Grand Nordic News

As we move into preparation for winter.  Have you checked out your ski or snowshoe equipment?  The Alpine Swap is over and the Nordic Ski Swap is coming Oct 27 at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center.  Clean out your closet and bring your used gear to sell or donate to Grand Nordic for our kids programs in Grand county. Those​ ​wanting​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​equipment​ ​should​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Snow​ ​Mountain​ ​Ranch​ ​Nordic​ ​Center​ ​between​ ​5​ ​and​ ​6​ ​pm​ ​to register.​ ​Check-in​ ​forms​ ​are​ ​also​ ​available​ ​online​ ​at​ ​​www.grandnordic.org/skiswap.html​​ ​.​ ​The​ ​doors​ ​open​ ​at​ ​6​ ​pm​ ​for​ ​the swap​ ​and​ ​sales​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​until​ ​8:30​ ​pm.​ ​Buyers​ ​can​ ​anticipate​ ​great​ ​deals​ ​on​ ​new​ ​and​ ​used​ ​equipment​ ​from​ ​Snow Mountain​ ​Ranch,​ ​Devil’s​ ​Thumb​ ​and​ ​Winter​ ​Park​ ​Trading​ ​Company​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​used​ ​gear​ ​offered​ ​by​ ​fellow​ ​enthusiasts.

It’s​ ​a​ ​great​ ​opportunity​ ​for novice​ ​skiers​ ​to​ ​buy​ ​their​ ​first​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​skis​ ​at​ ​excellent​ ​prices​ ​or​ ​for​ ​old​ ​pros​ ​to​ ​clear​ ​out​ ​their​ ​ski​ ​closet​ ​to​ ​make​ ​room​ ​for the​ ​latest​ ​and​ ​greatest​ ​gear. The​ ​Swap​ ​advantage​ ​is that​ ​we​ ​will​ ​have​ ​knowledgeable​ ​long-time​ ​skiers​ ​available​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​advise​ ​and​ ​assist​ ​buyers​ ​with​ ​purchasing​ ​equipment.  Grand Nordic’s​ ​$25 individual​ ​or​ ​$40​ ​family​ ​annual​ ​membership​ ​provides​ ​many​ ​benefits​ ​to​ ​include​ ​discounted​ ​season​ ​or​ ​daily​ ​trail​ ​passes​ ​and merchandise​ ​at​ ​Nordic​ ​Centers​ ​and​ ​shops,​ ​discount​ ​on​ ​Annual​ ​Ranch2Ranch​ ​Trek,​ ​three​ ​free​ ​ski​ ​lessons​ ​with​ ​free equipment​ ​rental​ ​and​ ​day​ ​pass,​ ​invitations​ ​to​ ​club​ ​social​ ​events​ ​and​ ​races​ ​in​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​the​ ​community​ ​benefit​ ​of providing​ ​a​ ​local​ ​voice​ ​for​ ​Nordic​ ​skiing.

See you next Friday Oct 27 at the Nordic Swap at Snow Mountain Ranch to check out equipment, swap stories and enjoy dessert.  I’ll buy you a cup of coffee!!   Diana Lynn Rau, Grand Nordic President

Grand Lake organization calls for heightened water quality protection

The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission kicked off a multi-year rulemaking process that could result in heightened water quality protections for Grand Lake. On October 10th a scoping hearingwas held in Denve and the Outstanding Grand Lake Foundation proposed the designation of Grand Lake as an “Outstanding Water” under the Clean Water Act and state law. An Outstanding Waters designation is the highest tier classification and would limit the further degradation of Grand Lake’s waters.

Grand Lake is Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake, and it is located at the headwaters of the Colorado River and is surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park. Grand Lake is the focal point of the multimillion-dollar tourism economy in the region, and the lake is threatened by worsening water quality. A variety of factors have caused decreased water quality at Grand Lake, including population growth on the Front Range that requires more and more water to be pumped through the transmountain diversion system known as the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.

The water quality challenges facing Grand Lake have led public officials and business leaders to mobilize to protect Grand Lake, which is their most important community asset and greatest economic driver. Local proponents have formed a nonprofit organization, Outstanding Grand Lake Foundation, dedicated to maintaining and improving Grand Lake’s water quality. One of the organization’s initial campaigns is to designate Grand Lake as an Outstanding Water. The foundation also pursues sustainable tourism and environmental education objectives, under the Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce umbrella.

“We need to see the balance maintained in the ecology of the lake and the surrounding region,” said Samantha Bruegger, executive director of the Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. “We need more attention to water conservation practices on the Front Range to preserve this critical natural resource.”

The nonprofit law firm Earthjustice, is representing the group. “Grand Lake is a one-of-a-kind Colorado treasure,” said Michael Hiatt, a staff attorney at Earthjustice. “It is imperative we fully protect Grand Lake by using all of the tools the Clean Water Act provides.”

The scoping hearing is the first step in a three-year rulemaking process before the state Water Quality Control Commission. Additional hearings are scheduled for November 2018 and June 2019.

Town of Winter Park

Burying all the Power Lines. And Adding Fiber for Broadnband at same time.