May 19 is opening day for the Battlefords park, which will feature a new service centre and improvements to features like their disc golf courses and the dog park installed last year. Carver said they haven’t quite reached the finish line on the centre and other areas, which means a busy week and a half.
“The barrier fences were just taken off the other day, so we haven’t had the grand reveal yet,” she said. “We’re just going to try and improve on the areas we’ve got and keep them well maintained.”
Three group sites were also updated to become electrified.
Carver noted that last year remained busy all season, even with a fire ban for virtually all of summer.
“We were able to use charcoal briquettes and propane fire pits, so people were still out here camping,” she said.
And as much as people are rushing to book spots, even into 2023, Carver said there’s always changes to capacity depending on the weekend.
“They’re booking up fast, but I don’t want to put out a message that we’re completely booked, there’s always room available.”
Meadow Lake
Further to the north, there’s similar enthusiasm for the spring and summer months.
Trevor Finlay, Park Manager at Meadow Lake Provincial Park, told meadowlakeNOW that early bookings are also comparable to 2021.
All our sites are very busy again this year,” he said. “That’s what the park is here for and we want people to come enjoy it.”
“Last year was one of the busiest on record for Meadow Lake Provincial Park and I think this year’s going to be on the same level.”
Part of that optimism comes from their own upgrades and additions in the park. Finlay said there’s new infrastructure, including better water service and electrical upgrades and they are opening up third loop at Murray Doell, an area affected by the 2019 tornado. This season it’s fully open.
The staff have worked really hard to make it an attractive campground again, although it does look different than it did before,” Finlay said. “Now it has lake views instead of mature trees.”
Meadow Lake is also getting an inflatable water park in the Greig Lake area, which staff are hoping to have operational this summer.
One of several inflatible water parks in the province.
Anyone looking to book campsites at a provincial park can do so at the Saskatchewan Parks website.
Scholarship. Perseverance. Innovation. Resilience. Empathy. These are the core values interwoven throughout the curriculum at SPIRE Academy, a sports boarding school for Grades 9 to 12 in Geneva, Ohio.
Here, you’ll find athletes boasting competencies such as global awareness, critical thinking, leadership, communication (written and speaking), collaboration and creativity. They’re balancing daily academic, personal, professional and career aspirations within facilities and programmes that nurture personal growth and stimulate the desires to challenge oneself. They’re identifying and experiencing professions and career development opportunities with the help of a Career and College Placement team. They’re getting the ideal exposure to the collegiate coaching network and set to join hundreds of their peers at top collegiate programmes across the US.
These students prove that for all its unique and impressive sports facilities, there is so much more to SPIRE than just sports. This is an academy that equips high school students and postgraduates to be fully prepared for life’s personal and professional experiences and see potential obstacles as opportunities.
This is made possible through the academy’s four-pillar programme — academics (five hours a day), majors such as basketball, esports, lacrosse, swimming, soccer, track & field and wrestling (four hours a day), personal skill development (woven into academics and majors each day), career exploration (one hour per week).
Here, the curriculum is not in age-defined terms. Rather, it is based on students feeling ready and interested to study a particular area, thus being encouraged to pursue passion areas and obtain deeper levels of understanding.
Students can take a progression of courses, all of which integrate and link content threads through projects that help them see the real-world application of what they are exploring in class.
Every student at SPIRE Academy is taught to exceed expectations in their sport. Source: SPIRE Academy
These courses include English, World History, Mathematics, Science, World Language, Health and Fine Arts — all of which are taught through workshops, electives and seminars. Career explorations are linked to the curriculum too, so students are able to see the integration of their experiences across domains. Should you find passion in courses not offered, SPIRE provides students the option to pursue online courses through self-directed studies.
“SPIRE students receive programming based on leadership, community and character – all critical to college and career success,” says Director of Academics Kate Reedy.
Superb boarding and sports facilities for the serious athletes
Walk into SPIRE’s one-of-a-kind campus and its sports facilities will impress. In 2012, its 750,000 square feet facility was completed, allowing the academy to host many Division 1, II and III competitions/championships plus National championships in Track and Field and Swimming. In December 2019, the new owner purchased SPIRE, allowing a much bigger vision to become a reality.
A SPIRE education integrates professional training, education and competition across a wide variety of sports, disciplines and possible career paths. Source: SPIRE Academy
Soon, SPIRE opened SPIRE Academy, a fully-accredited, college preparatory boarding and day high school. It expanded its year-round sports camps, brought universities/colleges and corporations on campus, expanded the number of sports majors to seven (basketball, swimming, track and field, wrestling, lacrosse, soccer, e-sports, and now women’s basketball) and added sports-related and non-sports majors.
The offerings continue. This year, SPIRE high school and postgraduate students can take Kent State University (KSU) classes. By 2023, the academy aims to have an agreement with KSU that allows SPIRE students to earn a two-year Associate Degree from KSU concurrent with their SPIRE High School Diploma.
Source: SPIRE Academy
With every move, the goal is to always inspire individuals to achieve their peak potential in life. “Our most valuable assets are our students. We believe they are second to none. They share the common experience of sacrifice in leaving home, courage in pursuing their passions and great ambition,” shares Chief Marketing Officer Laura Lawrence.
At SPIRE, they have the boarding facilities that make their goals possible: seven 2,350 square feet modular homes, each of which can accommodate 12 students with two to a room and three full baths. Each home has an apartment for the house head with a small kitchen that students can get permission to use as well as laundry facilities and a student lounge with a large screen TV and couches.
SPIRE student athletes are welcome to earn a two-year Associate Degree from KSU concurrent with their SPIRE High School Diploma. Source: SPIRE Academy
The campus is home to one of the largest, Olympic calibre indoor and outdoor complexes in the sports, and also includes an eSports Lab, Disc Golf Course, Cross Country track, with a hotel and additional restaurants soon to come.
Boasting world-class training programmes, SPIRE is the go-to, privately owned, sports boarding school for serious athletes seeking an intense training environment to prepare for the next level of competition. SPIRE has an owner managed team with a max of 228 students, meaning the student to coach and teacher ratio is 4-5, vs. other well-known sports boarding schools which are approximately 15-17 per coach.
As CMO Lawrence says, “We strive towards excellence. In everything we do.” Click here to fuel your passion at SPIRE Academy and here to download the Admissions Guide.
It began with a grassy five-acre patch. The land donation in 1922 by Oregon Trail traveler Sarah Helmick, then age 99, and her son would become Oregon’s first state park (now part of the much larger Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site). Fast-forward 100 years and the Oregon State Parks system now includes 254 properties—state parks, plus recreation, heritage and natural areas—that together surpass 100,000 acres, including Tryon Creek State Natural Area in Portland’s backyard.
With summer approaching, here are five Oregon State Parks camping options under an hour’s drive from downtown. Camping reservations can be booked by visiting stateparks.oregon.gov.
Estacada Only 45 minutes from Portland, Milo McIver State Park sits right alongside the Clackamas River. The park is named after Milo K. McIver (no, not the guy from the ’80s TV show MacGyver), a supporter of state parks who was a member of the Oregon Highway Commission from 1950 to 1962. It was also the place where hippies gathered in 1970 for the drug-infused rock festival, Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life.
A prime spot for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, the park also has 14 miles of hiking trails (some of them also equestrian) and a 27-hole disc golf course, and is home to the Clackamas Fish Hatchery, where you can take a self-guided tour and learn all about Chinook salmon and steelhead.
To make a weekend out of it, the park has seasonal tent and RV camping with shady tree-covered sites boasting plenty of surrounding greenery for added privacy. There are also three hiker/biker sites with a solar charging station and fire pit. If you’re hoping to camp closer to the water, sites 48 through 53 are your best bet. The park is open year-round for day use, with camping from mid-March through the end of October, so you can have a spooky campout around Halloween.
Buxton Once the site of a tree farm, L. L. “Stub” Stewart State Park is now a playground for hikers, cyclists, and horse riders, with nearly 30 miles of trails, disc golf courses, and year-round camping. Situated in Oregon’s Coast Range on a forested hilltop, it’s only 34 miles west of Portland.
The park is named after Loren LaSells “Stub” Stewart, a lumberman who served on the State Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee as well as the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. Nicknamed Stub by his friends for being the shortest person in his class, the name stuck for the rest of his life.
Here you have a choice between tent camping, some hike-in only sites for a more primitive experience, cabin camping, or RV sites. Our recommendation? Book a cabin at the Mountain Dale Cabin Village, where 15 rustic (but heated! and five are pet-friendly) cabins nestled in a woodsy backdrop offer sweeping views of the Coast Range. The Banks-Vernonia State Trail, where hikers and bikers can take snapshots of the scenic Buxton Trestle bridge, cuts through the park. You’ll also find shorter forested trails, such as the loop to Boomscooter Pond, which can be accessed from the cabin village or from the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.
Cascade Locks You can’t get much closer to all those stellar waterfall hikes than Ainsworth State Park in the Columbia River Gorge. The seasonal campground, open mid-March through October, boasts leafy tent and RV campsites, and is just steps away from the Gorge 400 Trail, where you can connect to other trails such as Angel’s Rest. The park is named after John C. Ainsworth, a businessman and banker who donated 40 acres of land in 1933—additional land has been purchased and added to the park since then. The only downside to this campground is that it’s situated right next to I-84 and a working railroad, so light sleepers may want to bring earplugs. Tip: tent sites C1 through C6 are farther from the highway and also happen to be right next to the Gorge 400 Trail.
In nearby Cascade Locks, make time for a short detour to Train Appreciation Park, a little-known roadside attraction tucked away from the downtown area that simply sports a grassy patch with a tree sign designating the park and a bench that looks toward (you guessed it) the railroad.
Remember that if you’re planning to drive along the waterfall corridor on Highway 30 between Bridal Veil Falls and the state park between May 24 and September 5, you must purchase a timed-use permit.
Saint Paul History buffs and nature lovers get the best of both worlds while meandering through Champoeg State Heritage Area, where “forests, fields, and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era.” Located on the south bank of the Willamette River, the park is worth an extended stay with gentle hiking trails, wildlife viewing, historical sites and disc golf, as well as fishing kayaking. There’s also year-round camping.
Once the site of bustling pioneer town Champoeg, the park (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is where Oregon’s first provisional government was formed by a vote in 1843. You can easily spend a day just exploring the park’s history with exhibits at the Champoeg Visitor Center that detail the story behind the Kalapuyan people of the Willamette Valley as well as fur trappers and settlers. You can also take a guided walking tour for a deeper dive into the site’s past. Behind the visitor center is a 19th-century style garden. And be sure to pay a visit to the Historic Butteville Store, founded in 1863—said to be the oldest continually operating store in Oregon—where you can buy pints of ice cream handcrafted on-site.
Camping opportunities abound here, with a choice between tents, yurts, cabins and RVs. Sites range from tree-canopied nooks to those set in more open grassy areas, so it depends on your preference. Tent campers will probably want to opt for either the Loop A section, which is shaded by Oregon white oaks, or the group sites, located near the dock away from the main campground. Loop B, located in a meadow area, gets less shade so RV camping might be more desirable unless you’re hoping to get a summer tan going. There are also some cabins in this loop as well.
Portland Government Island State Recreation Area includes three islands in the Columbia River: Lemon, McGuire, and of course, the 1,760-acre Government Island, which is the most developed. Camping is allowed on the islands so long as you stay below the vegetation line around the perimeter. There’s just one catch—the islands are only accessible by boat. So, if you’re looking to beat the crowds, this is your place. Just keep in mind that there are no designated campsites and things are pretty simple, with pit toilets, picnic tables, and grills dotted around the island perimeter. One of the 14 landing sites in the Portland-Vancouver area used by Lewis and Clark, the island got its name after being used by the US military to grow hay.
As for nature and recreation, the islands are home to freshwater wetlands, so bring along a pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing. Try to spot great blue heron, pileated woodpecker, bats, and salamanders. The island interior, however, which includes Jewett Lake, is off limits to the public and accessible only by permit via the Port of Portland. As with any campground, be sure to pack in and pack out to keep things clean and safe for wildlife and the next visitors.
Ali Long likes to think of the new Warm Springs Preserve as Ketchum’s Central Park.
It’s a place that’s green, a place where anyone is welcome and a place with the potential for human connection, she said.
“We saw how important open space was during the pandemic. It was the only place we could connect,” she added.
Long is a member of the committee that led a successful campaign to raise $9 million to purchase 65 acres of what used to be the Warm Springs Ranch and provide a million dollars for irrigation, restrooms, benches and other improvements.
The City of Ketchum recently closed on the purchase of the land, which will be left open in perpetuity. Only $9,647 is left to reach the campaign goal of $9 million.
“Building affordable housing on that land was not an option,” Long said, in response to those who have suggested at least part of the land should be set aside for workforce housing. “This was offered to the city for the unique purpose of preservation. Take it or leave it.”
Wendolyn Holland, who wrote the coffee table book “Sun Valley: An Extraordinary History,” noted that the Warm Springs Preserve offers a different type of experience than the many hiking trails surrounding Sun Valley.
“We’re surrounded by open lands, but this is different. It offers green space, of which there’s not a lot of in Ketchum, and it’s accessible for people with wheelchairs and others with mobility issues,” she said.
Holland, who has spent recent years working in the clean energy sector in Washington, D.C., said that had the property been in Aspen or Park City it probably would have been developed long ago. It wasn’t, she said, because of how difficult the Sun Valley area—and the Warm Springs area—is to access.
When explorers came through, they went up the valley where Highway 75 now runs between the Smoky Mountains and Boulder Mountains on their way to Galena Summit and beyond. The way through Warm Springs Canyon and over Dollarhide Summit was much more rugged.
Eastern corporations looking to exploit the west did build a lead and silver smelter at the mouth of Warm Springs Canyon in the vicinity of Broadway and Sunnyside streets. And Guyer Hot Springs resort, which was built just beyond what is now the ski resort, attracted the well-to-do dressed in their finery.
But, when the price of silver collapsed, the property was divvied up. Owen Simpson, who founded the Sawtooth Club, built Warm Springs Ranch to accommodate a gambling operation. And he built the Devil’s Bedstead, which he moved south of Ketchum to an area near where the Ketchum Korral now sits, when the state outlawed gambling.
Over the years, years the Warm Springs Ranch became the site of a popular restaurant, nine-hole golf course and tennis courts.
Developer Bob Brennan is building 35 lots on the southeastern corner of the property; others have tried to build hotels and golf courses on the property.
The property has water rights dating to 1888—about the time of the smelter—which allows the property to be irrigated. Scott Boettger said the Wood River Land Trust is working with others on a master plan that will restore the creek on the property and turn part of the preserve into an intentional flood plain to alleviate flooding of homes downstream.
There will be off-leash dog areas, a frisbee golf course, beach, trail and restrooms. Picnics will be allowed but organized activities like baseball will not.
The master planning committee hopes to work with the Forest Service on a connector trail to the Warm Springs side of Sun Valley Resort’s Bald Mountain.
“It has incredible potential,” said Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “It’s important we create a flow, create a connection. I know a connector trail is possible and there are some million-dollar views up there.”
The Friends of Warm Springs committee will continue to raise money for capital improvements for the preserve that are outside the city’s budget. And the city plans to hold a Solstice Party to thank the community for its support in acquiring the property on June 21. There will be three bands from 2 to 10 p.m. with food vendors and a silent auction.
“This shows how we as a community can do great things,” said Holland. “What we just did was really big, and we did it together a community.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The Warm Springs campaign committee included Ali Long, Michael Mars, David and Kimberly Barenborg, Susan Flynt, Connie Hoffman, Sally Onetto, Kathy Wygle, Nick Miller , Chiyo Parten, Bob Burkheimer and Neil Bradshaw
The Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course was the city of McKinney’s first disc golf course. City officials say the course is ideal for all skill levels. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)
Although it has been two years since Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course earned state and national accolades, the sport is still popular in McKinney, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kowski said.
UDisc, the official app of the Professional Disc Golf Association, announced McKinney’s first disc golf course as the No. 1 disc golf course in Texas and No. 2 in the nation for most rounds played in 2020.
Kowski said the accessibility of disc golf could be a reason why McKinney residents love the sport.
“It’s something you can do at the drop of a dime,” he said. “If you have an hour free and if you wanted to stop halfway through, you can.”
Kowski added that Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course is an ideal course for players of all skill levels.
McKinney has two city-run disc golf courses. The second one, Towne Lake Disc Golf Course, is “perfect for more seasoned players accustomed to challenging courses,” according to the city website.
Both courses received new baskets around the time that the Alex Clark Memorial Disc Golf Course gained national recognition. Members of the McKinney-based Chain Bombers Disc Golf Association volunteered to install baskets paid for by the city’s parks department.
In addition to the handful of tournaments the city hosts each year, the Chain Bombers organization hosts the annual McKinney Classic tournament every September. The two-day event draws about 300 players from across the country, Chain Bombers Board Member Nick Fisher said.
Kowski said that disc golf tournaments give the city a significant economic boost.
“People are flying in and spending a day or two here,” Kowski said. “That’s hotel stay, that’s restaurants, even traveling, [and] it’s gasoline—all those add up. I’m a firm believer that parks and recreation has an important role in economic development. This is one way we do it.”
Both Kowski and Fisher said they enjoy seeing new disc golf players out on the courses. The Chain Bombers group hosts weekly learning days across the metroplex for people who have never played to get a friendly introduction to the sport.
“It’s just one of those things that we would love to get more people to appreciate how fun the sport is,” Kowski said. “You could be a 5-year-old or an 80-year-old and be out there and have some fun.”
The last item on the Portola City Council agenda April 27 was a discussion on the previously approved construction of a Verizon cell phone tower on private property in the City of Portola, near the Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPH) campus.
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City Councilman Phil Oels noted that they had already started a concrete pad at the private construction site.
Interim City Manager Jon Kennedy said that much interest was inspired by a recent EPHC meeting where safety concerns regarding helicopter flights was brought up. “Because of the interest brought forward, and we could not discuss it because it was not agendized, we thought it would be good to bring it back up to allow for some question-and-answer period,” Kennedy said. “Maybe Josh Hart could have a little time leniency on this topic.”
Oels recused himself from the discussion due to his living in proximity to the site under discussion.
Public comment opened with Josh Hart, who said, “I appreciate this opportunity. I am Spokesperson to Plumas Wired. I was trained as a planner, and our professors drilled into us to think about the future and what would change. What crucial projects might be pre-empted by poor planning decisions.”
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Hart went on to state that the permit was issued to Verizon over objections from the public and EPHC, and that “this is what happens when planners fail to look towards the future.” Hart added that “thousands of pounds of microplastics now threaten the Feather River from cell tower trees in the Tahoe area.”
“The city should have enforced a height limit- this could have been prevented,” Hart said. “A tower is a tower, and antennae of different frequency can be installed at any time without a permit if they are of the same size. Verizon is using microwave radiation at very high levels.”
Hart expressed concern over the effects of the tower on people in the community as well as the pollinating insects and birds, which he stated are shown to decline near cellular towers, such as in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “Pollinating insects declined in that community by 90 percent,” Hart said. “We expect similar health problems and declines of pollinators and birds when this tower goes in, unfortunately.”
Hart also spoke about the opinions garnered from a professional, Florida based aviation safety expert-Keith Mackey, who stated that “radio altimeters and night vision were not reliable in proximity to 5G, which could restrict EPHC to daylight operations.”
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“Verizon says that it (5G) won’t be installed for another five to ten years, but if we aren’t prepared, there will be no defense and we won’t be in a good situation with our air ambulance for a formally approved helipad. The FAA limits locations on helipads, like an upside-down cone. The cell tower intercepts with the cone at the current helistop,” Hart went on. “I don’t think that the questions have been adequately answered, and this planning conflict could be enough to pull the permit and look for another location. This was not investigated adequately during the initial process.”
Hart also stated that the City of Portola and EPHC need to get together to consult experts on exactly how this may affect the city in future. “We are frustrated. The city needs a telecom ordinance, as we’ve said for several years. We understand that designing disc golf courses is more fun, but this could be just the beginning if we don’t adopt an ordinance,” Hart concluded.
Doug McCoy, CEO at EPHC, commented that clearly, the project has been a source of concern over the last several months.
“In recent talks with aviation experts, they’ve indicated that flights for emergency services will not be impacted,” McCoy said. “Based on community concerns in November of 2020, readings have been taken monthly at EPHC, and we will continue our testing monthly as well to ensure the levels remain below requirements for public safety. We appreciate the city looking into our concerns and those forwarded to us. Our goal continues to be providing high level care to the community members in a safe and efficient manner.”
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Cooley noted his appreciation of McCoy joining the meeting and the actions of the EPHC board. “It is clear to me that the helicopter operations that have taken place for years will not be diminished in any way due to the construction of the tower,” Cooley noted.
City Councilman Bill Powers commented that prior to the meeting, he had received an email from a Dr. Cinnamon Jones Cruse, and he had said that he would read her comment aloud to council.
In keeping with comments made earlier by Josh Hart, the email urged council to revoke the permit and dig into effects of EMS on health of people, plants and animals. “The truth is being whitewashed. Did we not learn anything from big tobacco?” the email asked. It also asked for a cease and desist order for Verizon.
Kennedy then addressed the EPHC helipad and helicopter portion of public concerns, from his perspective. “I want to clear up some comments Josh Hart noted that made it seem like I was nonchalant to the letter Keith Mackey provided. Most of you know I’m far from nonchalant, and what isn’t seen publicly is the activity that ensues when I’m researching,” Kennedy said.
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“All should know my history of advocating for EPHC and members of this community. The accusation of not taking it seriously is almost a slap in the face — it’s really false. I also want to address what may have been perceived as a knee-jerk response to Keith Mackey. I am a fixed wing pilot, I was a medic firefighter, and have a little bit of experience that allowed me to come up with responses in a quick period of time due to my experience.”
Kennedy went on to state that the actual location of the tower is well outside of the approach and flight pattern to the hospital. “I apologize to anyone who may have been offended for my quick responses to Mackey’s letter. I’m convinced there shall not be any concerns with helicopter flights in and out of the hospital.”
With that, the meeting was adjourned.
The City Council meeting is accessible to the public via live streaming at https://zoom.us/j/3583067836 or by phone at 1.669.900.6833; Meeting ID: 358 306 7836.
In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Ethan Barbee, founder of Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending in Durham, North Carolina, about the upcoming Barrel Culture Invitational that is happening on Oct. 15. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. May 5.
UnCapped: Let’s dive into the details of the Barrel Culture Invitational. When does it take place?
Ethan Barbee: It’ll be Oct. 15, noon to 5. We’re not doing a VIP; there’s just one ticket to purchase, where everybody gets five hours. We want everybody to feel like it’s a VIP experience. You get the same access to the same beers.
UnCapped: The way you have everything laid out, it never felt crowded, and there really weren’t any lines where you had to wait to get beer. Normally, I’m a huge advocate for VIP hour because once there’s general admission, it’s miserable. But it never hit that point at the invitational last year.
Barbee: I think we’re lucky enough that we have such a large space, we can spread around and do some things to alleviate that congestion. This year even more, we’re adding a parking lot that we can use to add even more people. Part of the idea of adding more tickets was we wanted to keep that sam feel. We felt like there was room for us to grow a little bit because of what you just said: It never felt too crowded or you were waiting too long for a beer. We have an opportunity to fit more people in there, and that’s what we want to do — get as many people in there drinking the amazing beer from the amazing breweries we have coming.
UnCapped: Will the disc golf course be open?
Barbee: That’s hard to say. We’ve had to stall a little bit because of a negotiation with our landlord and the landowner. I do think there’s an opportunity for us to get that done in the next four to five months.
UnCapped: It’s a sport where the popularity just seems to keep growing and growing.
Barbee: It really is because it’s such an easy thing that basically anyone can do. You have all of these courses around here. We have a million public courses that are free to play — so you can go to Play It Again Sports and get three discs for under $20, and you’re playing disc golf. You go out to a free course, walk in and get some exercise and have some fun. I’ve picked it up a lot this year. Tyler White — who does all of our social media and artwork and labels, and he’s the head man for the festival, as well — he’s a really good player. He has a nine-hole course in his backyard.
UnCapped: That’s dedication.
Barbee: Yeah, and it’s not a putting course. He’s got a couple acres back there. It’s very nice, but it’s a lot of work, too. That’s something we know — once we do it, it’s still a lot of work to maintain to keep going. But I think you’re right about the market for that. There’s just so many people playing now. So you add that into being at a brewery — it’s like things that go hand in hand. It feels like disc golf and craft beers are neighbors, to some extent, in this world.
UnCapped: I bet I can prove you wrong on your statement “anyone can do it.”
Barbee: Well, I didn’t say anyone could do it well. I can hit trees all day with discs. I’m really good at that.
Now that it’s May, with hopefully warmer weather around the corner, it’s a great time to get out to local parks. Walking in the woods has shown to benefit physical and mental health. To spice things up, Blaine’s Lincoln Park offers the added excitement of a challenge: Disc golf.
In the game, disc golf players count strokes each time a disc is thrown. Starting from the tee pad, players take turns until they finish the hole by throwing the disc in the basket. The player with the least throws at the end of the game wins.
The average disc golfer walks nearly three miles per 18-hole round, or 5,613 steps, according to a Western Carolina University study. The study clipped pedometers on 228 men and 112 women who played 15 different disc golf courses. It also found each additional throw resulted in just over three additional steps per hole. So when friends are beating you, just tell them it’s doctor’s orders.
The sport offers a light, full body workout, which has been proven to improve weight loss and heart health. It also has been shown to have mental health benefits.
Getting players closer to nature, disc golf relieves stress. Many players say how the physical activity along with the time spent outside reduces stress and increases serotonin levels, which in turn boosts mood and improves sleep. It’s a great way to socialize, too. Disc golf is relatively simple to learn so newcomers are always welcome, making it a great activity to introduce to friends and family. The community is also growing rapidly so there are likely people to play with at the local course. But it’s a sport that can just as easily be enjoyed alone.
Blaine resident Mike Williams said he started playing five years ago because it was a fun way to stay healthy. “That’s why we do it,” he said.
Williams said he’s played all the courses in Whatcom County and described Blaine’s as technical. Lincoln Park’s dense forest of Western red cedars, Douglas fir and Bigleaf maples make it challenging, but attractive. With two pin positions per hole, hole maps at each tee and a park in the middle of a nice neighborhood, he said the city of Blaine did a nice job.
The city completed the course in summer of 2018 after the park and cemetery board budgeted $25,000 for it earlier in the year.
Community planner Alex Wenger said the course offered a new amenity that is in short supply in Blaine. He said Blaine has plenty of green space and walking paths, but not many specified recreation areas like basketball courts and baseball fields.
The course does not impede on the park’s walking trails. Lincoln Park is also one of two off-leash dog parks in Blaine.
Williams said he plays four times a week, and most often in Blaine. He recently started entering competitions held at the park on Mondays at 5 p.m. The spring league runs for seven consecutive weeks until May 23 and participants can earn points toward starting spots in Professional Disc Golf Association competitions.
Whatcom Disc Golf Club, which Wenger said is a great volunteer group that helped in building and managing the course, started the annual Battle at the Border tournament at Lincoln Park in 2018 that gets 70-100 participants. This year the event starts 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 19.
“Hopefully, they buy lunch in town,” Wenger said. “Who knows if those people would visit for any other reason besides the tournament.”
The club also manages and hosts events at three other courses in Whatcom County, at Cornwall Park in Bellingham, Mossy Roc in Sudden Valley and Vanderyacht in Ferndale.
The sport is inexpensive for beginners. Disc starter packs range from $20-$50, and single discs can cost under $10. Disc types consist of putters, mid-range and drivers, with variations to each.
Save on summer lodging during Vail Resorts’ best hospitality sale of the season, with savings of 15% beginning May 24
Epic Pass Holders receive savings of more than 30%, plus exclusive early access to the sale beginning May 19
BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vail Resorts today announced its biggest hospitality sale of the summer season, offering guests a limited-time opportunity to save 15% on lodging rates at hotels, condos, and chalets across its portfolio of premier destinations in the United States and Canada. From Tuesday, May 24 through Tuesday, May 31, guests will have a full week to book the best lodging rates for summer travel and beyond.
Park City
Epic Pass Holders – including those with an Epic Day Pass – will receive exclusive early access to the Summer Escape Sale beginning May 19, plus an additional 20% off the already discounted rates, for more than 30% savings at Vail Resorts owned and operated properties in North America. Epic Pass Holders can book the Summer Escape Sale by signing into their Epic Pass account, selecting the sale and searching for their lodging of choice.
Guests should lock in a 2022/23 Epic Pass by May 30 to receive the additional savings on the sale and the lowest price on their pass. All 2022/23 Pass Holders also receive summer resort benefits with Epic Mountain Rewards, including 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, owned and operated lodging, bike passes and rentals, and golf (at select resorts). Summer Scenic Gondola rides at participating resorts are also free with eligible passes (excludes Epic Day Pass).
Vail Resorts’ Summer Escape Sale will be live with the most up-to-date room rates and availability on Vail Resorts’ lodging deals page. Vail Resorts’ portfolio of resorts have each announced summer opening dates and initial activities. Summer activities/operations across resorts may open at later dates, depending on snow melt and trail conditions, and are subject to change. For more information on summer and new activity announcements, follow resort social media channels and websites.
Colorado Summer Activity Details
Crested Butte: Resort Activities Open June 11 Located in the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, summer blooms in Crested Butte with scenic rides on the Silver Queen Lift and Bike Haul on the Red Lady Express, along with hiking, bungee trampolines, a climbing wall, and the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park. Events are returning this summer and include the Pinnacle Mountain Bike Race Series, 4th of July celebration, Chili & Beer Festival, Live! At Mt. Crested Butte Summer Concert Series, and more. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at The Grand Lodge Hotel & Spa located in the heart of the base area village, and the centrally located Lodge at Mountaineer Square features upscale accommodations.
Vail Mountain:Resort Activities Open June 17 Ahead of its 60th anniversary season, Vail Mountain will open for summer with the return of Epic Discovery with guest favorites including the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, tubing hills, kids zipline, Paramount Peak Climbing Wall, Gore Creek Mini Golf and more. Visitors can enjoy scenic gondola rides, hiking, and bike haul from both Vail and Lionshead Villages. Mountaintop dining and summer après await at MidVail and Eagle’s Nest. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, centrally located in Vail Village as well as The Arrabelle, A RockResort, and The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, both located in the heart of Lionshead Village.
Breckenridge:Resort Activities Open June 17 Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Breckenridge brings back Epic Discovery with a variety of scenic, family-friendly and thrill-seeking high alpine activities based out of Peak 8. Summer fun will include scenic lift rides, the Gold Runner Coaster, alpine slides, climbing wall, rope challenge courses, 4×4 tours, bungee trampolines and more. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at One Ski Hill Place, A RockResort, located steps from the BreckConnect Gondola which will operate daily during summer. Savings will also be available at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge, situated across from Breck’s Peak 9 and in close proximity to mountain activities.
Beaver Creek: Resort Activities Open June 18 Summer tees off at Beaver Creek Golf Club and Red Sky Golf Club opening to resort guests in May. Beaver Creek Resort activities will include scenic lift rides, hiking and bike haul, gemstone panning, mini golf and more. On mountain, Spruce Saddle will be open for dining, featuring BBQ to satiate appetites worked up from hiking the Overlook Trail or enjoying lawn games like volleyball and cornhole. Fine dining returns at Beano’s Cabin, as well as guided hike and wine, horseback and 4×4 tour excursions. Travelers can plan their visit around signature events like Blues, Brews and BBQ; the Independence Day Celebration; and Wine and Spirits Festival. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at The Pines Lodge, A RockResort, and The Osprey, A RockResort, both featuring outdoor pools and located within walking distance of the charming Beaver Creek Village.
Keystone: Resort On-Mountain Activities Open June 22 Keystone golf will tee off in May with the opening of the River Course and the Ranch Course. Keystone’s Lakeside Village will open with an array of activities in time for Memorial Day Weekend celebrations. Beginning in June, visitors can go horseback riding, and sign up for scenic wagon rides and scenic wagon ride dinners. Keystone Festivals will return with signature weekend events in River Run Village, starting with the Bacon & Bourbon Festival June 25-26. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at Keystone Lodge & Spa, with weekend entertainment featuring live music out by Keystone Lake. Discounted rates will also be bookable at Ski Tip Lodge and Hyatt Place Keystone. As an added perk, guests who book directly with Keystone Resort for two nights or more will receive the Keystone Adventure Pass, unlocking benefits like free golf on arrival day, free yoga and a free gondola ride for kids 12 and under.
Utah Summer Activity Details
Park City: Resort Activities Open May 27 Conveniently located just 30 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport, summer fun is in close proximity at Park City. Canyons Golf tees things up on May 21, while at Park City Mountain Village, visitors can look forward to The Park City Adventure Park with activities including an alpine slide, mountain coaster, mini-golf, gem panning and more. On-mountain, take in the views with scenic lift rides, mountain biking and hiking. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at Sundial Lodge, located just steps away from the Red Pine Gondola, and the Grand Summit Hotel, A RockResort, located in the heart of Canyons Village.
California Summer Activity Details
Northstar California: Resort Activities Open May 20 The majestic trees in the Martis Valley open up for the ideal mountain getaway with the resort’s pro-rated 18-hole golf course teeing off the season May 20, followed by the opening of the resort’s Bike Park June 10 and additional summer activities. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at Ski Trails Condominiums.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort: Resort Activities Open June 1 Removed from the hustle and bustle of Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood’s biking and hiking trails will open for summer adventure as soon as the snow melts. Wildflowers are a primary draw as they continue to change through the season. Discwood, the resort’s 18-hole disc golf course, is one of the most difficult and scenic courses in the area and will open June 1. The historic Kirkwood Inn, which has operated as a bar and restaurant since 1864, will be open daily starting May 27. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at The Meadows and Timber Ridge.
Heavenly Mountain Resort: Resort Activities Open June 17 High above the waters of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly offers a quintessential summer panoramic lake backdrop. Heavenly will kick-off summer sightseeing with its iconic Gondola with more activities to follow. Book Summer Escape Sale rates at Lakeland Village.
CanadaSummer Activity Details
Whistler Blackcomb: Resort Activities Open May 13 Whistler Blackcomb’s summer launches with mountain biking, hiking and sightseeing coming back in full-force as the resort reopens to the world. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is set to open with daily access to its iconic Top of the World bike trail, so riders can shred the 1500-meter descent to the valley against a backdrop of the snowcapped Coast Mountains. Whistler Mountain’s Peak Zone will return to its full glory with the Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Eye sightseeing platform open to guests for the first time in two years. The mountain will also feature new interpretive signage highlighting knowledge and stories from the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Líl̓wat Nation, on whose unceded territory the mountains sit. Summer Escape Sale rates will be bookable at Legends, Creekside’s premier family accommodation and First Tracks Lodge.
VermontSummer Activity Details
Mount Snow: Resort Activities Open May 20 Mount Snow opens for summer with golf, scenic lift rides, and the Mountain Bike Park. Summer Escape Sale rates will be available at Grand Summit Resort. At Stowe(May 28), celebrate summer with the opening of the Auto Toll Road, Gondola Sky Ride and the return of the Stowe Rocks climbing gym.
Okemo: Resort Activities Open June 16 Okemo will also be open for summer fun with scenic lift rides, lift-served mountain biking and Adventure Zone activities including mini golf, a mountain coaster, and a climbing wall. Welcome the weekends in Okemo with Summer Escape Sale rates at Jackson Gore Inn, and enjoy an outdoor Summer Music Series on the lawn featuring live music, BBQ and more on Friday evenings.
Pennsylvania Summer Activity Details
Liberty Mountain: Resort Activities Now Open Liberty is conveniently located just north of the Maryland–Pennsylvania border and a 90-minute drive from Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Baltimore. Golf takes center stage for summer operations, with select special events to be announced throughout the season. Visitors can take advantage of Summer Escape Sale rates at the Alpine Lodge and Highland Lodge, which offers sweeping views of Liberty’s golf course.
Flexible Booking Policy The Summer Escape Sale spans arrival dates throughout the summer season, with select properties extending discounted rates into the 22/23 ski and ride season. Minimum stay and additional restrictions and exclusions apply. See full terms & conditions at snow.com/hospitality/terms. The most up-to-date room rates and availability for participating hotels, condos, and lodges across Vail Resorts’ North American portfolio of resorts can be found at Vail Resorts’ lodging deals page. To provide guests with flexibility and reassurance as they navigate their travel plans, Vail Resorts also offers a flexible booking policy.
About RockResorts® RockResorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, sets the standard for belonging in some of the world’s most admired destinations. Punctuated by the character of their iconic locations, our pampered accommodations range from glamorous hotels to cozy mountain hideouts, all defined by a level of service and respect for the environment that’s unmatched in the industry. The RockResorts collection includes The Arrabelle at Vail Square and The Lodge at Vail in Vail, Colo.; The Osprey at Beaver Creek and The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, Colo.; One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge, Colo.; and Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah. www.rockresorts.com
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading global mountain resort operator. Vail Resorts’ subsidiaries currently operate 40 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia; Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched in New Hampshire; Stevens Pass in Washington; Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania; Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River in Ohio; Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri; Wilmot in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and Paoli Peaks in Indiana. Vail Resorts owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the Rock Resorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning and development subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
