Steamboat Pilot & Today

Alpine Taxi adds to its DIA schedule

Alpine Taxi in Steamboat Springs has increased the schedule of shuttles it will run to Denver International Airport July 31-Aug. 9 in order to help offset the loss of commuter airline flights during that 10-day period. Great Lake Airlines is suspending operations into Yampa Valley Regional Airport due to construction that will effectively shorten the length of the runway.

Great Lakes officials reached the decision because a taxiway reconstruction project extends into the runway safety zone on a portion of the runway at YVRA.

The airport is not closing, but will operated with a shortened runway. The shorter runway would mean that Great Lakes' 30-passenger Brasilia turboprops could only operate half-full at best, an airport spokesman said. Great Lakes officials concluded that was not economically feasible.

Alpine increased its summer frequency this year from two to three daily shuttles, and now has added two more for the period from July 31-Aug. 9. That represents Alpine Taxi's typical winter schedule.

Departures from Steamboat during those 10 days will be at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. The scheduled arrival at DIA for all shuttles is four hours after departure. Departures from DIA will be scheduled at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Eriksen featured in cycling magazine

Longtime Steamboat resident and mountain bike pioneer Ken Eriksen is the subject of an article in the July issue of "Adventure Cyclist" magazine.

Eriksen built his first heavy duty "mountain bike" frame at a shop in Steamboat because he needed a personal cycle that could withstand the jarring game trail he used to commute from his rural Steamboat home to work.

The "Moots Mountaineer" (the name Moots was taken from a rubber alligator he played with as a child), was being built one at a time in Steamboat before the first production mountain bikes were built.

"Adventure Cyclist" is the official publication of the Aventure Cycling Association based in Missoula, Mont.