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Hikers rescued at Snowmass Lake after failed attempt at popular Four Pass Loop near Maroon Bells
Mountain Rescue Aspen rescued two hikers that were stranded after attempting to complete the Four Pass Loop. The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center was alerted at about 9:27 p.m. Sunday, June 30 that two hikers who attempted to complete the 25.7-mile trail were stranded near Snowmass Lake. The hikers had lost their gear, had no shelter, and were cold and wet.
Winter Storm Traps Unprepared Hikers on Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, CO
Mountain Rescue Aspen successfully retrieved two hikers stranded near Snowmass Lake after they attempted the challenging Four Pass Loop trail. The overnight rescue occurred on June 30. The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received an alert at 9:27 p.m. on Sunday from Garmin Company, reporting an SOS activation from...
PitCo closes in on tax question
Pitkin County is honing in on a ballot question for the November election, asking voters for a new tax to support affordable housing initiatives. The board worked with staff on ballot language, mill levy rate, tax duration and spending areas for the revenue at their retreat on Tuesday. They landed...
The Roundup | Housing reporting grounded in data, rooted in lived experience
In January 2023, Aspen Journalism published a two–part investigative analysis of the 1,650 or so units making up the ownership inventory of the Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority, from AJ data editor Laurine Lassalle and longtime freelance collaborator Catherine Lutz. The idea behind the project was to take stock of the component parts of what could be seen as our community’s most complex and valuable asset — a housing system that allows working locals to purchase homes at attainable prices, in exchange for agreeing to employment and wealth restrictions and accepting limits on resale value. The stories conveyed important information about the contours of the system and represented a well-balanced collaboration between Lassalle’s data grounding and Lutz’s abilities to understand and convey the experiences of people who are living the trends highlighted by the reporting. Photography by Dan Bayer helped the work jump off the page (or the screen).
USFS clears way for trail linking Redstone, McClure Pass
Trail connectivity between Redstone and the McClure Pass summit is officially approved after months of negotiations. The White River National Forest issued their final decision and what’s called a “Finding of No Significant Impact” on Friday, approving Pitkin County Open Space to build and maintain the trail across 5 miles of federal land.
Monday, July 1
On today's newscast: Longtime Pitkin County attorney John Ely passed away last Thursday after a battle with cancer, the Rifle Police Department arrested a former substitute teacher at the Garfield Re-2 school district, forecasters are predicting a hotter-than-average July for western Colorado, and more. Tune in for these stories and...
Two hikers rescued at Snowmass Lake after attempting Four Pass Loop
Mountain Rescue Aspen rescued two hikers that were stranded after attempting to complete the Four Pass Loop. The Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center was alerted at about 9:27 p.m. Sunday, June 30 that two hikers who attempted to complete the 25.7-mile trail were stranded near Snowmass Lake. The hikers had lost their gear, had no shelter, and were cold and wet.
Ireland: A prophet with honor in his own county
We don’t often stop to honor the leadership role of city of Aspen and Pitkin County staff. An exception needs to be made for the late county attorney, John Ely. While elected officials are legally vested with the responsibility to make policy for local government, it’s almost always staff members that have to point the way to accomplish the goals set forth.
Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield counties remind residents about wildfire protections
Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield counties are reminding residents about their Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). This initiative provides an opportunity for communities to collaboratively implement wildfire mitigation strategies, safeguarding homes, property, and human health. Eagle County stands out for its county-level management of fire mitigation, enabling its CWPP team to...
US Forest Service issues final decision approving Redstone to McClure Pass Trail
White River National Forest has announced a final decision authorizing Pitkin County to construct and maintain the Redstone to McClure Pass Trail across National Forest System land, according to a press release from the US Forest Service (USFS). “The trail will improve public access and provide a safer alternative to...
Pitkin County, Aspen, Snowmass continue with pro-active steps in addressing addiction, mental health
In a determined effort to combat the rising tide of addiction and mental health crises, local law enforcement agencies have reinforced their commitment to the Pitkin Area Co-Responder Team (PACT), according to a news release. PACT is funded by grants from the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration’s (BHA), the Co-Responder program,...
Nobody better to have on your side
I am deeply saddened to read of John Ely’s passing (“Friends recall John Ely as wise, private,” June 29, Aspen Daily News). He was a friend and colleague working for rivers in Pitkin County and the Western Slope of Colorado. We had our occasional disagreements, but when...
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