Aspen News Follow-Up – Internet Service Issues in Pitkin County

A wireless icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A March 27, 2015, story in the local Aspen news media about internet service issues in Pitkin County caught our attention recently.

On that date, Aspen Public Radio (APR) aired a story about the inadequacies and unreliability of rural internet service in Pitkin County:  “Rural residents say unreliable internet impacting business, academics”. In particular, it appears that some residents in Old Snowmass are having issues with slow internet speeds in that area.

Loose Moose Near Aspen

English: Cow moose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With an early spring rearing its unseasonable head in the Aspen area this year, local’s thoughts are already turning to the return of summer activities like gardening, biking, hiking and generally just getting out and about in the outdoors.

The coming of spring and summer also means the increased wildlife activity, and of human-wildlife encounters in the area as well. While bear-human interactions tend to capture most of the headlines in this arena, I was reminded by Aspen Public Radio recently that human-moose encounters near Aspen also have been increasing over the years.

About Aspen and Snowmass – Why I’m Grateful I Live Here

Aspen Art Galleries (Photo credit: richpalpine)

I’m a little biased because I grew up here, but all of a sudden I find myself in the middle of the summer season in Aspen and I realize how truly grateful I am that I live here. First, a little background about Aspen and Snowmass:

Where is Aspen?

Aspen, Colorado is nestled in the Elk Mountain Range of the central Colorado Rockies, approximately 218 miles southwest of Denver. The town is known internationally as a high-end destination resort, luxurious vacation home locale and “Rocky Mountain playground for the rich and famous”.

Events in Aspen – USA Pro Challenge | Taj Mahal | Science Street Fair

Dr. Kaboom Aspen Science Street Fair 2013 (Photo credit: richpalpine)

As if one’s schedule of summer activities in Aspen wasn’t already filled to the brim with the “usual” outdoor pursuits, and cultural activities such as the Food & Wine Classic, art shows, the Aspen Music Festival and Aspen Institute events, when August arrives there are still more events in Aspen that await!

There was so much to choose from and work was taking up a lot of my time (I hate it when that happens), but I was fortunate to squeeze the annual Aspen Science Street Fair and the USA Pro Challenge into my busy schedule.

One of the lesser-known annual events in Aspen is the Science Street Fair, hosted by the AspenScienceCenter.

Things To Do In Aspen, Colorado - Some of My Favorites

I can’t believe it’s a new year already. It seems like it was just “yesterday” that I started blogging about various activities and things to do in Aspen, Colorado – it was actually March of 2012!

I’ve blogged about a lot of Aspen activities and events, from the annual Fourth of July parade, Aspen Music Festival performances and the 2012 USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race, to vegetable gardening and ballroom dancing; but it all started with posts about presentations hosted by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and the Aspen Center for Physics.

Here are some of last year’s posts about some of these presentations:

Aspen Colorado Activities – So Many Things to Do and See!

Aspen Events - 2012 USA Pro Challenge - Stage 4 Heading up Aspen Street (Photo credit: richpalpine)

What a busy summer and fall this has been for me here in Aspen, Colorado. There are always so many varied activities to enjoy and participate in that it’s just impossible to partake of all of them.

I guess I really should be grateful that I have so many to choose from, and as I look back at this past summer and fall, I realize how many activities I actually was involved in.

Colorado Fall – Snowmen, Bears, and Pumpkins

Aspen Snowman - Taking A Break (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One of things I love most about fall in Colorado is the diversity in climate, weather, and all of the variety of activities available at this time of the year.

Last week my step-daughter, Michelle, and her two children, Elizabeth and Sean, traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas to visit us here in Colorado.

The plans were to “see snow falling” in Aspen and to carve pumpkins later on at their cousin’s place in Palisade. I was also hoping that they might be able to get a glimpse of one of Aspen’s infamous bears.

 

 

Aspen Events – 2012 USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race in Action

Ok, so I got more than just “helmet shots” at the first Aspen stage of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race. I also got over my resentment of having my optimum viewing location blocked by the VIP tents.

Even though I still couldn’t see the much-anticipated Aspen events right from in front of my house, only one-half block away from the finish line, I had only to move less than one-half block up the course to find just a little room to get a few decent shots of the events – in particular the women’s Aspen Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge  race. I did manage to get a couple of decent photos of the men sprinting to the finish line.

Aspen Events – Bicycle Races - Coors Classic to USA Pro Challenge

USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race -  Aspen Event
Pre-Race view (credit: richpalpine)

Now that the 2012 Aspen Music Festival season has officially come to an end, the town has been focused on the next big event, the 2012 USA ProChallenge premier bicycle race. 

Nicknamed “America’s Race”, this event has created a frenzy of pre-race activity and anticipation in Aspen, as well as all of the other Colorado host cities. For the next, few days, activities in these towns will concentrate on the preparation for and execution of this event, hoping that it will bring some much-desired exposure to the state and what it has to offer outside of  the perhaps better-known winter outdoor activities of skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.

While an event of this nature is relatively new for many of the hosting Colorado communities, in Aspen it offers the opportunity to resurrect summertime bicycle race glory of bygone days.  Remember the Coors Classic?

LIVE FROM ASPEN - MARS ROVER MISSION STICKS ITS LANDING!

English: Artist's rendering of a Mars Exploration Rover. Français : Vue d'artiste d'un Mars Exploration Rover (litt. « rover d'exploration martienne »). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

"We’re Safe On Mars!”

Ok, actually I am safe in Aspen and this blog is supposed to be about Aspen – so why am I writing about the Mars Curiosity Rover?

Although I haven’t yet been able to find any direct ties between Aspen and the current Mars Curiosity Rover mission or the 2012 London Summer Olympics, the concurrence of these momentous events just begged for a post with this title.

ASPEN ACTIVITIES -- COMMUNITY DANCE FEATURING FOXTROT TWO-STEP

My back hurt, my feet ached, and I was exhausted – oh boy did I have a great time at the latest Aspen Community Social Dance! No, really – I had a blast.  The aches and the tiredness resulted from having loads of fun at this dance – I didn’t want to sit down to take a break!

Last Saturday (like every third Saturday of the month), organizers, Junee Kirk and Mel Taylor, and the rest of the crew treated us once again to one of our favorite Aspen activities, the monthly Aspen Community Social Dance, this time preceded by intermediate cha-cha-cha and beginning Foxtrot/Two-step lessons from instructor, Susan Kosch.  A birthday party even broke out!

Unfortunately, we were not able to make it to the cha-cha-cha lesson, but we did arrive in time for the foxtrot/two-step lesson which was great for us  because it not only helped solidify our basic foxtrot steps, but it also allowed us to practice these steps (and turns) to country-western Texas two-step tunes.

ASPEN COLORADO EVENTS & ACTIVITIES - 2012 4TH OF JULY PARADE

Aspen events are always fun and entertaining and the 2012 4th of July was no exception.  One of my favorite activities is the annual Aspen 4th of July parade. Here were some of the highlights:

Some pretty interesting critters were floating around the 2012 Aspen, Colorado 4th of July parade

Created with flickr slideshow.  More 4th of July Parade 2012 Photos from Aspen, Colorado   (Love having the front-row view!)

Aspen, colorado 4th of july parade 2012

View more presentations from AlpineRich.

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