Mountain Almanac for the Week of Feb. 7

Tuesday, Feb. 7

The Woodland Park Downtown Development Authority will meet at 7 p.m. in the WP Council Chambers, starting at 7:30 a.m.  The meeting is available in-person and on Zoom.

The Green Mountain Falls Board of Trustees will meet on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the GMF Town Hall.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Wellness Walk. Scheduled for Feb. 8  at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Meet at the upper level and choose a one, two or three-mile hike. Maps are available. Healthy living tips and mindfulness exercises to enhance your walk. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. Free admission.

Thursday, Feb. 9

TOPS. Take Off Pounds Sensibly- Meets every Thursday morning at 9 a.m.  in the basement of Church in the Wildwood 10585 Ute Pass Ave, Green Mountain Falls, CO 80819. Affordable, effective weight-loss

The Teller County Commissioners will meet on Feb. 9 at 9:15 a.m. in the Centennial Building in Cripple Creek.

The Woodland Park Planning Commission will meet on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the WP Council Chambers, next to city hall.  The meeting is available in-person and on Zoom.

Friday, Feb. 10

Giant Winter Book Sale. Grab a bag of books for $5.  Scheduled at the Woodland Park Public Library on February 10th from 2-6pm and February 11th from 10am to 2pm. See you there. For more information, call 719-687-9281.

Saturday, Feb. 11

Dogs in the Wild. Join Denise Gard’s famous Border Collies as they camp under the stars. Will Kira end up lost? Will Joey rescue her? Learn how to co-exist with wild animals while hiking and camping with your dogs. Discover how we’re all together in nature–Animals and Humans–in this adventure full of dog tricks! This event is scheduled for Feb. 11 from1 to 2 p.m. at the Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park. For more information, visit www.rmdr.com

Sunday, Feb. 12

Super Bowl Sunday Check out Super Bowl 57 at your favorite sports bar/eatery in  Green Mountain Falls, Crystola, Woodland Park,  Divide, Florissant and Cripple Creek on Feb. 12, with game time slated for around 4:30 p.m. The big game features a showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Many local eateries also will offer game specials, and yes, obnoxious fans from the dueling teams

This week, TMJ features a special Super Bowl edition, with predictions from local fans, sports buffs and community leaders.

Upcoming

Best of Cripple Creek and the Teller High County.  Don’t forget to partake in the annual Best Of 2023 contest, sponsored by TMJ.  This Best Of contest has been yearly tradition, which began shortly after gaming started in Cripple Creek. See related story in this week’s issue.  Voting continues until mid-February, with the winners announced in March. More than 70 categories for you to pick favorites. To vote, visit www.mountainjackpot.com.

Special Dinners. McGinty’s Wood Oven Pub in Divide features series of 5-6 course dinners paired with libations, with special themes. The series kicked off on Feb. 1 and received great reviews. The next dinner is scheduled for Feb. 15 and it features a combination of Italian wines and Cuisine. For more information, call 719-686-7703 to make reservations.

Ice Fest Returns. The organizers of the Cripple Creek Ice Festival are excited to announce that planning is underway for the return of the Cripple Creek Ice Festival, February 18-26, 2023.  New sponsors have been identified and the City of Cripple Creek has approved their sponsorship of the event, which paves the way for a larger more exciting event than ever before.  The head-to-head carving challenges will also be returning to the event on Saturdays.  Carvers will compete in a stadium setting for a $1,000 cash prize each weekend.  Carving teams will also be doing their best to win the People’s Choice Award for an overall cash prize of $5,000.  Plan your visit and cast your vote for the most impressive carving.

Are you interested in being a vendor at the Ice Festival?  Please contact the Destination Marketing Coordinator at 719-270-1999, kmurray@cripple-creek.co.us to get more information.

Are you a professional ice carver that would like to compete in the event?  Please call 719-689-3461.  Team are limited to 4 members.  Major carvings must be completed by opening day of the event (Feb 18).

Pearl’s Follies. Pearl’s Follies is the annual fundraiser for the Old Homestead House. It is scheduled for March 4 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Old Homestead House Museum. Victorian Elegance theme! Live entertainment, food provided by Miramont Castle, drinks!, Rodeo Road Apples Band after dinner with a Cocktail hour!! Single Tickets: $30. Entire tables can also be purchased.  Call for pricing. Limited Seating! Sales start soon! Call 719-689-2485 or visit oldhomesteadhouse.com. The 2023 event will be held at the Cripple Creek Elks Lodge.