In the area’s first seasonal rush after the big holiday season, word about the near record-breaking snowfall appears to have reached far and wide, as far and wide has traveled from such to fill vacant rental homes, condos, and hotel rooms to get a taste of the legendary “pow.” Its a sunny Friday today, with a couple inches at best overnight, but this week has been the first to break the impossible visibility of the cloudy, snowy days that have created such a buzz. Not that these folks won’t get their $300 a night worth- Accuweather is predicting snow, snow, snow over today, tomorrow, and Sunday, making that Monday the first clear day, and thank gawd, because the roads will need it. With so many driving up for the weekend today and yesterday, Monday will be the big day to get back to Denver, for regional locals and for those catching a quick flight out of DIA. I-70 is sure to be packed with folks who would rather be skiing or riding a monorail.
The idea of a monorail makes a lot of sense from the bottom-to-top traveler standpoint. No gas expense, no effort, no driving hazards, including weather, wildlife, or fatigued motorists. Many who live between Denver and Vail see the idea of the project as an unsightly attempt at Disney-tizing the pristine mountains. Those who fly in to Eagle County Airport for their vacations also snub their noses at the idea, as the project might cause their little airport to step up the competition.
Its weekends like MLK that encourage possibilities like the monorail- more locals wish there were fewer cars on the road, more front-deskers wish there were fewer crabby new arrivals (after all, its sunny and 2 degrees Farenheight at 11am in Avon- nevermind nighttime arrivals.) If the tourist population could be less dependent on the roads and cars, there might be more room to enjoy our surroundings, even from monorail or town bus windows. Deep down, we are glad to see all the visitors, but we can’t even help but be dissuaded by their frustration with each other. When the big city arrives, this place changes a little bit. Sometimes it seems like the most effective ways to disarm that and make this place more liveable on a consistent basis are the ways that meet the most resistance.
Should well enough be left alone?