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Dog Sledding in Colorado

Keara — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:26:29 +0000

This weekend I got the chance to experience a truly unique winter activity in Colorado—dog sledding! Ever since I saw Eight Below starring Paul Walker I have wanted to do this. The thought of gliding through the snow, being pulled by the power and speed of dogs, and all the while taking in the mountain views was a scene right from a movie. And living in Colorado, this opportunity is right in our backyard.

When we arrived for our tour with Mountain Mushers in Vail Valley, the dogs were all split up into their teams and ready to take off. Our musher introduced us to Max, Pearl, Toto, Barbie, Sadie —(ok, I can only remember so many names) but we had quite the team of Alaskan Huskies pulling us! The snowcapped mountains were so calming that I barely acknowledged that my toes were freezing. I just wanted to sit back in the sled and take it all in. A nice treat awaited us at the top of the mountain as well—hot chocolate and pumpkin bread. It was the perfect time to pet the dogs, let them rest, and take some pictures to remember the day by. The return downhill brought a few bumps and speeds up to 30 mph, a thrill all in itself. I had to make sure I held onto the camcorder as we flew down the mountain. Check out a short video clip I took from the sled!

Alaskan Huskies at Mountain Musher Dog Sled Rides

International Sportsmen’s Expo

Keara — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:30:32 +0000

Denver’s International Sportsmen’s Expo brought thousands of outdoor aficionados to the Downtown Convention Center this past weekend. When I entered the event, I had no idea where to even start. The aisles were packed with Exhibitor’s displaying everything from adventure packages and travel equipment to fishing gadgets and hunting apparel. So overwhelming!

Product Try-Out & Fly Fishing Learning Center Lesson Pond

If you were an outdoor enthusiast, this is where you were going to find some great bargains. Hunters, fly fishers, rock climbers and campers were among the many sportsmen that filled the convention center for four days of presentations and exhibits. There were a number of interactive events allowing you to participate and join in on the fun. The Discover Fly Fishing Center brought newcomers and experts alike to the large man-made pond where you could pick up some tips on the sport or even test out new products. In the aisle over, you could show off your skills at the fly casting pond.

What a Catch!

Fly Casting Pond

Not far away, the rock climbing wall garnered much attention as did the archery range where you could test your accuracy on moving and pop-up targets.

Eastmans' Trophy Deer Display

The rock wall brought out many climbers.

But I have to say that my favorite of all was the Dockdogs Contest. As a lover of dogs and an owner of two myself, watching the dogs take mighty leaps into the pool to fetch was definitely a crowd pleaser. As you see below, some were a little more shy than others!

Denver Nuggets and The Power of Fans!

Keara — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:45:59 +0000

Rocky pumps up the crowd as the Nuggets take on the Warriors.

Last night I went to my first Nuggets game of the season. When I saw we were going to be playing the Golden State Warriors, I immediately thought ‘easy win’.

With the Warriors record a dismal 9-23 and the Nuggets 21-13 going into the game, I was sure I’d be people-watching, chatting up my friend, and occasionally catching a play or two on the court. This game would be cake.

Wow, was I wrong! Of course it didn’t help that Melo, Birdman, and Billups were not in the game. The score stayed close throughout the whole four quarters, but the real tension came with just seconds on the clock. This is where you could really feel the excitement of the crowd.

Granted, the attendance at the Pepsi Center was way lower than it would have been had we been playing a team like the Lakers or Cavaliers. But when it came to clinching the game, every fan was on their feet and gripped by the score. A win is a win, regardless of who the opponent is. We were down by 1 and it was a jump ball with 3 seconds left. (Ok–I admit I had little faith that we were going to pull this off). But Denverites’ prayers were answered as a foul on J.R. Smith gave us the opportunity to first tie and then win the game 123-122.

No question, the Nuggets defined talent and J.R. Smith defeated pressure in the final seconds against the Warriors. Let’s also not forget the fans–the 6th man–that brought their energy to Pepsi last night. Players thrive on it. They use it to get motivated. And they NEED it to win. So good job last night to all that cheered on your Denver Nuggets!

Time To Fly Like A Bird—-Indoors!

Keara — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:34:03 +0000

Are you curious to see what it feels like to skydive but not yet ready to fall from the sky? Then head to SkyVenture Colorado—the ONLY place you can go indoor skydiving in Colorado. I always wanted to try this out and I am so glad I did! Have you ever put your hand out the window when you are driving and feel the wind pull you back. Well imagine 125 mph winds pushing you up into the air. It is such a crazy feeling! Just the slightest movement can change your direction when you indoor skydive. The temperature inside the wind tunnel is around a comfortable 80 degrees and trust me when I say the wind gets loud! You’ll communicate with your skydiving instructor via hand signals and he/she is always there to guide you with encouragement. The cool thing about indoor skydiving is that no matter your age, you can do it! As they say, whether you are 3 or 103 years of age, SkyVenture Colorado can take you flying. Better yet, if you want to become a more experienced indoor skydiver (like going upside down or doing flips) they have special rates for frequent fliers. Perhaps you just found your new sport!

The Daily Scout Hits The Trails On The ATV

Keara — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:02:02 +0000

Get ready for a bumpy ride! MILE HI RAFTING took me on an ATV tour in Dumont, Colorado where we got to see beautiful fall foliage while getting a true off-roading experience. It was my first time riding an ATV and we got to do it in style on a Suzuki 400. The second that I pressed the gas I swear it brought me back to the very first time I drove a car. You start out a little hesitant but then it almost starts to feel natural. Okay, well maybe I was a LITTLE more cautious and careful than most, but I was able to keep up! Four wheeling up the trails with our guide we got to take in the majestic sights and even caught a great view of the Continental Divide. Watch the video and you can see from the head camera how bumpy it got. Looking for a smoother ride? MILE HI RAFTING operates year round, so you can even go ATV’ing in the snow. I definitely look forward to trying that out, too!

The Daily Scout Goes Snorkeling

Keara — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:55:13 +0000

Thought you couldn’t go snorkeling in the heart of Downtown Denver? Wrong!
Denver’s Downtown Aquarium and A1 Scuba and Travel Center bring this
adventure to you every Saturday and Sunday. Once you meet your group at the Dive Lounge, you are taken to the exhibit where you get fitted for a wetsuit, swim cap, flippers, and gloves. After you get all your gear, it’s time to put on the snorkel and swim with the fish for about 30-35 minutes. It’s crazy how close you get to all the fish and I found that the sea turtles love to approach you. What’s really cool is seeing the kids walk through the Aquarium tunnel and wave at you, just mesmerized that you are in the water with the fish. And have no fear about being cold, the water temps were close to 80 degrees which was perfect. After your swim, receive a free pass to the Aquarium to make it a fun-filled day!

The Daily Scout Goes Climbing

Keara — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:32:15 +0000

Strength, perseverance, and concentration—three traits I think are a must for indoor rock climbing. Thanks to THE SPOT GYM & CLIMBING SCHOOL in Boulder, Co, I got a chance to put those qualities to the test and get my first peek at the sport. Since I had never gone indoor rock climbing before, we covered what you would learn in the Basic Bouldering Class. If you’re already an avid climber, you should check out the more advanced programs at The Spot Gym and Climbing School as well. Whatever your goals in indoor rock climbing, you are sure to meet them.

For those not familiar with the sport of rock climbing, as I mentioned in the video, remember to breathe! I learned that the reason so many people are out of breath at the end of the climb is because they are holding it in. Just breathe naturally and that will help a lot! Since I get pretty light-headed at heights, I am really proud of myself for climbing the 25 foot wall. What’s funny is that I was hesitating a long time to let go of the rope but since the video is in fast motion you can’t tell how long I’m lingering at the top. Let’s just say it took a lot of prodding from the instructor to get me to let go of the wall! One thing is for sure though, I would definitely go indoor rock climbing again.

Helicopter Ride, Colorado–Up, Up and Away!

MaiaConsulting — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:31:04 +0000

OMG, what a blast! Ok, for someone that is not so keen on flying, I have to admit I was pretty nervous to try this out. Thanks to ELITE HELICOPTER SERVICES, I got to conquer my fear this past Saturday with a Discovery Flight in Bennett, Colorado. What a fun day. Check out the video!

The New Look of The Daily Scout

Keara — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:33:28 +0000

Since launching in January, I can say that the look and feel of The Daily Scout continues to get better and better. What went from a once a week email featuring special deals on various activities has now become an in-depth, categorized directory of cool things to do in Colorado with special offers. All the info is now available to you and the Activity / Sports Providers can post their deals on their own at any time they please.

I hope people get inspired by seeing all these fun things that are available to them. I am looking forward to trying everything on here and can’t wait to blog and vlog (show video) about it every week. Some things on here I never even knew existed and as I continue to research I am finding more and more things to add to the site. It’s neverending!

Creating the The Daily Scout has been a ton of fun and I’ve learned so much. I hope more than anything that it catches on and people find a value to it. I welcome suggestions and comments so please let me know how I can make the site better so it benefits you. Now get up and get out there!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” –Helen Keller