Jackson takes mild steps on bears
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo.—Teton County commissioners have mandated steps to reduce conflicts between humans and bears. The commissioners are requiring bear-resistant garbage containers or, in lieu of such containers, that trash be kept in bear-proof enclosures.
Also, for about seven months of the year, bird feeders must be at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet lateral from any structure. The regulations apply to only those areas of the county where there have been conflicts, notes the Jackson Hole News & Guide. The legislation was described by one county commissioner, Ben Ellis, as a "mild step."
The mountain resort communities that seem to be in the lead on this issue are Vail and Snowmass/Aspen. There, bear-resistant trash containers were deemed insufficient to thwart determined and reasonably intelligent bears. Instead, more challenging, so-called bear-proof devices are now required.
How will 2010 Olympics offset gases?
WHISTLER, B.C.—The Winter Olympics are fast approaching in Vancouver and Whistler, and it's still not clear just how organizers of the 2010 event intend to live up to their vow to make it the greenest Olympics ever.
Some things are being done. There are hybrids vehicles in the Olympic fleet, providing improved fuel efficiency,and wood being used to create the Athletes' Village will come from certified sustainable forests.
But the greatest environmental concern remains emissions of greenhouse gases, and Pique newsmagazine says organizers have not said how they intend to offset those emissions. That has environmental activists concerned.
"We are getting close to 2010 -- it's less than two years away -- and it does take a certain amount of time to develop offset projects," said Deborah Carlson, climate change campaigner for the David Suzuki Foundation.
Slowing economy evident in real estate
CRESTED BUTTE, Colo.—It took awhile, but now evidence of the slowed economy is becoming apparent in the mountain resort valleys of the West.
In Crested Butte, the ski area operator has announced it is postponing construction of a higher-end 95-unit condominium project at the base of the ski mountain. Prices of the units ranged from $875 to $1,500 per square foot, respectable in any ski town, but perhaps precedent setting in Crested Butte.
The long and short of the story is that the ski company didn't have enough commitments from buyers to move forward, explains the Crested Butte News.
"We wanted to be somewhere between 70 percent and 80 percent under contract before we pulled the trigger. I think we're around 45 percent—that is, of the dollar volume," said Michael Kraatz, the vice president of real estate and development for Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
The Cimarron is to take the place of the former Gothic building. This is part of the resort's renewal process launched by Tim and Diane Mueller, who bought the resort in 2004 from the Calloway and Walton families. They are looking at going forward in 2009, reports the Crested Butte News.
Proceeding this summer, as originally planned, is construction of a 22,000-square-foot on-mountain restaurant called Red Lady Lodge.
Snowmass breaks 400-inch barrier
ASPEN, Colo.—Snowfall slackened considerably during March, but Aspen is still at or near a record level. Snowmass Mountain entered April with 407 inches, compared with a 300 average.
Farther up the Roaring Fork Valley, a Snotel site found the most water in the snow since such measurements back in 1981. However, more could come.
Often, the snow depth at higher locations rises through April and even into May. The highest reading for that particular site was on May 19, 1995, a year when it snowed, snowed and then snowed some more through spring. Even in mid-June, a skier from New England visiting Arapahoe Basin turned to his companion with astonishment and said: "These are mid-winter conditions."
