Amidst heightened awareness of environmental issues associated with tar sands development, reports of a leak at a refinery in the Denver area gave conservation groups new ammunition for their campaign against the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. EPA emergency response officials said the material infiltrating Sand Creek appears to be [...]

Summit County: Pine beetle numbers drop sharply

November one of the driest months in the high country

October snowfall in Summit County was close to average in October with 12.4 inches at Rick Bly’s official observation station in Breckenridge, compared to the historic average 12.3 inches. But between the snow and some rain during the month, [...]

Cleanup continues around the county; insurance companies registering numerous wind-related claims this week Cleaning up downed trees near Frisco after a Nov. 13 windstorm generated gusts of up to 115 mph in isolated spots, with winds between 70 to 90 mph common across much of the state.

New reports will help cities plan future water supplies in the metro area

Most of the productive groundwater aquifers in the Denver Basin are concentrated near the Rocky Mountain front and diminish to the east, according to a trio of new reports from the Colorado Geological Survey. The reports [...]

County says proposal would have significant impacts on wildlife and quality of life; Forest Service seeks to provide more motorized opportunities

A proposal by the U.S. Forest Service and the Summit County Off-Road Riders to develop a 30-mile trail system on Tenderfoot Mountain is facing some serious questions from [...]

Summit Nordic swap at the Breckenridge Nordic Center November 11-13; at the Frisco Nordic Center November 18-20; 

Early November is an in-between time in the high country, and along with snow-covered pumpkins, many ski town [...]

Recycling and diversion operations facing serious budget crunch; new licensing requirements for trash haulers could “stem the bleeding”

Facing dwindling revenues at the landfill, Summit County may set up a licensing program for trash haulers and enact so-called flow-control measures that would make it illegal for haulers to ship [...]

Contractor clearing out beetle-killed trees

Residents of Mesa Cortina and Wildernest can expect more logging traffic this winter, as a contractor removes trees cut during ongoing forest health and wildfire hazard mitigation work. The project, a part of the White River Wildland Urban Interface Stewardship project in Summit County. Logging [...]

It takes a lot to keep Colorado’s highways open during big winter storms

With a series of winter-like storms forecast to move across Colorado during the next few days, the Colorado Department of Transportation says its ready to tackle the snow. “We’re ready for this one and ready to [...]

‘Checkpoint Charlie’ installations will beef up security

Finishing a $1.2 million project to upgrade security features as scheduled, Denver Water and Summit County this lifted the nighttime closure of Dillon Dam Road. Roundabouts in two locations will slow traffic, enabling guards to better monitor traffic and identify  vehicles, and [...]

Verizon, some local land line services down for several hours

A widespread communication outage hit parts of Summit County on Halloween eve, with Verizon customers reporting no cell phone service at all, while other carriers, including Sprint and T-Mobile, remained in service. Responding to a query via Twitter, Verizon [...]

Wildlife managers seeking info on a hunter who have illegally killed a bull moose near Silverthorne in late October

Accidental and illegal moose kills are on the rise in northwest Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers, who say they’ve investigated nine possible accidental moose kills, with seven of [...]

Find the best deals on organic produce and other goodies with a local food expert

Fall is but a fleeting memory. Now there is a foot of snow on the ground. It’s typical in Summit County for the jack-o-lantern to be buried in snow. We celebrate Halloween with the rest of the [...]

Pre-season pass discounts end Oct. 31; Breckenridge Nordic Center plans Nov. 11 opening, and popular Nordic swaps coming up in early November

With significant snowfall forecast down to the valley floors this week, local crosscountry skiers are no doubt also starting to think about the upcoming season. The Breckenridge [...]

Forest Service starts public scoping; open house set for Nov. 3 By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — The public will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed new backcountry hut near Breckenridge during the next few weeks, as the Forest Service opens a scoping period on the proposal. A public open house will [...]

Nonprofit group forging ahead with plans for a new hut high on Baldy as the Forest Service accepts proposal By Summit Voice SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit Huts Association will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its annual Backcountry Ball with revamped fundraiser this Friday, Oct. 21, at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge. Along with swapping stories [...]

Think about what you cook and eat …

My a-ha moment about food came on a Sunday afternoon when I was 11 years old. I was at the table in my grandparents’ dining room, with three generations gathered to share a Sunday dinner. Noni and Grandpa had both immigrated from Italy, bringing [...]

Frisco chef helps find the best deals at Summit supermarkets  

Seasons change quickly here in the Rockies. Just last week we were riding our bikes in short sleeves and enjoying fall colors. Now, there is snow on the peaks and ice in the birdbath. Winter is on its way … Butternut squash [...]

Forest Service to hold Oct. 19 open house on plan

The White River National Forest wants to build 15 miles of new multi-use trails in the Tenderfoot and Frey Gulch area to accommodate motorized use. The project is being developed in response to a proposal by the Summit County [...]

Long-range vision for resort includes new lifts, a summer mountain coaster and new on-mountain restaurants

Copper Mountain’s new long-range master plan for addressing deficiencies in its aging lift network includes removing and replacing seven existing chairlifts and adding four new lifts, as well as new conveyors for the teaching [...]

Road scheduled to re-open 24-7 at the end of October

Finishing up security enhancements on Dillon Dam Road next will require closing one lane of the road near the scenic overlook. The lane closure is necessary so crews can finish the curb and gutter construction and asphalt paving. The [...]

BLM wants input on fee plan for Upper Colorado River

Modest increase would help pay for maintenance backlog at popular recreations sites like Radium and Pumphouse

The Bureau of Land Management has revised its proposal to increase fees for recreation sites on the Upper Colorado River and is taking input on the plan through Oct. 31. Visit the BLM’s [...]

Breckenridge celebrates the fine art of distilling

Oct. 7-9 Still on a Hill  features small-batch distillers from across the country

Craft distillers will gather in Breckenridge on the weekend of October 7-9 for the second annual Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival. “Those familiar with microbrewing will be pleased to discover that the same care and quality is happening [...]

Forest Service continues hazard tree removal

The popular Peaks Trail, between Frisco and Breckenridge, and the Gold Hill Trail are next up for hazard tree removal, with work set to begin Oct. 5. The work is expected to continue through October and November or as long as weather permits. [...]

Colorado lawmakers make a bipartisan push to fund for Native American student tuitions at Fort Lewis College

House bill would ensure federal funding for a federal mandate

Republican Congressman Scott Tipton is reaching across the aisle to try and pass a bill that would ensure federal funding for college tuition of Native American students at Fort Lewis College in Durango. Tipton’s bill, the Native American Indian [...]

Colorado: San Juan wilderness bill back in the U.S. Senate

Measure touted as boost to Colorado’s recreation economy

Two fourteeners and a productive hunting area in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado are included in a wilderness bill re-introduced this week by Sen. Mark Udall. The measure would also withdraw more than 6,000 acres in Naturita Canyon from [...]

Colorado: Deal eases threat of drilling in Baca wildlife refuge

Stakeholders work toward buyout of mineral rights in San Luis Valley

Groups working to protect public lands in the San Luis Valley of Colorado say they’ve ended their 2007 lawsuit  against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The litigation by the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council and the Citizens [...]

Skiing: Monarch Mountain’s season pass goes global

One planet, one pass is the new motto for Monarch Mountain after adding new ski areas in the Alps to its season pass partnership program

The appeal of sliding down snow-covered mountains has always transcended national borders and ideologies, and this winter, Monarch Mountain has taken that global culture to [...]

Proposed regulations would cut pollution and costs for oil and gas industry

A new set of air quality that would significantly cut pollution from oil and gas drilling is up for a public hearing in Denver next week, a session that could draw a crowd of interested citizens. The [...]

Colorado: Mountain lion kills dog near Glenwood Springs

Another lion spotted in Carbondale; wildlife officers offer warnings

A mountain lion killed a pet dog this week near Sunlight Ski Area, and another lion was seen in Carbondale, prompting Colorado wildlife managers to warn that encounters with the potentially dangerous animals will become more frequent as the state’s [...]

Elk poaching investigated near Copper Mountain

State wildlife officers want info on elk that was killed and left to rot

Wildlife officers are seeking information that can help identify the person or persons who illegally killed a bull elk and abandoned its carcass near Stafford Creek, approximately one mile from I-70 in the vicinity of [...]

 Sen.  Udall and Sen. Bennet advocate for stakeholder process that may lead to a buy-out of mineral rights

As pressure to drill new oil and gas wells in southern Colorado mounts, community groups in the San Luis Valley are hoping that they can protect the largest federal wildlife refuge [...]

Breckenridge goes solar in a big way

Renewable energy a big part of town’s long-term sustainability plan

A new array of solar panels in Breckenridge will generate 10 percent of the town’s municipal electricity consumption, officials said Tuesday after flipping a ceremonial switch to turn the system on. Installed at seven locations, the combined arrays will [...]

Data helps shape management of public lands

The U.S. Forest Service is gathering detailed information on recreation in the White River National Forest this month by surveying visitors at selected recreation sites and along roads on the forest. The local efforts are part of the National Visitor Use Monitoring [...]

No changes in use proposed for popular backcountry refuges between Aspen and Crested Butte

The White River National Forest is soliciting public comments on a proposal to renew the US Forest Service Special Use Permit for the Alfred A. Braun Hut System (Braun Huts). The Braun Hut System is currently permitted to [...]

Breckenridge Oktoberfest starts with brewmaster dinner

Annual beer bash features plenty of polka, Oompah, dancing and, of course, beer!

The Munich Oktoberfest has become a touchstone of global culture in the past few decades, as people from around the world stream to the southern German city and take the experience home with them. And since we all can’t [...]

Nighttime closures still in effect, a few delays possible

Just in time for summer’s last hurrah, Denver Water and Summit County will re-open Dillon Dam Road, with nightly closures (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) remaining in effect until the work is done. The important local connection between Frisco and [...]

Colorado: Dillon police officer dies in motorbike crash