By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Droughts that cause leaves to turn brown and wither before they can reach peak color. Heat waves prompting leaves to fall before autumn even arrives. Extreme weather events like hurricanes that strip trees of their leaves altogether. For a cheery autumnal activity, leaf peeping is facing […]
Aspen
Posted inBusiness, Housing, News, Newsletters, Outsider
An end of unfettered growth for short-term rentals in Colorado’s resort communities
Visitors to the 13-bedroom Little Mountain Lodge above Breckenridge’s historic downtown have supported the tourist town’s economy for many years. They book snowmobile rides. They rent bicycles and ski. They reserve tables and rooms in local restaurants. “All the business owners in Breckenridge who rely on visitor spending, they are getting it from my group,” […]
Posted inNews, Outdoors
Aspen Skiing Co. can charge skiers an uphill access fee, Forest Service rules in decision that could have ripple effects
By Scott Condon, The Aspen Times Aspen Skiing Co. acted within its rights as a special use permit holder on national forest to implement a new fee for uphillers, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Roger Poirier, recreation staff officer for the White River National Forest, said ski area operators are required to file an […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Former Aspen mayor Herman Edel dies at 95
Herman Edel, a former mayor of Aspen, died Friday in Ashland, Oregon. He was 95. Edel served two terms as mayor, from 1979 to 1983, in which time he was instrumental in organizing a significant restoration of the Wheeler Opera House and led early efforts in building affordable housing, according to his son, Scott Edel. […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Water
Low water forecast for Ruedi Reservoir near Aspen threatens hydropower, water deliveries
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism Water levels at Ruedi Reservoir could fall so low this winter that the city of Aspen could have difficulty making hydro-electric power and those who own water in the reservoir could see shortages. That’s according to projections by the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the reservoir near the headwaters of […]
Posted inColoradans, News
“Miracle dog” survives a month in Maroon Bells wilderness near Aspen after getting lost
By Scott Condon, The Aspen Times ASPEN — A little cockapoo relied on a big heart, wily wits and maybe a little luck to survive four weeks in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area near Aspen. Bella disappeared June 18 while hiking the Capitol Creek Ditch Trail with Betsy and Jim Chaffin and their extended family, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Growth, News, Outdoors
With food scarce, Aspen braces for possible bear invasion later this summer
By Jason Auslander, The Aspen Times While the number of bears in Aspen has been manageable so far this summer, a lack of natural food sources could change that as fall approaches, an area wildlife official said. The below average snowpack and runoff in the spring and little rain in the early summer meant berries […]
Posted inNews, Outdoors
3 rescuers hit by rockfall near Aspen while trying to recover missing hiker’s body
ASPEN — Three people trying to recover the body of a hiker on a Colorado mountain were injured Wednesday after being hit by a “massive rockfall” likely triggered by other climbers above them, authorities said. The most seriously injured Mountain Rescue Aspen member on Capitol Peak was flown to a Denver-area hospital for emergency surgery, […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Donald Trump’s inaugural committee chair, Aspen man among trio accused of being United Arab Emirates agents
The chair of former President Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee was arrested Tuesday on charges alleging that he and two others — including a Colorado man — conspired to influence Trump’s foreign policy positions to benefit the United Arab Emirates. Thomas Joseph Barrack, 74, of Santa Monica, California, was among three men charged in New […]
Posted inNews
Pilot appears to have been flying too low in mountains near Aspen before deadly crash
The pilot of a small airplane that crashed near Aspen earlier this month appears to have been flying too low for the tall mountains surrounding the resort town when he crashed, killing himself and another man. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says the Beechcraft Bonanza was flying at an altitude of […]