snowmasstodon.com
snowmass village , CO 81615
jack
New news of the day
Dec.17 2010
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is currently running a contest to name the Mammoth from the Oct 14 discovery. There have been several suggestions, you may vote by linking from our home page to the DMNS site to cast your vote vote.
Ziggy is the front runner in our book, named for the Ziegler Pond site and the family which created the lake.
The Snowmasstodon has thrown his hat in the ring to be considered for appointment to the ICE AGE Steering Committee, with the hope of advancing the science and preserving the pristine nature of the site. The Snowmasstodon wishes to weight all the delicate concerns facing this committee. It is our hope to incorporate community and guest input to help develop a comprehensive long term plan to benefit the Snowmass community.
Sedimentary layers representing elevation changes and the corresponding skeletons found at each layer. This was very early in the dig.
Dec.2 2010
From the original Mammoth find
The Snowmass Town Council is planning a Dec.6th meeting to discuss the future marketing strategy of this special discovery. We encourage all concerned parties to attend or at least offer your ideas up for discussion. The planning stage for future exploration is extrememly important not only for the science but also for the town as a destination area resort.
Archeology and paleontology conventions and conference interests are welcome.
On a seperate note, the skiing has been terrific with new snow over the Thanksgiving holiday. The past few days added another 4-6 inches. Sunny today, wax up your sticks and go play.
Nov. 28 2010
Spectacular opening day for the 2010-11 ski season. New snow has the mountain in prime early season condition for one of the best opening days we've had in several years. Skiers enjoyed beautiful sunshine and great PP conditions. It is snowing again as of this evening. The Ice Age cometh and keeps on coming.
Mammoth Ice tusks, heads up!
Nov. 22 2010
Storm front coming!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Nov. 21 2010
The Bones Speak
Now that the diesel fumes and dust has settled around the Ziegler dig, let’s discuss the next step in the political evolution. The preservation and continued exploration of this amazing discovery is now in the hands of elected officials and Museum curators. We the people should really express our views on the subject, because this of all finds, may directly impact our true understanding of the Global Warming debate. Think of the scientific enormity of finding plant and animal DNA which may reflect an extended window back in time. An unprecedented opportunity for a better understanding of life and climatic changes at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch of the Neogene Period dropped in our lap. (Last of the ice age), I had to look it up too. This planetary time event is the closest link we have with our ancestors and the beginnings of modern human habitation of the North American continent. The evidence we need to look deeper into the significant events nearing the last mass extinction, handed to us, broad spectrum, well preserved, abundantly accessible. Wow!
The next few meetings of Town, Museum, State, County officials will set precedent for advancing construction of the new dam prior to refilling Ziegler Lake in summer 2011. I hope they consider heavily the science involved here. Think Coffer dams! With all the brilliant minds this town has seen in the past, now is the time to speak out and give DMNS a chance to do the job with enough time to do it correctly. I fully understand the legal significance and ramification of senior water right as it pertains to the west, I get that, but this is bigger than a few bones coming off the blade of a bulldozer. After reading the article in the Denver Post, it made me realize that DMNS is positively giddy for this opportunity. Dr. Steve Holen, Dr. Kirk Johnson saying this is…. “one of the most amazing, significant finds in North America history”
I have seen grassroots projects in this town blossom into huge organizations doing good thinks for people and projects in need. This find is one for humanity, please give them (your elected servants) an ear full and allow the Ice Age exploration and understanding to continue unfettered. Funding opportunities and creative ideas can also set precedent. Contact jack@snowmasstodon.com for committee info.
Snowmasstodon.com is committed to following this project thru the coming ski season and on into the spring. There is a scheduled Town of Snowmass Village meeting set for Dec. 6 to discuss the long term plan. Please attend or express your ideas here and we will bring them to the table for you.
Mammoth tibia (shin bone)
Nov. 18 2010
Wow, the 24 hr news cycle is an amazing tool. The response to this site has been tremendous. Thanks so much for all your feed back. I can see this will rapidly take on a life of it's own. The Snowmasstodon is now tasked with actually making this web tool work for all the locals who have endured the corporate wave and yet, sustained the life style we all moved here to enjoy!
To that end, as we get further along this untracked line, I pledge to keep Snowmasstodon.com first and foremost a locals place to shop, play, express, gather and hopefully help to put Snowmass Village on the map with a unique identity. Check us out on Facebook, soon to be on Twitter, although a tweeting mastodon is an scary thing. If all goes better than expected, because at this point there is only a loosely formulated plan, we can all benefit from the paleo treasure in the ground. Drop the fences, let the free range chickens roam. In doing that, we all survive to ski and play another day.
Let's get back to having fun, The 2010-11 Ice Age is upon us. Powder days for all!
Thanks, The Snowmasstodon
Future paleontologists, local kids diggin the DMNS scene
Nov. 16 2010
"Hey man, Don't touch my trunk", The mammoths will be hibernating for the winter as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science announced they will be wrapping up operations at the dig site till spring 2011. This team of science guys and gals has done a outstanding job and must be commended for a job well done. Thanks to their conservation and preservation efforts, we in Snowmass Village now have a unique indentiy unmatched anywhere in North America, possibly the world. Conditions for Archeology have deteriorated rapidly around here as Winter has set in. With more snow on the way, the seasonal Ice Age cometh. The Mammoth has got his Woollies on and is ready for winter. Bring it on!
Nov.15th 2010
Dumping snow today in the high country. Ski season rapidly approaching, one week but who's counting!
Get you winter gear in order, check your boots and skis, you never know what ice age critters crawled into you boots over the summer. Charge your batteries, clean the storage wax off your powder boards. Iron on a fresh coat and by all means get yourself in shape to play!
Mammoth molar (tooth)
Winter has arrived in Snowmass Colorado. Snow guns a blazing, Opening day Thanksg
Ziegler Pond fossil site will hibernate for the long cold Colorado high country winter!
Thurs, Nov 11, 2010
The Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News and the Snowmass Sun are reporting the archeological site at Ziegler pond is rapidily freezing over. Even though the heated tents at the site have allowed work to continue, archeologists have a tough job keeping the soil conditions favorable for excavating the bones of Ice Age critters. They will resume the dig in the spring of 2011 as conditions permit.
Snowmasstodon Ice Rink
Fri, Nov. 12,1020
The Snowmass Western Heritage Rodeo/ Ice Rink located at the rodeo grounds near the Town Recreation center is once again under construction. The ice rink ( free to use ) will be open to the public, when the weather cooperates. Cold temps and clear nights will allow the rink management team to lay the liner and spray water in the near future. With a little help from the Snowmass Wildcat Fire Dept. who graciously loan us the hoses and nozzle to make it happen.
Snowmass Mammoth/ Mastodon Madness
Sat Nov 13, 2010 Snowmass Base Village Conference CenterThe Denver Museum of Nature and Science put on a great exhibit in the Snowmass Base Village Conference Center today. The Feature Attraction was of course the Ice Age discovery of numerous prehistoric fossil bones. The lead paleontologist Dr. Kirk Johnson captured the crowd of thousands with the story of Ice Age critters stacked around this ancient site. While work at the dig continued, weather permitting, it won't be long before the coming Colorado winter claims the site for it's own. The local population turned out in force with lines as long as 1.5hrs to see and hear about the Snowmasstodon. Locals are expressing much interest in this discovery, although the long term preservation of the site is still in debate. Express your ideas here on the contact us page and we will compile the results. The more community input we get, the greater the influence over the politcal machine!
Mammoth foot bone, Heel
snowmass village , CO 81615
jack
