Nov 4, 2011 Four Summit County Ski Area Now Open Full-Time

Nov 4, 2011 - Keystone and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts opened this morning to make it the four Summit County Ski Areas open so far this ski season.

Aug 4, 2011 Hike Tenderfoot Trail for Great Lake and Mountain Views

Aug 4, 2011 - The Tenderfoot Trail from Dillon offers expansive views of Lake Dillon and several mountain ranges from the Gore Range to Buffalo Mountain to Peak 1 over Frisco to Peak 10 over Breckenridge (Ten Mile Range) to Quandry and Blanco Peaks. Several are fourteeners. The Tenderfoot Trail travels through the sagebrush and lodgepole pine forests. This is a good trail all year and good early and late season trail since generally it is free of snow due to its’ southerly exposure. In the Winter it is good for cross country skiing or snow shoeing when there is ample snow. This is a White River National Forest trail a short 1 mile drive from our condo.

Directions: From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel south on HWY 6 toward Dillon and Keystone. Approximately 1.2 miles south of I-70 turn left at the traffic light at the intersection of HWY 6 and Evergreen Road (Lord of the Mountain Church is on your left). After turning left, immediately turn right onto Straight Creek Road (County Road 51) and follow this road for approximately 0.6 miles to just past the Forest Service work center and the Dillon Water Tank. Right after the road turns to gravel, there is a pull out parking area to your right, park here. In front of the parking area (south) is an access road which is the beginning of the Oro Grande Trail (County Open Space Trail). Walk along this road for approximately 0.3 miles until you reach the Tenderfoot trailhead, which will be on your left.

Usage: Light
Restrictions: This trail is open to Hike only.

There is not much information on the forest service page but it could get updated. The forest service page is at White River National Forest page, where you can click on the recreation link on the left side of the page, then the hiking link on the left. You can then click on Day Hikes and go down the page to the Dillon Ranger District and Silverthorne Area to Tenderfoot Trail.

Aug 3, 2011 Hike Ptarmigan Trail for Great Mountain Views and Lake Dillon Views

Aug 3, 2011 - The Ptarmigan Trail from Silverthorne offers expansive views from the Gore Range to Buffalo Mountain to Peak 1 over Frisco to Peak 10 over Breckenridge to Quandry and Blanco Peaks. Several are fourteeners. This trail leads into the Ptarmigan Peaks Wilderness Area. This is a Whiteriver National Forest trail a short 2 miles drive from our condo.

Directions: From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9 for approximately 0.2 miles to the intersection of Wildernest Drive/Rainbow Drive, (Wendy’s is on the corner). Turn right onto Rainbow Drive and then right onto Tanglewood Lane. Follow Tanglewood Lane to Ptarmigan Trail Rd and turn right. Follow this road for approximately 0.8 miles to the trailhead parking, which is on the right side of the road. The trail starts across the road from the parking area. There are arrows to guide you to the trailhead from the parking area through the private homes.

Usage: Light
Restrictions: This trail is open to Hike and Horse. Mountain Bikes are allowed to the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness boundary ONLY, not beyond.

To get more information on the trail go to the White River National Forest page, click on the recreation link on the left side of the page, then the hiking link on the left. You can then click on Day Hikes and go down the page to the Dillon Ranger District and Silverthorne Area.

Aug 2, 2011 Willow Creek Trail Follows Beautiful Willow Creek

Aug 2, 2011 - The Upper Willow Creek Lake Trail from Silverthorne is nestled in gorgeous alpine scenery and follows Willow Creek and goes up into the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. The trail follows the beautiful Willow Creek through lush forest and there are many bridges over the creek. Many people enjoy the abundant wildflowers in this area. This is a White River National Forest trail a short 4 mile drive from our condo.

Directions: From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne / Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9 for approximately 1 miles. On your left will be Willowbrook Road. Turn left and follow the road through the Willowbrook neighborhood for about 1 miles and the parking area for about 4-6 cars will be on the left about 1 mile in. For directions and a map from our condo follow this link.

Usage: Light
Restrictions: This trail is open to Hike/Horse only.

Aug 2, 2011 Upper Willow Lakes/Salmon Lake Trail Through East Nest Wilderness Area

Aug 2, 2011 - The Upper Willow Lakes/Salmon Lake Trail from Silverthorne are nestled in gorgeous alpine scenery in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. These lakes are surrounded by beautiful alpine meadows and have the rugged Gore Range as a backdrop. Many people enjoy the abundant wildflowers in this area during the peak season. This is a White River National Forest trail a short 10 mile drive from our condo.

Directions: From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne / Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9 for approximately 7.3 miles. On your left will be Rock Creek Road (FDR 1350) across from the Blue River campground. Turn left and follow the gravel road for 1.5 miles and turn left at the road marked “Rock Creek”. Follow this dirt road for approximately 1.7 miles to North Rock Creek Trailhead parking area at the end of the road.

Usage: Light
Restrictions: This trail is open to Hike/Horse only.

There is not much information on the forest service page but it could get updated. The forest service page is at White River National Forest page, where you can click on the recreation link on the left side of the page, then the hiking link on the left. You can then click on Day Hikes and go down the page to the Dillon Ranger District and Silverthorne Area to Upper Willow Lakes/Salmon Lake Trail.

Aug 1, 2011 Straight Creek Trail Follows Straight Creek and Can Be Used by ATVs

Aug 1, 2011 - The Straight Trail from Dillon follows Straight Creek and parallels I-70 the entire way up to Eisenhower Tunnel and is an old double-track road. It will cross Straight Creek a few times as you climb gradually up the valley through a lodge pole pine forest. Straight Creek runs down from the Continental Divide at the Eisenhower Tunnel along I-70 and into the Blue River in Silverthorne. This is a White River National Forest trail a short 1 mile drive from our condo.

Directions: From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel south on HWY 6 toward Dillon. In approximately 1.2 miles turn left at the traffic intersection of Hwy 6 and Evergreen Raod. Then make an immediate right onto County Road 51 and follow this for approx. 1.7 miles until it ends at a gate and the trailhead parking area.

Usage: Light
Restrictions: Open to Hike, ATV and motorcycles, no full-size vehicles.

There is not much information on the forest service page but it could get updated. The forest service page is at White River National Forest page, where you can click on the recreation link on the left side of the page, then the hiking link on the left. You can then click on Day Hikes and go down the page to the Dillon Ranger District and Silverthorne Area to Straight Creek Trail.

July 31, 2011 Lake Dillon Level Continues to Rise

July 31, 2011 - The inflow into the lake is still high and when we get the afternoon rains it adds to the level of the lake and the outflows. The lake is now 8 inches above the full mark and going over the Glory Hole spillway.

July 27, 2011 Lake Dillon Now Full and Going Over Spillway

July 27, 2011 - The water level in Lake Dillon is not reported at 9017.33 or 4" over the full altitude. This means water is flowing over the spillway into the lower Blue River. The inflows have dropped considerably to 886 cubic feet per second and outflows to 559. This is relieving the threat of flowing below the dam.

July 21, 2011 Lake Dillon now 2" below Spillway and Being Totally Full!

July 2, 2011 - The high outflows into the Blue River continue but the water level continues to inch upward. The are only 2 inches to go before water flows over the spillway and the lake is full. Of course the lake can still become over-filled as the spillway cannot prevent the water level from getting higher if there is high run-off coming into the lake.

July 16, 2011 High Outflows Continue and Water over Banks Upstream and Downstream

July 16, 2011 - The high flows from this Winter's deep snow melt are overflowing banks. A road with culverts washed out in north Breckenridge 2 days ago. Water is over banks along the Blue River above the Dillon Reservoir and the Blue River below the reservoir. In the South Forty subdivision, water is approaching the yards of houses along the river. The lake/reservoir continues to inch upwards to the full mark and is within a few inches but there has been no update on the actual level in a couple days.

July 11, 2011 Lake Dillon 1 Foot Below the Brim

July 11, 2011 - Lake Dillon level is at the verge of filling with water going over the spillway especially with the rain that is expected tomorrow. The level is now at 9,015.82 feet altitude which is 1.2 feet below going over the spillway.

July 9, 2011 Flows to Increase From Lake Dillon Out the Blue River

July 9, 2011 - Denver had very heavy rainfall and flooding this past week. Denver has requested that more water be released out the Blue River to the Western watershed so the Roberts Tunnels will have minimal flows Eastward to the Platte River and to Denver.

July 7, 2011 Lake Dillon Level Getting Close to the Full Level

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June 30, 2011 Lake Dillon Water Level Up 19 Feet in Last 4 Weeks - Now 5 Feet Below Full

June 30, 2011 - The snow melt over the last 4 weeks has been steadily raising the level of the Lake even though the water being released downstream on the Blue River is at a very high rate. The Lake is now at 9,012.10 feet which is slightly less than 5 feet below the full mark at 9,017 feet. The rafters have been very happy with the white water available for rafting in the Blue River and downstream rivers like the Colorado River and Yampa River. The Frisco Marina is moving the docks to be in position for Summer boating and getting the boats rentals, canoes and kayaks ready for the busy Fourth of July weekend.

June 2, 2011 Lake Dillon Water Level Down 24 Feet to Prevent Flooding from Deep Snow Pack

June 2, 2011 - The water level in Lake Dillon is being drawn down by the Denver Water Board to accommodate the heavy Spring runoff from the deep snow accumulation over the Winter. This Winter was a great year for snow accumulation and the runoff from the deep snow could produce flooding if the Lake cannot act as a buffer to slow the flow downstream. As a result the Denver Water Board has lowered the lake level to an altitude 8,992.6 feet as of today. This is 24 feet below the full altitude of 9,017 feet.

Apr 11, 2011 Keystone Resort Closed on Sunday

Apr 11, 2011 - Keystone Ski Resort closed yesterday but the other resorts are reporting between 4-8" new snow today. This adds to the 7-10" of new snow reported yesterday. The snow pack is still at higher than normal levels.

Feb 8, 2011 More Deep Champagne Powder

Feb 8 , 2011 - Plenty of additional deep champagne powder has arrived with more coming. 25-30 inches of powder has fallen in the last few days and snow conditions are excellent for skiing and riding!

Jan 23, 2011 Champagne Powder is Deep in Summit County

Jan 23, 2011 - Champagne Powder has buried the ski areas and they have had 40-70 inches inches this week alone. For the season so far, there have been 150-200 inches. This is an excellent year for powder skiing in Summit County.