Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Winter Wildlife
Kelsi Cooke
Jake Davis isn’t worried about wild life attacking hikers, so neither should you. His take home message from the video below is that wild life aren’t going to hurt us, they’re afraid of us and shouldn’t be harmed.
While this is a great message…after a recent winter hike, I didn’t see a single sign of a wild animal on the entire hike. There wasn’t even a squirrel. However, just because we don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Also according to Davis, things we leave on the trails can really harm the wild life so we need to be careful to respect the environment and the creatures that live in it, visible or not.
Jake Davis isn’t worried about wild life attacking hikers, so neither should you. His take home message from the video below is that wild life aren’t going to hurt us, they’re afraid of us and shouldn’t be harmed.
While this is a great message…after a recent winter hike, I didn’t see a single sign of a wild animal on the entire hike. There wasn’t even a squirrel. However, just because we don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Also according to Davis, things we leave on the trails can really harm the wild life so we need to be careful to respect the environment and the creatures that live in it, visible or not.
Boulder hiking - facts and safety tips
Sara Morrey
Boulder is known for being an active city - rain or shine, summer or winter.
No matter the weather or the time of year, there are always safety precautions to be taken when it comes to hiking. Many of these precautions are listed on the open space and mountain parks website.
According to the site, hazards to look out for on trails such as those at Chautauqua Park are poison ivy, insects, animals and lightning.
Ticks and black widows are among the insects to keep an eye out for. The best defenses against ticks are wearing pants tucked into socks as well as bug repellent. Being bitten can have serious consequences, such as trouble walking and breathing and potential limb numbness.
The site also cautions hikers against conditions such as hypothermia and heat exhaustion.
According to the information, hypothermia can occur year-round, even in the summer months, due to rain. The best means of warming up in dangerously cold conditions are layering on dry clothes, staying active, drinking warm liquids and eating warm foods. Eating proteins and carbohydrates in order to maintain energy is also helpful.
Although many of these hazards are present year-round, Jake Davis, a staff member at Chautauqua Park who works in education and outreach, outlined one that is particularly pertinent at this time of year- ice.
Davis said in the presence of icy conditions, hikers will want to be cautious about the areas of the open space and mountain parks they choose to explore.
“There’s certain trails in the winter, it’s like - picture an ice-skating rink at a 45 degree angle with a cliff at the end; you probably don’t want to do (hike) that one,” Davis said.
He said hiking is a safe activity no matter the time of year, however, as long as particpants are alert and informed.
“...most of the trails, most of the trails, you can do any time you want. But you do need to be aware.”
No matter the weather or the time of year, there are always safety precautions to be taken when it comes to hiking. Many of these precautions are listed on the open space and mountain parks website.
According to the site, hazards to look out for on trails such as those at Chautauqua Park are poison ivy, insects, animals and lightning.
Ticks and black widows are among the insects to keep an eye out for. The best defenses against ticks are wearing pants tucked into socks as well as bug repellent. Being bitten can have serious consequences, such as trouble walking and breathing and potential limb numbness.
The site also cautions hikers against conditions such as hypothermia and heat exhaustion.
According to the information, hypothermia can occur year-round, even in the summer months, due to rain. The best means of warming up in dangerously cold conditions are layering on dry clothes, staying active, drinking warm liquids and eating warm foods. Eating proteins and carbohydrates in order to maintain energy is also helpful.
Although many of these hazards are present year-round, Jake Davis, a staff member at Chautauqua Park who works in education and outreach, outlined one that is particularly pertinent at this time of year- ice.
Davis said in the presence of icy conditions, hikers will want to be cautious about the areas of the open space and mountain parks they choose to explore.
“There’s certain trails in the winter, it’s like - picture an ice-skating rink at a 45 degree angle with a cliff at the end; you probably don’t want to do (hike) that one,” Davis said.
He said hiking is a safe activity no matter the time of year, however, as long as particpants are alert and informed.
“...most of the trails, most of the trails, you can do any time you want. But you do need to be aware.”
Sled Riding in Boulder
Sled riding in Boulder: Fun for All Ages
By: Joe Kovack
With winter on the horizon, buying a sled and heading to the closest hill can bring out the child in us all.
In Boulder, the majestic Flatirons grace the skyline, imprinting a sense of awe in first-time visitors and even long-time natives. Yet as winter arrives and the thirst for the sled riding of yore begins to boil, one may look to the Flatirons and ask themselves where they can possibly sled ride without having to scale a mountain and risk permanent injury on the ride down. Scanning the city the Boulder it may seem that dense neighborhoods crowd the foothills and leave no room for even a small sled hill. But this first glance is deceiving, as hills with the right attributes for sled-riding do exist within the City of Boulder; one just needs to know where to look.
Many times, winter in Colorado may conjure images of skiing down lustrous slopes in Aspen and Vail. But for those who do not have the time or money to ski or snowboard, sled-riding is an activity that all can enjoy during the cold days and nights. Parents can take children and share in the joy of simply sledding down a hill of snow and even teach simple lessons on skiing or snowboarding on a smaller hill without having to go to an expensive resort several hours away.
Local resident Jacques Armand talked about how he has taken his daughter to the hills for years. “We go to Scott Carpenter Park all the time in the winter. I’ve been teaching my daughter to snowboard on that hill since she was about 5, since it’s small. Now i can take her up to Eldora ski resort and she can handle the smaller runs.” Armand said.
Sled riding isn’t only for parents and their children though. Teens, college students and young adults are more and more heading to the hills to recapture that innocence of youth that can only be attained by hurling down a hill. A sense of freedom and the temporary release from daily responsibilities can truly enliven a dark, gloomy and cold winter day.
Yet with any outdoor activity, there are precautions that need to be taken into account to ensure the safety and maximize the excitement for all. The following list is a compilation of sled riding hills in Boulder with location, tips and pictures. So pick up a sled, toboggan or snowboard and head for the hills!
Note: please sled ride at your own risk, and always take proper precautions with children.
South Boulder Tantra Park Hill
A great sledding hill that is as long as a football field and around 60 feet wide. There is a sidewalk at the bottom of the hill and also hay bales and trees. Small children and people snowboarding should wear a helmet, because of the length of the hill, you can pick up a lot of speed.
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Central Boulder Scott Carpenter Park
This is a nice smaller hill that is located in the center of Boulder on 30Th st by Arapaho. It’s a great hill for children and beginners because the slope is not as steep. There is plenty of parking. The main hill is safe, but the side of the hill goes over the bike path and can lead into the creek. Beware of frozen waters!
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North Boulder Casey Middle School
A small hill in north Boulder. Roughly 25 feet high. Be careful. Hill is located by football field and goal posts are at the bottom.
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North Boulder Foothills Community Park
Located by 6th and Locust Ave by North Boulder Community Park, this hill is great for the family. A gentle but effective slope and about 300 feet long, this hill is great for kids, but the occasional ramp does get made.
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South Boulder Harlow Platts Park
This hill in South Boulder is around 300 feet long with a gentle slope. Sled ride with caution, Boulder Parks and Recreation is remodeling some aspects of the park. Do not sled ride near construction.
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| Sled Riding in Boulder |
Video: Winter Cycling Tips with Tyler Wood
Buff Bike Fleet Manager Tyler Wood offers tips on how cyclists can adapt to snowy conditions.
You can find the article detailing the interview here
You can find the article detailing the interview here
Winter Cycling Tips with Tyler Wood
By Andrew Salazar
See the video interview with Tyler here
Many Boulder residents embrace the cyclist lifestyle by using road biking as a major form of transportation, even during the snowy months. To get some advice on adapting to the winter weather conditions, I sat down with senior economics major Tyler Wood, a long-time road cyclist. Wood is the Buff Bike Fleet Manager for the University of Colorado and has been professionally working with bikes for over 3 years.
Wood’s first piece of advice for winterizing your bike is to lower your tire pressure and use slightly wider tires with knobs on them. “This helps your tires stick to the snow a little better,” Wood said. “But mechanically, not much else not needs to be done. Everything else on a bike is pretty much weather-proof.”
Wood said he suggests taking the same precautions used while driving in the snow for riding in the snow. “If you feel yourself starting to slip, don’t over-correct," he said. "When taking turns, take them slow and wide so that your bike doesn’t shoot out from under you.”
He also notes there are some there are additional challenges to biking in the snow as opposed to driving in the snow. “In the bike lanes, a lot of debris will get pushed off from the roads by snow plows and cars. That can get messy," he said. “Keep an eye out for this and traffic behind you in case you have to swerve quickly. If anything gets real bad, call the city and tell them to clean it up.”
As for proper attire, Wood said he recommends dressing in layers, but with the bottom layer a material that doesn’t retain moisture. “You’ll get sweaty from riding, and then you’ll freeze anyways," he said. "So make the bottom layer something that can wick away moisture.” The outer layers should be colorful. “In snow and fog it can be hard for cars to see you, and they’ll also have a hard time stopping. So wear fluorescent colors, nothing white or black.” Wood said he also recommends carrying an extra layer, in case the trip is longer than originally anticipated.
As a final tip Wood said he often preheats water when taking it riding in the cold, to help prevent it from freezing along the way.
Contact Andrew Salazar at Andrew.Salazar3@Gmail.com
To the moon and back
OPINION
By Stephanie Davis
“Three… Two… One…. Liftoff!”
The red and silver rocket took off, zooming into space, landing on the nearby moon. Alien voices echoed through the air and space buggies zoomed across the terrain. Colorful extra terrestrial creatures fluttered up in the atmosphere.
At least, that’s how I remember Scott Carpenter Park.
As a child, I could not wait until I was old enough to ride down the bike path on my own to play on the steel space ship, squeezing through the holes and climbing up the ladder that led to the pilot’s quarters. I was on top of the world. I could spend hours playing at that park.
According to the City of Boulder, Scott Carpenter Park was built in 1955 and originally named Valverdan Park. In 1962, it was renamed after Boulder astronaut Scott Carpenter.
In addition to a towering space ship, the park features a near-by swimming pool and a well-maintained skate and bike park. To the north, there’s a graffiti wall that allows local artists to redecorate any time they want. During the summer months, baseball is in full swing in nearby fields, and the creek path connecting to the park is always buzzing.
In one of the brief moments I didn’t want to be a photographer when I grew up, I wanted to be an astronaut. I dreamt of far off planets and flying in the midst of stars.
In college, I spent afternoons flying kites and running up the sloping hill, mountains gracing the backdrop. On top of the spaceship one summer evening, I fell in love, talking about dark secrets and kissing under the stars.
I will never be too old to realize how special Scott Carpenter Park is. To me, the spaceship represents Boulder as much as the Flatirons do, and it will always be worth preserving for future astronauts.
By Stephanie Davis
“Three… Two… One…. Liftoff!”
The red and silver rocket took off, zooming into space, landing on the nearby moon. Alien voices echoed through the air and space buggies zoomed across the terrain. Colorful extra terrestrial creatures fluttered up in the atmosphere.
At least, that’s how I remember Scott Carpenter Park.
As a child, I could not wait until I was old enough to ride down the bike path on my own to play on the steel space ship, squeezing through the holes and climbing up the ladder that led to the pilot’s quarters. I was on top of the world. I could spend hours playing at that park.
According to the City of Boulder, Scott Carpenter Park was built in 1955 and originally named Valverdan Park. In 1962, it was renamed after Boulder astronaut Scott Carpenter.
In addition to a towering space ship, the park features a near-by swimming pool and a well-maintained skate and bike park. To the north, there’s a graffiti wall that allows local artists to redecorate any time they want. During the summer months, baseball is in full swing in nearby fields, and the creek path connecting to the park is always buzzing.
In one of the brief moments I didn’t want to be a photographer when I grew up, I wanted to be an astronaut. I dreamt of far off planets and flying in the midst of stars.
In college, I spent afternoons flying kites and running up the sloping hill, mountains gracing the backdrop. On top of the spaceship one summer evening, I fell in love, talking about dark secrets and kissing under the stars.
I will never be too old to realize how special Scott Carpenter Park is. To me, the spaceship represents Boulder as much as the Flatirons do, and it will always be worth preserving for future astronauts.
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