Winter Wonderland

For our guests at Las Manos B&B, this has been the very best year for snowshoeing in the Collegiate Peaks and we just have to spread the word while we still have excellent snow conditions. Although we have had an almost snowless year down in the Valley, (which has been great for hiking and biking) , those guests who have ventured into the mountains have come back with with big smiles and good stories. For the very best in up-to-date reports, we always call The Trailhead , our local outdoors store...they have a network of clients who report back after each trip, so we know the conditions are current.

Here is a photo of guests snowshoeing up in the Chalk Creek area above Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

 We're looking forward to hosting you soon.


Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

William's newest Massage Training Class

William just completed a 2 day class in "Advanced Myofascial Techniques: Spine, Ribs and Low Back Parts 1 and 2" with Advanced-Trainings.com and The Rolf Institute.

The course-work provided him with many new techniques and insights that have already become part of sessions with virtually all of his clients who have a variety of back and hip pain problems. In addition to providing help with pain and discomfort, the techniques can help with breathing, Range of Motion issues and flexibility.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or talk about this work, please call William at 719 395 7807.

Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

All the best for 2011 from Las Manos B&B

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all our very best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous 2011 to everyone from Las Manos Bed and Breakfast.

 

The photo shows the new fireplace insert which we had installed in October. It has made the Kiva room a warm, cozy and "snuggly" place to hang out during a winter afternoon or evening...with a mug of hot chocolate or a glass of wine.. the photo was taken by Allison Fleetwood, who took last winter's "snowy window" photo, and so many of the exceptional views of Las Manos in the past few years...there will be more added in 2011 as well. The photos were taken by the light of the fire, so we had to hold our poses for 15-30 seconds...on one amazing shot, Sasha our cat jumped into the scene, and stayed still for the required time....then promptly vanished....

 

This year we had our first garden, a small raised-bed with a major defense fence around it to keep out the deer, rabbits and other hungry critters...We had tomatoes, snow peas, beets and zucchini.....delicious....

 

In November to took a road trip to Chimayo, New Mexico to buy chili, blue corn meal and to visit friends. We now serve blue corn pancakes as a new breakfast entree...yum...Here we are at the Santuario de Chimayo

 

 

William has continued to run this year, completing 3 trail marathons, 2 halfs and a fun 5K here in Buena Vista on July 4th....

 

 

As in previous years, our guests amazed and entertained us with wonderful stories of the home towns, their travels and their occupations. Our "distance" champions this year were a family from Manila, Phillipines....We also hosted couples and families from Europe and most of the States.....

 

Buena Vista attracts many people in the summer for rafting and the outdoor activities, but we're very pleased that many of our guests come here for special events like "Paddlefest" in May ,the "Collegiate Peaks Music Festival" in July and "Gold Rush Days" in August.

 

Our two newest restaurants, which opened in 2009, are doing well and still getting excellent reviews from our guests. The Asian Palate serves Thai, Asian and Sushi at a level equivalent to any big city, and The Eddyline Restaurant and Brewpub serves up award-winning beers and ales, as well as excellent pizzas, steaks and salads...most of which are sourced locally....delicious and healthy. And don't forget The Buena Vista Roastery where Las Manos gets it's excellent coffee....it's worth taking a pound or two home....If you've been looking at the website, you'll notice two new sidebars..."What are those rocks" and " Guests' Adventures". If you have any photos of trips you took while at Las Manos, or shots of local scenery, hikes, rafting or anything fun or beautiful....please email them to us....we'd like to keep the website fresh and especially include your special memories.

 

 

Our newest rock art..right by the Tracks                                                                                    And a high mountain lake up by Cottonwood Pass

 

We wish you all the very best wishes of the Season and we hope to see many of you back here at Las Manos in 2011.

 

Colleen and William

 

Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

Aspen Gold is covering the mountains

It's that fabulous time of year again when the aspens cover the 14ers and the Arkansas River Valley with gold. They started last week up at tree line about 11,500 ft and each day the color moves a bit further down. We expect that  we'll have 2 more good weeks of color, so if you have the chance, get away and see the best the Rockies have to offer. One area between Buena Vista and Salida, Aspen Ridge, is one of the largest Aspen groves in the country, and you can drive right into the midst of all of this golden splendor....

Tomorrow our guests are climbing either Mt. Yale or Mt. Harvard.... both are part of the Collegiate Peaks, right outside our west windows.They'll be hiking through many Aspen groves on their way, and if they get good photos, we'll post them tomorrow night, just before we massage them.

Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

August Beauty

August produces much incredible beauty in Buena Vista.... especially at Las Manos B&B

Here is a sunflower on our front lawn and a beautiful Sunset over Mt. Princeton

Our yard is covered in wild sunflowers

Sunset August 25 Mt. Princeton

These sunflowers and the sunsets will continue into September, and then the Aspens will put on an incredible show across the mountains, valleys and rivers.....do come and see us....

Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

Athletes are everywhere at Las Manos

Hello everyone..

As summer turns to fall at Las Manos B&B, we are hosting a plethora (great word) of athletes of varying talents and endeavors. On Thursday  August 12, William massaged a couple at our in-town studio who were both riding the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike race on Saturday August 14 . And we hosted another couple at the B&B and the husband was also riding in the Leadville 100  Mountain Bike Race.........BTW all three finished the race in the allowed time...which in itself is an accomplishment

The husband of the couple in Sunrise Suite,  who William massaged Saturday night, will be running the Pikes Peak Ascent on August 21. And William's running coach, Amanda McIntosh, will be in town from San Antonio to pace her client who will be running the Leadville 100 Trail Run on Saturday August 21....yes...100 miles of running at altitudes from 9,200 to 12,600 ft.....

On Tuesday August 17, Las Manos B&B will be the altitude training base camp for an Israeli Team who will be participating in the Gore-Tex TransRockies Stage Race from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, August 22-27...a six day, 113 mile Team trail run that is as beautiful as it is challenging.



And for the rest of the story...William will be running the Breck Crest Trail Marathon on Sunday September 5.....and the local Buena Vista Autumn Color Marathon on September 21....he'll need all the good thoughts you can send his way....

If you're not a runner, fall is still a magical time to be in Buena Vista....beautiful flowers are still enjoying the sun, the leaves aren't turning yet, but will be in mid-September....and fall sunsets are especially beautiful....

We hope to see you here this fall.....or whenever you arrive.

All our best...

Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado

Summertime !!!!!

Yes friends, summer is here and Upper Arkansas River Valley is ready for you...the river is running strongly, the wildflowers are beautiful and just about every activity possible is available here this summer.These are Yucca blossoms just outside the back door of Las Manos B&B, and they are there every June, but this year they are particularly beautiful...Enjoy the other wildflower photos throughout this blog.

This year, for the first time, Las Manos has a veggie garden.... we have tomatoes, zucchini, peas, beets, cabbage, lettuce, chilies and rhubarb, and they are strong and very healthy....we expect to be adding fresh garden veggies to our breakfasts starting in late July. Here is a brilliant zucchini blossom to whet your appetite.

On a more personal level, William has taken his running to a more serious level and has completed a marathon and a half-marathon this spring and will be running the Leadville Marathon on July 3. After 2 1/2 years of training, his knees are actually better than they've been for many years.

In March William's daughter and her family spent a week exploring the area and hit just about every highlight...skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, hot springs, shopping, dining and just relaxing....we all had a wonderful family time.

If you can, come up for a summer vacation...but if you can't think about a fall weekend with the aspen colors...or take a few "mental health" days in the middle of the week when we're a bit quieter..... whenever you come, we take extra special care of you....





Colleen Finley and William McQueen Innkeepers Las Manos B&B Buena Vista Colorado