Rides to the slopes
Many people endure a 300-mile pilgrimage from Fort Collins to
Summit County each weekend just to have a day of skiing and
snowboarding at the many resorts found in the Colorado high
country.
Winter sports attract people from all over the nation, which
creates heavy traffic along I-70. To avoid the stress of driving,
as well as expensive fuel and vehicle costs, many winter sports
enthusiasts opt to take shuttle services up the mountain.
CSU graduate Lucas Mouttet started one such shuttle service.
Summit Shuttle, which runs from Fort Collins to Summit County
Saturdays, Sundays and by appointment on weekdays, began when
Mouttet noticed a need for alternative transportation to Summit
County.
“So many people drive separately to the slopes,” Mouttet said.
“I was stuck in traffic one day looking at all the other people
stuck in traffic wondering why we weren’t all at least stuck in the
same vehicle for conversation and what not. Taking multiple
vehicles up the mountain is not only environmentally and
economically unwise, but also stressful.”
The Summit Shuttle began in November and costs $20 for students,
$25 for non-students and $10 for children age 12 and younger.
Summit Shuttle picks up patrons from three locations: at CSU on the
corner of Meridian and Pitkin streets, Foothills Fashion Mall and
the Loveland Park and Ride.
“Right now, most of my clientele are CSU students, the mid-20s
crowd that have just graduated and high school girls,” Mouttet
said. “Many sleep on the way up or we all chat. I play music and
take requests. We play anything from Jack Johnson to Black Sabbath.
Basically people get in and relax for a few hours before hitting
the slopes.”
The shuttle, which is a van that seats 14 people, leaves CSU at
6:45 a.m. and departs from Summit County between 3:30 and 4
p.m.
“I used to always have to drive up by myself until I wrecked my
car on 1-70 during a snowstorm,” said Eric Bryant, an accounting
graduate student. “I’m car-less now, but taking the shuttle still
enables me to go snowboarding on the weekends. Plus there’s always
cute high school girls on the bus.”
The CSU Snowriders club also carpools up to various resorts and
it caters to non-members who need rides as well. The club’s Web
site features a message board that allows skiers and snowboarders
to relay when they’d like to go, and members of the club will
respond with times and availability.
“There are always tons of us going up each weekend and the
message board helps us fill up our cars and take as many people to
the mountain as possible,” Bryant said. “People that catch rides
with us just need to pitch in for gas.”
OUTBOX
Summit Shuttle: 988-6149 www.summitshuttle.com
Snowriders: www.csusnowriders.com
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