Free Things to Do

Looking at our events calendar, we have tons of stuff coming up! The month of August is full of events that are either free or pretty darn cheap. Oops, I'm not supposed to use the word 'cheap'.....inexpensive, budget-friendly, bargain, economical.

August 8
2nd Annual Flat Top Festival (see previous post for details)

August 14-15
Palisade Peach Fest- Riverbend Park, Palisade
A free festival with live music, games, and peaches galore. Stop by the Powderhorn booth for information or to order your season pass.

August 15
Digital Photography Workshop
Learn how to shoot those perfect sunset shots with photographer Jim Hamlin. Just $25/person or $40/couple. Includes social hour.

August 16
Thigunawat 10k Trail Run
Enter the race for just $30 or come hang out and watch! Proceeds benefit the Powderhorn Racing Team. Free live music follows with the Sunset Grille & Bar serving up great food and drinks.

Flat Top Fest

The 2nd Annual Flat Top Festival is almost here! It's a full day of live music, good food & drinks, artisan booths, the Mesa Farmer's Market, disc golf, bump-n-jump, face painting and petting zoo. Best of all, the event is FREE.

August 8
10am-6pm

Music by:
Ernie McHugh
Salt Creek Gang
Flat Top Reed

142 Days

142 days until we open for the 2009-10 season! Sounds like a lot but I suspect it'll go fast. We're thinking snow every day right now. Which is kinda torturous honestly.

The winter event calendar is getting finalized as well as our ski & snowboard school programs. The trail maps, brochures, stickers, website, etc are all being designed right now. And the Alpine Trader gals get to go on these massive shopping trips to fill the store for winter...ummm slightly jealous.

Pre-season officially begins this Saturday with the beginning of the season pass sale! Is it too early for snow dancing? Is it ever too early?

New Logo

It's time to unveil our new logo! You are some of the first to see it...

Trailer Time

We're here for you today to provide you with a (mental) cool-down as temps climb to 100 yet again. Check out all these trailers for the 2009 ski & snowboard movies!

Freeskier Magazine has all the ski trailers here

Transworld Snowboarding has snowboard trailers and other video here

Now go get a snow cone and enjoy!

Hiking the Horn

A few of us took a break last week and hiked our service road. It's a great hike if you've never done it before. About 3 miles long, it switchbacks up the main part of the mountain traversing Greenhorn, Wonderbump, Peacemaker, Equalizer, Yoohoo and Powderkeg. There are great views and it's cool to see the runs without snow on them!

Season Pass Benefits

It's 1,000 degrees outside but we're making winter decisions right and left. The benefits for our 09-10 season passes have changed up this year providing you with an even better package. We're pretty stoked about it!

Our friends at Crested Butte and Monarch Mountain are partnering up with us again. CB is offering unlimited 1/2 price lift tickets all season long. Holiday blackout periods may apply. Monarch is again offering 3 free days. Just show your pass at the ticket window for the deals.

Make sure you save your pass even after the season is over! It's now valid for 10% off Powderhorn services and products ALL year! That means discounts on food, lodging and the Alpine Trader even in the summer. You also get 10% off group lessons, rentals, food, and clothing. Pretty sweet eh?

Plan to buy in August for the best price!

Course Map

Here's the course map for the Thigunawat 10k

(click to enlarge)

Ski Free 09-10

Good news! We just signed on with Shell gas stations for the second year of great ski deals. This season, whenever you purchase 10 gallons of gas you'll get a voucher for a Buy One, Get One FREE lift ticket at Powderhorn! It's valid Monday-Fridays ALL season long. We eliminated blackout dates! That way you can still use it on those school holidays, spring break, etc. Much easier for us all.

Program begins January 4, 2010 and runs through the rest of the season. The gas stations will not have vouchers until January 4th so please don't ask before then!

Just a little something to put in the back of your mind for this season...

Thinking Winter

We're thinking winter like crazy! The season pass sale begins in just 16 days. If you've purchased a season pass in the last couple years, look for a postcard in the mail in the next 2 weeks. We'll do everything we can to remind you to purchase in August because that's when it's the least expensive! And keep in mind, prices have not changed from last year.

The Ski & Snowboard School has come up with some cool new offerings such as Family Private Lessons and an Early Bird Private Lesson special. The dates are also set for all special programs and clinics. Check out the details here.

Otherwise we're just working on designing new trail maps, brochures and signage to match our new look. We've landed on a new logo which I can show you next week. I'll post it here so you'll be the first outside the management team to see it!

Trail Runners

Just a reminder for those that like to trail run...the Thigunawat 10k Trail Run is on August 16th here at Powderhorn. The course begins and ends here at the base area with free live music following. All the proceeds benefit the Powderhorn Racing Team. Check out the website and register online!

You can also learn why the heck it's called 'Thigunawat' on their site...

Webcam

Hey webcam watchers, yep we moved it! No, we aren't trying to hide anything. Just thought it was time for a little change! Plus we had a lot of clutter on the bridge and we didn't think it looked very nice. Now you can watch the guys messing with the main lift, or weddings in action, or see all the fun people are having at the concerts and events if you can't make it :(

Digital Photography Workshop

We've got a really cool photography class coming up. The Golden Hours workshop will teach you how to snag those perfect sunset shots. It's taught by Jim Hamlin and costs only $25/person or $40/couple.

Saturday, July 18th
8pm

For more information call 970-268-5168. Bonus: stay at the Inn at Wildewood and get the clinic for $15/person and $20/couple. Call 970-268-5170 for reservations!

Around the Mountain

Isn't the mountain looking nice?






Are those peanut M&M's?




If only they would hold still for a picture...

Camping on the Mesa

Pack up the tent or camper and head up the mesa...just leave those fireworks at home. Sorry but Smokey is right.

ALL campgrounds on the Grand Mesa are now open!
- Big Creek
- Cobbett Lake
- Cottonwood Lake
- Crag Crest
- Ward Lake
- Island Lake
- Weir Johnson
- Jumbo
- Little Bear
- Spruce Grove

Swing by Powderhorn for anything you may need to enjoy the mesa. Our disc golf course is now open and is free to play. Plus the Alpine Trader & Cafe has ice, snacks, beverages, sandwiches, ice cream, bug spray, sunblock, gifts, sunglasses, clothing and all kinds of other items.

Careful up and have fun this weekend!

Disc Golf Course OPEN

Just a heads up, the disc golf course is now OPEN! It's free to play and open daily. Check out course information here.