We’re slowly forming a strong community of skaters here and Frantz Lake has been great this year.  We have a set of ground rules that everyone pitches in on ice maintenance, shoveling when finished, and folks that go out after dark to flood the surface.  We had 20+ on sunday and the facebook page is popular.

See the facebook page for a big group shot of all us.

Take care,

Jon

There is an SMT meeting tonight at The Salida Cafe if you’d like to learn about the organization. The meeting starts at 7pm downstairs. Grab a pint and come on down!

This unit has collected over $50 this winter so far, roughly $3 a day. Does that seem like a lot, or a little to you? Let us know.

Salida Mountain Trails is an all volunteer organization commited to building and maintaining sustainable, non-motorized, multi-user trails on public lands adjoining the city of Saliida. We are a chapter of Salida Parks Open Space and Trails, a 501c3 not for profit.

We will resume our monthly trail work days as soon as conditions and weather permit.

You can also check the SMT website http://salidamountaintrails.org/ for updates.

When a recent family event necessitated an impromptu trip back to New Zealand, a day on the Mohaka was my number one recreational priority. I managed to hook up with Steve, a friend who’s been fishing and hunting the central North Island for the best part of three decades. In that time of guiding the rich and famous he’s walked away from helicopter crashes, dodged the slings and arrows of outraged husbands, caught more fish than is decent, and like most guides probably drank enough to kill several small elephants in the process.

It had been over five years since I’d had oars and feet planted in a New Zealand river, and in terms of my fishing technique, it showed. Despite knowing better, it always seems to take a while to reintroduce myself to the realities of New Zealand fishing. You tend to not get too many opportunities, so a fish missed as the result of a clumsy cast or mistimed hook set or too tight a rein always leaves you pondering, wondering: will the river will give you another chance, or has she shut the door on your face and turned the key? Gentle Colorado-style hook sets get treated with head shaking disdain, while attempting to arrest that first charging run with a drag set too tight results in bent hooks and the kind of language that would make a sailor blush.

Fortunately this day, the Mohaka was a patient mistress. My first fumblings were tolerated, and after taking a break for lunch and a beer, I got my mojo working at last. The reward for me was a couple of lovely fish, a rainbow and a brown, a day spent on a special river in perfect company, and the commitment to ensure that it is not another five years hence before I again get to immerse myself in the sights, sounds and smells of one of the most special places on Earth.

We’ll kick off the challenge with the New Year’s Day 5K Walk/Run on January 1^st.  With a late morning start time, you’ll have plenty of time to wake up, then come on down to the Scout Hut to register between 9 and 10.  The event starts from the Scout Hut at 10, proceeds along the Monarch Spur Trail, and will finish back at the Hut.  Make it extra fun by wearing a costume or funky get-up.  Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finishers, as well as best costume!  Only $10 to participate, and all ages and abilities are welcome.

As part of the Challenge, we encourage you to track your participation on the 2012 Fitness Challenge log.  Pick up your copy at the pool, or find it online at www.SalidaRec.com/fitness.  You’ll find instructions for awarding yourself points for completing different activities, and a log to keep track of your points.  Anyone who logs at least 15 points will be entered into a random prize drawing, and top point scorers will be awarded prizes as well.  Prizes will all be geared toward helping you keep your commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle.

Finally, Salida Recreation and Hot Springs Aquatic Center are offering a punch pass good for discounted fitness classes during January and February.  Each $40 pass is good for 12 of any of the classes offered by Salida Recreation, plus 1 Zumba® class.  This brings the price per class down to nearly $3!  You can purchase them now as a gift, or a commitment to yourself, and they will be available during January and February.

The holidays are a time for celebration and enjoyment, and the New Year is a chance to renew commitments and challenge yourself to be your best.  The 2012 Fitness Challenge is a chance to participate in a structured 9 week program than encompasses nutrition and fitness—and most things are completely free!  You can, of course, pick and choose any of the activities to participate it, but we think the whole 2 months will be a great experience!

FREE TUESDAY SEMINARS (Scout Hut, 6-7pm):

January 3^rd: “Goal setting: Dr.’s Fitness Prescription & Guidelines”
January 10^th: “Exercise Myths and Exercise Prescriptions”
January 17^th: “10 Things You Never Thought Counted As Exercise”
January 24^th: “Affordable & Healthy Superfoods”
January 31^st: “Nutrition Myths & Food Journaling”
February 7^th: “Veggie Jeopardy & Sundae School”
February 14^th: No lecture.  Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 21^st: “Mind Over Matter: Maintaining Healthy Habits”
February 28^th: “Self-Care & Maintenance Goal Setting with R.N.”

FREE SATURDAY WORKOUTS:

“Nah, it’s nice down here – barely a breeze, and the sun’s shining.” Pink lives on the river in Howard, in many ways something of a parallel universe to Salida, separated not by a wafer thin membrane, but a few miles of blacktop. “We’ll float from my place to Vallie Bridge. Should only take a couple of hours.”

Not for the first time, my wife regarded me that look that is equal parts amusement and pity as I announced my plans for the afternoon. “You’re doing what?” I shrugged,and seeking respite from her gaze, headed for the refuge of the garage to dig out my waders and gear. The day before, I’d biked Cottonwood , sections of the trail blanketed in six inches of snow, so how bad could it be?

As it turned out, Pink was right. While an occasional wind gust rattled through the cottonwoods, sending dead leaves scratching and scurrying across the ground, the sun rode high over the clouds on the peaks, bathing the river in a late fall glow.

As we pushed away from shore, it occurred to me that this was the first time I’d floated the river in November. Does an aging memory play tricks, or is November the new October, weather-wise? Either way, it was great to be out there again, feeling the motion of the river beneath the boat, trying to guess where a hungry fish might reside on such an afternoon.

While the activity wasn’t prolific, we each felt the weight of a fish on the end of the line, enough stragglers camped along the edges of eddies and riffles to make the afternoon worthwhile, a success by any measure. All in all, you’ve got to love living in a place where, even when there is snow on the ground, you can mountain bike one day, and float fish the next. Thanks for the call Pink.

The Ark Valley High Rollers All-stars end their inaugural season with a 7-1 record.  Their only loss was their very first bout against the Pikes Peak Derby Dames Slamazons.  “We are very fortunate to have skaters that are very active off the track”, Malde stated.  “Because of this we are able to spend a lot more time working on strategy which is the biggest difference between new teams and more competitive teams.”

The High Rollers will end their 2011 season with a Halloween themed battle of the home teams on October 29^th. The Banana Belt-Herz will be skating as Zombies and the Hurt of the Rockies will be skating as Vampires. The High Rollers are encouraging everyone to dress in costume, as there will be prizes for adults and children.

The High Rollers continue to give back to the community by donating a portion of the proceeds from this bout to the Boys and Girls Club. Some of the members from the Boys and Girls Club will also be participating in the special half-time “Thriller” dance.  This is open to the community and the dance lessons are being put on by CEDE Studios.  For more information, please visit arkvalleyhighrollers.com.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at Moonlight Pizza and Café Dawn in Salida and at Serendipity Yarn in Buena Vista for ten dollars. A limited number of thirteen-dollar tickets will be available at the door. The High Rollers anticipate that this event will sell out, so buy tickets early.

This will be the final bout of the 2011 season.  The High Rollers will kick-off their 2012 season in March, 2012.

High country fishing near Salida, Colorado. from Hayden Mellsop on Vimeo.

This particular stream is the outflow of a lake, meandering through a meadow laden with willows and wildlife – I’ve encountered fox, elk, beaver and deer. Half the stretch I fish, about a mile and a half in total, flows through private land. The first time I asked for permission, the rancher looked at me in surprise. After a few seconds of silence, during which I wondered if I’d managed to offend him, he replied “Sure. Its just, no one’s ever asked before.” Now we have an understanding. He knows my truck, and once in a while he finds a twelve pack on his doorstep.

There’s lots to like about fishing small streams. For starters, its easy to figure out where the fish are likely to lie – anywhere. While the bigger ones will naturally gravitate to the best places – insides of bends, undercut banks – the smaller ones don’t need much shelter to hide behind. A small rock in the middle of a riffle, a little pocket against the bank will suffice. You can pretty much cast anywhere you need to, and a single dry fly will usually suffice. In fact, often it is the only way you can fish. The need to tuck your fly under overhanging willows or cut banks often precludes a dropper, prone as it is to tangling and snagging. Fish that live this high, in these harsh surroundings, can’t afford to be as selective as their big river cousins. Get a good drift, and they’ll pretty much rise to anything you throw out there.

Another thing to like is the surprise of the catch. It could be a brown, it could be a rainbow, it could be a brookie, it could be a cutt. It could be four inches long, it could be fourteen. There’s the enthusiasm with which these fish patrol their domain, feeding aggressively on whatever floats by. Big or small, once hooked, they will head for the nearest logjam, rootball or undercut. Battling a small fish with a two weight rod on a stream ten feet wide is in many ways as exciting and challenging as a sixteener on the Arkansas.

And last but not least, there is the overarching peacefulness of the surroundings. Far from any highways, the mountains are closer, the smells and sounds of the forest more prevalent, the air clearer and cleaner.

Its almost time to say adieu to the high country for another year. Hopefully I’ll have time for one more trip up there before it is too late. Temperatures are dropping below freezing each night, the ground is carpeted in yellows and golds, and it won’t belong until the fish are living under ice, theirs a world of darkness and torpor, until spring sets them free once more.

Monarch now has 26 ski areas participating on their season pass.  Passes are accepted at nine areas in Colorado, six in New Mexico and at areas in Utah, Wyoming, California, Michigan, Arizona, British Columbia, Germany and Austria.

The Colorado nine include; Loveland, Durango, Telluride, Powderhorn, Sunlight, Sol Vista, Silverton, Ski Cooper and of course Monarch Mountain. In New Mexico six areas honor the Monarch Mountain season pass: Taos, Angel Fire, Red River, Pajarito, Sipapu and Ski Apache.

In Utah, Alta offers Monarch Mountain pass holders half-price tickets all season while Grand Targhee, Wyoming and Revelstoke, British Columbia offer free skiing/riding to Monarch Mountain season pass holders.

China Peak, California, Arizona Snowbowl and Indianhead Michigan round out Monarch Mountain’s pass partner team for the 2011-12 season.

26 different areas all for one low price make the Monarch Mountain season pass the best value in North America (and quite possibly the world!). Season passes are on sale for $339.00 (Adult price, other prices are available on the website) through November 6, 2011.  Most of Monarch Mountain’s pass partners offer three days of free lift tickets, but some offers vary.   Details and pricing can be found at SkiMonarch.com or by calling a friendly local at 719.530.5105

“The Best Deal on the Planet” Westword Magazine

Find an event near you, or, host one of your own.

In support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, IMBA has pledged to get 30,000 children participating in 300 cycling events on Oct. 1. We could use your help in reaching this goal. Broadcast Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day to your networks, host a ride, or sponsor the IMBA outreach program.

Since we believe that kids should be on bikes everyday, we’re encouraging all participants to sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA), whereby you pledge to be active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Youth (6-17 years) should get moving for at least 60 minutes per day, and adults (18 years or older) should be active for 30 minutes per day. What better way to get active than to be out riding a bike?

Late registration for TKMBD event organizers is still open! (CLIF bars and number plates no longer available).
[Canadian events should register with www.imbacanada.com/kids]

Download our ready-made PDF posters which allow you to fill-in the details of your event! (horizontal; vertical)

Assistance and nationwide events are conducted by IMBA clubs and chapters, retailers, volunteer groups and numerous Trips for Kids chapters. Corporate sponsors are welcome to join in support of this nation-wide effort.

There are many ways to participate. Events range from a few kids in a neighborhood to larger festival style events in a community park, open space or trailhead. Develop a grass roots event in your community, support the national outreach, contribute to event “care packages”, or join an existing event. Email Terry Breheny for more information on how you can get involved.

This was the last interleague home bout of the season.  The High Rollers will be traveling to Denver to compete in a tournament on October 15.  Home and away bouts for 2012 are currently being scheduled.

On October 29, 7pm at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds the Ark Valley High Roller home teams, The Banana Belt-herz and the Hurt of the Rockies will compete against each other in a scrimmage.  Each team will don a Halloween theme and play as “Vampires” vs. “Zombies”.  There will be a costume contest, treats for the kids and half-time entertainment by the Boys and Girls Club.  This will be the last opportunity to watch the teams scrimmage in 2011.