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Promoters of tourism in Aspen/Snowmass are pulling out the stops to ensure that Sunday night's rock slide in Glenwood Canyon doesn't deter guests and visitors from sticking with their spring break, and beyond, vacation plans. As of presstime, Colorado Department of Transportation was not able to give a reopening date for even one lane of traffic on the highway. That status could change at any time, so check for updates on snowmasssun.com.
In the short-term, lodging properties in Snowmass Village, including the Silvertree, reported that they had no cancellations because of the I-70 closure between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. In fact, due to inclement weather on Monday evening of this week, some properties and restaurants actually benefited from guests staying one night longer than originally planned.
The fact that the majority of Aspen/Snowmass guests arrive by air, rather than by rubber-tired transportation, is another positive. However, that's tempered by the fact the airport temporarily closes due to weather delays, the highway has always remained a viable option.
Guests who planned on using Eagle County Airport are being given information on airports from Grand Junction to Montrose, Hayden and Gunnison, which serves all of the airlines that use Eagle.
Bill Tomcich, President of Stay Aspen Snowmass, added that “currently there are seats available on flights in Aspen/Pitkin County Airport” for the rest of this week, into the weekend. One-way tickets are running under $200, Tomcich added.
Amtrak trains are another option, and a bargain one at that, with one-way tickets between Denver and Glenwood Springs running at $39 (the section of the canyon where the tracks run was not affected by the slide). Colorado Mountain Express will also be stepping up its services to the train station as well as regional airports, Tomcich said.
Early Tuesday, members of both the Snowmass and Aspen tourism sectors as well as Aspen Skiing Co. representatives convened to discuss how best to “simplify travel options” created by the highway closure. Snowmass Tourism's Susan Hamley said the Aspen Skiing Co.'s Web site, aspensnowmass.com, will serve as a clearing house for information.
More good news: The major spring break crowds aren't expected to arrive for another four days at least, which should give road crews additional time to clear the highway and hopefully, fix a section of the highway to allow for limited through traffic.
In terms of deliveries, the majority of vendors that service the Village Market arrive from Utah, so management doesn't anticipate any shortages on groceries and other supplies.
At presstime Tuesday, crews continued to clear away debris and shore up potentially loose rock on the side of the affected sides of the canyon walls. No vehicles were struck and no one was injured, according to the Colorado State Patrol, in the slide that occurred just west of the Hanging Lake tunnels. “As big as a semi truck” was used to describe a boulder that blew several holes in the elevated lanes. Three sections of a steel guard rail and two sections of retaining walls on the westbound lanes were also destroyed.
mosberger@snowmasssun.com
In the short-term, lodging properties in Snowmass Village, including the Silvertree, reported that they had no cancellations because of the I-70 closure between Dotsero and Glenwood Springs. In fact, due to inclement weather on Monday evening of this week, some properties and restaurants actually benefited from guests staying one night longer than originally planned.
The fact that the majority of Aspen/Snowmass guests arrive by air, rather than by rubber-tired transportation, is another positive. However, that's tempered by the fact the airport temporarily closes due to weather delays, the highway has always remained a viable option.
Guests who planned on using Eagle County Airport are being given information on airports from Grand Junction to Montrose, Hayden and Gunnison, which serves all of the airlines that use Eagle.
Bill Tomcich, President of Stay Aspen Snowmass, added that “currently there are seats available on flights in Aspen/Pitkin County Airport” for the rest of this week, into the weekend. One-way tickets are running under $200, Tomcich added.
Amtrak trains are another option, and a bargain one at that, with one-way tickets between Denver and Glenwood Springs running at $39 (the section of the canyon where the tracks run was not affected by the slide). Colorado Mountain Express will also be stepping up its services to the train station as well as regional airports, Tomcich said.
Early Tuesday, members of both the Snowmass and Aspen tourism sectors as well as Aspen Skiing Co. representatives convened to discuss how best to “simplify travel options” created by the highway closure. Snowmass Tourism's Susan Hamley said the Aspen Skiing Co.'s Web site, aspensnowmass.com, will serve as a clearing house for information.
More good news: The major spring break crowds aren't expected to arrive for another four days at least, which should give road crews additional time to clear the highway and hopefully, fix a section of the highway to allow for limited through traffic.
In terms of deliveries, the majority of vendors that service the Village Market arrive from Utah, so management doesn't anticipate any shortages on groceries and other supplies.
At presstime Tuesday, crews continued to clear away debris and shore up potentially loose rock on the side of the affected sides of the canyon walls. No vehicles were struck and no one was injured, according to the Colorado State Patrol, in the slide that occurred just west of the Hanging Lake tunnels. “As big as a semi truck” was used to describe a boulder that blew several holes in the elevated lanes. Three sections of a steel guard rail and two sections of retaining walls on the westbound lanes were also destroyed.
mosberger@snowmasssun.com
