Catch The Big Game at 10,152 feet!

Leadville Plans Super Bowl Parties

The big game is this Sunday, Feb. 3. So if you’re wondering where Two-Mile-High football fans will be watching Super Bowl LIII from Atlanta Georgia, Leadville Today has got you covered. Whether you’re cheering on the New England Patriots or the Los Angeles Rams you can find some football fun and fiestas at 10,152 feet. Kick off time locally isn’t until 4:30 p.m. with pre-game entertainment and coverage beginning at noon.

Here are your Super Sunday options in Leadville:

The Pastime Bar & Café located at 120 W 2nd Street.

This historic bar is likely to have the most jersey-wearing fans! The Pastime will be proving football zealots with some snacks, including chips and salsa and nacho cheese. Their kitchen will also be open for all other orders like burgers and wings. Drink specials include $5 buckets of Bud Light 7 oz bottles, and $6 for Coronita 7 oz bottle buckets. If you’re visiting, you’re likely to find some new enthusiastic, pigskin-loving friends down in Leadville’s former Red Light District. A cool place to hang with lots of Leadville history!

Periodic Brewing, located at 115 E. 7th Street.

Leadville’s favorite brewpub and an action-packed gridiron go together like beer, and . . . anything! Whether you’re sipping on a Sugarloaf Amber Ale or raising your glass to your favorite team with a hearty Maple Bacon Amber, at Pb beer is elemental. Football fans can join their viewing party for The Big Game this Sunday. It’s sure to be an exciting game. Come early to grab your favorite spot and some lunch. Periodic Brewing have some beer cocktails on the menu too.

New paint on the historic bar’s front door signals a new chapter for the Harrison Avenue mainstay. Come see what’s new at the Silver Dollar Saloon!

The Silver Dollar Saloon is located at 316 Harrison Avenue.

If you haven’t been in to check out the Silver Dollar Saloon‘s new menu since their recent renovations, Super Sunday is a great day to do so. From their Silver Dollar Catfish to their new whiskey-honey wings, come and check out the Dollar’s new culinary chapter on Sunday, Feb. 2. And for your viewing pleasure, there are plenty of TVs for viewing and plenty of seating in the back room!

Treeline Kitchen is located at 615 Harrison Avenue.

While Leadville’s newest eatery on historic Harrison Avenue is known more for its food than watching football, folks at the Treeline still appreciate the excitement of The Big Game. Guests are invited to join other fans in The Treeline Kitchen‘s upstairs lounge for the big game. Eat, drink, watch, and relax. Please note that seating is limited, so please plan accordingly.

The Scarlet Tavern is located 326 Harrison Avenue.

Plenty of big-screen TVs and open space for cheering on your favorite team is what you’ll find at The Scarlet.  They have a good selection of beer-on-tap, including your favorite micro-brew. If you’re hungry, nearby High Mountain Pies and the food trucks across the street are willing to serve you up some game grub that is welcome to be consumed at this corner bar in downtown Leadville.

Leadville’s Periodic Brewing on E. 7th Street will be a hot-spot for The Big Game!

Dog Sled Races Return to Two-Miles-High

It’ll be another doubleheader in February for dog sled race lovers as the Colorado Mountain Mushers (CMM) retrieves its popular Mt. Massive Mush I & II. On the first and third weekends in February, these fast-paced, team take-ons will be returning to Lake County for some crowd-pleasing, canine competition that leaves everyone howling for more.

Spectators, dog-lovers and competitors are invited to join the fun on Feb 2 – 3 and Feb. 23-24, as CMM transforms America’s highest golf course and the adjacent US Forest Service property into a series of courses that loop and wind through spruce-lined trails which sit in the shadow of Colorado’s two tallest peaks, Mts Elbert and Massive.

Started in 2016, the Mt. Massive Mush expanded quickly to include two weekends of racing. And in its third year expects to host some 30 sleddog teams at each event, according to Bill Bockstiege, CMM Director.

“We will have a number of different categories for racers,” explained Bockstiege. “Sled, skijor, fat-tire bikejor, canicross and novice classes will be offered.” The races will have separate distance races for each category. Sled category includes:

• 1 mile in novice
• 4 mile- 4 dog,
• 6 mile- 6 dog
• 8 to 12 mile- 8 dog teams in the sled category.

In addition, the competitions will include skijor, bikejor, and canicross which will have 1, 2, and 3 dog categories.

Colorado Mountain Mushers has been involved with dog races since 1989, educating people about sled dogs. The club is an offshoot from the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club and looks to specifically highlight the family aspect of the sport. Every spring CMM holds an annual banquet, then during the summer they do a picnic for everyone to get together and socialize, and in early fall CMM hosts a group camp out at Camp Hale just north of Leadville. The club is very proactive in community outreach ranging from classroom visits at schools to canine community dog fairs.

The club also provides a public voice in relevant legislation that impacts dog sledding in Colorado. They partner with Mush With PRIDE, a coalition that fosters ethical treatment and raising of sled dogs. As they continue to grow they encourage more involvement from communities like Leadville and individuals with similar interests.

If you are interested in competing or volunteering for these races, please contact Bill Bockstiege by email at getupdogs@gmail.com or connect with the Colorado Mountain Mushers on their official Facebook page.

Leadville Loppet Raises Funds for MBT

On Saturday, Feb.16 the Mineral Belt Trail (MBT) Committee will host its 16^th Annual Leadville Loppet.  This is a cross country skiing race involving 5K, 10K and 22K sprints through the Colorado Mountain College and the Mineral Belt Trail (MBT).  Funds derived from the participants’ entry fees are used for the care and maintenance of the MBT.

The Leadville Loppet has two classes: Nordic and freestyle.  The race course starts and ends at the base of Dutch Henri Hill off of HWY 24 South of Leadville. From there skiers glide through a rolling, forested network of trails, leading racers on to the MBT, where climbs and descends await. The tracks follow along abandoned rail grades left behind from Leadville’s mining era, offering a passing history lesson to the skinny skiers. It’s a one-of-a-kind course which should be laden (and groomed) with fresh snow.

The Loppet has also been added to the list of American Birkebeiner qualifiers!  Skiers will be able to utilize results from either the 22 or 44 km race for improving their wave placement for the Birkie or Korte. More details on that can be found HERE.

Registration is currently open online for classic and freestyle 44K, 22K, & 10K distances, plus a 5K and 1K fun race, where costumes are encouraged! If you plan on joining the fun this year, be sure to register in the next week, as the price goes up February 1.

But whether you are putting in some training laps for the Loppet, or just getting out on the MBT for a Sunday outing, this Leadville Winter Trail offers everything you need to enjoy the colder season at 10,152 feet. It’s also a true testament to the pioneering spirit, honoring the unique mining heritage of the dis­trict while providing recreational bene­fits to the community and its visitors. Make sure it’s on your list of Happy (Winter) Trails in Leadville!