There are places you can hike with your dog off leash?
The Aspen Ranger District of the White River National Forest allows dogs to be off leash while hiking with their owners on the following trails:
| Sunnyside Trail | Hunter Valley (Once on NF land)* |
| Government Trail* | Buttermilk Ski Area |
| Snowmass Ski Area | Arbaney-Kittle Trail |
| Hay Park (Capitol Lake side) |
Anderson/Petroleum Lakes |
| Perham Creek Trail | Ruedi Overlook Trail |
| Basalt Mountain | Braderich Creek Trail |
| Hannon Creek Trail | Castle Creek Valley Ranch |
* dogs must be under voice control
Wilderness areas require that dogs remain leashed at all times. This is to ensure the safety of other hikers and wildlife. Failure to keep a dog leashed in a wilderness area may result in a fine of $125.
Please note that Pitkin County does enforce a leash law on all county trails. On National Forest Lands in the valley, dogs must be on leash in developed sites such as Day Use Sites, Campgrounds, Maroon Lake Scenic Area, and all Wilderness Trails.
Absinth Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.)
Absinth wormwood is a member of the Sunflower family. It is a robust perennial that grows 16-48 inches tall with large light-gray leaves which are oblong in shape. Stems arise from a taproot and branch from the base. Stems are ½ inch or greater in diameter, and reddish in color. Flowering occurs in late summer. It is frequently found near streams, lakes, or irrigation ditches.

Additional information on Absinth Wormwood can be found at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/docs/county/PublicWorks/land-management/Scans/Absinth%20Brochure.pdf
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
On July 17, 2010 residents of our valleys gathered at the Benedictine Monastery for the first annual volunteer noxious weed eradication effort co-sponsored by the SnoCap Caucus and Pitkin County. The targets of the operation were Canadian thistle and houndstongue. Spray was employed by those engaged in ridding the area of the thistle since Canadian thistle multiplies if cut or dug. Machetes and shovels were the tools of choice for the attack on the houndstongue. Cookies were provided by the monks at the end of a rewarding morning. With noxious weeds abounding in our valleys, a coordinated effort is required by us all if we are to preserve our natural landscape.


To learn more about what you can do to help, please visit the Bulletin Board on our web site, or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
Saturday, 24 July 2010 04:02
The electronic devices that make our lives easier also produce some unwanted side effects on the environment. Fortunately, many consumer electronics manufacturers are now making products that keep us productive and lessen our device's energy demands.
Trendnet's GREENnet Technology
Trendnet (www.trendnet.com), a popular manufacturer of networking equipment, announced its newest line of GREENnet products, which can reduce the power consumption for your networking hardware by as much as 70%. GREENnet routers and switches will reduce power to an Ethernet port if they detect it isn't in use. The devices can also detect cable length and adjust power accordingly. Finally, all GREENnet devices offer a standby mode that cuts down the energy necessary to operate when not in use.
Biodegradable iPhone Cases
Designed for iPhone 3G and 3GS models, Innovez's ecovez cases ($29.95; www.innovezcases.com) are made with EcoPure, which is a transparent plastic that is 100% organic, and will only break down once it is placed in a highly microbial environment, such as a landfill.
The plastic will then turn into soil, unlike traditional fossil fuel plastics. Compared to bio-plastics made of renewable raw materials, such as corn or sugar cane, Innovez's cases offer an infinite shelf life that can maintain the high-strength plastic form. The case's design gives you access to all iPhone buttons and ships in eco-friendly biodegradable packaging.
Remedy for Roses with Mildew
An effective homemade remedy for powdery mildew uses baking soda as the main ingredient. At the first sign of the disease or as a preventative, you can apply this homemade remedy. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda to a gallon of water, add a squirt of lemon scented liquid dishwashing soap (Avoid detergents that may contain additives phototoxic to plant foliage). Mix thoroughly. Pour into a spray bottle. Apply to the uninfected foliage and stems. This spray can be applied every three to five days. Repeat after a heavy rain or overhead irrigation. This is especially effective where shady conditions favor mildew.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 07:05
"For Sale" signs do not require a sign permit from Pitkin County, provided such signs comply with the design standards in section 7-60 of the 2006 Pitkin County Land Use Code. That section states:Thursday, 01 July 2010 06:49
Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)
Dalmatian toadflax is a member of the Figwort family. It was introduced as an ornamental from Europe, and is now rapidly invading dry rangeland from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Dalmatian toadflax is still quite rare in Pitkin County, but it is very common in Glenwood Springs. It has been found along the Capitol Creek and Snowmass Creek drainages. It is a creeping perennial that closely resembles yellow toadflax. However, unlike yellow toadflax, Dalmatian toadflax has waxy, heart-shaped leaves that clasp the stem. The stems grow to 2-4 feet in height. The flowers are snapdragon-shaped, bright yellow, with orange centers. Dalmatian toadflax is especially well-adapted to arid sites and can spread rapidly once established. Because of its deep extensive root system, waxy leaves, and heavy seed production, this plant is difficult to manage.
To learn more about managing Dalmatian Toadflax, visit the Pitkin County Noxious Weed Management Plan posted online at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/weeds or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
Thursday, 01 July 2010 05:08
We all know how important it is to back up our data on a regular basis. Yet many people put off backing up their data because there's always something more pressing to accomplish. If this describes you, it's time to sit down and get serious about backups. This month we will start with the types of backups. Next month we will look at backup and recovery processes. Hard drive based systems are now the norm for most businesses (they previously used tape-based systems). Individuals mostly use optical discs.Thursday, 01 July 2010 04:07
If you haven't started a garden journal, now is the time. Record dates of perennial bloom, how long the flowers last, special cultural requirements, pest and disease problems, and other features. A perennial garden has a relatively short bloom period, though the plants will display foliage for much of the growing season. This is one reason to choose varieties that have attractive foliage to add interest and texture to the garden. By keeping a record of your plant selections, if you can determine if you have the right mix of spring-blooming, summer-blooming, and fall-blooming perennials for an all season display.Tuesday, 01 June 2010 09:32
(This article is in response to a request for additional identity theft information following last month's article on the subject.)Tuesday, 01 June 2010 08:27
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Poison hemlock is a member of the Parsnip family, introduced from Europe. It is a biennial that reproduces solely from seed. During the first year of growth a large rosette of leaves is produced; during the second year the plants bolt to produce 4 to 12 foot stems with white flowers that grow in small, erect clusters. The stem is mottled with purple spots. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans as well as to wild and domestic animals. The poisonous principle (the alkaloid coniine) causes paralysis, convulsions, and eventual death. Poison hemlock was used in ancient Greek executions, including that of the philosopher Socrates.
To learn more about managing thistles visit the Pitkin County Noxious Weed Management Plan posted online at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/weeds or contact Crystal Yates-White, Pitkin County Land Manager at 920-5214.
For additional information, contact Pitkin County Land Management at 920-5214 or the City of Aspen Parks Department at 429-2026.
Tuesday, 01 June 2010 07:59
On May 8th determined residents gathered at RMI to participate in the road clean-up day sponsored by the Snowmass/Capitol Creek Caucus. Fanning out over the two valleys with their orange bags, they gathered objects ranging from small to very large. Upon return to RMI where lunch was served, prizes were awarded for the largest (a truck top pulled from a ditch by members of the Monastery), the most toxic (oil debris from someone changing their oil on the road), and the most interesting (a 1946 illustrated dictionary). Prizes were provided by Bristlecone, Smoke and The Riverside Grill. Not only did everyone have a good time, but our roads are pristine.Tuesday, 01 June 2010 06:40
Social networking is here to stay. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others are commonly used on a daily basis. Their proliferation has benefits, but also has concerns centered around issue of privacy, safety, and ethics.Tuesday, 01 June 2010 05:31
As summer approaches, many of the summer flowering bulbs are forming flower buds and getting ready to put on their show. Consider disbudding some that produce lots of buds, such as dahlias. This will make the main flower grow larger.Tuesday, 01 June 2010 04:34
Last month's newsletter introduced The Cooperative Weed Management Area Cookbook that describes how a local organization can integrate all noxious weed management resources in order to benefit entire communities. Years of proliferation of noxious weeds in our valleys have blighted our land and choked our native plants. To gain a perspective on how quickly these intruders can take over an area, please view the pictures and descriptions included in the following piece. If we work together we can make the caucus area noxious weed free one weed by one weed. We are looking for additional volunteers to be part of the committee. To join in the effort either contact Crystal Yates-White (970) 920-5214 or use the Contact tab on the Caucus web site.
Saturday, 01 May 2010 07:00
that our caucus has an opportunity to make a major impact on weed control through the County? Crystal Yates-White is spearheading an effort to begin a proven program in our valleys. The link following the article provides the road map to eradication of weeds in our area. Please click on it to see how we can achieve this. Crystal will be organizing interested residents to help her in this pursuit.
We all know that noxious weeds do not obey property boundaries. In order to make significant headway in cleaning up noxious weed infestations, neighbors must control weeds on their own property in concert. Otherwise, one thistle farm will continue to re-infest all of its surrounding and down-wind neighbors. Thus, it is important to look at infestations from a birds-eye perspective – across property lines and jurisdictions – and find ways to partner as neighbors.
A Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) is a specific geographic area defined by neighbors and stakeholders. Within this area, partners commit to specific noxious weed management goals and share resources to meet them. Goals may include such things as eradicating a certain weed, cleaning up a certain property, or developing outreach programs. One of the biggest benefits of forming such a partnership is MONEY. Grant-making entities prefer to fund projects that include a variety of partners. By forming a CWMA, partners have a good chance of securing significant grant funding for their weed management projects. With this increase in funding – and by working together as a unit to human and financial resources – A CWMA can make significant gains in weed management that might otherwise be unattainable by an individual landowner.
Click here to view the CWMA Cookbook (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Saturday, 01 May 2010 06:00
Many thistles in the western United States are native species that generally go unnoticed as weeds. However, thistle species introduced from Europe, Africa, and Asia can be very aggressive opportunists. They often invade overused or otherwise disturbed land. The plants spread rapidly, out-compete established and introduced plant species for nutrients, and can render pastures, rangeland, and forests nearly unusable. Thistles are especially troublesome following cool wet summers and falls, when seed production and seedling establishment are high. An integrated weed control program that combines chemical, cultural (such as grass competition), mechanical and biological methods is most likely to be successful. Page 1 of 5