August 5
Sounds of Summer Luau block party
The Golden Mardi Gras Casino in Black Hawk hosts the “Sounds of Summer Luau” block party, Aug. 5 fro 3-10 p.m. Enjoy live music along with local vendors serving summer favorites including BBQ and funnel cakes. Stop by the Mardi Gras booth to spin to win prizes. Visit http://www.thegoldengatescasino.com or call 303-582-5600 for more information.

August 6
Basic GPS Course in National Park
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute presents, “Find your Way There—And Back!: GPS Basics,” Aug. 6. Learn how to safely navigate all the wonders the backcountry has to offer during the all-day educational course taught by local expert Peter Price. Topics include basic GPS functions; navigation terminology; and using coordinate systems, maps and the internet in conjunction with GPS. Test your skills in Rocky Mountain National Park. All materials are provided, and a few GPS units are available for loan. Adult participants are $80. For information and to register, visit http://www.rmconservancy.org or call 970-586-3262.

August 12
August Felt Class at Wild Bear
Discover the possibilities of wet and dry felting, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Wild Bear Nature Center. Learn to make felt balls, and embellish them with felting needles, from Fiber Artist Phylleri Ball who has been spinning and dyeing fiber for 35 years. Ages 12 to adult are welcome, but class size is limited to 10 people. There is a $30 class fee and $7.50 materials fee. Call 303-258-0495 or e-mail registrar@wildbear.org to register. Visit http://www.wildbear.org to learn more.

August 14
Free Clear Creek Community Bike Ride
The Clear Creek Recreation Center hosts its third community bike ride from Idaho Springs to the Two Bears Tap and Grill and back, Aug. 14. The ride is five miles each way on a bike path. Meet at the Recreation Center, 98 12th Ave. in Idaho Springs at 5:15 p.m. Return times vary. All ages welcome to attend, but youth under the age of 14 need to be accompanied by an adult. There is no cost, but advance registration is required. Call 303-567-4822, stop by the recreation center or register online. Food and drinks are not included. Visit http://www.clearcreekrecreation.com to learn more.

August 18
Sonam Dorje Gong Bath
The StarHouse, 3476 Sunshine Canyon Dr., welcomes Richard Rudis, the North American Gong Master, for a 60-minute Sonam Dorje gong bath, Aug. 18 from 7-8 p.m. Transformational healing waves of sound bathe participants with the rising and failing rhythms, tonalities and vibrations of the huge Earth Gong tuned to the primordial “universal chord.” The evening is an unforgettable event to soothe, inspire, heal and awaken the spirit. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Register in advance at wholelifemodalities.com/page5.html. Visit thestarhouse.net, call 303-245-8452 or e-mail ascpr@TheStarHouse.org for additional details.

August 18-20
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
Planet Bluegrass, 500 West Main St. in Lyons, hosts its annual “summit on the song,” the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, Aug. 18-20. The event relocated from Estes Park to Lyons in 1994 and now hosts 4,000 music fans. This year’s event features Gregory Alan Isakov, The Revivalists, Elephant Revival, Dave Rawlings Machine, Loudon Wainwright III and many more. Three-day passes, single-day tickets, and camping for the 27th Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival are on sale at shop.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. Visit http://www.bluegrass.com for more information.

August 18-21
Puff, Puff, Pose: Ganja Yoga Camp
Ever fantasize about going back to summer camp with less rules and more ganja? Join Twisted Sister’s Shelly Jenkins and Jen Hicks, Aug. 18-21 at Crazy Dog Ranch, 2075 C.R. 73 in Fraser for “Puff, Puff, Pose,” a weekend yoga camp to connect with nature and this sacred plant medicine. Enjoy daily yoga, a silent hike, smoke ceremonies, delicious chef-prepared campfire cuisine, tarot readings and companionship with like-minded folks. Bring a tent, a smile and your best buds. Find tickets at http://www.eventbrite.com or visit twistedsister.yoga/colorado-yoga-retreats to learn more.

August 19-20
Golden Fine Arts Festival
The 27th Annual Golden Fine Arts Festival, presented by the Golden Chamber of Commerce, is one of the largest and most prestigious juried art shows in the country. The two-day event, Aug. 19-20 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., is held in downtown Golden on 11th Street between Maple and Arapahoe. It features more than 130 artists from 20 states, including many from Colorado. Artists are juried in media categories such as painting, sculpture, jewelry, and photography. The event is free and includes live music, art activities for children along with food and local beer vendors. Visit goldenchamber.org/golden-fine-arts-festival/

Devil’s Peak Downhill skateboarding race
Venom, in partner with Justin Rolo, presents the first annual Devil’s Peak Downhill skateboarding race, Aug. 19-20, on a section of Guanella Pass Road near Georgetown. The goal is to produce an exemplary event showcasing the “Colorado style” of skateboarding, while electrifying the North American scene with an exciting new race on an exciting new track. The Devil’s Peak Downhill features a 1.5 mile classic mountain pass course, speeds over 50 m.p.h., seven turns including four hairpin corners, rough high-country pavement, and a drop-in point at 10,000 feet elevation. Registration was capped at 150 riders. If interested in volunteering and working to make Devil’s Peak the best event possible, e-mail devilspeak@venomskate.com.

August 24-September 21
Practically Perfect Poetry course
Estes Park’s Senior Services offers a five-week poetry course, Aug. 24-Sept. 21, with local renowned teacher, Dr. Robert J. Burkhardt, Jr. The course covers some of the finest poetry in the English language while exploring themes of love, nature, conflict, identity, and death. Additionally, students review poetic devices and forms through which poets create. No prior experience with poetry is necessary to enjoy this course held on Thursdays from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Estes Park Senior Center, 220 Fourth St. The five-week series is $48 for members of Senior Center, or $60 for non-members. For more information, call 970-586-2996 or stop by the Estes Park Senior Center, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit http://www.estes.org/seniorcenter to learn more.

August 26
Local Author John Daly book shop visit
Author John Daly returns to Macdonald Book Shop, 152 E. Elkhorn Ave. in Estes Park, Aug. 26 from 1-4 p.m., with his third book in the Sean Coleman thriller series, Broken Slate. A lifelong Coloradoan, Daly graduated from University of Northern Colorado in 1996 and spent 16 years developing accounting software and workflow collaboration solutions. Daly lives in Greeley with his wife and children. For more information, call 970-586-3450, e-mail contact@macdonaldbookshop.com or visit http://www.macdonaldbookshop.com/events and http://www.johndalybooks.com.

Bear activity in backcountry increasing

Campers urged to use care with food storage

BOULDER
Because of a recent significant increase in reports of bear activity in and around dispersed and backcountry camp sites in the Boulder Ranger District, forest officials are urging backpackers and others venturing off road to use bear wise camping techniques, including the use of portable bear resistant canisters for food and toiletries.

Bev Baker, Wildlife Biologist for the Boulder Ranger District said, “Bear encounters have been reported recently in dispersed camping areas across the District, and now more so in the backcountry. If a bear approaches your campsite, try to scare it away by making loud noises, such as banging pans together, or keep a whistle or air horn handy. Known bear attractants include food, drinks, trash, toiletries and pet food – please store them properly to help keep you safe and bears alive.” By keeping a bear-wise site, campers will reduce the risk of drawing bears into their campsites and becoming habituated on human food sources. A habituated bear is a problem bear.

All visitors are asked to report bear activity within the Boulder Ranger District as soon as possible by calling the bear activity reporting number at Colorado Parks and Wildlife: (970) 472-4462. For emergencies requiring immediate response please call 911. For information about recreating in bear country, please visit cpw.state.co.us/bears. You may also visit us online atfs.usda.gov/arp, Twitter@usfsarp orfacebook.com/usfsarp.

©Originally published in the August 2017 issue of the MMAC Monthly