Mountain Secrets Blog

Meet the duo behind Colorado Serenity Magazine. You know, the monthly magazine you get in the mail... the one with the large glossy pages!

Be sure to sign up for their email list so you can be a guest at their upcoming Schmoozer event which will be a great networking opportunity on April 17th at the Wild Game in Evergreen. It's free to the public!

I actually got the greatest compliment a few months ago. A woman came up to me who had just moved here from Michigan. And she thanked me and said that this was her "Bible" for getting involved in the community. So she was able to pick her lawyer, her doctor, her dentist, all these different things based on the information in Serenity.

by Doug Kinzy, Publisher of Colorado Serenity

Click "continue reading" for the full video interview!  

"For the through hiker of the Colorado Trail the 285 corridor and its many wonderful towns are an oasis to the traveler in search of lodging, gear, food and many other services."

Her mentor once said, "When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. When you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their soul."

Sue Kaltenbach is a local photographer who focuses on capturing more than what meets the eye. She captures the story behind the subject through her black and white fine art photography. The idea is to focus on the elemental, essential nature of a portrait. Less becomes more.

She specializes in relationship photos -- couples, families and kids, babies, etc., but her true passion is to photograph those who need special consideration when it comes to portrait photography, as well as people 50 and older, as they tend to have rich stories.

Sue and her husband will lovingly handprint your photos so that they can last multiple generations.

Photographing rich stories really lends itself to black and white because you don't want distractions, you want the elemental nature of that person, that story.

by Sue Kaltenbach Ryan of Skalte Images

Click "continue reading" for the full video interview! 

Bailey MOPS is a mothers' support group that embraces the journey of motherhood and recognizes the challenges faced with raising children. Come connect with other moms, be inspired and mentored, engage in honest conversation and relevant teaching, enjoy delicious food and savor a break while your children are in good hands having fun!

I personally know that being a new mom in the mountains can get lonely and was so excited when I heard about this group. Co-Coordinators Michelle Peiffer and Fressia Alexander welcome you with open arms and encourage you to try your first meeting for free!

Even if you're nervous about coming into a group of women, just come as you are. We have people waiting at the door to greet you and to show you around. I was scared the first time I came. I didn't know what to expect with this huge group of women or if I would fit in. But this group is awesome. We are loving, and you have a place, and we are saving your seat.

Michelle Peiffer, Co-Coordinator of Bailey MOPS

Click "continue reading" for the full video interview!

With the holiday season in full swing, some of you might already be thinking about that dreaded New Year's Resolution! A bit cliche, and certainly overdramatized, but certainly worth noting as we indulge in the season's endless enticing treats.

 This week on #exploring285 we visited Fun & Funky Art Galleries and Gifts in Bailey! They have 2 convenient locations & tons of local art, home decor, jewelry & photography! See you around town!

This week on Exploring 285 we visited Coney Island Boardwalk in Bailey! The hot dog has a lot of history in our community and is a great place for a mid-day lunch, enjoying a shake & enjoying the river! Check it out, see you around town!

This holiday season shop local! The 285 Corridor has so many great local shops for unique gifts. Check out our local towns and retail shops for your gift needs & support our local businesses!

Here are some local shops that have been featured on Exploring 285. I have tried to showcase them all but I have a ways to go. Either way check out the great shops in our area! Featured here are a Borgata, Blue Spruce Toys, Evergreen Mountain Sports, Fun & Funky Art Galleries, Knit Knook, Native Vibrations, Platte River Outfitters, and The Sasquatch Outpost but there are so many great retailers in our area! SHOP LOCAL AND STAY UP THE HILL!

​Tucked away in Friendship Ranch in Bailey is a mountain oasis known as Deer Creek Mountain Camp.  With a motto like, "Intentionally Simple," I just had to go see what they're all about.  You don't have to go far to find blissful mountain camping - it's right here in your backyard.

Our mission is to provide a mountain experience that's intentionally simple for families and groups. We don't have all the highly-programmed activities -- we don't want those things.  We want this to be a retreat, a mountain oasis, where people can relax and enjoy.

by Brent Kroeker, Owner of Deer Creek Mountain Camp

 Click "continue reading" for the full video interview!

Three Mile Creek is no eye popping outing, it has few features many would seek when it comes to hiking in the alpine. Though what it does offer is serenity.

Paint. It's the medium that Rachel Henderson has been using to spread happiness and invoke creativity in others for nearly 20 years! You might catch her around town painting the faces of little ones at an event or leading a canvas painting party. Her creative spirit and kind demeanor has helped her become a successful small business owner and a positive influence in the community.

You can't have a bad day when you're making kids smile...

-Rachel Baer Henderson, Owner of Rachel's Creations

Click "continue reading" for the full interview and video!

Psst!!

By the way, did you know that November 24th is Small Business Saturday? Small Business Saturday is a great time to promote not only your own business, but that of your fellow businesses in the area as well! 

Today on Exploring 285 we visited Flying J Open Space in Conifer CO. This park is used for hiking, biking or horse back riding and has TONS of history ! See you around town! :) 

The Beginning: "It's 2010, and small businesses are hurting from an economy in recession. In an effort to support local shops that make our communities strong,  American Express launches Small Business Saturday^® on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. 

One year later, the Shop Small Movement gains momentum, as local officials across the nation take notice and promote Small Business Saturday. In 2011, the Senate unanimously passes a resolution in support of the day. By 2012, officials in all 50 states participate. 

By 2017, there were more than 7,200 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states... [with] an estimated 108 million consumers reported shopping or dining at local independently-owned businesses on Small Business Saturday — generating roughly $12 billion in reported spending."
Small Business Saturday History

Why buy local? According to a report by Michigan State University, "It means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs."

This week on exploring 285 we visited Evergreen Mountain Sports. They recently moved their location to Conifer. Evergreen Mountain Sports offers full outdoor gear shop, seasonal rentals, and a full service bike/ski tune shop. Check it out and see you around town!

As part of Governor Hickenlooper's "Colorado the Beautiful 16" Trail Connectivity Initiative, and thanks in part to Great Outdoors Colorado - GOCO and many caring volunteers, a new trail segment has been built connecting Staunton State Park to Cub Creek Trail in the Arapahoe National Forest. The ceremony commemorating the opening of this new segment was Monday, October 8, 2018 at the park, attended by John W. Hickenlooper, representatives from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Department of Transportation, The Bailey HUNDO, and more!

What is the "Colorado the Beautiful 16?"
The initiative is a key component of Colorado the Beautiful's broader goal to ensure, within a generation, every Coloradan will live within 10 minutes of a park, trail or vibrant green space.

Read on below!

This week on Exploring 285 we were at Blue Spruce Toys in Conifer. What a great place for toys, puzzles, games and more! Check it out and see you around town! 

Paul Romer, son of former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, was one of the people just awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Did you know that Conifer Mountain was a development by Roy Romer and that many of the roads on the mountain, including Paul's Drive, were named after his family? A little historical tidbit from Frank Fransioli who alerted us to this news! Read more below!

By the time you reach the timberline you will breathe a sigh of relief...not necessarily from the exhausting uphill climb...but perhaps the ghoulish sounds of nature as it transitions from summer to winter. ​