5 ways to be stunned by Colorado

T he aspen trees' bright yellow leaves stood out among the dark green pines surrounding them.

[Jay D]

If you really want to be stunned, find the juggler on Pearl Street in Boulder who knows every ZIP code in the U.S. -- tell him your hometown, and he'll tell you the ZIP code, and sometimes even the telephone area code, too. One wonders if this guy could have discovered the cure for cancer if he had set his mind to it...

[Bob G]

Phil, you have selected strong feature to highlight, though the front range (Rocky Mountain National Park) is a solid day's drive from the activities and sights on the Durango side. Most families might have to pick one side of the mountains to play on or the other. But either side holds plenty of wonder.

[Mike Vandeman]

"Wow" isn't exactly the word I would use for mountain biking. "Yuk" would be more appropriate. Why would anyone in their right mind want to abuse the natural world -- and risk serious injury or even death to do it???

Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10 . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....

A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited,(1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.

Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.

Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the
area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?

[Tim]

I agree with Mike from California. While we're proving why people should never bike again due to the environmental impacts, we should prove why airplanes should never fly, cars should never drive, boats should never be on water, skyscrapers should not be built, kayakers should be banned from lakes and rivers, dogs should be banned from walking outside, etc. etc. I am reading from Mike's e-mail that he wants to ban outdoor activities due to the environmental impact. Yes, these activities do harm, but when we limit them, we still allow people to play outside and that is what Colorado is built on (the outdoor playground). Maybe Mike and the juggler on Pearl Street can put their minds and passion together and cure cancer as a team.

[James]

Colorado is there for everyone to enjoy in the manner they see fit. As a native to Colorado I say welcome to all who wish to see it and experience it. I'd much prefer you to ride a bike then add to the smog of Denver.

While the mountains are certainly the drawing attraction the mostly looked over plains have their own special beauty and activities to engage in. You'll never see a night sky like you might on the Plains. Beecher Island is a little out of the way area that is hours from Denver but affords some awe inspiring views of wild life and historic buildings and happenings.

Colorado isn't a place of rules or snobbery or elitism come as you are and enjoy but please leave it as you found it, we're quite proud of it,

[Dave]

Jay D wrote:

If you really want to be stunned, find the juggler on Pearl Street in Boulder who knows every ZIP code in the U.S.

After that, go to 13th Street and see Taser fights between Boulder citizens. Wow!

[Rob S]

I've found www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com to have more up-to-date information on the destination than any other web site.

[3rd of 5]

Grand Junction has some wow moments of its own. Great views of the Book Cliffs and Mt. Garfield. Wish I had more time to go exploring there.

[brilliant]

Tim wrote:

I agree with Mike from California. While we're proving why people should never bike again due to the environmental impacts, we should prove why airplanes should never fly, cars should never drive, boats should never be on water, skyscrapers should not be built, kayakers should be banned from lakes and rivers, dogs should be banned from walking outside, etc. etc. I am reading from Mike's e-mail that he wants to ban outdoor activities due to the environmental impact. Yes, these activities do harm, but when we limit them, we still allow people to play outside and that is what Colorado is built on (the outdoor playground). Maybe Mike and the juggler on Pearl Street can put their minds and passion together and cure cancer as a team.

The Doctor in CA has a website with his utopian world ideas. CA nut job; bet he's got a grey ponytail too!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/

[A Laz]

Mike Vandeman wrote:

"Wow" isn't exactly the word I would use for mountain biking. "Yuk" would be more appropriate. Why would anyone in their right mind want to abuse the natural world -- and risk serious injury or even death to do it???
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10 . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited,(1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the
area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?

Take a chill pill, it's just a bike.

[A Laz]

I have been to Colorado and I don't get what everyone says about it. I found it to be quite ugly and dry. Why would anyone want to live somewhere where you have to worry about fires all the time.

[ben]

Mike Vandeman wrote:

"Wow" isn't exactly the word I would use for mountain biking. "Yuk" would be more appropriate. Why would anyone in their right mind want to abuse the natural world -- and risk serious injury or even death to do it???
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994: http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb10 . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes. They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited,(1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the
area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?

Talk about anal! Mike, please stay in California!

[da spellin homegirl]

Ahhhh.............Leadville. There's no place like home.

[i pilot]

I like Colorado but I run into pompous snobs every time I visit.

[Lord Huggington]

You fruity french bastardo's can eat a diarrhea smoothie from my ass with wipped nutt cream on top!

[Captain]

Pompous snobs like me. I want the western USA to secede from the union so we control of easterners moving here and destroying our beautiful land. Taking our resources, leaveing scars and pollution. I don't beleive in the L.A. econnomic model, ie.. build it till there is no room, and the land is covered with hunamity and its crap.
No Californian should be talking about the someone else's enviroment when Cali is a sea of pollution and over-population and all its inherent problems.