By Emily Stamper The San Luis Valley is unbelievably beautiful. It is the kind of place you put on a postcard. The kind of place you wish you could live, but always make excuses for why you can’t. It is 80,000 square miles and only has 50,000 residents…making it a hub for meditation retreats (20,000…
By Lili Weir — GOTHIC, CO How are people living in this former ghost town evolving as the eyes of the world turn to Gothic and Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory for answers to their climate questions? For the scientists and data collectors who call this one road valley home, the increasing obligation to relay their…
By Mitchell Adams CRESTED BUTTE—High in the Elk Mountain Range, there is no question that climate change is reshaping the environment. But, two prevalent town figures who agree on climate science are fighting for fundamentally different responses. One wants to prioritize the preservation of the natural ecosystem, while the other wants to capitalize on global…
By Rachel Colchete Officially designated the wildflower capital of Colorado, the small ski town of Crested Butte serves as a prime location to enjoy outdoor activities and charming natural scenery, but concerns about climate change affecting the area’s natural landscapes and wildlife are making local environmental advocates ill at ease. Sue Navy, board president of…
By Olivia Dicks Crested Butte’s recreational industry rooted in cold winter skiing is beginning to shift towards warm weather mountain biking. It’s one indication of how climate change impacts are leading to changes in human society. Crested Butte used to make money mostly off skiing in the winter. The ski company originally started running lifts…
By Rainy Adkins Colorado’s high country is emerging as the home to some of the most energy-efficient houses on the planet. Even though temperatures dip well below zero in the winter these homes require no furnaces, and their solar panels allow them to actually make money selling electricity. The homeowners say they’ve built them deliberately…
CRESTED BUTTE- As climate change constrains skiing and biking seasons and outdoor recreation emerges as an economic mainstay in Crested Butte, residents are raising concerns. Some assert that the town may be at carrying capacity for tourism. “Normal Monday to Friday locals are pissed,” said Evan Marcus, a ski and bike coach for Crested Butte…
By Whitton Feer – Gothic, Colorado Evan Marcus stood behind the counter of Teocali Tamale. His curly black hair and mustache blended together beneath his ski industry trucker hat as he prepared tamales and blended margaritas. “It’s hard to be a local here,” he said. Marcus, who has lived in Crested Butte for 6 years…
By Johnna Geick Residents of Southern Colorado are feeling the effects of climate change, but remain divided on the value of personal efforts versus systematic changes. Big ski corporations like Aspen Ski Company are driving for political and institutional change, claiming individual conservation efforts are trivial. But others emphasize the importance of small-scale changes, to…
By Carly Valerious PAONIA– Three members in the Welt family work at the last functioning coal mine in the north fork valley and they are struggling to deal with implications that result from the dying coal industry. Our planet is getting warmer and the need to switch to renewable energy sources, like solar, is becoming…
