Snow Stalls Biz, Changes Courses

Boat Tour Waiting on Water Rise

Yes, the calendar reads June 6 and folks are still talking about snow in Leadville Today. That’s because it’s continuing to impact events and businesses. The white stuff may have stopped falling from the sky, but it doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to be leaving the ground.

In southern Lake County, the Twin Lakes Interlaken Boat Tours has not been able to open for the season because they can’t get their vessel(s) in the lake due to low water levels. When the water you need to keep your business’ boat (literally) afloat is regulated by the Fryingpan-Arkansas Water Diversion Project, it’s not just about snow spring melt-off. Politics and water-rights also come into play.

Fortunately, some good news came this morning (June 6) from Terry Dawson, FryArk Project Water Resource Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, who provided the following water news.

“I’m still not releasing project water from Twin until we’re above 9174 at the bottom of the pumping cycle so we’ll have the boat ramp back in the water. I suspect that’ll happen this weekend.” FULL REPORT for June 6.

The Praying Angel, a shapely group of popular aspens at Twin Lakes, is slowly filling in its summer leaves above the low water levels for early June.

That’s good news for small businesses like the Twin Lakes Interlaken Boat Tours whose window of opportunity has already grown smaller as winter was kept seasonal mountain passes and area campgrounds closed a bit longer than usual this spring. So keep an eye and ear out for this shoreline enterprise’s opening date and then take a tour and tell a friend. Jim & Lexie Palmore will surely be making up for lost time and wages.

It’s worth noting that Twin Lakes Canoe & Kayak Adventures has its mobile unit set up near the Red Rooster Boat Ramp. So visitors can canoe, kayak and SUP – there’s enough water in Twin Lakes for that, it just might be very cold!

Marathon Course Re-Routed Due to Snow

Joining the push-and-shove match with Mother Nature is the Leadville Race Series who announced this morning that there will be a course change for the 2019 Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half to be held on Saturday, June 15. The race is SOLD OUT, but race officials stated on social media that they have been monitoring the extreme snow conditions from this past season very closely.

“At this time, we are anticipating a course change, which would include removing Mosquito Pass from the route,.” Was posted this morning on the LRS Facebook Page. Avalanches and heavy snow have caused snow banks to reach 20 ft in some areas, and clearing the course would be next to impossible.”

Looks like the plan is to keep the same start/finish line on E. 6th Street in front of the Sixth Street Gym, but re-route the direct charge east towards Mosquito Pass.

“Our team is working around the clock to create a new course that includes spectacular views with significant elevation gain, while maintaining the start/finish. We can assure you that the race will proceed and will still embody all things Leadville and the Leadville Race Series, but with some alterations,” the June 6 post concluded. Stay tuned.

Bears Awaken Hungry in Search of Food

Several sightings of bear paws and actual black bears have been reported in and around Leadville Today. It seems once the calendar turned to June, the slumbering black bears knew it was time to awaken from their long winter naps.

Along the popular Mineral Belt Trail, several bear prints were captured near the California Gulch area. Then down in Twin Lakes, a bear and a couple of cubs were spotted making the round in the neighborhood. There was a #bearalert as these beautiful, hungry creatures awaken and are on the hunt for food. Kelly Sweeney with the Friends of Twin Lakes shared this photo with Leadville Today of a bear that was recently making the rounds in Twin Lakes.

“He actually came within 30 feet of us when we were on the deck last night (June 2). He started to come up closer toward the deck even though we had eye contact. I firmly said “no.” He turned and ran like I shot him with a bean bag (that’s what they use to shoo the bears).” Fortunately, their neighborhood watch program includes a phone/communication relay concerning wildlife, bringing in the bird feeders, etc. The animals are on the move, so stay aware of your surroundings!

Bear! Thanks for the #photoshare from VisitTwinLakes.com.