Buena Vista Real Estate » hiking

Springtime in the Rockies

Mal Sillars — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:51:55 +0000

Well, it may not be Springtime yet, but it is starting to feel and look like it. The temperature is mild, kayakers are in the river, and the real signal is that the Continental Divide Trail Alliance summer trail project catalog is out. This means we can start reading over the project descriptions and deciding which ones to sign up for.

The CDT is long, but in our neck of the woods there is about a 90-mile section, from Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest 14er at 14,440 feet, to Monarch Pass, that is being reconstructed to be all off-road. The section that heads south from Cottonwood Pass is largely above 12,000 feet. The good news is, that we are nearing completion of this new segment and a large group of volunteers could make a big difference. Here is the URL for the CDTA Project Schedule. See you on the Trail!

Come live where you play!

Mal Sillars — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:31:09 +0000

There is just something about Buena Vista. For me, it is not quite big or busy enough, but the front range is a bit too busy. Yesterday I went to Denver, where there was snow on the ground and the temperature was in the 20s. When I got back to BV, it was sunny, windy and 60ish; the mountains were looking great..with peaks some 6,000 feet above our 8,000 ft valley floor.

When taking trips to the Front Range on the weekends, one thing is notable, heavy traffic is headed west on Saturday morning and headed back east on Sunday afternoon…so for me the slow traffic is usually in the other lane. I get it! We have more 14ers and better whitewater than anywhere else in the lower 48, along with great family skiing areas. This is where Coloradans come to play. Perhaps it is time for me to ignore the slowness here and just play more…after all…how great is it to live on the playground!

Oh give me a phone

Mal Sillars — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:21:34 +0000

Buena Vista is a great outdoor play area…anytime of year. I try to get out as much as I can, so yesterday I decided to do my 3-mile hike above the Arkansas River. As soon as I had climbed the first hill and was breathing heavily, my cell phone rang. Now, there are certainly many views about cell phones disturbing the quietness of the trail. I happen to consider the great open spaces out here my extended office. So I sat on a nearby rock and talked to the caller about mining claims and what she would be able to do with hers. With some follow-through, this conversation may lead to a listing or a sale. It was on this same hillside about six years ago that I negotiated a purchase of a house, and two years ago I had a contract-defining conversation with a client as I topped a 13,000 foot peak.

Certainly I “get” the idea about being quiet on the trail and I abide by trail etiquette. But, when you live in this part of the Colorado Rockies, it is an easy decision when deciding whether to spend even more time in the office.

If you want to discuss real estate with me, feel free to call anytime, but if I sound out of breath you will know why.