As I introduced last month, I have begun to feature a hiking report. The fall climate clearly supports some great hiking and also compliments the ski report and golf report that I also feature in this newsletter and on my blog.

Hiking is one of my favorite activities and Vail has gorgeous mountains, creeks and trails that are perfect for this activity. This month, I’ve featuring the Wilder Gulch Trail. If you have suggestions for future hiking reports, please send them my way.

The Wilder Gulch Trail is located west of Copper Mountain. It climbs up Wilder Gulch from the Vail Pass Recreation Trail toward Ptarmigan Pass. From the base of the trail, travel south up the valley away from the interstate. The trail climbs continuously as it parallels the stream where numerous beaver ponds are found. After 2.3 miles the trail swings to the right and ends on a dirt road, which winds up to Ptarmigan Pass at the head of the valley. Ptarmigan Pass offers a good view of the Sawatch Range and the west side of the Gore Range.

The area is closed to motorized vehicles in the summer, but snowmobiles do use the area in the winter.

Directions: From Beaver Creek, Go 23 miles east on I-70 to exit #190, near the summit of Vail Pass. Turn right and park in the large parking area. Hikers can follow the Vail Pass Recreation Trail (a paved bicycle trail) to Wilder Gulch. Cross through the tunnel under the interstate which and follow the recreation trail to just before the stream crossing.

The stats:

Elevation: 10,500 feet

Ending Elevation: 11,500 feet

Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet

Distance: 3.0 miles

Usage: Light

Difficulty: Easy

Vail, Colorado’s reputation as a premiere global ski destination has been earned from nearly 50 years of excellent service, world-renowned mountains and slopes, and great entertainment for the whole family.

And now Vail is forging ahead into the tech space with a new app that intertwines up-to-the-minute snow and trail reports, various aspects of social networking services like Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare, and a personalized history of your ski experiences. The app – EpicMix – will be launched this upcoming season, premiering November 5 at Keystone Resort. It will be available with all of the PEAKS lift tickets along with Vail’s Epic, Summit, Heavenly and Colorado season passes which will come equipped with wireless Radio-Frequency (RF) transmitters. The RF chips already enable instant lift access and will allow skiers to comprehensively “capture, connect and share” their ski experiences.

What does EpicMix actually do? It tracks movements, determines skiers’ total vertical feet skied and records every lift ride and ski day. By connecting the app to Facebook and Twitter, participants can instantly share accomplishments with their social networks. The app also boasts a networking link which allows skiers and riders to find friends who are on the mountain, and then – through an instant messaging system – arrange meeting times and locations. As family-friendly as Vail is, EpicMix follows by offering kids under 13 access to their own specific social networking club that is protected by strict privacy settings.

Between rafting, hiking, biking, golf, tennis, fishing, horseback riding, camping, and a number of special events, there is an endless supply of things to do in Vail in the summer.  (Browse the array of warm-weather activities at http://web.vail.net/local/summer.cfm).

August 07 – Vail Kids Adventure Race

Start Time: 9 a.m.

The 1st annual Vail Kids Adventure Race will offer teams of two kids, ages six through 12, the opportunity to experience the thrill of adventure racing through Vail and the surrounding wilderness. During the race, teams will work together to navigate a variety of outdoor sports and challenges including mountain biking, hiking, tubing, archery, a low ropes course, zip line, Tarzan swing, slip-n-slide and more. An after party and awards ceremony will take place immediately following the race.

Registration is limited to 50 teams of two kids. Registration cost $150 per team of two and teams will be divided between three age groups: 6-7; 8-9; 10-12

Start/Finish Location: Vista Bahn Base Area, Vail Village
Parking: Vail Village Parking Structure

August 12 – Jazz at Vail Square – Hot Tomatoes Swing Band and Swing Dancing

Shows are from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

This free concert series outside the Arrabelle Hotel in Vail Square, Lionshead offers tented seating for 250+ and plenty of additional room in Vail Square to enjoy the concert.  Many concert goers enjoy browsing the shops or dining in Lionshead before, during, or after the show.

Hot Tomatoes Swing Band and Swing Dancing

One of the best swing bands west of the Mississippi, the Hot Tomatoes delights fans with authentic recreations of music by the greats of the swing era, including Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Harry James. Completing the big band experience are award-winning swing dancers Tiffiny Wine and Kenny Nelson, who will not only perform their high energy, toe tapping swing dancing, but will also offer an opportunity for a swing dance lesson prior to the show. Dance lesson begins at 5 p.m. before the concert. Contact the Vail Jazz Foundation for more information and get your dancing shoes on!

August 20 – 22  – Vail Soul Music Festival

Vail Soul Music Fest introduces a weekend-long showcase of up-and-coming independent soul music artists, as well as features popular, award-winning soul music headliners.  The Fest boasts an impressive lineup of R&B, conscious hip hop, alternative rock, blues, and neo soul musicians – including three-time Grammy nominee and iTunes favorite, Raphael Saadiq, Grammy nominee Chrisette Michele, and emerging superstar Liv Warfield as headliners.

Two-day passes – providing unlimited access to music performances, empowerment seminars and cultural activities – are on sale now.  Tickets are $65 (general admission), $105 (covered seating) or $145 (VIP seating).

All summer! – Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival

Celebrating 23 years in the Vail Valley in 2010, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival brings in three venerable ensembles, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. The six-week festival will be punctuated with a truly unique recital featuring Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott, world renowned violinists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Gil Shaham & Anne Akiko Meyers, as well as 40 acclaimed soloists and chamber musicians.

All summer! – Vail Farmers’ Market and Art Show

The Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show is the largest farmers’ market in Colorado. There are more than 100 vendor tents weekly along with two live music venues and activities for kids. Vendors in colorful tents sell farm fresh fruits and vegetables while local artists display and explain their finest works.

Attend to buy the freshest foods, have lunch, and to browse the many tents and nearby shops and galleries or to simply enjoy all the activities.

All summer! – Yoga in the Gardens

Join a group of fellow yogis at the tranquil Betty Ford Gardens. The regularly scheduled summer program of Yoga in the Gardens is Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. Cost is $12 and they run thru September 2010.