Aspen Journal

9.24.2010

Bow unbent until mid-Oct

"The bow cannot always stand bent, nor can human frailty subsist without some lawful recreation." Cervantes

9.15.2010

Fall Splenda

A lovely turn in the river on a lovely day. It's hard to imagine why September is not the most-visited month in the Rockies...

9.07.2010

September clarity

Labor Day was crystal-clear and crisp in the valley, and Tuesday is proving to be just as clear but with warmer temperatures. Very nice weather in which to explore the local rivers and mountains.

9.02.2010

Near-perfect Sept day...

Crisp morning near 38 degrees followed by bright sun and a gusty breeze atop Ajax.

9.01.2010

Rivers of stone

A lovely start to September, with evidence of human activity somewhere on the middle Fork, flowing gently at 40 cfs.

8.30.2010

On the one hand, it's just a building on a hillside. On the other hand, it's the entrance to the Compromise Mine, one of the most important mines in Aspen's history. And the hillside, well, that too has had a relatively important role to play in Aspen's history. Above the building is Silver Queen and Silver Rush. Below the building, Little Nell. View from the gondy this afternoon. Hopefully, the scene will look much different (whiter) in three months time

Monday-morning mist over Snowmass

In the foreground, the sun hits the Droste property. View from McLain Flats Road.

8.25.2010

County moves ahead on Droste purchase

The Pitkin County Commissioners on Wednesday finalized a $500,000 contract to purchase 108 acres of land from the Droste family. The contract is the first phase of a three-part, $18 million agreement that will ultimately see the county control 742 acres of land between Brush Creek and Owl Creek for open space purposes. The first phase also includes an equestrian easement along the floor of the Brush Creek valley that will allow for a horse trail between Cozy Point Ranch and the rodeo grounds in Snowmass Village. The 108-acre parcel on the ridge will create a swath of public land on the ridge above Shale Bluffs. The "airport parcel," which is expected to be in public hands by September 18, is between the Cozy Point South open space at the bottom of the Brush Creek valley, and the public land controlled by the airport at the bottom of the Owl Creek valley. The photo above shows some of the Cozy Point South property above Shale Bluffs and Highway 82. It also shows a portion of the undeveloped Droste ridge, with its several conical landforms, stretching toward Snowmass Village.