Archive for the ‘Vail Valley Happenings’ Category
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Episode VI
Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley. I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer. Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of. During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.
Recently, the idea of hiking Red Buffalo Pass was drifting around our office. This idea was generated by our supervisor, for he hiked it himself only a few weeks ago. A group of nine people volunteered to attempt this14 mile trail running from Silverthorne to East Vail. I was both excited and hesitant when I signed myself up for this adventure. Luckily, I had most of the gear I needed to attempt this hike. The night before I made sure I was all packed, had enough food for the trip, and got a good night sleep. Gear crucial for a backpacking trip is:
- A-frame backpack
- Sleeping bag
- Tent
- Plenty of thick socks
- Sharp knife or a Leatherman of some sort.
- Plenty of dry food
- Seasonal clothing
- Sunglasses
- Water!!!! A purifier is clutch
- Matches
- Compass
- Map
- Flashlight
- First Aid, just in case
- Plastic bags to keep the trail clean
The trick is to bring everything you need to survive comfortably while packing as light as you can at the same time. Food is another item that needs to be closely considered when packing. Any dry and sealable food items are good to bring backpacking, such as:
- Tuna packages
- Trail mix
- Nuts
- Fruits
- Bread
- Oatmeal
- Energy bars
- Peanut butter
- Chocolate
Really the idea is to bring food that will not go bad in your backpack and has little odor so it won’t attract wildlife.
I woke up to meet my troop in Vail at the same time the sun peaked its head over the mountains. Once I got to our prearranged meeting spot, I discovered that the veteran of the trail was not going to be able to join us, which allowed for us to truly discover the trail for ourselves. We took two vehicles to the Gore Creek Trail to drop one off to have when we completed the trail, and then we all headed to Silverthorne. The seven of us (we lost another one of our troops to supposed insomnia) started the journey at the Mesa Cortina Trail.
Hiking Red Buffalo Pass was a blast!
The first half of the trail had some tough terrain, including wild trees we had to bob and weave through. The trail became steeper the farther we hiked, but we were met with amazing views, like a 360-degree view of all the surrounding mountains. The trail also offered some great snacks: wild blueberries and raspberries. One should be careful when consuming wild produce, as some things are not meant for human consumption. 7.1 miles and 3,262 vertical feet later, we reached the base of the mountain we were planning to summit, a perfect place to camp. I didn’t notice how surreal the landscape was at first, as I was exhausted, but once I got some rest I explored the little valley we found ourselves in. There were two pools west of us past a small creek. The bottom one was a crystal blue that looked like the perfect place to go for a dip if the weather allowed. The top pool seemed to be a lot smaller and probably a good fishing hole, but I unfortunately did not get to test out my theory.
We set up our tents and took a quick nap after a long day of hiking.
The next morning, after a long night’s rest, we all arose from our slumber, got some breakfast in, and packed all our belongings making sure to leave nothing behind. After some self collection, we were ready for day two of our adventure. The only uphill we had to conquer was the first thing in the morning, climbing the pass. By uphill, I mean we climbed a mountain. Once we conquered the pass, it was all downhill from there! I’m glad we decided to come from Silverthorne, because the steepness of the other side was treacherous on our legs, as we had to brace ourselves from sprinting down the mountain. The trail followed a creek, which allowed for great spots to stop to take a break. We forced ourselves to continue forward, which wasn’t the easiest task at the time. Through great fortitude we all made it to the Gore Creek Trailhead. I don’t think I have ever been happier to see blacktop and highways.
Please be properly prepared before venturing into the wilderness for your safety and my piece of mind. If you are planning on visiting the Rocky Mountains, make sure to contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305, your friendly, knowledgeable locals. Getting to the end was a great feeling of relief and accomplishment. The total mileage turned out to be 18 miles and 6,680 vertical feet, as we found ourselves off the trail a few times. It was difficult and crippled me for a few days afterwards, but was completely worth it and gave me an urge to cover more ground throughout the Rocky Mountains. I wonder where my next adventure will lead me?
Tags: hiking, red buffalo pass, summiting, vail hiking
Posted in Advice, Colorado, Vail Hiking, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Vail Resorts is taking their mountains high tech, at least in regards to social media. This coming winter, Vail, Beaver Creek, and all of their sister resorts will be debuting their new EpicMix technology, thus connecting skiers, snowboarders, and really all mountain pass holders with a location-based service for smart phones and computers.
As it stands, all Vail Resorts season passes already have a chip inside them. This will be utilized now to track your location and tell you a number of statistics about your day on the slopes. At the end of the day you can login to your EpicMix account and see everything from your vertical feet skied, to the location of other approved pass holders while they’re on the mountain, to which lifts you rode.
Taking it a step further, Vail Resorts brings a game-like competitive sense to the program with goals to accomplish, such as visiting a chairlift a certain number of times. When you complete a goal, you get a “pin” to add to your collection of Vail Resorts mountain accolades.
[Credit: EPIC Mix]
For those of you not thrilled by this new sense of location tracking, worry not. You can opt-out of this service if you feel uncomfortable. Then again, if that isn’t a big draw, feel free to let the world know. One of EpicMix’s perks is that you can share your stats or any of the information provided with your social media accounts. Just a push of a button is needed. If you have an enabled smartphone, you can do this while sitting on a chairlift or at the top of the run. While Vail Resorts has been gaining strength in their social media for the past few years, this takes things to a whole new level. To read more about this, check out Vail Daily’s article on the subject.
Speaking of passes, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can get you all setup with your Epic Pass for the coming winter season, as well as help you to find out about any other information regarding the Epic Pass and EpicMix. That’s one of the perks of being Friendly, Knowledgeable, Locals–Click here to check it out.
Tags: epic mix, epic pass
Posted in Beaver Creek Events, Breckenridge, Colorado Travel, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, Vail events, What's Happening in Vail, What's good in Avon, colorado, keystone | No Comments »
Monday, August 30th, 2010
“EPIC Mix – Capture. Connect. Share.” What a slogan! Who else to come up with such a slogan, such a campaign, other than Vail Resorts, owners of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly resorts in Colorado and California. True, this EPIC day announces yet another EPIC breakthrough in technology, specifically in the world of social media. The “EPIC Mix” is what Vail Resorts is calling it, and a truly epic mix it is, of all things new in interactive social media. The Epic Mix is the Foursquare and Nike+ of the mountain, and has updates for both Twitter and Facebook.
Vail Resorts kept the EPIC Mix a secret until they debuted the mobile and web-based application today at a press event at the Ace Hotel in Manhattan. But then, out of nowhere, they unleashed the “EPIC Mix” to the world, announcing that the skiing and snowboarding would be so much more social this season, because of their innovative location-based gaming application.
[Credit: EPIC Mix]
So what does the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix is somewhat like Foursquare, but instead of unlocking Foursquare “badges”, you unlock EPIC Mix “pins.” Everything from tracking your vertical drop, to how many runs, or how many days on the mountain. This is a game of multiple location-based programs all rolled into one.
The key to letting the EPIC Mix become a reality is the RFID chip that is inside the card that you get when you purchase your season pass. The cool thing about this is that you don’t have to be on your phone checking in. Your RFID chip gets scanned at the lift, and automatically put into the “EPIC Mix” of things, if you like the pun.
What I would have really enjoyed to see was a summary of what I did last year. Yeah, I know I got 50 days on the mountain, but I would have liked to have relived it somehow. The EPIC Mix will give me what I’ve always wanted, and more. I can log in to the website, check my stats, see my scores, view my friends, and so much more.
What else can the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix links to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, letting you compare your pins with friends, see who’s got the most days on the mountain, or vertical feet passed, or even WHERE your friends are!
Vail Resorts is always open to new ideas, new trends, and new methods of interaction. Their EPIC Mix is the next best thing out there, fellas! I’m definitely downloading the app on my android after I buy the EPIC Pass, and racing all my friends for the most pins, most days, and most vertical feet.
Congrats to Vail Resorts for providing me with an EPIC Mix of social media interaction, and giving me the drive I’ve needed to get back out on the mountain!
Tags: epic mix, epic pass
Posted in Beaver Creek Events, Breckenridge Events, Colorado, Colorado Travel, Group Travel, Keystone events, Press, Vail Ski Vacations, Vail Snow Conditions, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail, What's good in Avon, keystone | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
The stressors of work are easily combated when living in the Vail Valley. Yesterday during lunch, a few of my coworkers and myself walked to a nearby volleyball court and spent our lunch break bumping, digging, and power tipping. Happy to be out of the office and soaking up rays of summer afternoon sunshine, we didn’t keep a close tab on the actual score, and would only pause once in a while to guesstimate what the score actually was. My team lost by six, but that is clearly up for debate. Our lighthearted game of volleyball eventually evolved into gymnastics and then the most basic form of recess. Though we were sad to return to the office after such an active lunch break, I can personally say that I found myself to be much more productive than I normally would have after 1 pm.
There are a plethora of volleyball courts to choose from in Vail, so there’s probably one closer to you thank you think, no matter where you work. Volleyball isn’t just for the athletic either…none of us were especially skilled, and some were downright uncoordinated. And by ‘some,’ I mean myself.
To schedule lodging in Vail, or to challenge us to a game of volleyball, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.
Tags: breaking up the day, fun at lunch, fun in vail, how to spend your lunchbreak, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, volleyball, volleyball in vail
Posted in Advice, Colorado, Summer in Colorado, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail, colorado travel | 1 Comment »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
Episode V
Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley. I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer. Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of. During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.
Over the last few weeks, I finally obtained a vehicle after four months without transportation. Sadly my previous vehicle, a 2004 Ford Focus was totaled by someone I do not know and will never know because they fled the scene. I thank you stranger, not that I don’t miss my Focus, but now I am a proud owner of a Jeep Cherokee! The excitement that went through my body when I purchased this beauty was off the charts. Having a jeep in the Rocky Mountains will be a blessing when the snow finally gets here, but for now it’s just extra fun!
There were a few things that needed to be fixed, such as my rusty shocks, so I brought my new friend to get a check up and get her roadworthy. The next day when Emmi (yes, I named my Jeep) was feeling healthy, I couldn’t say no to my building temptation to take her on some dirt roads. My roommate and I took her to Edwards to tackle Berry Creek Road. This road is located off the Edwards exit; take a right once off the exit then another right at Moon Ridge Road. Berry Creek Road will be an immediate left onto a dirt road, and you’re there!
This road is ideal for mountain bikes, dirt bikes, or any other motorized toys because there are a lot of smaller trails that become quite precipitous. Berry Creek starts out as an easy climb with a lot of rocks gradually starting to appear on the ground. I listened to Emmi’s tires rip through the dirt was proud she climbed the rocks with no problem.
“When should we stop?” my roommate asked.
“When we can’t go any further,” I replied, joking at the time.
When we got about six miles into Berry Creek Road, the road rapidly became steeper. Emmi was doing better than I thought she would, until we got to a part in the road that made all three of us very skeptical. We pulled the E-brake and stared at the road as if it was a dragon we needed to slay, but unfortunately the dragon won this round. The road was way too steep and too many gigantic rocks lay in the way and I was afraid of breaking Emmi.
We knew we lost the battle so we had to turn around. This turned out not to be an easy process, but after about twenty minutes of great driving skills and communication between my roommate and I, we finally got Emmi facing down the mountain. The entire time down Berry Creek Road, I had my breaks slammed to the floor; not a fun experience for me. We made it back to the paved road before it got dark, and headed home with no injuries!
This road was tons of fun, but gets intense after the fifth mile, so only certain vehicles will be able to continue forward. If you’re planning to conquer this road in your sedan, as a friendly, knowledgeable local, I highly discourage the idea. Call 1-888-866-2305 to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals if you are planning on visiting the Vail area . Who knows, I might even let you borrow my jeep!
Tags: driving in the mountains, jeep, jeep excursions, offroadin in vail, offroading, offroading in your jeep, vail valley adventures, what to do in vail
Posted in Advice, Colorado, Staying in Touch, Summer in Colorado, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail, colorado travel | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
If you’re unable to make it to Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek next weekend, fear not! Vail will be continuing the party the two following weekends, the 10th-12th and the 17th-19th. Festivities will take place in Lionshead Village the first weekend, and in Vail Village the second weekend. Both weekends are sure to be jam-packed with activities, with everything from Bavarian music, to bratwurst, to beer, beer & more beer! The party kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday both weekends, so head on over straight after work (or maybe cut out a little early!) to start your weekend off right. Saturday’s festivities last from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday’s last from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Start practicing your yodeling now, and bring your old alpine horn out of hiding, because both are sure to be prevalent throughout the Fest. Possibly the most exciting event of all is sure to be the Beck’s Keg Bowling Contest. Contestants can sign up Saturday and Sunday of each weekend. What does the contest entail, you ask? Two chances to push an empty keg strapped to a dolly into a pyramid of six more empty kegs. Participants with the highest total of fallen kegs will advance to the finals! Entry is free, and there’s a reward for the winner of the finals, so there’s no excuse not to give it a whirl!
If you’re not up for Keg Bowling, try a lighter fare, the Brat-Eating Contest. This event is also free, so join eight-ten participants and eat as many brats as you can in three minutes to achieve a full belly and a prize for the winner! Sign-ups are available on site Saturday and Sunday.
The Oktoberfest Fun Run is the perfect opportunity to stave away your guilt from eating all those brats! The race will take place on Sunday, the 19th, and includes a free commemorative t-shirt for the first 150 registered runners, a 10k, 5k run/walk/blade and kids race, an after party, and awards for the top three overall male and female finishers. Registration is $20 online and $25 on site. Participants under 18 are $10 both online and on race day!
To schedule lodging for either weekend, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. If your phone doesn’t work, just yodel as loud as you can!
Tags: lionshead oktoberfest, oktoberfest, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, september events, vail oktoberfest
Posted in Colorado, Colorado Travel, Events, Group Travel, Group activities, Summer in Colorado, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail, What's good in Avon, vail lodging | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
This morning, the Vail Valley Partnership put on a breakfast scrambler at the Vail Chophouse for local businesses to meet and greet. Being a Connecticut native and a new intern onboard with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, I enjoyed having the unique opportunity to interact with fellow business people in the Vail Valley so soon.
A common thread of the conversations I had has stuck with me throughout the day: a lot of the people that migrate to Vail have a past story, a hometown that is probably not close by, and a common interest for adventure and natural beauty. It’s easy for those of us who are new to the area to quickly feel at home; many of us are making new friends, new business contacts, and establishing a comfort level with the unparalleled setting of Vail.
Although I’m new to the Valley, I have been living in Boulder for over a year. No, I wasn’t a CU student like most 20-something-year-old people living in Boulder. I was one of the drifters that packed up my car after college, and… drove. Having a fellow Tulane friend that relocated to Boulder allowed the move to be a smoother transition, but I really had no idea what would come my way. To be honest, I had imagined that I would be moving back to where I thought my heart remained, in New Orleans. However, since the epic road trip out here, I haven’t been able to consider the thought of parting with Colorado. Not yet. It’s difficult to pinpoint why, but I think it has a lot to do with the humility that comes along with the awe-inspiring Rockies.
Relocating to the Vail/Beaver Creek area has already been an exciting last three days (I told you I’m brand new). My first few days on the job couldn’t have been more informative in a comfortable, yet enthusiastic and professional atmosphere. So far with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, it’s become apparent that I will be embarking on a journey with a talented group of young, innovative, and enthusiastic individuals. On my first lunch break, we ventured into the village to enjoy some local, casual dining at the Tap Room. Naturally, I ordered a sandwich called the “hippie wrap” – a fine vegetarian option that other hippies coming up from Boulder might appreciate. The menu also included a wide variety of pub fare for all you meat eaters, and a decent beer selection, hence the name of the establishment. I was also pleased to attend the last Hot Summer Nights concert at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater with co-workers, followed by some quality time on the town in Vail Village.
I look forward to the next few months that await me with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and being further immersed in the serenity of Colorado. We are a team of friendly, knowledgeable, locals, and are eager to assist those of you with that itch to venture out here too. We provide a variety of lodging and concierge services, such as lift tickets, local advice, and adventure packages. Check out our website for upcoming events and more information, or give us a call at 1-888-866-2305.
Tags: colorado, Colorado Skiing, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, rocky mountains, vacation rentals, Vail, Vail Blog, Vail events, vail lodging, vail valley businesses
Posted in Advice, Colorado, Hot Summer Nights, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, Vail events, What's Happening in Vail, colorado, colorado travel | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Vail’s popular Bud Light Hot Summer Nights free summer concert series is coming to an end tonight at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. This nine-week series has been going on all summer and has brought numerous genres of music to the mountain stage for vacationers and locals alike to enjoy. Soul, jazz, funk, reggae, folk, dance, and rock ‘n’ roll have all been a part of the schedule and tonight Hot Summer Nights is ending with a Police tribute band. Named after the famous Police song “Message in a Bottle”, this tribute band has been around since 1992, playing at music festivals, concert series, and private events, collecting a loyal fan base over the years.
Don’t be discouraged that tonight is the last night of the free summer concert series, because come this winter, the Vail Valley Foundation will be entertaining again with its winter concert series Street Beats. Similar to the Hot Summer Nights series Street Beats is designed for the winter enthusiast who is begging for more fun as the lifts come to a close in the afternoon. Here in Vail, there is no time to sit around, so come out and enjoy a great summer night tonight and finish off your summer right!
There is a lot more to Vail than just free concerts, so give us a call at 1-888-866-2305 with any inquiries on anything vacation-related. We at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals do a lot more than just give you a great place to stay in beautiful Colorado: We love it here, we know you will too. Don’t miss out.
Tags: Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, hot summer nights, message in a bottle, police tribute, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals
Posted in Colorado, Colorado Travel, Free fun, Hot Summer Nights, Summer in Colorado, Uncategorized, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, Vail events, What's Happening in Vail | 1 Comment »
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Herbert Jeffrey a.k.a. “Herbie” Hancock is one of the world’s most influential jazz pianists and composers of all time, and he’s making his first Beaver Creek appearance this Wednesday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center! His stop at the Vilar Center is a part of his “Imagine Project,” a nation-wide tour in honor of Hancock’s 70th birthday. This is an experience not to be missed. A huge contributor to the “post-bop” era of Jazz, Herbie has performed with everyone from Miles Davis, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart, to Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Freddie Hubbard.
For nearly half a century, Herbie Hancock has been changing people’s lives with his progressive sound. Tickets are still on sale at vilarpac.org, and for those of you in the Denver area looking for a place to stay for the night (or for the long weekend?), Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is offering discounted local rates. Call us to book your lodging for the event at 1-888-866-2305.
Herbie Hancock is one of many amazing artists to play at the Vilar center this summer, including country star Randy Travis, guitarist Jonny Lang, and bluesman Keb’Mo’. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can take care of all your vacation planning, including lodging, restaurant reservations, family & adventure packages, and transportation. We are friendly, knowledgeable, local vacation specialists who love Vail, and want YOU to love it too. Come check out Herbie Hancock’s performance this Wednesday and see for yourself why we’re proud to call our home “the best place on earth.”
Tags: beaver creek jazz, herbie hancock, imagine project, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, vail jazz, vilar performing arts center
Posted in Beaver Creek Events, Colorado, Colorado Travel, Vail Lodging, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, Vail events, What's Happening in Vail, What's good in Avon, event | 2 Comments »
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
What could possibly be better than a day of food, beer and live music? Two days of food, beer and live music! Add your finest Bavarian costume to the mix, and you just might find yourself at the 10th annual Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek.
The Oktoberfest celebration will take place in the Beaver Creek Village Saturday, September 5th through Sunday, September 6th. Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the third annual Oktoberfest Shuffle, with proceeds benefitting the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group. The Shuffle, presented by the Beaver Creek Resort Company, is a non-competitive 5k or 10k run/walk/hike that will take participants along trails through the resort and along the mountain. The race is $25 for breast cancer survivors and $30 for all other entrees. Participants can preregister for the race online at active.com or on the day of the race in Beaver Creek Village for an extra $5 charge (day of race registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on race day).
The rest of the weekend’s events will include food booths and a beer garden in Beaver Creek Plaza accompanied by live music from Trachtenkappelle and the Helmut Fricker Band. Special performances will take place by Super Diamond from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and by Beatle Mania Live from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Complimentary children’s activities will be available from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days, and will include an interactive children’s theatre, indoor museum and outdoor fun zone. Make sure you’re present at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday to watch the kid’s European Alpenhorn Contest at the Kid’s Fun Zone. Youths 16 and under are invited to sign up by 1:30 p.m. on Sunday to participate.
Other free activities for adults include culinary demonstrations both days at the demo kitchen in Beaver Creek Plaza. Receive free cooking tips and taste a few samples from top chefs! And of course, the weekend’s can’t miss event is the Bavarian Costume Contest, taking place at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday. Dress in your finest Bavarian apparel, bring your friends, and prepare to take the main stage to walk the catwalk during judging!
The Beaver Creek Oktoberfest is a weekend you won’t want to miss, so make sure to make your last-minute lodging reservations with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals by calling 1-888-866-2305.
Tags: beaver creek, beaver creek activities, beaver creek events, beaver creek oktoberfest, colorado labor day weekend, Labor Day Weekend, labor day weekend beaver creek, oktober fest, oktoberfest, oktoberfest shuffle
Posted in Beaver Creek Events, Colorado, Colorado Travel, Events, Group activities, Summer in Colorado, Vail Valley Events, Vail Valley Happenings, What's Happening in Vail, What's good in Avon | 4 Comments »
