Walker received 76.6% of votes in 10th and final year on ballot
DENVER — It was announced this evening that Larry Walker has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 76.6% of the vote in his 10th and final year on the ballot. The announcement was made by National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Tim Mead live on MLB Network.
Walker becomes the first player in Rockies history to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He is the seventh player in the modern voting era (since 1966) to be elected in his final year of eligibility and the third player over the past four years to be elected in his 10th and final year on the ballot (also Tim Raines in 2017, Edgar Martinez in 2019).
Eligible candidates must be named on 75% of the ballots from voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in order to be elected. Walker received 54.6% of the vote in 2019, marking an improvement of 22.0% in his final year on the ballot. That is the largest year-to-year percentage increase to earn election to the Hall of Fame in the modern voting era.
The Class of 2020 also includes shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Ted Simmons and executive Marvin Miller. They will be inducted on Sunday, July 26 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Born on December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada, Larry Walker played parts of 17 Major League seasons from 1989-2005, including parts of 10 seasons with the Rockies from 1995-2004. In his career, he batted .313 (2,160-for-6,907) with 1,355 runs, 471 doubles, 62 triples, 383 home runs, 1,311 RBI, 230 stolen bases and 913 walks. As a Rockie, Walker batted .334 (1,361-for-4,076) with 297 doubles, 44 triples, 258 home runs, 848 RBI, 126 stolen bases and 584 walks. He ranks first in Rockies history in batting average, on-base percentage (.426) and slugging percentage (.618). He ranks second, behind Todd Helton, in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI.
In 1997, Walker became the only player in Rockies history to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award after leading the Major Leagues with a .720 slugging percentage, a 1.172 OPS and 409 total bases. His 49 home runs that season led the National League, and remain tied with Todd Helton’s 2001 total for the most single-season home runs in Rockies franchise history.
He was named a National League All-Star five times (1992, 1997-99, 2001) and earned seven Gold Gloves in right field (1992-93, 1997-99, 2001-02) in addition to his three Silver Sluggers (1992, 1997, 1999). Additionally, he was a three-time National League Batting Champion (1998-99, 2001) as a member of the Rockies.
Prior to signing with Colorado before the 1995 season, Walker played parts of six seasons with the Montreal Expos (1989-94) and batted .281 (666-for-2,366) with 368 runs, 147 doubles, 16 triples, 99 home runs, 384 RBI across 674 games. He concluded his Major League career with parts of two seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (2004-05), where he batted .286 (133-for-465) with 95 runs, 27 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, six stolen bases and 65 walks across 144 games.
“I know I speak for the whole Rocky Mountain Region in congratulating Larry for his election into the Hall of Fame,” said Rockies Owner/Chairman & CEO Dick Monfort. “Larry blessed our region for parts of 10 seasons and we feel extremely fortunate to be a part of his incredible career. Congrats, Larry.”
‘Taking my gun for a walk’ plus learning to butcher and prepare deer like a gourmet
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Ten months of classroom study, days of target practice at the shooting range and hours of immersing myself in the ethics and strategies of hunting all built to a climax on the weekend after Christmas: my first big game hunt.
The anticipation was almost overwhelming as, on Dec. 28, my daughter, Natalie, and I embarked on our first big game hunt as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Rookie Sportsperson Program (RSP).
The RSP is a free program offered by CPW’s Southeast Region headquartered in Colorado Springs. It takes novice outdoors enthusiasts like Natalie and me and teaches them outdoor skills. Hopefully, attendees are inspired to get outside and sample all the adventures available in Colorado’s great outdoors.
We are learning about hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and much more. We became certified in the safe handling of firearms through a Hunter Education course and have been out on a couple small-game hunts with our mentor, District Wildlife Manager Logan Wilkins.
Along the way, Natalie and I began to understand why people hunt. We learned how hunting provides perhaps the most organic, natural protein one can find. And we learned how CPW uses hunting to protect big game animals from starvation and disease that result when herds grow too large, leaving no food for them on over-grazed habitat.
Way back on March 30, in anticipation of my hunt, Wilkins helped me decide which hunting license to buy so I could join him on a mentored pronghorn hunt near his district in Limon. Ever since, I’ve had the license in my wallet, just waiting to use it.
Every once in a while, I would take it out and read it: “Resident Pronghorn License. Doe Late Rifle. For Units 110, 111, 118, 119, 123, 124. Season Dates: 12/01/19 – 12/31/19.”
On the big day, Natalie and I met Wilkins at 6:30 a.m. in Limon. It was a cold Saturday morning, but I was burning with the Big Game Fever. Wilkins had gotten permission from a landowner in the area to let a couple novice hunters come try their luck at pronghorn hunting.
As we stepped out of the truck, the wind blew bitter cold in our faces and would continue to blow throughout the day. I was proud of my daughter: she never complained.
My first good chance to get a pronghorn came early in the day. We found a position in a field around 150 yards away from a group of pronghorn and sat down to keep from drawing attention to ourselves.
I positioned my lefty Savage Rifle, loaded with .243 Winchester ammunition, on a set of shooting sticks and tried to aim as the wind whipped us. Out in the field were two does and one antlerless buck, “all legal” with my license, Wilkins told me.
I took a deep breath and found them in my scope. But I couldn’t get the crosshairs to hold still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We had practiced on targets at 100 yards and these pronghorn, at 150 yards, were just out of my range.
As I struggled to calm my sights, I sat back on my butt and we adjusted the shooting sticks. But I still couldn’t get the scope to remain still long enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. We decided to get up to try to get cover behind a nearby hay bale.
“We’ll see what they’ll tolerate,” Wilkins said.
Turns out they didn’t tolerate much from us. As soon as we got up and began walking, the three pronghorn took off, moving so quickly out of range that their speed seemed almost supernatural.
“They say they evolved alongside big cheetah-like cats,” Wilkins said. “Myself, I like to say God was just showing off.”
He told me pronghorn will stand facing into the wind so that the scent of predators is blowing toward them. And I read online later that windy days on the plains can dry a pronghorn’s eyes, impairing their sight and making them skittish.
They certainly were jumpy the day we were hunting them. We spent the rest of the morning trying to spot and stalk them. Many times we saw a herd and crossed freezing fields hoping to sneak up only to pop up over a small hill and find the herd had disappeared.
We broke for a late lunch around 1 p.m. Wilkins offered to get a hunting blind – essentially a camouflage tent – that we would sit in until dark. But bad weather was moving in and news of cars sliding off nearby Interstate 70 convinced me to call it a day.
When we got home, I fell asleep sitting on the couch while my girlfriend was talking to me about how our hunt went. The next week, when people asked me how my hunt went, I told them what I’d heard others say: I ended up just taking my gun for a walk.
But the day was much more than just a cold hike with my gun. As with my small-game hunts, I got to experience with my daughter an adventure we will never forget. Sure we didn’t even get off a shot. But we enjoyed the preparation, the anticipation, the quest, the shared experience of trying to feed ourselves the way our ancestors did a century ago.
Like many things, it’s more about the journey than the actual destination.
A week later, I was back in class, learning more about how to cook wild game from professional wild game chef Jason Nauert.
Wearing a black Prosper Meats hoodie and a hat with a Colorado logo and a forearm loaded with tattoos (are you even a chef without them?), Nauert told us about his background.
He attended the Rocky Mountain Institute of Meat after leaving a career in law enforcement due to an ankle injury. In 2014, he began working with Special Forces units to develop a program teaching soldiers how to harvest, field dress and prepare animals in the field. Now, when he’s not traveling around the country teaching these skills at U.S. military bases, Nauert imparts his knowledge at classes like this one.
Nauert showed us how to process a deer, demonstrating different cuts and explaining his techniques as he went.
It was incredibly helpful to see how a professional breaks down an animal into its different cuts of meat. He had great tips for cutting and preparing every part of the animal, such as the deer’s legs or “shanks.”
“With shank meat, a lot of people waste their time cutting all that connective tissue, the silver skin, apart,” Nauert said. “Don’t waste your time. If you braise these in tomato sauce, or something with acidity, they’re fantastic. And you’re not wasting your time trying to cut all that silver skin off. You can tie butcher’s twine around a shank, then let it braise for six to eight hours. The meat falls off, you’ve got a beautiful dish.”
Nauert also dispelled the myth that some cuts of meat have to be tough.
“Some of the biggest reasons people end up with tough cuts of meat are, one, they cook it too long,” he said. “Two, they don’t use the right marinade if they’re trying to marinate it. And three, they cut it wrong.“
Another trick is cutting across the grain of the meat.
“If you cut with the grain, you’re screwed,” he warned. “If you cut against the grain, it’s going to be beautiful. Try not to cut super thick cuts either. It’s wild game. It’s not a cow. You can’t get away with three-inch pork chops or something like that. You want it thin.”
Nauert had prepared a few dishes ahead of time to show the class what the results of cutting and cooking wild game could be. The delicious smell of venison carne asada and venison chili wafted around us and we all dug in to the delicious dishes.
At the end, Nauert wrapped up the different cuts of meat from the deer and everyone was able to take home a cut of their choosing. My girlfriend, Jamey, and I chose a roast.
For dinner the next evening, we took chopped carrots, potatoes and onions and put them in a slow cooker with salt, pepper and garlic. Then we added broth and water to the pot and cooked it on high for about eight hours. The result was a delicious dinner for our family for the next two evenings.
For our final month of RSP, we’ll be participating in an ice fishing class and then have a final banquet consisting of wild game prepared by participants in the program. You’ll be able to read all about it in the next installment of Field Notes of a Rookie Sportsperson.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Logan Wilkins, district wildlife manager in Limon area, scans for pronghorn as Travis Duncan aims his rifle.
Professional wild game chef Jason Nauert teaches members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly butcher and prepare wild game.
Deer steaks cook in a class to teach members of CPW’s Rookie Sportsperson Program how to properly prepare wild game.
Try something new, discover an unknown trail, and get advice on improving your outdoor experiences.
Denver, CO (January 3, 2020) – A new adventure is down every aisle at the state’s largest annual consumer gathering for outdoor enthusiasts, the International Sportsmen’s Expo (ISE), held at the Colorado Convention Center from January 9 to 12, 2020. ISE hosts a variety of hands on learning and practical tips from renowned experts on a myriad of outdoor activities including fly fishing, fly-tying, reel fishing, camping, hiking, off-roading, animal tracking, hunting, game calling, dog training, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, foraging and more. Find your life at outdoors at the International Sportsmen’s Expo. Here are a few unique outdoor activities guests can enjoy as well as expert guides:
Shoot arrows at the Archery Experience with skill games to accommodate beginner to expert. The knowledgeable staff at No Limits Archery is on hand to pair attendees with the right equipment and lessons they need to hit the target at the skeet shoot-style launcher. Three separate archery games are open to the public.
Meet “The Bug Guy”, Robert Younghanz, who’ll show and talk about local bugs in his manmade stream. Learn to spot nature’s “tells” for yourself regarding the health of the stream and whether it’s a good fishing hole or not.
Explore the world of #VanLife and kick the tires of latest conversion-van styles and models complete with sinks, stoves, beds and plenty of storage for outdoor gear. Plus, compare models of teardrop trailers, campers, tent toppers and RV’s.
Cast the latest fly rods and watch pro-led demos at the Fly-Casting Pond, which hosts the Colorado Casting Contest on Sunday. At the nearby KASTKING Combo Pond, showgoers watch and get tips—on both fly and conventional gear—from pros Sandi and Clay Roberts. Meet bass-fishing legend Jimmy Houston and watch him and local experts compete as teams of fly and conventional casters.
The Fly-Fishing Theater presents local guides from Colorado talking about fishing local waters. At the Fly-Tying How-To Center, experts demonstrate the art and science of recreating nature. For anybody who fly fishes or wants to explore this fascinating and affective style of fishing, the Fly-Fishing Pavilion offers experts, activities, local shops.
Catch a fish (and release it) at the Youth Fair and Colorado Outdoor Pavilion, hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This area is filled with state experts on what, where and when, plus free activities for youth under 15, including catch-and-release trout pond, fly-tying, live raptors, RC-off road course, outdoor trail, plus interactive educational activities and rock-climbing wall.
Improve your shot at new LASR Shooting Game. This digital virtual shot game is free and open to the public.
Learn canine first-aid, obedience and other valuable tips for better times with your fuzzy friend. Plus, new free-style dance at the Sporting Dog Arena presented by FORD.
Get a photo with Wilder, mascot for Get Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)—part mountain goat, part yeti and all friend—who will be at ISE on Saturday (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 3 p.m.). And Wilder will stop by the sessions on camping with kids, led by Helen Olsson, author of The Down & Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30 p.m.)or adventuring as a family (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.).
Acquire valuable outdoor survival skills (basic to advanced) from Lakewood-based husband and wife Matt and Brooke Wright, alums of Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid. Learn to find fresh clean water using nature’s filter, where to find kindling in a bind and simple tracking tips to keep yourself safe on every outdoor adventure.
Find your wild at the daily talks hosted by locals Donnelle Johnson and Lisa Thompson, who spotlight the adventures, bonding and comradery that arise on their all-female guided hunt trips. These women celebrate the process more than the prize.
Discover undiscovered trails and learn to forage for food at the Campfire Theater. This intimate theater showcases Colorado’s diversity of recreation options. Get an insider’s look at which state parks to visit, where to camp, Colorado’s hiking trails, what gear is needed, foraging, family adventures, and how to be responsible stewards while enjoying the state’s incredible outdoor resources.
The International Sportsmen’s Exposition opens to the public Thursday, January 9, 2020 and runs through Sunday, January 12, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St. Denver, CO 80202). Youth 15 and under are free; active military with ID, too. Tickets to the event are $16 and can be purchased on site or online at SportsExpos.com. $10 parking with shuttles is available from Elitch Gardens.
“ISE” was founded in 1975 in Eugene, Oregon as a boat show but quickly grew to much larger and diverse events across the West. The Denver expo launched in 1977, offering Coloradans and visitors from surrounding states the largest yearly event showcasing gear, local and world-recognized outdoor experts and destinations near and far.
The International Sportsmen’s Exposition is sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, CBS4 Denver, Your Local Ford Store, The Know Outdoors, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, O’Reilly Auto Parts and 5280 Magazine.
DENVER, Colo. – Visitors from throughout the western states will get a first hand view of every fly-fishing tool from factory-fresh rods and reels to boots, waders, clothing and accessories at the 2020 Denver Fly Fishing Show® this weekend (Jan. 3-5) in the Denver Mart Pavilion Building, 451 E. 58th Ave.
More than $50,000 in national door prizes including fishing trips, tackle and accessories are up for grabs. The Grand Prize – chosen from all seven 2020 Fly Fishing Shows – is an $11,000 fly-fishing vacation to the Seychelles off the coast of Africa. Additionally, there are regional show door prizes.
Premiere of the 2020 International Fly Fishing Film Festival is Fri. (1/3) at 6:30 p.m.
Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat.; and 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sun. Admission is $15 for one day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under age 16 in uniform. Children 6-12 are $5. Active military with an ID are $10.
Parking at the Denver Mart is free.
Visit www.flyfishingshow.com for a list of door prizes, demonstrations, seminars, films and classes.
OAK CREEK, Colo. – With up to $30,000 dollars in cash and prizes on the line, ice anglers can make big money at Stagecoach State Park‘s 9th Annual Steamboat Great Outdoors Ice Fishing Tournament, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Adults and youth 16 years and older can register the morning of the event for $40, cash only, or pre-register in person at the following locations up to Jan.3:
PRE-REGISTRATION LOCATIONS:
STAGECOACH STATE PARK OFFICE
25500 RCR 14, Oak Creek, CO 80467 / (970) 736-2436
YAMPA RIVER STATE PARK HEADQUARTERS
6185 W Hwy 40, Hayden, CO 81639 / (970) 276-2061
CPW STEAMBOAT SPRINGS OFFICE
925 Weiss Dr. Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 / (970) 870-2197
Youths under 15 can register free of charge and receive non-cash prizes. Optionally, youth may enter the paid tournament for $40.00 and be eligible for cash prizes. All youth entries under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult contestant.
New for 2020, due to a mandatory harvest at Stagecoach, anglers catching the most northern pike will be awarded a non-cash prize valued at approximately $400.00. There is no entry fee for this category but all pike must be presented at the measuring table for eligibility.
For an additional $20 buy-in, anglers can participate in the optional pike category. This pot will be awarded to the angler(s) that turns in the biggest individual pike by length.
For the rainbow trout category, cash prizes are awarded for first through tenth place based on the total combined measurement of two trout.
Happy participants during a previous ice fishing contest at Stagecoach State Park (PHOTO/CPW)
Anglers are reminded that all current fishing regulations will apply and will be enforced. A current fishing brochure is available at cpw.state.co.us, or at the park’s Visitor Center or at any CPW office or CPW license vendor.
Registered snowmobiles and OHVs are permitted on the reservoir below the high-water mark only for the purpose of commuting to ice-fishing destinations. Contestants can use motorized vehicles to bring fish up to the Marina measuring table to enter fish as soon as they are caught. This will help avoid congestion at the end of the day.
Pets are welcome but must be kept on a six-foot leash at all times.
For questions and additional information, contact Steamboat Fishing Adventures at 970-819-3561, or by email at , or Stagecoach State Park at 970-736-2436 or by email at .
DENVER (AP) _ Keenan Allen enjoys dissing Chris Harris Jr., who relishes dismissing Keenan Allen.
Their rivalry provides one of the more intriguing plot lines Sunday when the bumbling Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) visit the bungling Denver Broncos (3-8) in a matchup of AFC West also-rans.
Denver’s star cornerback was primarily responsible for checkmating the Chargers’ star wideout last time the teams met in Week 5, when Harris helped hold the league’s top receiver at the time to 18 yards on four catches in a 20-13 Broncos victory.
Afterward, Allen voiced his displeasure over his stat line on social media, commenting on an Instagram post of a Chris Harris Jr. fan account: “Now, y’all know damn well that boy can’t hold my jockstrap. Stop it.“
Allen confirmed those comments in the locker room later that week, suggesting reporters “just watch the tape“ for proof.
That tape showed Allen held in check, catching four of the six passes Philip Rivers threw him that day, when the Chargers failed to score an offensive touchdown.
Harris brushed aside Allen’s disrespect with a shrug, suggesting he had no idea what Allen was talking about.
“I’ve locked him up numerous times. I don’t even know how many times I’ve shut him down,“ Harris said back in October. “There’s nothing to really talk about with him. I’m ready for Tyreek Hill.“
The episode was raised again this week ahead of the rivals’ rematch, and Harris again threw shade on his opponent who belittled the Broncos’ last-second 23-22 win in Los Angeles last year by proclaiming, “They suck.“
“It’s always different when we play the Chargers,“ Harris said. “It’s a rivalry game. Of course, he was talking a lot of mash last game, so everybody is going to be tuning into our matchup. But it’s about the team. We’ve got to go out there and prepare as a team, have a great preparation this week and get ready for Rivers.“
Other subplots in the 121st edition of the AFC West rivalry:
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION
Rookie Drew Lock shared snaps with fill-in quarterback Brandon Allen at practice during the week following Allen’s poor performance at Buffalo, where he completed 10 passes for 84 yards in a 20-3 loss. Allen replaced Joe Flacco (neck) at the season’s midpoint, becoming Denver’s sixth starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016. The Broncos’ 134 yards of total offense were the lowest in the NFL in 26 years.
REINFORCEMENTS READY
The Chargers are finally getting things together at safety, where Adrian Phillips has been out since breaking his right forearm during the fourth quarter of a Week 2 loss at Detroit. Derwin James sustained a stress fracture in his right foot during joint practices with the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15. Despite not having James and Phillips for most of the year, the Chargers are fifth in the league in defense and fourth against the pass.
ROCKY RIVERS
Rivers has thrown seven interceptions in his last two games, the worst slump of his 16-year career. Rivers had the ball and a chance to avoid defeats in both games, a 26-24 loss at Oakland and a 24-17 loss to the Chiefs in Mexico City. Both times he ended the Chargers’ chances with interceptions. Safeties Karl Joseph of the Raiders and Daniel Sorensen of the Chiefs both picked him off in the final half-minute.
MILLER TIME OFF
Von Miller limped out of Buffalo, but Broncos coach Vic Fangio insisted it was nothing major. Miller appeared to prove that point by frolicking in the frosty weather Tuesday. He was shirtless and in shorts as he walked across the players’ parking lot to the weight room despite a storm that dumped more than a foot of snow. Then he flexed into the reflective glass. However, Miller did miss his second Wednesday workout this season.
MIDDLE MAN
Broncos inside linebacker Alexander Johnson’s debut against the Chargers in Week 5 featured two pass breakups, an interception and eight stops. He now has 61 tackles, including a career-best 15 at Buffalo last week.
“Every week you can see him picking up the scheme better and better and learning his assignment and his job,“ safety Justin Simmons said. “He’s playing fast and physical. … He causes so much gray area for the quarterback that it makes our job that much easier in the back end.“
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) _ Drew Lock wants to show Denver Broncos general manager John Elway he doesn’t have to go looking at the likes of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jake Fromm, Jacob Eason or any of the other quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL draft.
First, he’ll have to show coach Vic Fangio he’s better than Brandon Allen.
“I want to try to build this into something special for sure,” Lock said Wednesday when Fangio announced the Broncos were upping the rookie’s snaps at practice in preparation for his possible debut Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I want to be able to give the confidence every single week to my teammates and to the people upstairs that if we ride this into the offseason after these however many games it takes until I get started, then we’re going to have an awesome offseason coming into next season. Hopefully, I end up being here for a long time.”
Fangio said Lock, a second-round pick from Missouri who has been on IR all season, will take 75% of the snaps, with Allen taking the rest.
He’ll base his choice on how both do at practice, “but mainly how Drew does,” Fangio said.
Fangio said he wasn’t sure when he’d make the call, “potentially right up to the game.”
The Broncos (3-8) turned to Allen when Joe Flacco (neck) went on IR at midseason. He won his first start against Cleveland but has lost at Minnesota and Buffalo, where he threw for just 84 yards in a 20-3 loss Sunday.
That poor performance ignited speculation that Lock would finally get his chance despite having practiced only seven times.
Lock sprained his right thumb in the preseason and the Broncos brought him back to practice Nov. 12, starting a three-week evaluation window, after which they’ll have to activate him or banish him from practice until the spring.
“It gets to the point where you can’t take not doing anything anymore,” Lock said.
He said he initially was crestfallen when he had to go on IR but came to see it as a blessing.
“I like to think that everything happens for a reason,” Lock said. “At the beginning of that I was very lost, didn’t know why this was happening. I was super excited to get into the NFL. Then to have that injury happen, it was pretty upsetting.”
But he was able to sit back and things began to slow down.
“I got to be on my own, learning the way I knew I had time to learn. I wasn’t worried about getting on the field playing. I could kind of focus on what it is I felt like I need to be better at,” Lock said. “And it’s time to find out what it’s going to do for me.“
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ The new gondola at Steamboat Resort in northern Colorado has been shut down because of a mechanical malfunction.
The Steamboat Pilot & Today reports that with a busy holiday week ahead, crews were working to repair the gondola, but a timeline for its reopening was not immediately known. The resort has opened the Thunderhead Express for guests to access the open terrain.
Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. digital communications manager Maren Franciosi says the new gondola fully opened to the public last Saturday but then was shut down at about 4:45 p.m. Sunday
The malfunction occurred on the drive line to the gear box in the upper terminal.
There were no guests on the gondola at the time it stopped working.
