Saturday, May 31, 2008

Memorial Day, Camping and Mountain Biking in Colorado


The day after the Memorial Day weekend proves to be a good day of reflection of what lies ahead as the summer vacation season has now officially begun. In our first two years we have focused on winter in the mountains primarily, but now you will see our group begin to focus and provide more information and detail on summer activities in the mountains. Activities like mountain biking, camping, hiking, rafting, fly fishing guides and resort based events and activities where be our initial focus. Look for national and state based ides and directories over the coming months this summer. We have just published our first rafting and fly fishing guides, with several vendors offering discounted trips and online booking options to make planning your next mountain endeavor easier.

We had the good fortune to get out for an evening of camping this weekend at Buffalo Creek Campground located in the Pike National Forest of Colorado. Conveniently located with easy access from the front range it was our first time camping here. I had come to mountain bike ride several years ago as it is home to a wide range of classic and epic single track riding that is part of the Colorado Trail network. In searching for direction online I was surprised at how few and lacking directions were online.

In an effort to enable you to find this location we were able to finally get a physical address of the main Buffalo Creek Campsite. On the sign entering the campground we deciphered 28718 Red Skin Creek Road as the exact address in the Pike National Forest. Getting there was relatively easy as we made our way south from Boulder down Route 93, past Golden, Red Rocks and into Morrison. There we worked our way to Highway 285 past Conifer to Pine Junction. Take a left onto County Road 126 – Pine Valley Road – and continue 5 plus miles toward the town of Pine. Once here keep going past the first temptation, to not turn on Buffalo Creek Road as you enter town. On the left is a ranger office as well. Be sure to go through town and follow up the hill to you have reached the summit and you will see clearly marked signs on your right hand side. There is a quick turn in on the right for day parking for those here to simply take advantage of the great riding for the day. For those not able to send a night or three camping this is still a must ride area for the devout and serious mountain bike enthusiast.

Note the riding is not for hard core alpha only riders. There is quite a bit of variety for those who simply want great rolling single track surrounded but forest and great views of the mountain peak s surrounding the area. The area was hit hard several years ago with a dramatic fire that burned significant parts of the region. The riding through the recovering forest provides a sometimes eerie sense and now with the vegetation starting to recover, a chance to see mother nature’s recuperative powers. Check out the photo gallery we posted at My Mountain Sports Club.

Altitude – Ranges 7,000 – 9,000 feet. Drink lots of water and be sure to bring sunscreen and a shell for after noon showers.

Campgrounds – Lone rock campground, No web site found yet – 303.647.2350 and Meadows Creek which has great group camping. Our weekend here was part of a large group that spends each Memorial day here. See photo gallery for views of campground, riding and cooking options.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Mountain Sports Club in the News - Spotlight at SkiTownJournal.com

The growing Mountain Sports Club presence and acceptance continues to lead to new media coverage. This past month a front page story was run titled - "The Evolution of Ski Card International.

This is a very insightful interview and article wiht founder John Siewierski on the backgroupnd thinking an dplans for our prmotional online service and community.

Here is a sneak preview of the article and interview:

"Mountain Sports Club also becomes valuable tool for other associated businesses including all those retailers who are not good at collecting information such as email, names and addresses. This current iteration is able to reach out well past just lift tickets and help the merchants and shops."

"And of course it is much more economical to be in a digital world than in a print and mail order world. We can really engage the customer now, and in so many more ways with the new 2.0 web technology."

While his ideas, and the ideas of the web's great innovators are sometimes slow to catch on, Siewierski firmly believes he has the right product for the right audience.
"The mountain visitor - they are much more savvy. From a technology standpoint they are the early adopters. I believe we can do for mountain resorts communities and activities what a AAA has done for vacation and travelers."

"Our goal is to be very focused and have a very rich offering for mountain resorts and communities. Widespread participation is developing. We make online booking and reservations very easy and we strive to really be a glue for many facets of the industry."

Look for more details on new prmotional programs and particpants over the summer and early Fall 2008.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Late Spring and Summer Ski Update

Wiinter keeps hanging out in parts of the Rocky Mountains and a few areas are keeping the the lifts open and/or extending their seasons.


Here are a couple of updates we found on the web at the Ski Area Management site:

New York State's Windham Mountain is reopening on Saturday, May 24 to host a rail jam for diehards. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the 24th. Because of the event’s location at the base of the mountain, no lifts will be running, but food and beverage operations will be open.

Utah, Snowbird will continue to operate on a limited schedule, with selected lifts through the weekend of May 30, and will shoot for a possible July 4 closing should conditions permit.

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin is the last to remain open in the state, with a June 8 closing day. Check out recent photo galleries of spring skiing, beach party and hikes to the North Pole terrain.

In California, Mammoth Mountain has scheduled May 26 as the mountain’s final day to run the lifts.

Farther west, both Timberline’s Palmer snowfield on Mt. Hood and Blackcomb’s glacier will remain open deep into summer. Timberline’s season is expected to go until September 1, with operations on the Blackcomb glacier commencing June 9 and running through July 27.

Blackcomb resort will close on June 8 and the mountain’s Wizard Chair and Solar Coaster Chair are closed for maintenance through June 8, but will reopen on June 9 for glacier skiing.)

Sunday, May 18, 2008

K2 Public Enemy Twin Tip Ski now On Sale 40% off


The deal of the week at Ski Chalet is now the popular K2 Public Enemy twin tip ski.


The K2 Public Enemy twin tip ski was designed and tested by the K2 Factory Team riders as the ideal park and pipe ski with all-mountain versatility. Built with an 85mm waist width, new urethane sidewalls underfoot and the stiffest torsion flex construction in the twin tip line makes stomping landings or ripping around the entire mountain with added confidence and stability.


The K2 Public Enemy has set the standard for years in the twin tip ski category. At this off season price of only $337.43, you save over $200. Buy these now as they are sure to be long gone at this price when the next winter ski season arrives. Ski Chalet is clearing out last year's ski inventory to make room for next years skis and more.

Features
Twin tip
Triaxial Braided Core
ABS/Urethane Hybrid Sidewall
Tip and Tail Rivets
3.5mm Steel Edges


We'll continue to browse our partners site to highlight the top deals on heavily discounted skis and gear for your next mountain adventure.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Special spring and summer membership drive. Save on lift tickets and more.....

Special spring and summer membership drive. The Mountain Sports Club premium membership retails for $29.95. This valuable membership offers premium members savings of up to 50% on purchases, services, lodging, lift tickets, travel and more at top resorts throughout North America.

Register now and enter promo code spring08 to receive specially priced membership for only $6.95, for one year from date of registration and start saving.

The Mountain Sports Club membership offered member lift ticket discounts at over 50 resorts in North America during the winter 2008. Lodging discounts and online booking of discounted travel was available at most major destination resorts and through over 2,000 different lodging properties. More resorts, lodges and merchants are being added weekly.

Resorts offering lift ticket discounts and savings:
Alyeska, Kirkwood, Squaw Valley, Loveland, Crested Butte, Monarch Mountain, Sunlight Mountain, Diamond Peak, Shawnee, Shawnee Peak, Windham Mountain, Mad River Glen, Ski Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Cranmore Mountain, Tenney Mountain, Whaleback, Wildcat, Gunstock, Pats Peak, Smugglers Notch, Ski Cooper, Powderhorn, June Mountain, Mission Ridge, Saddleback, Plattekill Mountain, Holiday Mountain, Baldy Mountain, King Pine, Ski Denton, Camelbeach, Magic Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Tamarack, Big Sky, Moonlight Basin, The Canyons, Arapahoe Basin, Snowbird, Park City,Angel Fire, Red River and more…

Mountain Sports Club members enjoy lift ticket savings at over 50 resorts nationwide. Resorts from California, Colorado, New York, Vermont, Utah, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and more. The 2008-09 winter season will offer more and more benefits for members to save at an ever growing list of resorts and merchants providing members with valuable savings.Have a special promotion code and offer? Once setting up your FREE basic membership, follow the links to upgrade account to complete activation of your premium membership.

Start saving now on lift tickets discounts, lodging discounts, travel savings and more.Special spring and summer membership offer. Spring special offer now only $6.95 for one year. Use promotion code spring08 when upgrading to redeem discounted membership offer.

Questions call us at 303.554.6555 Monday - Friday 9-4 Mountain Time.