Is a “Super El Niño” Event Coming? As most of you are probably aware, El Niño and La Niña are sea surface temperature oscillation events over the southern Pacific Ocean that can impact weather patterns worldwide. According to the National Ocean Service, during El Niño, trade winds from the Pacific weaken and warm water is pushed from the east to the west coast of the Americas. A shift […] Weather Zoe Loftin | April 14, 2023 0 Comments
President Biden Designates 2 New National Monuments Spanning Over Half a Million Acres On Tuesday, March 21, President Joe Biden made the move to designate both Avi Kwa Ame in southern Nevada, and the Castner Range located in West Texas, as national monuments. In doing so, Biden has ensured that both areas, equal to over half a million acres, will be protected from future development. The Biden Administration continues to pride itself on its […] Zoe Loftin | March 31, 2023 1 Comment
Colorado To Finish Ski Season With Above Average Snowpack For First Time in 4 Years Coloradans already know this season has been providing when it comes to snow every Wednesday and amazing conditions all across the state. But, what many don’t realize is that it’s the first time they’ve had such epic conditions since 2019. This isn’t just good news for ski bums across Colorado; it could also be good for the ongoing drought throughout […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | March 29, 2023 0 Comments
Park City, UT, Bans Ski Wax Due to ‘Forever Chemicals’ Polluting the City’s Water Sources Forever chemicals, or PFAS chemicals, are persistent and long-lasting chemicals that can lead to a number of health issues in humans. According to Clean Water Action, every American that has been tested has turned out to have PFAS chemicals in their blood. These chemicals are typically used to make products waterproof, grease-proof, and stick-proof; which is why it’s no surprise […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | March 27, 2023 0 Comments
Copper Mountain, CO, Could Start Charging for Parking in the Alpine Parking Lot Many Colorado ski resorts are facing the struggle of how to manage the increased number of skiers and riders coming out of the pandemic. Colorado skiers know all about the nightmare that is I-70 traffic over the weekends. But, not everyone is used to being turned away from their favorite ski resort because the parking lots have filled up. Copper […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | March 10, 2023 0 Comments
Denver, CO, Ski Club Working to Diversify Colorado’s Mountains Skiing has always been seen as an intimidating and difficult sport to get into, especially for low-income individuals and marginalized groups. This has led to scrutiny against the outdoor community regarding its lack of diversity. But, a Denver ski club, Ski Noir 5280, is working to change that narrative. According to Denver7 News, the club’s President, and co-founder, Quincy Shannon, is […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | February 24, 2023 0 Comments
Can the Wind Power Our Ski Resorts? The outdoor industry needs more sustainable practices to keep people outside and doing what they love. Ski resorts worldwide need new ways to preserve the industry’s profitability. Lifts and gondolas are pricey in terms of their upkeep and keeping them running, not to mention the increasing cost of man-made snow, as many resorts have seen just this season. Related: How […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | February 13, 2023 1 Comment
New York City on Track to Break Record for Longest Period Without Snow New York City has not seen much in terms of snowfall this winter. As of now, according to CBS News, the city is looking at the longest period of time without any measurable snowfall in the past 50 years. For those who live in the city and the surrounding area who were looking forward to the 2022-23 ski season, the […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | February 3, 2023 1 Comment
This December, Colorado Experienced its Highest Potential for Deadly Avalanches in 13 Years An increase in avalanche activity isn’t a typical development for Colorado’s ski country, but the state faced a much more active early season this winter, so the snowpack has been building much quicker than usual. Colorado experienced a high frequency of winter storms in late November following a dry spell throughout the high country. This proved to be a positive thing […] Avalanche Zoe Loftin | January 17, 2023 0 Comments
REI Invests Nearly $2 Million in Nonprofits Through Cooperative Action Fund The REI Cooperative Action Fund is a community-supported nonprofit that supports organizations working to build a stronger culture surrounding the outdoor community. The fund promotes the REI Co-Op philosophy that the outdoors are for everyone and encourages more people to strive for life outdoors. REI Co-Op is a community-run company. It prides itself on the fact that those who become members […] Zoe Loftin | December 23, 2022 2 Comments
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO, Opens Uphill Access for 2022-23 Season Arapahoe Basin in Colorado has officially opened uphill access to the ski area, accessible with an uphill access pass. The uphill season pass itself costs $99 with a $20 add-on for an all-access season pass to the mountain. According to Arapahoe Basin, it will donate $10 from each pass purchased to the National Forest Foundation. The resort requires users to wear […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | December 2, 2022 0 Comments
Vail Mountain, CO, Falls Off Top 20 Rankings, No Apparent Impact on Visitation Vail Resort has been referenced as one of the giants of the ski industry for some time now. As one of the first resorts to accept snowboarders, its diverse and extensive terrain embraces locals and travelers from abroad all season long without fail. However, it has recently found itself outside of the top 20 rankings for best ski resorts in […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | December 2, 2022 0 Comments
Colorado Legalizes Psychedelic Plants and Fungi: Ski Towns Largely to Thank The citizens of Colorado are no strangers to facing controversial propositions on their ballots: in 2014 they were the first state to legalize marijuana and in 2019 the use of psilocybin was decriminalized in the city of Denver. The 2022 midterms have come and gone, and Colorado faced yet another contentious issue for voters. Proposition 122 moved to not only […] Industry News Zoe Loftin | November 16, 2022 2 Comments
Purgatory Ski Resort Sues the US Forest Service Over Water Rights Dispute On October 27, 2022, Purgatory ski resort in Colorado, filed a lawsuit against the US Forest Service over a dispute regarding their water rights in the Hermosa Creek Watershed. According to a report published by Law360, Purgatory is currently fighting for its rights to the Hermosa Creek watershed, a vital water source for the resort. They reportedly have asked the judge to […] Zoe Loftin | November 9, 2022 0 Comments
Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Copper Mountain, CO – Much More Than a Paradise for Park Rats A classic bluebird day as it’s seen from Copper’s summit (Credit: author) For being among the first 26 mountains included in the launch of the Ikon Pass in 2018, it’s still one of the few left in Colorado with the true hometown feel that the locals love. Copper Mountain is a playground of 2,507 skiable acres with terrain divided into […] Zoe Loftin | November 3, 2022 0 Comments
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