On a recent trip to Ghana I bought Kente cloth. I had pillows made and a chair recovered with the fabric for my home. Kente cloth is full of history and meaning. Read more about Kente cloth here.

This is a bathroom from our project, Castello di Casole, in Italy. I love the juxtaposing elements of the contemporary Bisazza tile with the old world Tuscan materials of stone and wooden beams.

My pug wearing emerald, the Pantone Color of the Year!

These are AMAZING hand painted linen panels I found at NYIGF. The panels, which look like old charcoal sketches of Paris, can be used for shower curtains, drapery, headboard walls, etc.

The Steamboat Ice Castle is an amazing structure of ice and turquoise-colored tunnels that I was able to explore with my family this winter. Definitely a must see attraction if you are in Steamboat Springs, CO.

xo,

There’s a lot of fun planned for the Stagecoach area outside of Steamboat Springs. The Friends of Stagecoach is a group of passionate Stagecoach area residents that are trying to improve Stagecoach State Park and the recreational opportunities of the area. The community of Stagecoach is located around Stagecoach Reservoir which is approximately a 30 minute drive from Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

The Stagecoach community is situated on the shores of Stagecoach reservoir which provides stellar fishing, boating, and numerous other water activities.   Hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and camping opportunities abound at Stagecoach which is surrounded by Routt National Forest.

In 2010, a group of residents created the Friends of Stagecoach State Park non-profit. The Friends want to promote a connection to the outdoors, enhance recreational opportunities, sponsor park improvements and support educational activities within the Park area.

On their website, Friends of Stagecoach State Park has been working with the State Park to work on numerous projects, including:

• -Extended hours of the South Shore Boat Ramp
• -Increasing the cross country trail system
• -Adding skate ski trails
• -Having a fireworks display

According to the Steamboat Today, the Friends group is planning to host a series of concerts on the beach. What fun! I hope they get that all figured out. According to the article, Friends almost had an outside movie event on a giant projector last year.  I’m not sure of the status of that for 2013 but I hope this too happens.

If you are a interested in becoming a member of Friends of Stagecoach State Park, contact Tonja Elkins at (970) 736-8410 or email friendsofstagecoach@gmail.com.

When folks talk about Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the surrounding areas like Stagecoach, are considered part of the community yet have their own personality.

Come play at Stagecoach.  If you would like to see the area you can look on my website or give me a call-I will be happy to play tour guide.

Charlie

(970)-846-6435

When you buy a home in the Steamboat Springs area, it can be a little confusing as to which water district you are in. There are four to choose from:

• The Mount Werner Water District
• The City of Steamboat Springs
• The Steamboat II Metropolitan District
• The Tree Haus Metropolitan District

Mount Werner Water District

Mount Werner Water District was formed in 1965 to provide service to the newly developed Steamboat Ski area. Mount Werner Water District services the area approximately south and east of Angler’s Drive. They bill quarterly and if you purchase a home in that area, you need to call and verify your mailing address.

Mount Werner Water District can be reached at (970) 879-2424

City of Steamboat Springs

The City of Steamboat Springs provides service to the area generally west and north of Angler’s Drive.

City of Steamboat Springs Water and Waste Water can be reached Mon-Thurs, 7:30 am-5:30 pm at (970) 871-6303

Steamboat II Metropolitan District

The Steamboat II Metropolitan District provides service to 3 subdivisions west of the city: Steamboat II, Heritage Park, and Silver Spur.

Steamboat II Metro District can be reached at (970) 879-7671

Tree Haus Metropolitan District

The Tree Haus Metropolitan District is a separate water district for the approximately 100 homes located in the Tree Haus Subdivision. The Tree Haus Metro District is run by an elected board and currently (2013) Sandy Rummel is the administrative assistant. They bill quarterly and you should contact Sandy to verify your billing address when you buy your new home.

Tree Haus Metropolitan District – Sandy (970) 879-4564

If this is your second home or you don’t have a mailing address yet, your bills may end up travelling the country. So after you move in and things have settled down a little, make sure you give all the utility companies a call to verify your information.

I can help you navigate Steamboat Springs and its utility providers-just give me a shout.

Charlie

970-846-6435

Location along with first class amenities makes this ski area property a perfect Steamboat Springs getaway. Located just steps from the base of the ski area, Emerald Lodge #5107 has all the luxury you desire with the ease of a convenient location.

You can either walk the two blocks to the ski area or hop on the private shuttle. Hiking, biking, skiing are all just moments away. And inside, you will find a well-appointed, fully furnished home ready for you and your guests. Emerald Lodge is one of the newer additions to Trappeurs Crossing which is the premier development in the area. Every detail is as close to perfection as you can get here at Trappeurs.

This 4 bedroom, 4 bath ground floor unit comes fully furnished with the first class amenities you would expect at a first class world famous ski resort.  You will find 2 master suites in this almost 1800 square foot home which is situated all on one floor. The large kitchen has the granite counters and stainless steel appliances you would expect from a top-of-the-line home.  And then there are the views…you and your guests will find fabulous views of the ski area.

One of the many highlights of this home is the covered patio with a 7 person hot tub and a huge stone outdoor fireplace. Winter and summer, entertaining on your private deck amongst the beautiful setting of Trappeurs Crossing, Steamboat ski area, and the great Colorado outdoors will be a pleasure.

Trappeurs Crossing offers:

• -4 outdoor heated swimming pools
• -9 hot tubs (yes, 9)
• -tennis courts
• -conference facilities
• -computer lounge
• -Concierge service
• -Private on-call shuttle service
• -24 hour front desk service

Combine all of this with excellent rental income, and your search for the perfect getaway may be over.

Let Emerald Lodge #5107 give you an elegant, mountain lodge feeling and easy access to all the playing Steamboat Springs has to offer. I can help you find your perfect getaway, just let me know!

Enjoy,

Charlie

(970) 846-6435

Gutter Cleaning
The purpose of a gutter is to prevent moisture buildup from damaging the structural integrity of your home by trapping water from the roof.

Properly functioning gutters are essential to upholding a roof’s vitality as well as preventing water damage to your siding. Therefore, it’s important to clean out any debris in your gutters every spring, as well as fall. After the large debris is removed, use a hose, power sprayer or water bucket to clean out any remaining dirt in your gutter. Also make sure to trim any nearby trees with branches hanging over the roof.

Shingles
After cleaning the gutters, the next step is to check the shingle quality of your roofing. Using a properly secure ladder to access the roof, check shingles for missing pieces and curling. Curled or damaged shingles might be an indication your roof is having problems holding up to wind damage, or that it has reached the end of its shelf life. A spot replacement might only be needed, if the damage is limited to a specific area of the roof. In either scenario, it’s best to consult with a roofing professional for a clearer picture on the extent of the damage.

Heavy grain loss is another sign indicating the need for shingle replacement. The grains on a roofing shingle provide it with protection from the sun. Overtime, these granules will wear off, making shingles vulnerable to brittleness and cracking from heat and exposure.

Also make sure to remove any moss or mold build-up on your shingles. Avoid doing this with a pressure washer, or you might end up removing the protective layer of your shingles. Instead, use a special moss removal solution on the shingles and then proceed to remove moss and mold with a long-handled broom.

Odds and Ends
When conducting spring housekeeping on your roof, make sure to also do the following:

• Tighten the bolts on metal roofs.

• Repair or replace flashing that is loose or damaged. Flashing are strips of metal placed around objects such as pipes and chimneys that prevent water from entering seams or joints. Any gaps between flashing and the roof should be sealed with roof cement.

• Remove any animal nests found in the vents of columns along the edges of the roofs. These vents are often a popular burrowing location for animals during the winter.

The condition of your roof can have a substantial impact on your entire home. While there’s no escape from having to eventually replace your roof, conducting quality control checks each spring will help prolong its longevity and prevent minor damage from turning into bigger problems.

And what can beat this view? What better way to just be by yourself and your thoughts, in the great outdoors. Talk about stress management!!

Terry started working on the ditches yesterday, but the wind was just too bad. In fact it blew one of the yard lights off it’s pole, so he had to stop.

The wind blew the storm over Grand Mesa, which is how our storms go…in through eastern Utah, then over Grand Mesa to the Craig, Steamboat Spring area and on to where ever they go from there.  Sometimes they lose their steam along the way, but always they leave us by going toward Cedaredge and Grand Mesa.

We will start work on getting the spot ready for the old grainery...this might take some time, but it has to be moved before the first cutting of hay.  Where it sits now is where the haystacks are going to sit.

I must be off…the sun has warmed the frost off of things and I need to be doing!

Have a nice day everyone!

Linda

Recent weeks have seen some of the most dramatic gas-price increases in years, with a 33-day stretch measured earlier this month yielding a 14% spike; it was the longest such streak since the price increased 44 cents in as many days in spring 2011, according to AAA.

“This year’s run-up is not only larger and faster than recent years but is beginning earlier,” AAA said in a statement.

AAA said one reason for the earlier price increase is a trend of U.S. refineries performing seasonal maintenance and switching over to summer-blend gas production earlier in the year. As refineries go offline, regional supplies can dwindle, squeezing supply.

“While the peak price this spring may approach the 2011 and 2012 highs, AAA continues to expect the high to be lower than both years,” AAA said.

The largest increase on record was between Aug. 5 and Sept. 4, 2005, when prices jumped 75% in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The City of Steamboat Springs City Council approved the annual budget for funding 26 events for the upcoming year. Steamboat Springs hosts a huge variety of events every year and this year, we will see at least six new ones. These events bring in much appreciated tourism dollars and overall increase the value of our community. It’s what makes Steamboat, Steamboat!

Flash Mob at Winter Carnival 2013

According the Steamboat Today, the committee that awards the available funds had a tough time making their selections. The usual requests for funding were almost double compared to last year. The committee likes to encourage new venues while at the same time, support the old, much loved venues. Eventually, the more established venues are encouraged to develop 100% of their own funding over time.

This year, funding for 26 events was granted. It’s pretty exciting to see six new events added to the list this year:

• National Cattle Dog Association National Finals
• Rocky Mountain Tennis Vacations
• Perry-Mansfield Centennial Celebration
• Savor Steamboat
• Yampa Valley Crane Festival
• Ride for Dirt

The 20 events that we have seen and loved in the past that continue to get some City support are:

• The Free Summer Concerts
• Steamboat Springs Running Series
• Paddling life Open/Yampa River Fest
• Mad Mud Run
• Piknik Theater Festival
• Steamboat Mountain Soccer Tournament
• Strings Kitchen and Garden Tour
• Ninth annual Tour de Steamboat
• Steamboat lake Sprint Triathlon/Steamboat Triathlon
• Steamboat Wine Festival
• Steamboat All Arts Festival
• Emerald City Opera
• Strings AAF Performances
• USA Pro Challenge
• Wild West Air Fest
• Run Rabbit Run
• Sisters in Steamboat
• Triple Crown
• Steamboat OktoberWest

If you have never seen a Cattle Dog event, than you are missing a fun show. The National Cattle Dog Association National Finals will be held this June in Steamboat. Dogs with a job-there’s nothing like it. To see the incredible interaction between the handler and the dog is something to admire-I highly recommend it.

Steamboats a great place to live and play. That is why I make Steamboat my home.

If you want to come live and play here, I can help – SteamboatsMyHome.com.

Charlie

Why buy a home in Steamboat Springs on the free bus route? Well, because we have a great free bus system. The free bus reaches the farthest nooks and crannies of the City of Steamboat and in most places, run every 20 minutes.

I recently ran across a couple looking to purchase a home in Steamboat Springs and they had that, well, that, ummmm typical different viewpoint many couples have. She wanted to live on the bus route, he didn’t care. So the following is more information on our great, free bus system in Steamboat Springs so you can make a more informed decision:

Location: You can view the map online. The buses seem to be everywhere, but of course they can’t be. The bus service in the Fish Creek Falls area is the Yellow Line and is on an on-call basis. To make a reservation, even on the same day, call the Steamboat Springs Transit dispatch at 970-846-1279.

We have snow: You will not be asked to clean the free bus windshield. Never!

Age: You do not need to have a driver’s license to ride the free bus.

Schedule: Every 20 minutes-that’s hard to beat. Every bus-stop has a posted schedule for that individual bus-stop. Buses start around 6 am and end around 2 am, depending on where you are. Winter and summer schedule vary so make sure you check the schedule online or grab a map up front the next time you are on the bus. From the Gondola Transit Center, you can catch a ride most anywhere or change buses to get to your final destination.

We have snow. Winter parking restrictions exist throughout town to accommodate snowplowing so taking the bus is sometimes the best choice.

Snow: Although we all are used to driving on bad roads with zero visibility, it’s nice to have someone else drive for a change.

Did I mention snow? The bus is always warm. My car is not…..

No Snow? Most buses have bike racks. I’ve never really understood that, but they do. I personally like riding my bike….

So now, maybe this helps you decide how important the free bus is to you and your family. I can’t imagine you buying a house based solely on access to the bus. That would be similar to buying a car because it is red.

Let me know if I can help – there are a lot of decisions to be made.

Regards,

Charlie

970-846-6435

This is when it was still a bit cloudy. I love this view! So incredible!

 26805 Placer Place is in the middle of huge playground- just minutes from hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, and you name it! 35 minutes from Steamboat Springs is a community nestled in the pines and aspens of the high country of Colorado. Badger Meadows is peacefully located just 13 minutes from Steamboat Lake. Imagine yourself taking your boat out on Steamboat Lake with the family after work. Or, maybe you want to go to Pearl Lake State Park for some early morning fishing? Snowmobiling, well, that starts in your yard. Got horses?

Time according to 26805 Placer Place:

• · 13 minutes to boating in Steamboat Lake
• · 7 minutes to fishing at Pearl Lake
• · 2 minutes to hiking in the National Forest
• · 1 minute to get out of your garage and start snowmobiling
• · 1 second to walk out your door and be in the great outdoors, hiking, biking, and x-country skiing

Let the countdown begin!

26805 Placer Place is a beautiful timber frame home that exemplifies the Colorado lifestyle. This quality home has exquisite craftsmanship with high vaulted wood ceilings, large wood beams, and a beautiful wood slab countertop. There are 3255 square feet with a finished basement family room. In addition, if you would like to bring your horses here, I’m sure they would appreciate it.

This low-maintenance home features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, in-floor radiant heat, wood floors, and a large 2 car garage. Many, many windows let in the sunshine and helps create a connection to the outdoors.

 There are many reasons why people choose to live the Colorado Mountains. This home lets you have all the benefits of living in the mountains with playing right outside your door. Whether it is fishing, hiking, biking, or snowmobiling you can count the minutes, or seconds, it will take for you to start playing.

If you want to come play in Steamboat, I can help you find the perfect place!

Let the countdown begin! .

Charlie

970-846-6435

When you are looking to relocate for your retirement, consider Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

For the active outdoor enthusiast, Steamboat Springs just can’t be beat. There are many factors to consider when you are buying either a part-time or full-time residence here in Steamboat Springs and the medical facilities should be one of them.

AARP lists 9 factors to consider when relocating for retirement:

1. -How does the cost of living compare?
2. -What’s the income tax burden?
3. -Are Pensions taxed?
4. -How about other taxes?
5. -Buy or Rent?
6. -What’s Mother Nature like?
7. -What about Doctors?
8. -Can you get a decent part-time job?
9. -How far will you be from your family?

So, what about the doctors?

Not only do we have skiing, biking, fishing, hiking, numerous water sports, and a variety of other outdoor activities but we also have a great medical community.

Yampa Valley Medical Center (YVMC) has a 39-bed full service, acute care hospital serving 51,000 patients annually. As a world premier ski town, we host visitors not only from across the country but also from around the world. We have all ages, all nationalities, so of course, all kinds of medical issues.

Among numerous awards, YVMC was named Best Overall Performer for nine consecutive years by the Avatar International Inc. which surveys patients for 300 hospitals across the country. The Steamboat Today reported that Consumer Reports rated YVMC the safest hospital in Colorado in 2012. The GrandKids Child Care Center earned the State of Colorado’s four-star Qualistar award in 2007. The GrandKids Child Care Center is the first of its kind in Colorado – it is located inside our local nursing home. The Colorado Healthcare Communicators has awarded 15 Gold Leaf Awards to YVMC.

Services provided at YVMC include emergency care, surgical series, Family Birth Place, Special Care Nursery, therapy and rehabilitation services and can accommodate long-term and short-term rehabilitation stays.

So, when you are considering spending more time in our fabulous town, feel comfortable that you will be taken care of by the Yampa Valley Medical Center and our medical community if necessary.

I can help introduce you to the rest of Steamboat Springs and the housing market.

Regards,

Charlie

970-846-6435

Tranquility and beauty help define this one-of –a-kind home just 3 miles from Steamboat Springs. This home on 18.5 acres is one of the most spectacular, private locations in Strawberry Park. Location is key in real estate and 32375 Routt County Road 38 offers the best of both worlds: easy access to town and a private mountain hide-away.

The grounds are stunning. So stunning in fact, this home has been the site of numerous weddings! It’s a little like a fairy tale outside. And, from just about every window you see this beautiful setting. The house is surrounded by patios and covered porches including a covered porch off of the Master bedroom. There is also a sunroom with floor to ceiling windows.

The estate has a large, 30’ X 50’ two story barn/work shop. The barn is nestled in the woods next to a hay field and was made to look like it has always been part of the landscape. The natural wood and rustic style fits in well with the Steamboat Springs lifestyle. Another unique feature of 32375 is it comes with water rights.

The warmth of this home is not just from the 4 fireplaces and radiant floor heat, but also from the natural antique wood floors and the attention to detail. This home actually has one of my favorite laundry rooms! And if I could have this office with its patio and a fireplace, I would definitely work more. Well, maybe I wouldn’t work so much? I’m not sure.

There are 7,798 square feet of peace in this home and 18.5 acres of beauty; a recipe for tranquility. There is a master suite on the main floor with a total of 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths in the house. A 3-car garage is attached and all roads that lead to this home from town are paved.

I might be able to help you if you are looking for comfort AND peace AND convenience! 

Charlie

970-846-6435

BRP BRINGS A NEW ENGINE AND EXPANDS ITS MARKET-LEADING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SKI-DOO SNOWMOBILES. (Below information pertains to our market and is not the full press-release from BRP)

Dallas, Texas, February 24, 2013– BRP introduces the 2014 Ski-Doo snowmobile line-up, bringing innovations to the sport and expanding market-leading technologies to more models. The new Ski-Doo line-up will appeal to consumers with features to improve their experience and bolster BRP’s leadership role in the snowmobile industry once again.

REV-XM chassis delivered to more models

Hailed as a breakthrough in design for mountain sleds, the REV-XM platform and its mountain-specific features make their way to the 2014 Freeride sled and more Summit SP models. Also included are the revised Pilot DS 2 ski and ski spindle combination for straight-tracking sidehilling.

tMotion rear suspension/FlexEdge track technology expanded: The freshest thinking in the mountain sled category makes powder riding easier on the Freeride 154, Freeride 146, Summit SP and Summit Sport models. tMotion suspension enables the rear suspension to flex laterally inside the tunnel, and the outer two inches (5 cm) of the FlexEdge track bend; together, they make carving and sidehilling extremely easy and predictable.

LinQ accessories line grows: There is no simpler, faster, or more secure way to attach accessories on a sled tunnel than with the BRP-exclusive LinQ system. A saddlebag system joins the fuel caddy and storage bags in the LinQ line.

To see all of BRP’s 2014 Ski-Doo sleds, suspension and engine technologies, new accessories and special spring programs, visit http://www.ski-doo.com
—
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Distributed in more than 100 countries, its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea Doo watercraft, Evinrude outboard engines, Can-Am all terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP also provides parts and service to Sea-Doo boats and Johnson outboard engine owners. BRP employs approximately 6,500 people worldwide.
—
2989 Riverside Plaza, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
(970)879-5138
info@steamboatpowerspoerts.com

During winter carnival weekend, a small group of friends from junior high and high school gathered to watch street events and reconnect with Steamboat and with each other. People in the group have done impressive things—become doctors or engineers, sold everything and started over with a new lifestyle that fit better, given birth. Perhaps most impressive to me was that we all still enjoyed each other.

Some of these people I see annually and some I hadn’t seen for over twenty years, but we still laughed and told stories not as if time hadn’t passed but rather with a miraculous ease in spite of being aware that it had.

The idea that the friendships we make before age 25 are more lasting than those we make later in life has come up in conversation recently. I doubt this is uniformly true, but I think there’s something to it.

Things enter us differently when we’re children than when we’re adults—landscape, music, language; so many things go straight into our DNA, so to speak, unquestioned and unfiltered by the layers of judgment we practice as adults. Perhaps this is true for childhood friendships, too—they get wired in somehow.

It’s nice to know that even when our daily thinking and acting is overlaid with adult concerns, we can rediscover the connections we formed when life was more immediate. And see what good choices our younger selves made.

If you are thinking of buying a home in Steamboat Springs, you may be wondering what your style choices are. You can purchase a Single Family home, a Townhome, or a Condominium.  A single family home is obvious; you own the land and building and maintenance is your responsibility. But in a townhome or condo, it’s not that easy. Not everyone knows the differences between a townhome and a condominium. Sometimes the assessor’s office doesn’t even know….

A Townhome is typically, but not always, a home built in a row where you share a common wall. Usually, townhomes are multi-story and there are no units above or below your unit. If you own a townhome, you also own the land your unit sits on. In Steamboat Springs we have a lot of duplexes too. Now a townhome is just half of the duplex. So they might look like a larger home but are often mirrored from one side to the next. Now a duplex typically might not have an HOA and thus each owner is responsible for their one yard care, snow removal, etc.  Often a townhome/duplex lives much like a single family home.

A Condominium is usually a multi-story building where your unit may have other units above or below or possibly on both sides. The hallways, lawns, and amenities are owned by the collective group of owners. You own only the inside of your unit and have a share in the common areas. Unlike a townhome, you personally, do not own the land the building sits on. The land is referred to as a common parcel and is owned and managed by the HOA (Home Owners Association), which you are a member.

With both types of properties, there usually are HOA fees involved. For that carefree lifestyle, you need to pay the price. Since condominiums often have more common amenities, their HOA fees are typically higher. Sometimes some utilities are also included in the HOA fees. With condominiums the HOA fees often include a reserve of funds to pay for things like new roofs or new siding.

Townhome and condos are often used interchangeably and every HOA can be set up differently. What you really need to do is completely read all of your Common Interest Community documents, like the HOA bylaws, to know exactly what you are responsible for and what is considered common. In addition, you may look at your survey and see individual plots of land per unit, which will indicate it is a townhome. But, in the end, it is what the HOA decides as to how you manage your property.

I can help you navigate, just let me know!

Charlie

(970) 846-6435

Kent Eriksen, Katie Eriksen, and national and world champion Steve Tilford share a laugh at the 2013 NAHBS in Denver

[updated 2/25/2013]

The object Katie Eriksen calls “beauty with a bod” – meaning gorgeous without needing embellishment – won a prize last weekend in a unique kind of beauty contest.

Eriksen road bike, Best Titanium Construction prize-winner at 2013 NAHBS

Katie works with her husband, business partner, and custom bike creator Kent at the couple’s Kent Eriksen Cycles out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The “beauty” is an Eriksen unfinished titanium frame on a demo road bike. It won this year’s North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) Best Titanium Construction prize, the latest in a string of NAHBS prizes over the years for the builder.

The Eriksens decided to leave the frame unfinished – in effect naked, to expose their titanium workmanship.

Bead blasting is a common way to finish titanium frames after they are built. That process yields a matte-like silver surface. Katie explained that bead blasting hardens the metal and removes imperfections like scratches and scuffs. It also removes any residual color in the welded joints, basically disguising any instance of what Katie called an unclean or imperfect weld.

Only a builder who can produce perfect welding and mitering would display an unfinished titanium frame.

“Color in welds means not a clean weld. So to have a bike that is that clean – and that’s how all our bikes are – we just wanted to show off the skill of our welder, the skill of our mitering,” Katie said. “The guy who cuts the tubes, form fits it, squishes it – all of these joints have to be so perfect and seamless. If they are not then the weld fills in, you’ll get a dip. You just don’t get this completely clean line and you get colors because you overheat it.”

The Eriksen prize-winning bike’s joints, raw and unfinished, had nothing to hide; they shined only silver.

“Beauty with a bod” 2013 NAHBS prize-winning Eriksen road bike welding is clean without browning or color

Ti and Kent strong together

Katie believes the bicycle industry has evolved to a post carbon-centric market where buyers are considering other materials. She also thinks cyclists want more than one bike, and when they reach for their reliable favorite, it will be one shaped from titanium.

Eriksen bead-blasted titanium frame with matte finish

“We like to talk about these bikes as your ‘forever bike’,” Katie said. “Frequently this is the go-to bike in somebody’s stable of bikes; it’s comfortable, it’s responsive, it’s stiff, you’re not going to crack it…So we do a lifetime warranty on our road frames; ten years on mountain bikes. That’s how strong that metal is. It doesn’t corrode, it doesn’t rust.”

Among those who trust the brand is cycling legend Steve Tilford, now a masters racer, and multiple national and world champion. The Eriksens hung the jersey he wore at his most recent cyclo-cross Worlds outing in Louisville last month near their winning NAHBS frame.

The couple also rides and races what they sell. Conversation about their endeavors revealed something that Kent had chosen to hide at the NAHBS.

As cyclists their strength resembles the strength of the titanium frames they build. In 2012 they finished the Leadville Trail 100 MTB event on one of their tandems. By finishing in less than nine hours they earned the larger size belt buckle prize. With 12,000 feet of elevation gain on that course, not even solo riders complete it in under nine hours.

Katie described Kent, having spent 35 years building titanium bikes, as more experienced in that realm than anyone anywhere. At the NAHBS Kent appeared to balance professional pride with humility in his personal athletic accomplishments. He hid the Leadville 100 belt buckle he wore under a tee and button-down Eriksen logo shirt.

Perhaps he didn’t want to distract visitors from the other, perfect metal that defined the Kent Eriksen Cycles exhibit space.

Kent Eriksen unveils his Leadville 100 belt buckle; it’s larger because he and Katie completed the course in under nine hours

I spent a snowy weekend in Steamboat Springs visiting my brother, sister-in-law, niece Mollie and nephew Sam and friends who may as well be family, Ellen and Gary. We spent the morning checking out the events at Winter Carnival, a long standing Steamboat tradition. Horse riders pull skiers, who compete for the fastest time, toss rings in buckets, and even balance on shovels down the Main Street.

After the morning events, Ellen and I went for an afternoon snowshoe. We went to Fish Creek Falls, but took the less traveled Old Uranium Mine Trail. It is about 1.5 miles to the mine, with the first part of the trail having a steep incline but then leveling off. We started our trek in a light snow that persistently fell and eventually dumped quite heavily. I’m not certain if we ever reached the mine. We reached a flat, rocky overlook that seemed like it could be the mine, but the area was snow covered and the trail continued on through the aspens. We sledges through the woods for a little bit because it was pretty, but after an hour or so, we decided it was best to call it quits and turn back.

I enjoyed a nice dinner at home with the family and watched the fireworks from the house as skiers jumped through fire hoops in the dark!

Sunday included a day of games with my niece and nephew. Mollie and I played dice games, City and Knights, and built towers, and later we all cheered for Sam and Mollie at their Futsol games…fun! Mollie had an assist and Sam punched the ball into the top left and right hands ice of the net. A fun, quick visit! ETB

Steamboat on Dwellable

When we arrived at the Walton Peak Trail Head, we were greeted by mild temperatures and a stunning bluebird Colorado sky.  We began the 2.5 mile trek to Walton Peak’s summit, breaking trail through about 2 new feet of snow.  While the new snow would make the skiing and snowboarding great, it made the trek in a much more arduous affair.  After making it about 3/4 of a mile, another group of skiers overtook us and broke trail ahead of us (Thanks guys!).  Sometimes it’s not always best to be the first ones to the trail head!  We continued on, with blue skies and deep powder beckoning us onward and upward.

Breathtaking views greeted us once we reached Walton’s summit.  From our vantage almost half of Colorado’s major mountain ranges were visible; the Park Range which we were in, the Flat Tops off to the southwest, the Gore and Ten-mile range to the South, and the Never Summers of the Front Range to our East.  It was incredible to see the vast differences in the geology of the mountains in such short distances.  On one hand there is the plateaus of the Flat Tops, then the jagged points of the Gore Range, and the massive alpine peaks of the Never Summers.  Colorado’s such a special place.  I’m lucky to have spent my entire life in such a diversely beautiful place!

The Flat Tops

After digging a snow profile and analyzing the different weak layers in the snowpack, we decided to ski on some more conservative slopes instead of the wide open bowls off of  Walton’s summit.  Not everyone who ventures out into the backcountry is prepared for the danger’s of avalanches.  So be sure you’re properly educated and check the state’s avalanche report (avalanche.state.co.us) before you leave home! Don’t become another statistic!

The Gore Range outside of Silverthorne.

Finally, it was time to slap the board back together and get some turns in.  While I only took less than twenty turns that day, the great snow and beautiful day made it all worthwhile.  When going out in the backcountry, the day becomes less about skiing or boarding and more about enjoying the solitude and sights.  It’s not often enough that people are able to escape the chaos of civilized life, and the feeling of being the only person for miles is one that will always have me coming back for more.

Looking across North Park to the Never Summers of the Front Range.

We arrived back at the trail head with tired muscles and labored breaths, but knowing it was fully worth it.  The day had come together magically between the sun, snow, and sights.  We were ready to return to the comforts of our hectic society, but only so that one day we could again escape from it.

Walton Peak Snowboarding from Dustin Eldridge on Vimeo.

Sometimes the best bars are in unexpected places. Hazie’s at the top of the Gondola is a perfect example. It’s just a great, fun and slightly elegant restaurant and bar. Brian, the bartender, has been tending bar there for the past 8 years and has it all figured out. He does a great job of getting to know the patrons and he definitely makes everyone feel like a local.

Hazie’s, is a sit-down restaurant offering offering lunch daily and dinner Thursday-Sunday and Holidays, at the top of the Thunderhead Gondola. Their number is 970-871-5151. They offer gluten free items as well.

But, what I really like is the bar. Now, that didn’t quite come out the way I wanted it to… The bar has intimate traditional seating at the end of the dining room but also has seats along one long wall of windows. As you sip your ice cold beer or hot coffee drink, you can see the whole Yampa valley from Rabbit Ears up to Hahns Peak and beyond. Usually there is a small scope sitting on the window bar for searching out your home below. You really can see it all from those seats, that’s why I like the bar so much.

Brian has a specialty which is something to be admired. He is known for his homemade flavored vodkas. Today he had brewing vats of blueberry, peach, and two others that I’ve forgotten. And, of course, he had his famous hot pepper vodka.

Brian  explained that his secret is to let the fruits or whatever he wants to create, just naturally sit and brew. He’s not a big fan of adding any sweetener or artificial flavoring which a lot of vodka manufacturers do. Most of the time, it’s just the essence of the flavor that sneaks in there to enhance your experience. Notice I said most of the time, not true with the hot pepper vodka. There is nothing subtle or sneaky about those peppers.

Brian’s Pepper Vodka

So, next time you are looking for something pretty special, stop on by and try a ginger-peach vodka cocktail overlooking Steamboat Springs from over 2,200′ above the valley floor.

There is a lot to experience in Steamboat Springs so you better get busy.

Find me, I’ll meet you at the bar.

Charllie

970-846-6435

I know people train on treadmills all the time. I mean sure. I would feel AWESOME about what I’m doing if I was training for some flat road marathon. However, that’s not my case. I feel like what I’m doing on the treadmill is inadequate as far as what one should be doing to train for a 50 mile trail race. I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m doing my best but I’m feeling really insecure about my training.

Running on a treadmill will NOT teach me anything about nutrition while running long distances on the trails, how to deal with heat, how to suck it up if my shoes become covered/clumped in mud. Sure I guess I’m training at altitude… but that will only get me so far. I feel like I’m missing out on so much.

I was able to get out this past Monday and run 16 miles on the roads around our home. ROADS. ROADS. ROADS. not trails.

I feel like every time I hear about people having their amazzzzing training runs on the trails (SANS SNOW) I just feel an instant flush of envy and am starting to even be slightly annoyed by it. Is that bratty? I’m sure it is. I just can’t help it.

To be quite honest each week when I look at my training plan I’m constantly thinking how it looks really darn similar to my marathon training plans. Except for the whole “back to back long run” thing. Which, I’ll be honest… those are going to hell in a hand basket trying to pull those off on a treadmill.

Since I’ve noticed I tend to be such a mental nut job when it comes to running I’ve decided to treat my Mt. Hood 50 training like marathon training until I can get out on the trails which will be around April-May. Which actually works out kind of perfect. I need to be at marathon distance by the end of April and I have Big Horn 50k at the beginning of June.

I’m tired of beating myself up over thinking that my training isn’t good enough. I think this might be just the trick I need to maybe be excited about “training”.

Right now my schedule typically looks like this…

Monday: long run

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: mile repeats/tempo

Thursday: easy

Friday: hill workout

Saturday: rest

Sunday: long run

I’m thinking of switching it to…

Monday: cross training*

Tuesday: mile repeats/tempo

Wednesday: easy “long”

Thursday: hill

Friday: easy

Saturday: off

Sunday: long run w/workout miles

*cross training = skinning, snow shoeing, barre or spin classes.

I think this is just necessary to get me through until I can actually get out on the trails. Whatever works, right? If something as simple as telling myself I’m training for a marathon instead of a 50 mile is what gets me through until this snow starts going away… then so be it.

In the mean time my mileage has gone as follows…

Week 1: 31.1 miles

Week 2: 37 miles

Week 3: 42 miles

Week 4: 42 miles

Week 5: currently at 31.1 miles with a long run on Sunday.

This was a pretty crybaby post. Don’t get me wrong.. I’m thankful to be running at all. I was just hoping for so much more while training for my first ultra.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is a good idea? What do you do when your expectations aren’t being met?