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| File photo by Matt Kroschel
Christmas Mountain U.S.A. rises above Salida. The tradition of adorning Tenderfoot Mountain began in 1989 and continues with locals and visitors anticipating the yearly lighting the day after Thanksgiving.
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Christmas Mountain turns 20
Arlene Shovald
Special to The Mail
Creating the "world's largest Christmas tree" on Tenderfoot Mountain was no small feat, but the tradition begun in 1989 continues with visitors and locals anticipating lighting of Christmas Mountain U.S.A.
The outline of the tree on the face of Tenderfoot Mountain is approximately 750 feet tall. In the beginning there was talk about calling it the "world's largest Christmas tree" to get it into the Guinness Book of Records, but was ruled out because it wasn't actually a tree.
The initial design was contrived in summer 1989. Intent was to illuminate the mountain with flood lights in the shape of the tree. Chris Schirmer and his crew from Master Electric took on the initial job of lighting the mountain, a project he continued for nine years.
The effort to flood the mountain with light that first year was disappointing. When the lights were turned on they weren't visible from downtown. However Schirmer wasn't about to give up.
It was decided to outline the mountain with lights in the shape of a Christmas tree and a committee formed to work on the project.
A lighting engineer from Public Service Company of Colorado was consulted to see what could be done, mechanically and physically, to outline the mountain in the shape of a Christmas tree visible throughout the community.
Help was secured from the University of Colorado.
The project wasn't as simple as just stringing lights. Contours of the mountain vary angles of deflections, gullies and hills received attention so the tree would appear in perspective from a distance.
Surveyor Bob Biglow volunteered his services and city councilman John Bayuk, determined where to drive stakes to hold lights. Hundreds of other volunteers have worked on the project through the years,
It is assembled in mid-November while the weather is usually remains fairly comfortable for stringing thousands of lights on a mountain side.
Steve Borbas succeeded Schirmer as coordinator of the mountain in 1998. Initially the mountain used 2,700 outdoor Christmas tree bulbs and 220 floodlights. Today there are about 5,000 bulbs in five colors - red, clear and painted bulbs; white, clear and orange.
During experiments with lighting in the summer of 1990 it was determined red and white were best colors for visibility on the mountain. Greens and blues couldn't be seen adequately.
At first the tree was an outline with straight garlands running across for decoration, but through the years "ornaments" have been added.
Fund-raisers and donations help pay for supplies and electricity. Some years have been very tight on money, but so far Christmas Mountain has always happened.
The electric bill averages from $475 to $510 and for the past few years has been paid by Century 21, Wes Hill; First Colorado Land Office and United Country Premier Brokers and other donations.
Christmas Mountain U.S.A. is lighted on Friday after Thanksgiving and is lit from 5:30-10:30 p.m. until Jan. 7 when once again, volunteers gather to disassemble and store the lights for another year.
The traditional Salida Parade of Lights was added to the festivities in 1990. Initially it was a stationary parade with "floats" placed along F Street.
Later, it became a moving parade, with lighted floats portraying different themes each year. Santa Claus has always been the last entry in the parade and it's his job to flip the switch illuminating Christmas Mountain for the season.
About five years ago another tradition was added, with Salida Fire firefighters lighting fireworks from the top of the "tree" as lights are turned on. This year the fireworks display is sponsored by Collegiate Peaks Bank.
Holiday Park became part of festivities in 1998 when Dea Maltby and her sister, Sandy Lyles, erected numerous artificial trees and decorations on the grounds the Salida SteamPlant in memory of their mother.
After a few years, that project became too much work for the two sisters and a handful of volunteers. It was moved to Riverside Park where volunteers erect trees lining both sides of the angle walking path in the park.
Some trees are sponsored by businesses or service organizations. Others are decorated in memory of loved ones.
Christmas Mountain has attracted national attention. Commercial airline pilots flying high over the mountain, call attention to the mountain below.
In 2004 holiday opening festivities in Salida were featured on the Home and Garden television channel.
Locals look forward to the festivities. For former residents, lighting of Christmas Mountain, Holiday Park and the Parade of Lights have become a "homecoming" event.
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