Craig Daily Press

Courtney Teeter

Chris Braley tosses a bag of ice to Tanya Letamendi. The two work the same delivery route and help each other carry the load.

Craig — The rhythm of Christopher Herring’s day typically beats to an oldies and classic rock soundtrack.

With an iPod strapped to his arm, Herring delivers ice and water across town for his family business, Colorado West Bottled Water & Ice, 452 Barclay St.

Beach Boys and Three Dog Night rang through his headphones Monday. Upbeat enough for a busy day to start what Herring predicts will be a busy week and a busy summer.

Even when delivering ice, it’s not always easy to stay cool.

“I’m not one who enjoys the heat too much,” said Christopher, who manages Colorado West. “That’s why I didn’t become a firefighter.”

Still, he’s out there most days, running palettes of ice here and there, unloading single bags to stock the front freezers at area businesses.

Lifting, driving, lifting, listening to his iPod.

“It keeps you moving,” Christopher said. “Keeps me from sitting behind a desk too much.”

Colorado West owner Brian Herring, Christopher’s father, said business picked up later this year than usual because of a cold spring, but when it hit, it hit hot.

“Weather has a lot to do with ice sales,” Brian said with a pragmatic shrug. “One day, it’s 90 degrees and you can’t make enough ice for everybody who wants it. Then, the next day, it rains and you won’t sell a single bag.”

Brian estimated the three months of summer account for about 80 percent of his annual ice sales, more than 86 tons total in 2007.

On Saturday, with a mild high of 83 degrees, Colorado West had its first big run of the year, roughly a seven-ton day.

Christopher came in about 6 a.m., he said, bagged the ice for his Craig-area customers, ran the deliveries and was done by about 11:30 a.m.

Then, Steamboat Springs customers called. Although they had ice delivered earlier in the week, they were running out.

They needed ice and fast.

Christopher said he didn’t leave the Colorado West warehouse to go home until about 11 p.m.

It was all he could do to keep from coming in Sunday.

“We feel it’s a day of rest, worship-wise for us,” Christopher said. “I went up (to Steamboat) Saturday night so I wouldn’t have to work Sunday. Sometimes, we try to go out to the lake, too. Doing stuff like that, that’s what it’s all about for us.”

Colorado West is expanding — adding new clients in Moffat and Routt counties and investing in new trucks, more ice machines and a bigger storage warehouse — and the workload is growing along with the business.

Looking ahead, Brian said this year probably will have the Colorado West staff working more than a few Sundays.

“Unfortunately,” he added.

For now, the Herrings have their sights on the July 4 weekend.

“That’s the biggest demand of the year,” Brian said.