Live Well Estes: Summer 2020

2 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

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In this issue

Hiking Well ....... 4 Staying Well ..... 5 Recreating Well 6 Working Out Well ........................ 7 Handling Finances Well ................. 8 Homebuying Well ............... 10 Viewing Well ... 11 Reader’s Choice Awards 2020 . 12 Connecting Well ............... 15 Decorating Well ............... 16 Caring for your Hair Well ........ 17 Living Well ...... 18

Live well, move well, be well L

iving well means so many different things to all of us. It includes being healthy, investing wisely, getting plenty of exercise and taking advantage of all of the beauty and opportunity the Rocky Mountains offer in the summertime.

In this issue, you will read about ways to live well, move well and eat well. From home decorating to hair care and finances, you will find helpful advice in these pages.

As a bonus, we are including our Reader’s Choice article with a list of those services and locations those who read the Estes Park Trail-Gazette and visit our website consider the best in their category.

Chances are you will learn something new about our community and the amenities our mountain home has to

eVRPD / Courtesy photo

Summer is a great time to focus on wellness in Estes Park.

offer.

As you flip through these pages, please notice the many sponsors who have made this special magazine possible. We want to thank them for their support, even as all of us

strive to support them during these trying times.

Live well, Estes!

Wendy Rigby Managing Editor Mike Romero Publisher

Think the golden years aren’t golden? Think again.

Top 10 reasons being older is better 10. Young people learn from your wisdom.

9. Embarrassment is no longer a concern.

8. Having common sense.

7. You don’t need to do the dumb things you had to do when you were young, like worry about what people think.

6. You can get fatter and you don’t care.

5. Life teaches you the things you need to know.

4. Naps anytime.

3. No work, school, or alarm clocks.

2. Senior discounts!

1. People are friendlier when you have gray hair!

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 3

HIKING WELL

Hiking the Rockies

Photos by Wendy Rigby • Estes Park Trail-Gazette

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

Pole Hill

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ne of the great joys of living in the beautiful mountain town of Estes Park is the ability to get outside and walk around in nature.

Summer is the perfect time to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trail.

Most locals and visitors have their favorites, but the staff of the Trail-Gazette has been exploring and documenting hikes to help people branch out and try simple hikes they may not have attempted before.

The hike to the top of Pole Hill takes you to to an elevation of 8,683 feet.

Just outside Estes Park on Highway 36, you can hike about a half-mile up a steep incline to an elevation of 8,683 feet.

The trail is considered “moderately

trafficked.”

When you get to the top and look down on the town, you can see a glittering Lake Estes, the majestic Stanley

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4 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

Hotel and the towering Historic Park Theater. Just beyond is an image of the still snow-capped Rocky Mountains in all of their splendor.

Looking to the right, you get a birds’-eye view of Lumpy Ridge and the other rocky features on the east side of the Rockies. And, of course, you are surrounded by forest, looking at the trees in the gorgeous Roosevelt National Forest.

Hermit Park’s Homestead Meadows

A fantastic place to hike outside of Rocky Mountain National Park is the Budding aspens Hermit Park Open line the trail from the Space, a Homestead 1,362-acre Meadows natural area Trailhead in about twoHermit Park and-a-half Open Space. miles southeast of Estes Park off of Hwy. 36.

The property is managed by Larimer County Natural Resources. The land ranges in elevation from 7,880 to 8,964 feet.

From the Homestead Meadows Trailhead, hikers can take what is described as one of the most popular loops, setting out on Moose Meadow Trail, then Limber Pine Trail and finally the trail to the Krueger Equestrian Campground. From there, you follow the road

back to the trailhead.

The distance is 3.2 miles (more than 10,000 steps) and the elevation range is 281 feet.

The first part of the trail is lined with bright green budding aspens. As you ascend the trail, you are able to see snow-covered peaks in the distance, including Mount Dunraven and Longs Peak.

At certain rock outcroppings, there are fabulous 180-degree vistas that give you a wonderful idea of the terrain, from meadows and forests to rocky hills and snow-capped mountains.

This was a great journey through aspen groves, small meadows, dense pine forests and unique rock formations.

Lily Ridge Trail

A wonderful hike that you can complete in less than two hours is the Lily Ridge Trail The trail levels inside out at the top of Rocky Mountain a ridge that National provides spectacular Park off of views of Lily Highway 7 Lake below and south of an incredibly Estes Park. different look at A walk Longs Peak. around the lake itself is more of a stroll, but if you take the Lily Ridge Trail, you can get more exercise and see some spectacular and unexpected views. see Hiking, pg. 22

STAYING WELL

EPH wellness initiatives, progress

By Estes Park Health For the Trail-Gazette

care services help folks with minor injuries or illnesses get appropriate care without espite the great chalhaving to visit the EPH lenges in health care Emergency Department. in 2020, Estes Park In addition, we moved our Health has had a remarkably Rehabilitative Services progressive year so far. In (physical, speech, and occufact, there have been many with an opportunity to finally pational therapy) and many silver linings that have result- build an Urgent Care Center of our Specialty Clinic serviced from the challenges of at a wonderful mid-town loca- es to that new building. The 2020. Safety of patients, visition at 420 Steamer Drive. view from our Rehab gym is tors, and staff has always With the building owners breathtaking. The Urgent been, and always will be, at (Alarado), Saunders Heath Care Center has been a the forefront of every action Construction, and many oth- remarkable success already, we take, and we’ve been able er participating contractors and we expect it to be a key to make several key advance- and suppliers, and with help part of healthcare in Estes ments in safe, quality care for from the Town of Estes Park Park for many years to come. our Estes community. and the state overseers, we In addition to this great First and foremost, after were able to open the Urgent step forward for local healthmany years of needing a true Care Center in late May of care, EPH has made great urgent care facility in Estes 2020, just in time for the busy strides at the EPH campus at Park, EPH was presented tourist season. Our urgent 555 Prospect Avenue. In

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the “Classic”

the “My friend is a quilter”

the “Hiker”

the “Wild West”

March, the state-mandated COVID shutdown of elective and non-critical servicesslowed things down. In May and June, we’ve been able to safely reopen our elective surgeries, our clinic, and other services to our community. During the shutdown, EPH built out additional negative-pressure rooms to handle COVID and other infectious diseases with maximum safety. We went from having two negative pressure rooms to a surge capacity of ten such rooms.

In addition, we were able to launch our new telehealth program. This has long been a goal of EPH, to provide the see EPH, pg. 11

estesvalleylibrary.org live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 5

RECREATING WELL

Get outside and play!

By Lisa VonBargen, EVRPD Community Engagement Manager For the Trail-Gazette

T

EVRPD / Courtesy photo

The Water Wars series lets kids run through sprinklers, launch water balloons and play on a Slip-N-Slide.

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here are endless research studies that describe the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of exercising outdoors.

With everything going on in our world today, these scientific reasons are more valid than ever before. One of the most important aspects of this is simply the sense of joy that you experience when you’re doing something fun outside. Remember when you were a kid; the feeling of heading out the door on a warm sunny summer morning? Maybe you were going to ride your bike or play ball with some friends. Maybe you were a lucky kid whose family took a trip to Estes Park and you were going on a mountain hike or got to go on a paddleboat on Lake Estes.

That’s the feeling we want you to have again, and that’s the reason we are passionate about offering recreational opportunities to our youth and adult populations, both residents and visitors, in Estes Park.

Pickle ball is a sport that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Lauren Pavlish, our Adult Recreation Coordinator, organized a series of pickle ball challenges at the outdoor courts in Stanley Park.

Pavlish remarked, “It was tricky to re-vamp our existing plans for a pickle ball tournament series. We put social distancing protocols in place and reduced the number of participants and spectators.

Fortunately, we have a loyal

group of players who are making this work and having a great time in the process!”

One member of that loyal group is Patty Bartlett, who, with her husband, divides residence between Estes Park and Green Valley, AZ. She described the pickle ball community as friendly competitors who are generous sharing their knowledge of the game with new players.

“Once you play pickle ball with a group of people, they are your friends for life!

Those of us who travel always bring our paddles and are able to find opportunities to play on websites that feature clinics and court locations around the country”.

There’s one pickle ball challenge left this summer on Friday, July 24 from 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the Stanley Park Pickle Ball Courts. Registration deadline: July 22; sign up at evrpd.com.

Putting a youth recreation program together for the summer of social distancing was even more daunting. All camps were cancelled.

Things that under normal circumstances would be indoors, such as gymnastics, were moved outside to picnic shelters. Our recreation staff, Nolan Oberg, Lauren Pavlish and “O” Stadnichuck created some very successful programming despite the social distancing challenges. Oberg commented, ”As a dad of 3 young boys during a pandemic, I feel strongly that we especially need to do everything in our power to safely provide recreational opportunities for Estes Park youth.

We have had to get creative, see outside, pg. 14

WORKING OUT WELL

Gyms are now open

By Deb Holmes For the Trail-Gazette

doesn’t harm lungs and equipment, masks, gloves, signs.

The list is serious. ell, the world of As mandated, strict rules exercising in a gym have been in place since openor indoor facility has ing our facility in June. There changed dramatically these are only a limited number of last few months and the people allowed in the facility at change isn’t pleasant at all. any given time, machines are Like every other business in spaced six feet apart, masks town, our local gyms, fitness, are required to be worn, recreation and indoor exermachines are cleaned before cise facilities were forced to and after each person uses it, shut their doors for 6-8 weeks high touch areas are disinfectonly to reopen under strict ed every hour, doors are open guidelines. and attic fan is on to promote With the knowledge that increased circulation. Our exercise and fitness are unde- staff is there to make sure niable barriers for the human rules are followed and that body against many disease proper disinfecting is continuMedX / Courtesy photo and aging processes. It’s been ous. There is not much more Lauren Davis, Exercise Science Intern from Ball State, makes sure every machine is wiped down between every member. proven, in science and in real that can be done to assure life, that practicing regular members safety against Covidexercise and fitness prolong 19 inside our facility. and improve quality of life, There are various sides and even during yearly epidemic multiple opinions on mask flu seasons and unprecedent- wearing and the health and ed pandemics. safety when wearing them.

Unfortunately, the fear that We agree that it’s not pleasant still lingers in the world today exercising while wearing a about COVID-19 has us wormask. In fact, it’s downright ried that people aren’t getting miserable. Fact is that the Lartheir regular exercise and in imer county mandate does not particular their strength train- require that a mask be worn ing. It’s been over three during exercising if it inhibits months and that’s too long to the participants ability to parremain sedentary. There is ticipate. However, we do absolutely no reason to fear require a mask indoors and your indoor workout facility we ask all individuals to be any longer. responsible for theirs and disThey, like all indoor places tancing. that are essential, have gone What’s most important, is above and beyond the meathat the gyms and indoor facilsures that were mandated in ities need you to return. Not order to open their doors for only for your own health and DESIGN | FURNITURE | ACCESSORIES your return. This required wellness, but for their financial increased expenditures dursuccess. Every membership CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE ing the closure when income that returns gives our busiYOUR DESIGN CONSULTATION was nonexistent. Things like nesses a chance to survive. moving equipment to space Currently, between 25 to 30 (970) 586-5655 properly, separating therapy percent of members have 356 EAST ELKHORN AVENUE UNIT 12A from fitness, disinfecting carreturned and that won’t keep pets and floors, purchasing the doors open for long. It’s www.niche-designhouse.com stronger disinfectant that time to get back to your gym!

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live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 7

HANDLING FINANCES WELL

Financial wellness in uncertain times

By Ryan Bross, Bank of Colorado Vice President For the Trail-Gazette

may make sense to refinance and reduce your interest rate, and potentially consolidate other debt. If you do, don’t go out and re-leverage, “If you want to be rich, learn put the savings aside. not only to earn but also to fill out a personal financial Or it might make sense to save money.” – Benjamin statement. Your budget will reach out to your current Franklin tell you what income you lender (if they haven’t We can always count on Mr. have coming in and what already reached out to you) Franklin to make things expenses you have going to discuss a modification or sound easy. Even in the best out. The financial statement deferral. Many lenders have of times, most of us could Ryan Bross will show you what you own put programs in place to find a place to put “extra” (your assets), what you owe assist customers during the money. The current econom- that I think always make (your liabilities), and the dif- current environment, and if sense but may be more ic uncertainty makes knowference between the two your account is in good important now than ever. ing and understanding your (your net worth). standing, they would most First, if you don’t already finances even more necesFor most of us, spending likely be happy to assist you. have one, make a budget and sary. Below are some ideas less than you earn and living Make sure that you are below your means is a neces- aware of how any modificasary part of life. Easily acces- tion or deferral will affect CBDepot is your partner in sible cash on hand helps you your future terms, you don’t wellness for you, your family, and absorb unexpected expenses want to be surprised later. pets. With convenient locations and gives you some security I am a big believer in savin Fort Collins, Loveland, and in the event of a loss of ing for retirement, so if you Estes Park as well as a income. Conventional wisare currently contributing to streamlined online shopping dom usually recommends an a 401K, IRA or other type of experience, our goal is to provide emergency fund of 3-6 retirement account, it makes you the highest quality, and most months of expenses. That is sense to continue if you can SAFE, AFFORDABLE, diverse options of hemp derived a big hurdle for many, but afford to do so. These any balance is a start. The shouldn’t be used as your products in a comfortable setting. right number is one that lets emergency fund, but as an you sleep at night. additional savings vehicle While you are at it, look at once your emergency fund is the expenses on your budget established. to see where your money Money is always an emogoes. Some expenses that we tional topic, and unless you tend to think of as necessary happen to be a banker, peoare optional, and if reduced ple tend to avoid it. But like or eliminated would free up most things in life, a little funds for a rainy day. time and a little effort go a What kind of debt do you long way. Progress, not perhave? Credit cards, auto fection, is the goal. If you loans, a mortgage? Would it have questions, go in and be beneficial to consolidate? talk to your local banker.

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8 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

HANDLING FINANCES WELL

Ten tips for financial wellness

By Rich Flanery, Mortage Solutions For the Trail-Gazette

debt and personal savings.

What does your overall household debt inancial wellness can look like? Of be similar to your that debt how health wellness in that Rich Flanery much of that is you need to be aware what it what one may consider bad requires to manage your debt. This would most comfinances to peak state. Given the current state of the econo- monly be credit card debt as a my with the uncertainty as to primary use for disposable how COVID-19 will influence purchases and is not deductible. In the past few months business in the future, many consumer spending has people are taking stock of their financial wellness. There declined as consumers are looking to reduce their overare many areas to evaluate all outstanding credit card with personal finances to balances. In other words, peodetermine if you are on the ple were tightening their belts correct path. There are two and paying attention as to common ones we are seeing how they were spending their changing on one’s personal money. On the other side of balance sheet, credit card

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the personal balance sheet the savings rate has jumped dramatically. That rainy day may be on the horizon and people want to make sure they can make it through a financial storm. These two items are putting people in a more sound financial position.

One place that people are making a significant change is utilizing their home mortgage not just to purchase a residence but to accelerate paying off unwanted debt and to improve monthly cash flow to put towards building their long-term savings. Home mortgage rates are so low it is very attractive time to be able to reset a household’s financial trajectory.

In challenging times can

create great opportunity to change your financial direction. Now may be the right time to start on your path to Financial Wellness.

10 tips for better financial wellness

• Pay off credit card balances by starting with small balances and working up to the larger balances where you can apply more per month to get these paid off.

• Create a reserve savings account with a minimum of three months of your monthly expenses.

• Contribute to a company 401k if available.This will grow over time and allows you to contribute pretax. see tips, pg. 14

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live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 9

HOMEBUYING WELL

No place like home

By Sam Basel, Alpine Legacy Real Estate For the Trail-Gazette

D

orothy said it best.

“There is no place like home.” Home is where we spend time with our family. It is where we feel most comfortable. It is where we spend the quiet hours of the evening, and the wee hours of the morning. It is where we seek refuge from the world. When you love the house you live in, it is easy to enjoy living within its four walls. When those four walls are located within a beautiful community in the mountains like Estes Park, it is easy to forget about all the other cares of the world. People love living in Estes Park to be surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, the slower pace of life, and the abundant wildlife in every corner of the valley.

Estes Park is a safe haven for a wide variety of people in every walk of life whether it is their full time residence, future retirement home, investment property, or the cabin that has simply been in the family for as long as anyone can remember. Finding that special property to fit your stage of life is not always easy and with the current state of the real estate market, it can be quite challenging if you are not prepared.

Even with the current COVID-19 regulations and restrictions, the number of sales this summer have been very high and prices have continued to appreciate in all price ranges and types of properties. Realtors are tak-

Alpine Legacy Real Estates / Courtesy photo

Nicole White - REALTOR ®, Sam Basel - Broker/REALTOR ®, Alison Gilbert - REALTOR ®

ing extra precautions including social distancing, masks, sanitizing wipes, gloves, and limited numbers of people viewing homes to ensure buyers and sellers remain safe in these unprecedented times. However, seeing homes in person is still quite easy.

Being a second home market with a high percentage of out-of-state clients, the real estate community is used to clients not being able to view properties in person. Virtual tours, video conferencing software, extra pictures revealing what the advertising does not reveal

10 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

are all common practices in our market.

Currently, our real estate market is extremely short on available properties for sale which is causing values to continue to increase. Well priced properties in top shape are only on the market a short time before being purchased and sometimes sellers have multiple offers to choose from. Even though we have an excellent environment to be considering selling a home, most owners are choosing to keep their properties.

Although home prices in our beautiful mountain town continue to rise, there are still great deals to be found.

Living well means living in a home that brings you joy.

Speaking with a local real estate agent will be the first

step to help you navigate the unique aspects of our real estate market in Estes Park in order to help you find the home in the mountains that you have always dreamed about.

Alpine Legacy Real Estate exists to help people make wise real estate decisions in Estes Park, Colorado and the surrounding areas. In today’s world of seemingly endless information available online, we will help you sort through the clutter, strategize your best moves, and make your real estate transaction as smooth and easy as possible. Contact us through our web site at AlpineLegacy.com or stop by our office conveniently located across the parking lot from Safeway above the Art Center!

VIEWING WELL

Historic Park Theatre offers entertainment for everyone

By Daniel Sewell Trail-Gazette

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or those who prefer to conquer serenity instead of summits, consider the options that can be enjoyed comfortably in the heart of downtown.

The large white tower downtown is home of The Historic Park Theatre, which at 107-years-old, is the oldest running single-house movie theatre in the nation! Shows presented here cover a widevariety of Art House Movies, comparatively, first run, newrelease movies are shown at Reel Mountain Theater by Safeway.

Sometimes the weather is just too nice to justify sitting inside, luckily live music can be heard every day of the summer at The Slab Beer Garden’s outdoor venue, weather permitting. Here they offer close to 100 different varieties of Colorado craft beers!

Food is also served here, from The Park Café, which is

The Historic Park Theatre / Courtesy photo

The Slab Beer Garden’s outdoor venue offers close to 100 different varieties of Colorado craft beers.

adjacent to the Theatre. Their delicious deli sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, brats, hot dogs, and desserts can be delivered right to your seat, whether you’re watching a

movie or listening to live music.

On the same boardwalk as the Theatre and Park Café is The Slab Arcade, which has numerous old-fashioned 80’s

games. This fun little spot is a great place to relish in classic arcades and other sporty games like air hockey.

In the heart of Estes, there’s entertainment for everyone!

our hospital outpatient services to the space vacated by our Rehab department, at the front (east) of the building.

Our infusion patients are already enjoying the great spaciousness and sunlight in that wonderful area. Our Coumadin Clinic just moved to that location, and we’ll shortly be moving Respiratory Therapy and Wound Care Clinic to that very patientfriendly and easily accessible

and safe spot.

Our clinic is enjoying additional space as a result of the Specialty Clinic moves, giving our clinic physicians, nurses, and patients more flexibility and options for ambulatory care.

Through it all, safety comes first. At the entryways of our building, all patients are screened, temperatures are taken, and masks are in place before anyone enters

the building. Inside the building, our staff has done a consistently stellar, disciplined job with their personal protective equipment, mask usage, hand-washing, and other key protocols. We’ve kept EPH very safe through the COVID crisis.

Your hometown medical center is here for you and ready to provide whatever healthcare services you and your family need.

EPH from page 5 opportunity for citizens to meet with their PCP or other clinic physicians via audio and videoconferencing. We got off to a great start with this in March, and many patients have now been wellserved through our telehealth offerings.

There have been many other improvements that aim to provide the highest quality service to our Estes community. We are moving some of

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 11

READER’S CHOICE

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e asked our readers, both in print and online, to vote their choice for the “best of” in 21 categories, ranging from dining to entertainment. Thanks for participating.

Here are the results!

Best Entertainment for Kids

1. Fun City 2. Rocky Mountain National Park 3. Tie between Ride-a-Kart and Stanley Park Fun City has been around since 1969 offering a little bit of everything when it comes to wholesome family entertainment. Visitors enjoy the giant rainbow slide, the bungee trampolines, miniature golf, bumper boats, bumper cars and go-karts.

and has developed the busiRay Duggan Builders Kingswood Homes is a full ness into an environmentally service construction compa- aware and friendly entity. ny specializing in quality resiBest Place for dential home building. ServDessert ing Northern Colorado, 1. You Need Pie! Kingswood Homes also pro2. Bird & Jim vides consulting and home 3. Laura’s Fine Candies design services.

You Need Pie! Is a bakery and eatery known for award-winning pies and American comfort classics in a casual set-up.

Best Dinner Restaurant

Best Craft Beverage

1. Elkins Distilling Co. 2. Rock Cut Brewery 3. Estes Park Brewery Elkins Distilling Co. makes Best Night Lounge corn whiskey, Colorado whis- Best Fast Casual 1. Wheel Bar Restaurant key and Elkins apple whis2. Whiskey Bar at The 1. Burgers & Gyros on key. Elkins also sells craft Stanley Hotel Moraine Avenue cocktails and whiskey mer3. The Rock Inn 2. Fresh Burger Stop chandise.

The Wheel Bar has been 3. The Sandwich Mafia family owned and operated The cooks at Burgers & since 1945. The long-running Gyros on Moraine Avenue tavern offers cocktails and prepare tasty cheeseburgers, beer in a vintage setting with gyros and chicken.

TVs and pool.

Best Home Contractor

1. Kingswood Homes 2. John Tormalehto 3. Tie between B & E Builders and Dan Smith &

For years, Mountain Home Café has been serving breakfast and lunch in Estes Park.

The restaurant’s pancakes, waffles, French toast, biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash are among diners’ favorites.

Best Sit-Down Restaurant

Best Coffee

1. Kind Coffee 2. Coffee on the Rocks 3. Ziggi’s Coffee Kind Coffee was born out of the Estes Park Coffee Company, a small coffee shop and roastery in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Kind Coffee has been roasting coffee since 1998

12 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

1. Bird & Jim 2. Dunraven Inn 3. Poppy’s Bird & Jim offers modern mountain dining from an ingredient-driven kitchen.

The menus are influenced by an artisan approach to cooking.

Best Breakfast Restaurant

1. Mountain Home Café 2. Notchtop 3. Claire’s

1. Bird & Jim 2. Claire’s 3. Tie between Dunraven Inn and Twin Owls Bird & Jim is a casual, rustic eatery offering locally sourced meats and produce, plus hearty mountain fare and wine.

Best Clothing Store

1. Brownfield’s 2. Estes Park Mountain Shop 3. Hyk Brownfield’s has been serving the people of Estes Park since 1956. Merchandise is geared toward the current trend of hiking and other outdoor activities.

Hiking shoes and outer wear make up a large share of the store’s goods, along with t-shirts, sweatshirts, and souvenir items of the area. see awards, pg. 13

READERS’ CHOICE

Awards from page 12 Best Realtor

1. Kirk Fisher RE/MAX Mountain Brokers 2. Scott Thompson 3. Tie between Coldwell Banker and Mike Richardson Kirk Fisher of RE/MAX Mountain Brokers has been a full time Estes Park resident since 1995.

Most Influential Person

1. Mayor Wendy Koenig 2. Mark Campbell 3. Tie between all volunteers at Rocky Mountain National Park and all voters Mayor Wendy Koenig took office in April of 2020.

charm and history. The tacular mountain environStanley Historic District ments. offers over 41,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space equipped with modern amenities as well as several stunning indoor and outdoor wedding venues.

Rocky Mountain National Park begins from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. At roughly 4.5 miles hikers will finally reach Sky Pond, which sits at an elevation of 10,900 feet.

Best Hike with Dog

Most Interesting Person

1. Brad Fitch 2. Jim Pickering 3. Tie between Lorne Shriver and Mayor Wendy Koenig Brad Fitch (known as Cowboy Brad) uses acoustic string instruments, vocal harmony and original songs to celebrate nature and the joy of life.

Best Hike

1. Sky Pond 2. Black Lake 3. Ouzel Falls The hike to Sky Pond in

1. Kruger Rock 2. Lily Lake 3. Tie between Estes Lake Loop and Hermit Park Kruger Rock Trail is a 4 mile heavily-trafficked out and back trail located in Hermit Park open space. It is rated as a moderate hike that features stunning vistas of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Best Resort

1. The Stanley Hotel 2. Valhalla 3. YMCA of the Rockies The legendary Stanley Hotel is famous for its

Best Fitness Center

1. Estes Valley Community Center 2. Med-X 3. CrossFit Estes Park The Estes Valley Community Center is a recreation facility offering a leisure pool, outdoor hot tub, water slide, lap pool with aqua climbing wall, lazy river, indoor running track, weight room with Best Tour Company free weights and selectorized 1. Kent Mountain Advenmachines, cardio equipment, ture Center (KMAC) group fitness room, multi2. Wildside 4X4 court gymnasium, class3. Green Jeep Tours room/party room, game Since 1987, Kent Mountain room, golf simulator, and Adventure Center has been drop-in childcare while using offering rock climbing and the facility. mountaineering instruction for individuals and groups of all ages.

Best Massage

1. Elements of Touch Wellness Spa 2. Affinity Massage 3. Reverie Beauty and Bodywork Elements of Touch Happiest Place in Wellness Spa provides Estes a harmonious and powerful 1. Rocky Mountain Nation- healing environment that al Park is small in size and high 2. Brownfield’s in quality. Through 3. Tie between Lake Estes profound bodywork in a and the Riverwalk beautiful mountain setting, Rocky Mountain National clients leave their stress and Park’s 415 square miles pain behind and exhale encompass and protect spec- deeply.

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 13

LIVING WELL

Dermatology Center of the Rockies

By Dermatology Center of the Rockies For the Trail-Gazette

to “look as young as you feel” without looking unnaturally altered. She counsels patients on “preventative aging” and recommends daily specialized skincare routines and sun protection.

In her free time, Dr. Goddard enjoys hiking in the mountains with her dogs, paddle-boarding in nearby lakes and rivers, and rock climbing.

rare lymphomas of the skin and was Director of the Brigham Dermatology Bullous Disease Clinic.

During her time in Boston she also held an academic appointment as Instructor of

Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and enjoyed teaching medical students and residents as well as publishing her research in peerreviewed medical journals such as JAMA Dermatology and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Joining us from Chattanooga, TN, where she practiced general, surgical, aesthetic and laser dermatology she is happy to be back in the Rocky Mountains.

Dr. Goddard is on the pulse of cutting-edge technology and injection techniques to achieve natural appearing results.

Her goal is to maintain youthful skin appearance and

will appreciate over time.

• Make sure you are properly insured for your home and for your family.

• Check your credit at least once per year to verify that it is accurate.

• Complete a household budget every month. That is

correct, every month.

• Have a financial checkup once per year with financial planner, mortgage planner, financial advisor, CPA. This should be your personal Wealth Team.

• Wealth creation is not a sprint but a long methodical

pace based on disciplined consistency over time.

Rich Flanery has been in financial service business for over 25 years assisting clients as a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, Financial Planner, and Registered Investment Advisor.

D

r. Allison Goddard is board certified by The American Board of Dermatology. She completed her dermatology residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, where she served as Chief Resident.

She then completed a clinical fellowship in Cutaneous Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and DanaFarber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, where she subsequently held a faculty position as Associate Physician in Dermatology, specializing in

Dr. Allison Goddard

Our Locations

Find us at 1551 Professional Lane, Suite 135, Longmont, CO 80501, 303-532-2810 or 420 Steamer Drive, Ste 101, Estes Park, CO 80517, 303532-2810. For more information, visit https://dermatologyoftherockies.com/contact/

Tips from page 8 • Open a retirement or investment account in which you contribute to monthly for long-term growth.

• Utilize your mortgage as a financial tool to purchase a home or create a rental portfolio. Mortgage allows you to acquire long-term assets that

Outside from page 6 but I’m proud of what our rec team has been able to accomplish. I can’t recall a time that it has been more important for us to fulfill our mission– to enrich lives with quality recreation.” Oberg’s rec team initiated a hiking club that meets every Friday for a three hour hike on one of our local trails. Their Water Wars series lets kids run through sprinklers, launch water balloons and play on a SlipN-Slide on soft, level grass at the Stanley Park ballfields. Three upcoming sport clinics later this month include soccer, volleyball and flag football. Our Executive Director, Tom Carosello, has two 14 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

EVRPD / Courtesy photo

Pickle ball is a sport that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

youth recreation-aged children. From his perspective, “Life is vexing enough

for children, especially those of a younger age, under normal circumstances.

The pandemic exacerbates this, of course, so as administrators and parents we feel that safe, organized recreation is of utmost importance right now – not only from a physical standpoint, but emotionally as well.” For all the info and to register for youth recreation sports and activities, visit evrpd.com.

So whether you play pickle ball, kayak on Lake Estes, ride a bike around the lake or just run through a sprinkler, go have some fun outside and re-capture that sense of summertime joy!

CONNECTING WELL

Newcomers Club / Courtesy photo

Toward the end of summer, Newcomers will start reinstating some in-person activities.

Newcomers Club connects residents

By Matt Comstock For the Trail-Gazette

tions in the Estes Valley. Our signature community outreach event is “We Believe” he Estes Park Newwhich coincides with the comers Club is a nonannual holiday events in profit, inclusive social Estes Park. Newcomers club dedicated to helping march in the Catch the Glow new residents to the Estes parade, take photos of chilPark area learn about our dren with Santa at the We community while developing and Photography. There are Believe Inn and visit various lifelong friendships. Founddaytime and evening groups; events around town. ed in 1965 with 17 members, groups for men and women; Dressed as elves and toy solNewcomers has a legacy diers, our members cannot groups that gather during that has spanned over five be missed. the week and others that decades. Today, there are At Newcomers, “living meet on weekends. Interest over 300 active members well” means staying connectGroups are a great way to who enjoy a variety of club meet and have in-depth inter- ed with the community while sponsored activities includaction with people who share staying healthy. Over the ing monthly General Meetpast few months, many of your interests, and are the ings and Wine & Cheese our events have been postbasis for the lasting friendsocials. poned as we adhere to the ships that are the hallmark Interest Groups are “the state and federal health of Newcomers. straw that stirs the drink” for While we are a social club guidelines. However, consisEstes Park Newcomers. tent with our legacy, Newat heart, Newcomers are With groups ranging from comers always stay connectalways looking for ways to Food and Drink, Book support residents, business- ed. Through use of video Clubs, Game Nights, Hiking, es and non-profit organizaconferencing technologies,

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many of our Interest Groups have remained active which has helped our members through these unusual times.

We are excited to announce that toward the end of summer, Newcomers will start reinstating some in-person activities. We will strictly adhere to the guidelines provided for group size, masks and social distancing.

By keeping our group sizes small and focused largely on outdoor activities, Newcomers is helping our members to live well.

If you are interested in learning more about Newcomers, please visit our website at estesparknewcomers.org. Interested people are also encouraged to reach out to our membership team at membership@estes parknewcomers.org.

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 15

DECORATING WELL

Bringing the outside in

By Wendy Rigby Trail-Gazette

tures bring a bit of homegrown natural beauty inside.

If homeowners want to try n important aspect of renovating to help bring the living well is enjoying outdoors in, Ballenski sugthe space where you gests bringing natural stone dwell. Making that home inside to put around an existspace comfortable, stylish and ing fireplace that may be brick appealing is the job of Sara or some other façade.

Ballenski, Senior Designer “This is a simple and elegant with Niche Design House in way to renovate your space,” Estes Park. she commented. “We can clad “Our goal at Niche is to help a brick fireplace in thinner our clients find their style and veneers than we used to be then bring it to life,” Ballenski able to use.” said. “Design is very personal.

Another dramatic way to Niche / Courtesy photo You’re talking about somebring a natural look into your Ballenski suggests bringing natural stone inside to put around body’s expression of themhouse tying the outside to the an existing fireplace. selves. We go into people’s inside is to invest in a wood “My favorite go-tos for For Estes Park residents, homes and help them figure slat ceiling and extend that bringing the outdoors inside is bringing a sense of the outout what they want to do and into an overhang outside. This doors into the house are live often the goal. then implement that vision.” involves treated wood or, in edge furniture and large forsome cases, fiberglass that mat wall mirrors,” Ballenski looks like wood. explained.

Using bright, bold colors as Recently, Ballenski encour- accents to a nature-inspired aged an Estes Park resident backdrop is all the rage in who has a gorgeous view to design right now. add a huge 36” round mirror “We use earth tones as a to the wall opposite the view. neutral and friendly start and “It’s a really good way to get then we begin to bring in a different perspective on the vibrant pops of color,” Ballenssame view you already have ki stated. “That might be a without creating something rug, a pillow, a piece of artelse artificially,” she said. work, a trail blanket or a vase.”

DONATIONS ONLY In that same home, BallensOne trend that is coming ki brought in several stateback this year is the use of ment pieces with a live edge, statement furniture pieces, meaning the craftsman who like a velvet couch in a bold ELEC TROSTATIC SPRAY makes the pieces brings the tone. natural edge of the wood into “2020 is the year for jewel the design of the piece. tones,” Ballenski said, “like “I placed a live-edge dining emerald green, navy blue and room table and a coffee table vibrant teal.” in the living room,” Ballenski With a degree from Coloraadded. “I had a headboard do State University in Interior custom made with a live Design and a minor in Conedge.” struction Management, BalShe also utilized a local lenski helps clients with somesculptor, Debbie Candelora of thing as simple as replacing COMMERCIAL RESID Blue Horse Sculpture in Belle- carpet to a complete gut and ENTIAL RENTALS vue who fire treats wood and renovation.

Owner: it. uses a process that petrifies Niche is a woman-owned Estes Safe Sanitizing Estes Safe Rides Rich Johnson Her Colorado forest sculpsmall business in Estes Park.

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SAFE SANITIZING ·

·

16 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

CARING FOR YOUR HAIR WELL

Hair with altitude

By Lorie Cooper, Owner Glow Salon and Spa For the Trail-Gazette

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stes Park…land of the mountains, lakes and streams and abundant sunlight. We protect and nurture our skin in the summer months, but what about our hair?

Well, Well, Well…water is NOT all the same. While so many in our area rely on wells for our water source, what mother nature shares can actually create havoc on our hair. Hard water can make your hair more difficult to style. It makes hair feel l ess pliable, and if you’re doing a round brush blow-dry, it really doesn’t want to take the shape of the hairbrush. Also, hard water causes color-treated hair to fade quicker and mineral buildup can interfere with color. Our area’s iron deposits, like that from calcium salts, can change the color. Even the iron from pipes can also have an effect.

The good news is that there are ways to adjust to the hardness of the water.

Glow carries products from Malibu – Hard Water Wellness – to use to combat well water woes. A pre-shampoo treatment to protect hair before water hits it, and limiting the amount of washes you have per week. It’s all about exposure – if you live in a place with hard water and you have hair that tends to get oily, dry shampoo might be your BFF. Sunlight is probably the next major issue in our area.

Sun rays at higher altitude can be very harsh, hair also

Glow Salon and Spa / Courtesy photo

Many people who previously did not need conditioner on their hair, find that at higher altitudes they need to do so.

bleaches and dries out very rapidly in intense sunlight.

Many people who previously did not need conditioner on their hair, find that at higher altitudes they need to do so. Hair masks are moisturizing and nurturing for your locks on a regular basis, especially on color processed hair. Regular at home conditioning treatments are excellent treatments, and conditioning shampoos can offer a light conditioning option for people who dislike the heavy feel of a separate conditioner. Products such as Sunscreen For Hair by Aveda is great to protect hair’s condition and color.

The other major factor for our hair is the wind. It can suck the moisture out of both your skin and scalp, and wreak havoc with almost any hairstyle.

And of course, having a top notch stylist is the key to any hair’s success. Seasoned and regular education for our stylists allows us to keep our clients informed of new practices and products to safeguard those luscious locks for year to come!

Glow Salon and Spa / Courtesy photo

Sticks-N-Stones

“One-of-a-Kind”

Home Furnishings John 3:16

Two Locations in Estes Park 380 E. Elkhorn Ave. (970) 586-4688

907 Moraine Ave. (970) 586-5394

www.SticksNStonesCO.com sticksnstones380@gmail.com

Sticks-N-Stones

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 17

LIVING WELL

Listening well in Estes Park

By Cory Workman, Au.D., Community Hearing Center For the Trail-Gazette

worried about hearing fitness.

When the ears and brain aren’t getting good sound, just like me not exercising, their “fitness” goes down. Let me o, I have a confession, I explain with an analogy. haven’t been exercising Let’s say you sign up to run during all of this stay-atin the Boston Marathon. Prior home and safer-at-home Community Hearing Center / to the race you take a few Courtesy photo walks and maybe a few runs orders. Why? I fell out of the On average, people wait seven in the weeks before the race. habit and I am just at work years before addressing their and home, so what is the When you show up to the hearing loss. point? There is too much to start line, you might get worry about and my favorite through the race and you Recently, I have spoken with might not. However, if you places to work out have been closed as well. Feel familiar to my colleagues and we are were to train daily with runfinding that people feel the you? Well, I should be out ning and fitness workouts you same with their hearing and exercising and keeping my would most likely do much body healthy. Lately I am feel- hearing aids. “I am just at better. For your body and home so why should I wear ing the decline in my fitness. mind race day is simply anothmy hearing aids?” I have So, why do I share this? I am er day of running and you are concerned about your hearing heard it here in my office dur- prepared. ing these past weeks and I am fitness!

Same with your hearing! If

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you wear your hearing aids on a daily basis and head into an important meeting or party your ears have been prepared to listen and hear. If you are putting on your hearing aids as you are walking into the room, the results may not be as good. Even in quiet and when you are alone, there are sounds that your ears need to stay fit. Underlying and untreated hearing loss can lead to the same results. If you feel you are struggling, it is time to get things checked out. Hearing fitness is just as important as your physical fitness. So, as we are at home and distant more often, remember to keep your body and ears active to be ready for the races ahead.

Why try CBD?

By Daniel Sewell Trail-Gazette

onto the area that hurts, and I’m happy to say it’s by far been the best thing for ain is difficult to deal it.” with. If left uncared CBDepot offers infused for, pain can become salves/topicals, oils/tincdebilitating, however, some- tures, edibles/drinks, and times the side-effects of pre- much more. While salves are scription pain killers are just best for body aches, tincas unbearable. tures are better for anxiety.

If that is the case, consider Their treats are for people as trying CBD. well as pets, so everyone can Local CBDepot store clerk, enjoy life!

Kristina Burd, explained her Be aware, different terown story, “I have a terribly penes create different painful shoulder that I effects; they range from reserved myself to just deal relief and relaxation to vitaliwith because no over-thety and energy. counter pain relievers So when you visit helped and I couldn’t funcCBDepot, talk to the knowltion with prescription pain edgeable staff and learn if killers.

CBD is a better alternative “After I started working for you! here people recommended I The FDA has not approved try the CBD Salve, which is CBD as a treatment for pain a body balm you can rub or anxiety relief.

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Allison L. Goddard, MD Board Certified Dermatologist Dermatology Center of the Rockies welcomes Dr. Goddard to the provider team. She is happy to be back in the Rocky Mountains serving the Estes Park community.

Call 303.532.2810 for an appointment today!

Estes Park Health Specialty Clinic 420 Steamer Drive, Suite 101 Estes Park, CO DermatologyOfTheRockies.com

18 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

LIVING WELL

Crossroads Dermatology

By Crossroads Dermatology For the Trail-Gazette

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t Crossroads Dermatology, we strive to provide excellent, patient-centered dermatologic care with compassion.�

Our Dermatologists are experts in treating conditions of the skin, hair and nails.

Commonly treated conditions include acne, psoriasis, warts, eczema and drug rashes. Dr. Bair and her team will work with you to develop a personalized approach to treating your condition.

Skin cancer

bined. One in 5 of US residents will develop a skin cancer by age 70. In Colorado, our active lifestyles provide even more risk. Dr. Bair and her team are experts at early skin cancer detection and prevention.

Cosmetic dermatology

More people are diagnosed Dr. Bair has been active in with skin cancer in the US the newest trends in cosmetthan all other cancers com-

ic dermatology since her residency. She strives for a very natural appearance and achieves results by collaborating with patients on their goals and desires. Her favorites modalities are neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin) and fillers (Restylane, Lyft, Radiesse Belotero, etc.) in combination with prescription skin care.

Dr. Sarah Bair

Location

It is located at 2350 17th Ave #100, Longmont, CO 80503 and can be found online at https://crossroadsdermatology.com.

Find Yourself

Here Estes Park

Fort Collins

Where Business Adventures are Born As a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, and with its proximity to Front Range communities, Estes Park has been identified as one of the BEST PLACES IN COLORADO to start a business. We were also designated one of the 20 best small towns in America by the Smithsonian Magazine.

Learn about the opportunities for you to Find Yourself in Estes Park

Rocky MOuntain National Park

Loveland

Lyons Longmont

Boulder

www.estesparkedc.com

Denver

live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 19

LIVING WELL

Stanley Hotel offers something for all

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

Tickets are available online at www.stanleyhotel.com/illusionsofthepfter the COVID-19 assed.html or in person on pandemic caused show days in the Pinion accommodations all Room at the Stanley Hotel over the world to shutter and at the Stanley Hotel their doors, the Historic Tours Desk. Cost of admisStanley Hotel is back and sion is $35 for general seatbetter than ever. ing and $55 for VIP seating The entertainment scene in the front row. VIP tickets has changed dramatically also come with an autoover the course of the past graphed poster of the show. months. Earlier this sumIn addition to Illusions of mer all concerts, sporting the Past, the Stanley offers events, and large gatherings tours throughout the historof any kind ground to a halt. ic grounds.

Now, venues such as the The Stanley Day Tour is a Stanley are figuring out unique way to experience for about three months now the hotel’s history, architecways to invite guests back with COVID-19 and trying in a safe and fun way. ture, folklore, and pop culThe Stanley is doing so by to take all the precautions ture while being guided by we can.” not only welcoming guests a knowledgeable stor yteller.

Illusions of the Passed is back to the historic hotel, Each tour of f ers you opporan immersive, and audience tunities to explore, ask but offering entertainment interactive, theatrical that few others can. questions, and perhaps séance experience. Accord- leave with a few stories of As seen on the hit series ing to reviews, the show America’s Got Talent and your own. takes its guests on a jourPenn and Teller’s Fool Us, The Day Tour is currently ney into the paranormal and limited to 10 people and, for Aiden Sinclair returned to leaves them wondering if the Historic Stanley Hotel the safety of all guests and with an all-new presentation there isn’t just a little bit employees, masks are of Illusions of the Passed on more to this life than any of required. The cost of admisus know.

July 3. sion is $23 per person, $20 The show is presented “It’s pretty exciting to be for hotel guests, $17 for anytwice nightly Wednesday back,” Sinclair said of his one under the age of 17, and through Sunday with shows $20 for AAA members, Milireturn to the stage and to the Stanley. “We’ve been off at 6 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m.. tary members and seniors.

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On the Historic Stanley Night Tour (Ghost Tour) guests are taken to a few darkened spaces and introduced to the active phenomena and spirit folklore surrounding the Town’s 100+ year old hotel.

This 45 minute walking tour will introduce you to Mr. F.O. Stanley, his wife Flora, famed author Stephen King, and other noteworthy visitors. The tour is billed as a unique way to experience the hotel’s history, architecture, folklore, and pop culture with a knowledgeable storyteller under the ambiance of nighttime in the Rocky Mountains.

Children under the age of eight are not permitted on the Day of Night Tours but are encouraged to check out the Family and Friends Tour which is an interactive tour geared toward kids eight and under, but is great for the whole family.

For more information on availability check out the Stanley Hotel Tours website or give them a call at (970) 577-4111, or by email at StanleyTours@Stanley Hotel.com.

WE KNOW ESTES PARK! Buying uyin in ng or or selling selling i y your our h home ome in the Estes Valley?

Let us help you make the Best decision!

Mike Richardson

(970) 215-2722

Mike@MountainParadiseRealEstate.com

See our listings at: www.EstesParkForSale.co om

Mindy Stone

(970) 449-2645

255 Park Lane Estes Park, Ste 203

More than just Realtors, we are here for you. Just a phone call away away.

20 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

LIVING WELL

Finding best home Functional fine art

By Mike Richardson For the Trail-Gazette

knowledge of real estate, but to us, what’s important is knowing what to be salient of ot everyone wants the in our unique mountain comsame things, but cermunity. Mountain homes have tainly if you are lookmany distinct considerations: ing for a new home, you will from wells and septics, to want to know it has a solid flood plains and wildfires. foundation. Similarly, when We’ve lived through just about you choose whom to work everything that can go wrong with in buying or selling a here, and we can recommend home, you want to know they who we’ve learned to trust for have a strong foundational any kind of job. knowledge of what makes a We go above and beyond home valuable, in general, but before, during and after the also specific to you. sale… That is why our past Between myself and my clients say we are, “More than licensed assistant, Mindy, we just REALTORS!” have lived in Estes Park for 66 Mountain Paradise Real years; we are involved in many Estate is located at 225 Park volunteer programs and help Ave. on the 2nd floor of the direct a number of Boards. We Bank of Estes Park building in have also been certified in our downtown Estes Park.

N

1 Gig

By Daniel Sewell Trail-Gazette

mainly found at the 907 Moraine Ave. location whereas their downtown ticks N’ Stones owners, location at 308 E. Elkhorn Chris and Val Jafferis, Ave. has more of their smallhave been making and er tables, lamps, and accesselling furniture for over 30 sories; but that’s merely a years. Their unique designs generalization as both stores can be attributed to the have so much to offer! amazing work that nature The stores are like treacreates. From junipers to sure troves of fine art. Some aspens, they design, cut, and of the pieces also include turpolish beautiful pieces into quoise inlays in what could functional tables, lamps, very well be the most wonchairs, bed frames, and derful combination of sticks accessories. and stones one could imagIn so being, everything ine. With that said, the only they make is one-of-a-kind! way to truly understand its They have two showrooms, awe is to see it for yourself. each filled to the brim with Sticks N’ Stones sources elegant expressions of most all of their wood nature for use inside and out. through environmentallyTheir larger outdoor, dining friendly fire mitigation pracroom, and bedroom sets are tices from private properties.

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live Well estes: reader's choice edition • 21

Hiking from page 4 The first part of the 1.3-mile hike is the toughest.

It’s fairly steep and requires stepping up and over rocks and boulders.

Then the trail levels out at the top of a ridge that provides spectacular views of Lily Lake below and an incredibly different look at Longs Peak.

Along the way, hikers can spot many chipmunks and a wide array of birds.

At the far end of the trail before it winds back down to lake level, you get a fantastic glimpse of the Mummy Range, By adding a little distance to your visit to Lily Lake, you also get some quiet distance from the people below to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

have to balance yourself to walk across a log over a small stream.

Arriving at the lake is a lovely surprise. The view from the edge is spectacular with craggy snow-tipped mountains creating the perfect backdrop. Ducks swim and played.

Bierstadt Lake is surrounded by a thick pine forest and marshy grasses.

and the glorious meadows below. You can also see Mount Meeker and the Mummy Range include in the sweeping panorama.

Some hikers like to take their flashlights and get to the summit before dawn so they can enjoy the sunrise over the Estes Valley.

Cub Lake – Pool Loop

Inside Rocky Kruger Rock Trail Mountain If you are National looking for Park, the a vigorous, Cub Lake – moderate Pool Loop hike near the Cub Estes Park, Wendy Rigby / Estes Lake loop Park Trail-Gazette which takes the trail to Cub Lake loop Kruger you 6.1 winds 6.1 miles miles Wendy Rigby / Estes Rock in the Park Trail-Gazette Hermit Park through some through The Kruger Open Space of the most some of the Rock Trail Bierstadt Lake is a delight- varied and most varied Starting at provides ful four-mile beautiful terrain and beautiamazing view of up and back in RMNP. Bear Lake ful terrain Estes Park in Rocky trek to This modbelow, including some of the erate hike requires good hikMountain Lake Estes, and most gloriNational ing shoes, as the trail is santhe Continental Park, the ous and dy and rocky.

Divide trail is a 4.4 expansive The hike begins by crossMountains. mile round views of the ing two wooden bridges over area. the babbling Big Thompson Bierstadt Lake trip. If you This is a well-marked and River. From there, follow the is ringed by pine take a loop around Bier- well-maintained trail with trail through the western trees and only one trail juncture. The edge of Moraine Park. As sedges and has stadt Lake before you first part is an easy ascent you wind through the aspen a wonderful head back, with plenty of beautiful and pine-lined path, you are backdrop of snow-tipped it adds aspens and wildflowers dotgreeted by numerous birds mountains. ting the landscape. another .4 and chipmunks.

During the hike, you miles to the Huge boulders surround ascend more than a thousand you here. As you head up the trek. The hike starts at 9475 feet eleva- feet. There are many switch- trail, you are greeted by the tion and the highest elevation backs and some awesome sounds of brooks you can you reach is 9760, making boulder formations to climb hear, but not see. Then sudthe total elevation gain 670 up along the way. The trail denly as if a small gift from feet. dips and climbs several nature, the water will appear Hikers are greeted by times. beside the trail splendid green aspens and As you near the top, there The lake itself is an unexthe sounds of melted snow is a late steep portion where pected delight. Covered running into small creeks stone steps have been built almost entirely with lily pads There are some ups and to help you up. At the very blooming with yellow flowdowns on this trek, so older top, there is a rock scramble ers, Cub Lake is a glorious hikers may want to bring a place to sit on a rock and where you have to use your hiking stick or pole to help hands to hoist yourself up to enjoy lunch. them up and down rocky As you continue on the trail enjoy the 360 degree view areas. At one point, you may which includes Longs Peak toward the Pool, you cross 22 • live Well estes: reader's choice edition

over a ridge that reveals a spectacular mountain with jagged rocks covering its face.

Hiking down toward the Pool is much easier than the first part of our journey.

Hikers reach the lovely wooden bridge over the Big Thompson River. This is the Pool, which is where Fern Creek meets the river. The rush of water here is exhilarating.

After the bridge, the trail becomes a much gentler path that follows along the river.

Via Feratta

For a hike that is also a climb, try the The Via Ferrata (Iron Trail or Iron Road) Dustin Dyer / which is a Courtesy photo series of ladThe Via Ferrata ders, cables (Iron Trail or Iron and handRoad) is a holds series of installed on ladders, cables the flanks of and hand-holds Twin Sisinstalled on the ters. The flanks of Twin trek starts Sisters. at about 8,300 feet elevation at a trailhead inside Cheley Camp. Hiking from 8,600 feet at the base of the Via Ferrata, you travel about 600 feet up vertically to the top of a rock formation known as Deville for a total gain of about a thousand feet.

Kent Mountain Adventure Center installed the Via Ferrata over a year’s time and opened it in the summer of 2019.

Since you are always hooked to a strong steel cable, the danger factor is low, though you still need to concentrate so you don’t fall and hit the rock or scrape see hiking, pg. 23

Hiking from page 22 yourself. The way you have to maneuver up the rocks is so intriguing and it is strenuous.

The view at the top is one of the few places in Estes that includes Lily Lake, Mary’s Lake and Lake Estes.

Ouzel Falls

A great moderate hike featuring waterfalls and beautiful flora along the way is the 5.4 mile treak to Ouzel Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Wild Basin.

The trail is fairly gentle with some rocks and switchbacks. The hike takes you across scenic wooden bridges suspended over amazing water features. The path runs alongside the North Saint Vrain Creek and into the colorful, rich forest that makes up Wild Basin.

The hike starts at an elevation of 8,500 feet and winds

its way up to the highest point of 9,387 feet for a total elevation gain of 1,037 feet.

Wendy Rigby / Estes Hikers wind Park Trail-Gazette through the A great montane moderate hike ecosystem featuring full of waterfalls and blooming beautiful flora wildflowers along the way is and towerOuzel Falls in Rocky Mountain ing trees.

When you National Park’s ascend to Wild Basin. the centerpiece of the hike, you can hear Ouzel Falls before you see the tumbling water. The impressive 40-foot drop from the top of the falls to your feet is serene and awe-inspiring.

Summerland Park

A beautiful and lesser-known hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is SumWendy Rigby / Estes merland Park Trail-Gazette Park on the An old wooden west side bridge over near Grand North Inlet Lake.

Creek signals it At a round is time to turn trip distance around to of 3.3 miles, complete the the SumSummerland merland Park hike.

Park trek is considered an easy hike. The trail begins at an elevation of 8,520 feet rising to 8,583 feet at its highest, for a total elevation gain of 165 feet.

The first part of the trail is a

large dirt road which eventually becomes a trail through a more forested area.

Along the road, you walk past many beautiful aspens and huge boulders along a rustic fence.

As you continue along the path, you enter a marshy area and eventually encounter to North Inlet Creek. This gently-meandering body of water is an idyllic scene that is often the spot for fantastic wildlife encounters with moose.

At an old wooden bridge over North Inlet Creek, the sounds of water are soothing and relaxing.

This is a relatively flat and simple hike that would be a great trek for older people or families with children. Anyone who loves the park would enjoy the views of marshes, creeks, meadows and mountains.

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