Nordic Update

The Gas line is complete and the nordic track is back to normal. The supplemental line was installed back in the original trench. There is a little bit of cleanup that will be done after the snow melts away in the springtime.



On another note, It is hard to think about golf while the snow continues to pile up around here. However, it is always nice to be reminded of how the game of golf can be cool. I was forwarded this link to a cool video from the European Tour. Click here to view.

Gas Line Update

Yesterday was an eventful one for the gas line install. As a reminder, this is a supplemental line that goes through the golf course. It feeds homes on Sunburst Dr from the Frontage Rd. The easement leads from the intersection of the 12th tee and the Frontage Rd, along the utility path between the 11th and 16th greens, under 17 bridge and off to the neighborhood.
They are replacing the entire line due to a failed valve and a pressure overload on the line before the new bridge on 17 was installed. Once the bridge with a new line was complete the gas company has been working on replacing the line from the bridge back to the Frontage Rd.
Here you see they have discovered the old 4" HDPE line after three days of thawing the ground. They removed the old line and installed a new identical line. The next picture, is a pressure test being performed on the new line. Let's say conditions are not ideal for these guys, but they are making way.
Due to another cold front coming our way this weekend the new plan is the install the entire line and have everything completed by Saturday afternoon. The gas company rented another thaw machine for the remainder of the line. Friday they plan to be here and install the rest of the line and be off site by the weekend.
As you might have guessed, yes this does interfere with the nordic track. The snow shoe course is unaffected.
For the safety of the skiers the nordic track has been routed closer to the 11th and 16th greens and over the easment that has already been replaced. This is a temporary fix and the normal track will re-open when the work is complete. The trail is clearly marked.

So we are now embarking on our largest utility improvement project on the golf course. There are many utilities throughout the property including a power, phone, cable, high pressure gas and domestic (low pressure) gas. This next project is in response to a failed valve that caused an minor explosion to the domestic line prior to the 17th bridge excavation. The 4 inch line will be replaced starting this week. The first step is to thaw the ground. Today Xcel has installed a heating machine so that they can begin to dig on Friday.

They are installing the HDPE pipe all the way from the bridge to the frontage road, where it meets the high pressure line. This is a supplemental line for homes and part of Vail Village mostly used in the winter when the demand is greater.

They can thaw about 100 feet at a time. So it will be a slow process, but once they are complete, we can begin to open the area for winter activities.

The 17th bridge final preparations can be mostly accomplished from the south side of the creek, so they would not interfere with the gas company.