September 2-3
Estes Park Alpaca Market
The 18th Annual Estes Park Alpaca Market, Sept. 2-3, at the Estes Park Fairgrounds in Barn W is free for the public, and provides a chance to meet alpacas and see products made using their fiber. Vendors sell a variety of products including raw fiber, yarns, sweaters, socks, scarves, gloves, rugs and household items. Visit http://www.alpacaland.com/AlpacaMarket.htm to learn more.

September 3
Historic Hydroplant Closes for Season
The Historic Fall River Hydroplant, 1754 Fish Hatchery Road, was built by F. O. Stanley to provide electric power to the Stanley Hotel when it opened in 1909 and was the exclusive source of electricity for Estes Park until the 1940s. Seasonally operated by the Estes Park Museum, its last day in 2017 is Sept. 3. For information, call the museum at 970-586- 6256 or visit http://www.estes.org/museum.

September 5
Estes Park Mayor’s Chat
Estes Park Mayor Todd Jirsa invites community members to join him for a Mayor’s Chat, Sept. 5, following a Tuesday Fun Run with the Estes Park Running Club. Register for the run at Steamer’s Café at the Stanley Hotel at 5:30 p.m. The run begins at 6 p.m. Citizens can join in or stop by after at 6:30 p.m. for the Mayor’s Chat. Visit estes.org to learn more.

September 6
Butterflies & their Native Host Plants
Join local butterfly expert Rich Bray, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m., at the Estes Park Community Garden, 380 Community Dr., to learn about local butterflies and native host plants that attract them. Meet at the garden to view plants, then hear a presentation on what grows at this elevation, and the butterflies they attract. The free event is open to everyone. Call 970-586-4078 or visit http://www.evcg.org to learn more.

September 8
25th Annual Toast to the Ghost
Join the proprietors of Eagle Plume’s Trading Post in Allenspark for the 25th Annual Toast to the Ghost, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m., in remembrance of the store’s long-time owner Charles Eagle Plume. A champagne toast and telling of tall tales about his life take place at 6:20 sharp, the time of his passing. Visit http://www.eagleplume.com, call 303-747-2861 or e-mail info@eagleplume.com for more details.

September 8-10
Adult Summer Camp
The first annual Adult Summer Camp takes place, Sept. 8-10, at Lawson Adventure Park, 3424 Alvarado Road in Dumont. This kid-friendly, adult camp gives participants and the whole family a chance to kick back and relax in Lawson Adventure Park’s lodging and enjoy all of their offerings including a challenge course, Zorbing, bungee trampoline, climbing wall and more. There will be live music, green chili, a hog roast, disc golf and more. To book a weekend and learn about rates, visit lawsonadventurepark.com, call 855-372-7238 or e-mail ampage@lawsonadventurepark.com

September 9
Ned*Ned Races
The scenic Ned Ned Half Marathon, 5K and 10K races, Sept. 9 at 8 a.m., support Nederland’s TEENS, Inc. and begin and end at its building, 151 East St. The 1/2 Marathon takes runners through Old Town Nederland to forest service roads and single track trails. Immerse yourself in the history and beauty of the area. This long-time race is family-friendly and dogs on a leash are welcome in the 5K and 10K events. Costumes are encouraged. Don’t miss the post race gathering for food and sponsor samples. Visit http://www.nednedrun.com to learn more and register.

September 16
Charity Golf Scramble
Dust off your clubs and get ready to help a small, extremely poor community in Santa Cruz, Guatemala, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Estes 9-Hole Golf Course, 690 Big Thompson Ave. Enjoy a morning of golf and at the same time provide support for the “Child Focused Community Transformation” partnership with Food for the Hungry and Summit Church in Estes Park. Participation is $160 for a team, $50 for individuals, $35 for golf course pass holders and $5 for mulligans. For more information, contact Ron Little at 970-370-3448 or 970-586-4792.

Collecting & Sowing Wildflower Seeds
Join CSU Extension Gilpin County for its “Collecting and Sowing Wildflower Seeds” workshop, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Gilpin Fairgrounds Exhibit Building lobby, 230 Norton Drive, Black Hawk. Learn when and how to legally collect wildflower seeds as well as how to sow for best success. Part of the class will be outside, so dress for the weather., For more information, call 303-582-9106 or visit http://www.extension.colostate.edu/gilpin.

September 20
Birding through the Seasons
Join volunteer Boulder County naturalists at the Lyons Regional Library, 805 Main St., to learn about birding through the seasons in Boulder County, Sept 20, 6:30-8 p.m. The program explores where to find, and how to identify local and migratory birds, and introduce an amazing range of ecosystems and habitats. Call 303-678-6200 or visit http://www.bouldercounty.org and lyons.colibraries.org for more information.

September 23
Alpine Safety Fair
The second annual Alpine Rescue Team Safety Fair, Sept. 23, 11:30-4:30 p.m., at Alpine Rescue Team Headquarters, 28802 Rainbow Hill Road in Evergreen, includes free educational talks and demonstrations from local experts and much more. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Vendors will be on site to educate, discuss their products and sell some as well. The fair also features rescue dogs, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s snowcat, Gilpin County Sheriff’s Emergency Communications trailer and Jefferson County Sheriff’s large snowcat and Emergency Communications Trailer. Visit alpinerescueteam.org for details.

September 30
Get Rooted in the Outdoors
Visit Estes Park and Oboz Footwear have joined forces for a day of giving back to a favorite Colorado playground. Join teams of volunteers, Sept. 30 from noon-4 p.m. for a day of tree planting and trail maintenance near Lake Estes. Enjoy a Trailhead Reception with food, beverages, prizes and more from 4-6 p.m. Registration is required.Visit http://www.visitestespark.com or e-mail jharms@visitestespark.com to learn more.

October 6
First Friday Tea School
The Spice and Tea Exchange of Idaho Springs hosts its next two First Friday Tea School events, Sept. 1 and Oct. 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The tea school teaches participants the skills and tools needed to confidently brew a perfect cup of loose leaf tea at home. Herbal, green, and black teas are featured. Students go home with enough tea to make several more cups of each of the teas. Reservations are requested, and space is limited. The events, which features different products each time, are $15 per person, or two for $20. Stop by the store to register or e-mail idahosprings@spiceandtea.com.

Winter Park Express tickets now available

Coming off a highly successful inaugural season, tickets for the Amtrak Winter Park Express passenger train service from Denver Union Station to the slopes of Winter Park Resort are on sale now at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress. The 2018 season will also feature some additions to the service, including three “First Friday” round-trips, a reduced fare of $29 each way on some departures.

The 2018 Amtrak Winter Park Express schedule begins on Friday, Jan. 5, and the train will run each Saturday and Sunday through March 25. The service will also include round-trips on two more “First Fridays,” Feb. 2 and March 2, to satisfy requests from the Denver business community for more opportunities for corporate groups. Customers can choose up to 27 round-trips, an increase from 2017, with 500+ riders on each train enjoying a comfortable and scenic ride on an historic route through the Moffat Tunnel, avoiding aggravating stop-and-go ski traffic on I-70 and U.S. 40.

Also added in the coming season is a reduced ticket price, enabling guests to experience the fun and convenience multiple times a season. Adult tickets now start as low $29 each way on select departures and are on sale now. Children ages 2-12 can still ride for half-fare with each ticketed adult. Amtrak and Winter Park Resort have also made it easier than ever before to book group travel by calling 800-USA-1GRP and having an entire train/ski package – including lodging – crafted by resort representatives and Amtrak.

The Amtrak Winter Park Express trains will again depart Denver Union Station at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at the resort at approximately 9:00 a.m., leaving Winter Park at 4:30 p.m.to return to Denver at 6:40 p.m. All times Mountain. The station is served by the Denver’s Regional Transportation District’s commuter trains to Denver International Airport, light rail, local or intercity buses and Lyft, the new national partner of Amtrak, which is offering a discount for new users’ first four rides and rideshare requests directly from Amtrak mobile apps.

The expanded Winter Park Express service is one of several improvements at Winter Park Resort for the 2017-18 season designed to increase convenience for guests, including a new retail location and major renovation of the resort’s primary rental shop totaling more than $1 million, various snowmaking and grooming improvements, and a new trail enabling easier access to the Mary Jane side of the resort from Winter Park. The full suite of 2017-18 Winter Park passes are on sale now for the lowest prices of the season, but prices will be going up soon. Passes are also available at Christy Sports Powder Daze beginning this weekend. Questions about the resort and its many features can be answered directly by Winter Park Resort by calling 888-923-7275.

The seasonal Amtrak Winter Park Express continues to share this route with the daily Amtrak California Zephyr service, which stops in nearby Fraser, Colo., and operates during this period over its full schedule between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay, via Denver.

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