Outdoors: IndyBlog, Colorado Springs Independent

No Rainbow Falls in your future

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:20:07 -0600

Remember when Rainbow Falls was known as "Graffiti Falls"?

Well, if not, let me catch you up. Rainbow is a pretty little waterfall just outside Manitou Springs.…

Help two CC alums 'rediscover' the prairie

Edie Adelstein — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:22:00 -0600

In 1806, Thomas Jefferson predicted that it would take 100 generations or more to inhabit the western U.S. He had sent Lewis and Clark to forge a path from the Missouri River to the sea and inspect the vast lands the country had just acquired via the Louisiana Purchase.

It didn't take 100 generations.…

Have a say in oil and gas leasing of Pike forest

Pam Zubeck — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:18:00 -0600

Quick: Name the largest city abutting the Pike and San Isabel national forests and Cimarron and Comanche national grasslands (PSICC).

That's easy, right?…

Strong turnout for local race in Boston's name

Miguel Bustamante — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:47:00 -0600

Yesterday the Pikes Peak Road Runners hosted a 5k to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. Stephanie Wurtz, coordinator of the quickly organized event, estimates that 400 to 500 runners came out.…

The Springs honors Boston

Miguel Bustamante — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:54:00 -0600

Often at the Independent we look forward to brightening your week with fun articles, witty commentary, and entertaining local news. But sometimes we find ourselves affected by non-local news, as was the case a few weeks ago when the country became transfixed by the events at the Boston Marathon.…

Hickenlooper throws down the lawsuit gauntlet

Chet Hardin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:46:39 -0700

Gov. John Hickenlooper is going to sue any municipality that bans fracking. That's what the governor told CBS4 in Denver.…

A cut below on Craigslist

Bill Forman — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:56:05 -0700

Most of us have experienced that uncomfortable moment when we find ourselves tagged in an online photo that makes us look, well, horrible.

So just imagine how this Colorado Springs backyard feels right now.…

Colorado Springs on Ride the Rockies route

J. Adrian Stanley — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:26:07 -0700

As consolation prizes go, this one isn't bad.

Colorado Springs was passed over to host a stage of the U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge over the summer, but it will be on the route for Ride the Rockies, which is expected to bring 2,000 cyclists to town, the Colorado Springs Business Journal is reporting.…

Celebrate the New Year with AdAmAn's 90th anniversary

Craig Lemley — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:28:00 -0700

It pales in comparison to ascending Pikes Peak in the dead of winter, we know. But in honor of the AdAmAn Club’s 90th anniversary, the Indy's forging ahead with a narrated slideshow.…

Pikes Peak to open to bikes

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:38:25 -0700

Good news for cyclists: The Pikes Peak Highway will soon be open to them year-round.

The announcement comes after a successful September pilot program that opened the road to bikes.…

UPDATE: Motorcycle group leader not giving up on Captain Jack's

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:47:11 -0700

It's the end of an era for local off-road motorcyclists.

The U.S. Forest Service will close Captain Jack's trail and other trails in the Bear Creek watershed to motorized vehicles on Monday.…

Lisa C. makes cover of local cycling mag

J. Adrian Stanley — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:19:27 -0700

City Councilor Lisa Czelatdko has made a name for herself by saying exactly what she thinks — whether online or from the dais.

But it turns out that the outspoken Councilor is also an tough cookie on a bicycle.…

Give back to your trees

J. Adrian Stanley — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:36:21 -0600

There is likely some event this year that has made you appreciate our trees.

It could be something dramatic — seeing acres of beetle-kill pines in the high country, or watching the Waldo Canyon Fire eating up our own backyard.…

Let the annual aspen viewing continue

Matthew Schniper — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:18:39 -0600

A couple weeks ago, I shared this blog photo spread titled "Let the annual aspen viewing begin."

Now, after another really rapid weekend road trip this past weekend, I'd like to share some more images that I captured in the Ouray, Telluride, Durango and Pagosa Springs regions.…

Have your trees checked, state says

Pam Zubeck — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:13:44 -0600

In case you haven't had enough bad news about our forests over the summer, with the Waldo Canyon Fire and now flooding and debris flows, here's something else to worry about: insect infestations.

Today, the Colorado State Forest Servicehttp://csfs.colostate.edu/index.shtml issued a notice that this is a good time to have trees inspected for bugs.…

Greenway gets a scrubbing

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:41:38 -0600

Thanks to a batch of energetic volunteers, Monument and Fountain creeks have less trash lying around. More than 200 people volunteered for the cleanup on Sept. 29.

The Fountain Creek Watershed Greenway Fund is part of the Pikes Peak Community Fund.…

Get ready for Reel Rock 7

Matthew Schniper — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:44:16 -0600

A post on Reel Rock Film Tour's Twitter page, dated Sept. 21:

Psyched on all the REEL ROCK 7 love! Sold out shows for the past two weeks, hell yeah!…
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Public lands: What are they good for?

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:21:03 -0600

With Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan due in to Colorado Springs later today, the newly formed Center for Western Priorities has released some questions constituents might want to ask him.

The group is run by Trevor Kincaid, former communications director for the campaign of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

But the questions should transcend politics.…

Let the annual aspen viewing begin

Matthew Schniper — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:24:03 -0600

Each year around this time, many of us city folk flock to the hills in Colorado to view the aspens changing color.

And by saying that, I'm telling you nothing that you don't already know.…

Finally: Some good news for our forests

J. Adrian Stanley — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:40:16 -0600

Yesterday, we got a lot of rain. Good for some areas.…

Bikes allowed on Pikes Peak during test period

J. Adrian Stanley — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:59:55 -0600

For local cyclists, it's long been a gripe: No bikes are allowed on the Pikes Peak Highway.

At least not on most days.…

UPDATE: Carmichael talks Pro Cycling Challenge

Jeff Koch — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:47:28 -0600

When it comes to cycling in the Springs, there's perhaps no more important figure than former U.S. Olympic racer, current personal trainer and Springs resident Chris Carmichael.

Back in 1984, Carmichael competed in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and was part of the first American cycling team to compete in the Tour de France two years later.…

Down the river with a paddle

Sara Horton — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:55:22 -0600

Author, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau penned his thoughts about rivers in A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, a book about his and his brother's two-week expedition in the wilderness. Will Stauffer-Norris, Zak Podmore, David Spiegel and Carson McMurray will record their experiences in a similar fashion starting today, when they head downstream the Colorado River from La Poudre Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park.…

Counting trail users

Pam Zubeck — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:36:05 -0600

Counting how many cars travel certain roads is pretty easy. Just lay down a rubber hose that's connected to a counter do-hickey and let the machine do the work.…

Tips from PPUG on saving hail-damaged plants

Matthew Schniper — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:12:30 -0600

If you have yet to take action in your garden following the hailstorms, Larry Stebbins from Pikes Peak Urban Gardensoffers the following tips for trying to save hail-damaged plants:

Pick damaged fruit (even if immature) from your fruit trees and discard them to your compost pile.

Trim back your annual flowers (if there is anything left) and fertilize lightly with diluted fish emulsion and seaweed extract.…
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