Will climate change help or hurt Crested Butte’s future?

By Auguste Voss CRESTED BUTTE—The resort town of Crested Butte in mountainous western Colorado has long relied on the ski industry to drive the local economy.  But greenhouse gas emissions and increasing global temperatures are taking a toll. Beyond Crested Butte, millions are expected to be displaced. Sea levels are rising. Large chunks of the…

Living in isolation, but staying in the know

By Carly Valerious Billy Barr is a mountain man living alone in Gothic Colorado, a place only accessible by skiing or snowshoeing, and he has accumulated data that has progressed the study of climate change. Many documentaries in multiple countries have been made about Billy’s life. For example, The Snow Guardian. This short film is…

Amory Lovins: scientist, innovator, optimist

By Auguste Voss OLD SNOWMASS—Tucked away in the mountain foothills along Colorado’s Roaring Fork River, scientist Amory Lovins lives in an energy-efficient house with his wife, Judy, and a collection of stuffed orangutans. He tugged at one of the orangutans’ toes, grinning playfully as he held court recently with a group of Colorado College student…

Changing Gothic, Changing Lives

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…

Fear for the Future Of Crested Butte

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…

Changes in the ecosystem

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…