Clang Clang Clang went the Trolley!

Ding Ding Ding went the Bell!

History:

In 1907, the Denver and Interurban Railroad (the D&I) built a three-legged streetcar line in Fort Collins as part of their expansion along Colorado's Front Range. These three lines served to shuttle Fort Collins locals every twenty minutes to destinations all over the city. Only a few years after service had begun, the D & I cut back service on trollies and in 1918, upon arrival of automobiles, faced massive economical crisis which caused them to stop service all together. Then in 1919, Fort Collins was faced with a public transportation dilemma and left it up to the people to decide what would work best. The town ended up voting 8 to 1 in favor of restoring the old trolley system in town, making Fort Collins the smallest city in the nation to have a running Trolley system. From that point until 1951, Fort Collins Municipal Railroad system ran efficiently along the streets but the cars themselves began to become victims of ware and tare and the advent of the automobile, a commodity at that point, made public transportation virtually unnecessary. The last car to run on city streets was car 22 on June 30, 1951 and by 1952 most of the tracks in town had been paved over or torn up, all but Car 21 which sat on a small strip of track near the Fort Collins Museum(near the Fort Collins Public Library in Old Town). In 1977, a local volunteer group began restoring the original number 21 car that the entire system began with. At a value of $2.5 million dollars, the Fort Collins Municipal Railroad Society granted Fort Collins with a 1.5 mile track for the Trolley to run on at no cost to the city. The Trolley was up and running again by 1985 and has been going strong ever since.

Now for You:

Its cheap, unique, nostalgic, and an experience your not likely going to find in many other cities. While you can't ride it right now because it is the off- season, start marking your calenders because the Trolley starts running again in May. It operates every Saturday and Sunday and on holidays in May through September from noon until five P.M. It entails a three mile round trip between City Park and Howes Street. You can board the trolley at City Park next to the tennis courts, at Shields and Mountain Ave., at Loomis and Mountain, or at Howes and Mountain.

Cost:

On Mother's Day, Mom's ride for free. On Father's Day, Dad's ride for free. At anytime, children under 2 ride for free and kids 2-12 ride for only 50 cents. All other times Adults have to pay the enormous fee of one whole dollar and seniors gotta find three quarters at the bottom of their pockets to pay for their ride. Whether your new to the city or someone who has been here their whole lives, a ride on the Fort Collins Trolley is an experience that everyone must try at least once. It takes you back in the history of this town and it is one of the many key ingredients which creates this town's local charm. One way or another, its worth checking out.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Check out the Fort Collins Municipal Railway home site at

http://www.fortnet.org/trolley/

Rock Climbing at Horsetooth

The Skinny:

So as you can probably tell by the rest of my blog by now, I love Horsetooth Resevoir. It was the feature of my last blog post and it was the feature of my first blog post and here I am going to feature it again. Horsetooth Resevoir is reknowned for its Bouldering. Bouldering is rock climbing without the use of ropes or harnesses. It is typically done with a small padded mat called a crash pad, a top rope for the bigger climbs where coming down isn't an option, some good climbing shoes and some hand chalk. Sizes for the rocks to boulder can range anywhere from 10 feet to 25 feet high; although, higher traverses are only recommended for those who are experts and are completely confident in their capabilities since there is no turning back in bouldering. There are a number of cliff faces which are definetly worth checking out up at Horsetooth. Some of the most notorious and difficult faces come with names like the Mental Block and the Eliminator. There are numerous beginner rocks that might not be featured on a map, but which are good for just gaining your bearings and learning the basics. Rock climbing is a fun, healthy and rewarding experience that I highly suggest for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Directions:

I've already given the directions to get to Horsetooth Resevoir so many times in my blog that to do it again seems a bit redundant to say the least. Instead, if you are truly interested in attempting rock climbing at horsetooth. You can view an extensive map of the area and where to head at this site:

http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/horsetooth_map.htm

Additional Information:

If you are really serious about bouldering but worry about the dangers of doing it on a real rock your first time out, there are several rock gyms in Fort Collins which are reasonably affordable and provide ample safe space to learn a new hobby. The most well known is certaintly the Inner Strength Rock Gym located on South Mason road. You can find out more information by visiting their website:

http://www.innerstrengthrock.com/

Finally, If your really really into Rock Climbing and you just can't find enough spots to feed your insatiable desire then pick up this book Colorado Front Range Bouldering Fort Collins, Vol. 1. You can pick it up at Jax sports on the North end of town or you can buy it off of Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Bouldering-Collins-Regional-Climbing/dp/093464196X

Horsetooth

Anyone who knows Fort Collins knows about Horsetooth Resevoir. It is the sustanance which helps keep this city thriving. It helps our lawns grow healthy in the summertime and it lets our butts get clean at anytime. But more than providing a basic life ingredient, it also provides the town of Fort Collins with ample recreational activity. There are cliffs to climb and trails to tredge. You can take your dogs for a walk or have a pleasant picnic with a loved one. Most of all there is one thing that everyone who embarks upon our golden pool can understand, its beauty.

Throughout my tenure in Fort Collins, I have found myself taking in Horsetooth's prestine beauty countless times and it is in this blog post that I encourage you to do the same. And if you already have, well do it again, because it is just that great.

You can get to Horsetooth Resevoir by heading West to the mountains. Its pretty much that simple. Get to Overland Road and take a right just after the football stadium before the drive - in movie theatre on road 42c. Head up the hill and just around the bend is the wonderful resevoir in all its glory and splendor. Bring a camera or just a clear head. It can be a great place to reflect because of the peacefull serene quality it holds which can take some of the anxiety from even the worst of days. Make sure to drive carefully because the turns can be extremely narrow and very hairy. Most importanly, HAVE FUN!