado." A real estate firm I believe had done it, so I then put a dash between the words and registered this website. I decided to emphasize the "Colorful" parts of Colorado.

As for the state welcome sign, I believe the old sign won out and will remain! That's a good thing. The corporate feel of "Advancing Colorado" belongs in a board room somewhere...where corporate suits can appreciate it for what its worth (nothing.)

As for the rest of us, let's enjoy and support the true colors of Colorado. The scenery, the arts, music, photography, culture, skiing, hiking, and the rest.

Don't go corporate...Colorado. Let's keep Colorado colorful.

The beginning of something...... Colorful!

Greetings to visitors to Colorful-Colorado.com! As you can see, I am creating a website dedicated to Colorado, especially to the incredible scenery, art, photography, music, and more.

Vintage Colorful Colorado items are my focus right now. I am looking for those vintage pictures, photographs, souveniers and more. I will display them here. I am also interested in vintage films and home movies featuring this state.

This site could become very interesting if you participated. I am looking for good contributors from Colorado who can cover their neck of the woods, or their side of the mountain. Contributors can post regularily about news, events, cultural happenings, hiking areas, ski outings, concerts, festivals.... you get the idea.

So if you are willing and able, please let me know where you are, and how you might contribute.

Visitors from out of state, or from another country are also invited to participate here. If you want information about Colorado, please ask. If you would like to purchase a souvenier, please ask. Again, you get the idea.

Pictures and video are also welcome. Art, music and vintage images too.

Thanks for visiting.

-Eric B.

www.colorful-colorado.com