5 Summit County hikes to find colorful wildflowers in peak season

Summer has come to Summit County and with it warm temperatures, sapphire blue skies and buckets of that famous Colorado sunshine. One of the best ways to explore the High Country is on foot, and fortunately there are hundreds of miles of trails throughout the county to explore. This is peak season for wildflowers, meaning it’s the perfect time to hike through aspen glades and meadows flush with wildflowers to viewpoints with expansive vistas, brilliant colors and gorgeous landscapes. Below are the top five places to get both views and wildflowers this month.

Hike 1: The Hidden Treasure Trove of Saw Mill Creek, Breckenridge

The short length, insignificant elevation gain and proximity to the town of Breckenridge makes the Saw Mill Creek hike perfect for families with young children. Starting near the bottom of the Saw Mill Chairlift, the trail leads hikers down a shady ravine with a creek running through it. The high rocky walls protect hikers from the insistent summer sun and offer a refuge to plants and wildlife, including plenty of wildflowers.

Children can touch, smell and experience nature along the trail, from the babbling creek to pungent pine needles. Small animal burrows and shy, shade-loving wildflowers can be found along the path. Mushrooms will make an appearance in August. Small bridges take hikers back and forth across the creek. Eventually, wooden stairs lead up a hillside to the shore of a shallow lake — just the right place for a splash in the shallows and a sunny afternoon picnic. The hike is less than a mile and is rated as easy.

Hike 2: Wildlife and wildflowers at Wheeler Lakes, Copper Mountain

Still a family hike, although a little higher and tougher than Saw Mill Creek, the trail from Copper Mountain Resort to the Wheeler Lakes has it all — plants, animals and stunning views.

The hike features areas thick with trees, including aspen and pines. These gradually give way to open meadows full of wildflowers.

Wheeler Lakes trail has plenty of elevation gain and terrain change, allowing for a variety of wildflowers. Right now, there should be numerous patches of Columbines in bloom. Along with flowers, there is a population of black-and-gold tiger salamanders that live along the shallows of Wheeler Lakes. This trail is 6.4 miles round trip and is rated as moderate to more difficult.

Hike 3: Mountain range discovery over Uneva Pass, Copper Mountain

For those who don’t want to stop at the Wheeler Lakes, the trail continues from Copper Mountain all the way to Frisco via the top of the Tenmile Range and Uneva Pass.

After the Wheeler lakes, before reaching Uneva Pass, is another lake known as Lost Lake. Despite its proximity to the trail, it’s nearly completely hidden by a tall berm.

The trail features fabulous alpine lakes that have cliffs on their far ends. The lakes are right off the trail, but can be tricky to spot. The high point on this trail is 11,900 feet with stupendous views. Hikers stay on top of the Tenmile Range for a while, then descend to meet the North Tenmile Trail, which lets out at the westernmost part of Frisco Main Street. Here plenty of Lupine can be seen, as well as Indian paintbrush. This trail is 11.5 miles one way and is rated as more difficult. Two cars are recommended to arrange a shuttle.

Hike 4: Flower heaven at Upper Straight Creek, Eisenhower Tunnels

Upper Straight Creek has been referred to as ‘flower valley’ and July is the best month to view flowers here. This hike is incredible for sub-alpine wildflowers, as you are tucked below the Continental Divide when hiking through this flowery oasis. According to guide books, the flowers seen here are flowers you’d never see down in an aspen forest or in a valley. Flowers to look out for here include, elephant head, purple penstamen and Indian paintbrush, king’s crown, and white bog orchid. The higher you hike on this trail the more true alpine flowers start to appear, including sky pilot, alpine kitten tail and dwarf columbine. This trail reaches its peak at 12,400 feet and is rated as moderate to more difficult. It’s 4 miles round trip and can be accessed off of I-70 8 miles from Silverthorne.

Hike 5: Cascading water at South Willow Falls, Silverthorne

South Willow Falls is a relaxed hike that children will enjoy, with opportunity to see columbine — Colorado’s state flower — in early July. The scenery varies between open meadows and closed-in stretches through trees and a gulch. Turning around offers great views of the Continental Divide and Lake Dillon throughout. The area is also rich in mining history. Once hikers reach the waterfall, they should take some time to relax and enjoy the location. There are plenty of rocks to relax on by the water. Look for alpine avens, columbine, alpine sandwort, small penstemon, wild rose bushes and more along the South Willow Falls trail. This trail is roughly 9 miles round trip and is rated as moderate.

This story originally published July 6, 2017, on summitdaily.com. It appeared in the Explore Summit 2018 summer magazine.

Best fall hikes for aspen leaves in Summit County (before they’re gone!)

This article was originally written and published in 2018.

I’d always heard that aspen trees were classic Colorado, that their colors would be awe-inspiring. Humbling. It seems like just yesterday that summer arrived and the aspens started to finally bloom in rich, verdant hues. Now, every fresh morning turns them more rusted, golden. Soon enough, sidewalks, roads and trails will have more leaves than the trees themselves. Fall is rushing by.

For those who feel the urge to be completely submerged in this golden scenery, this hiking guide is for you.

SURPRISE LAKE, EAGLESMERE LOOP

My backpack feels like a ton of bricks as I start a steady climb through thick aspen groves.

These are some of the most thick, burly aspen trees I’ve ever seen — so thick I can barely clasp my hands around their trunks (insert tree-hugger joke). The aspens closest to the trail are engraved with hiker script.

Within 20 minutes, I break from the trees for views of the parking lot and Lower Cataract Lake. I squint, barely able to make out my car below. There’s a brief stretch of open vantage points, then back into a deep aspen and pine forest.

As I walk the trail, I’m kicking up golden leaves. Like ornaments, aspen leaves rest on the boughs of fir and pine trees. It all feels magical, and more so when the wind picks up, sending whispers through the forest.

I descend deeper into the forest, where it becomes heavily shaded, mossy and dank. I choose to take a 1.5-mile out-and-back detour to Eaglesmere Lake. This takes about 35 minutes and brings some decent elevation gain.

Returning to the Gore Range Trail from Eaglesmere Lake, I head towards Tipperary Lake. Surrounding me are plenty of streams, miniature waterfalls and alpine wetlands, dazzling in sunlight. During this section of the trail there are a series of footbridges to skip across — or walk, whatever bridges compel you to do.

Breathtaking views greet me as I descend from the thick woods. I can see unbelievably jagged peaks, with and Tipperary Lake resting just under 10,000 feet. From this point I weave through dense pine forests, shaded by their enormous heights.

After about 1.5 miles I reach Tipperary Lake, surrounded by sheer rock wall and alpine wetlands. I take my pack off at the lake’s opening and walk the social trail that encompasses Tipperary. Plenty of colorful fish dance underneath the surface, camouflaged by the tall grass in the water. This is to be my camping spot for the night, and I have the whole lake to myself.

I eat my breakfast looking out toward Tipperary and it is hard to convince myself to hit the trail again. Serious elevation gain greets me ahead as I move toward Surprise Lake some 3 miles away.

There are not many openings for views in this stretch, just the serenity and silence of the aspen and pine forest again. This push is tough, but reaching Surprise Lake is most definitely a reward. I return and the traffic on the trail starts to pick up significantly. Soon enough I’ve come full circle returning to the parking area near Lower Cataract.

Get there: To access the Surprise Lake, Eaglesmere Loop, enter I-70 and take exit 205 for Silverthorne. From here, hop on Highway 9 and head north for about 17 miles. Make sure to be on the lookout for Heeney Road on the left. I missed the turn — it’s hard to pull your eyes from those mountains, most of them unnamed in the Eagle’s Nest Wilderness.

Take Heeney Road for about 5 miles to a left onto Cataract Creek Road. The trailhead awaits about 2 miles down this gravel road.

WHEELER LAKES

For the first 3 miles or so, the Wheeler Lakes Trail follows the Gore Range Trail with some serious elevation gain. I am thankful to be carrying my daypack for this hike, instead of my 65 liter Osprey.

Not more than an hour into the hike I enter a warm forest of aspen trees. Although there is a high concentration of trees in this section of trail, the wind pushes through. The breeze is delightfully audible.

Dancing and rotating on their stems, the aspen leaves make a sound unlike any other leaf. Perhaps it’s their dry, paper-like texture that lends this beautiful sound — as repetitious and soothing as the ocean tide.

The aspens here were bent from the wind, curving toward each other on either side of Wheeler Lakes Trail. For some time I walk the middle of this golden tunnel. It’s easy to follow and relatively flat for a change.

I welcome a break in the trees, offering views of Copper Mountain ski area below and the Tenmile Range to the east.

From this expansive viewpoint it’s another quarter mile to Wheeler Lakes, and in about five minutes I reach their deep reflections: cumulous clouds resting in a bluebird sky are mirrored in the still, serious lakes.

From this point, it’s another 2 miles to Lost Lake and 3 miles to Uneva Pass. I decide the lakes are reward enough and that I’ll wait for an Osprey-pack day to reach these upper points on the map.

Get there: This trail is ridiculously easy to access from I-70 and became a favorite summer spot of mine. From the interstate, take Exit 196 at the scenic overlook. There are plenty of parking spaces here to choose from with easy access to the trail.

ANGLER MOUNTAIN

Even in September clusters of wildflowers run along the trail like a delicate fence. The trail quickly enters a grove of aspens and lodgepole. Like stained-glass windows, the aspen leaves pour golden light onto the trail.

What a stark contrast between the rich blue sky — not a cloud — and the deep, warm hues of the forests. Some of the trees are yellow, others a vibrant red or orange. A few trees are a rare mixture of colors. Meanwhile, leaning in the wind, the lodgepole pines creak like the staircase in an old house.

The Angler Mountain Trail is a jaunt and quickly opens up to views of the Gore Range and Silverthorne. Upon reaching the Ptarmigan Trail, there are opportunities to keep hiking in this WIlderness area for a backpacking stint. That, too, is for an Osprey pack day.

Get there: Also near SIlverthorne, the Angler Mountain Trail is north on Highway 9 for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Bald Eagle Road, and head for about 0.5 miles toward the trailhead, which is on the right.

This article was originally published September 2016, and is regularly vetted for accuracy.

Kroger adds ‘hero bonus’ to frontline workers’ pay during coronavirus outbreak

The Kroger Company has announced a “Hero Bonus” for frontline workers to reward them for working during the coronavirus outbreak, including employees at its King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado.

The Cincinnati-based Kroger supermarket chain will provide all frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy and call center associates a $2 premium above their standard base pay for hours worked March 29 through April 18, according to a company news release.

Employees will receive the premium weekly to ensure they have access to additional cash.

“Our associates have displayed the true actions of a hero, working tirelessly on the frontlines to ensure everyone has access to affordable, fresh food and essentials during this national emergency,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, said in the release. “The Hero Bonus is just one more way we continue to convey our thanks and gratitude not only to our existing associates but also to the more than 30,000 new hires who have joined in the past two weeks and those who will soon join the Kroger Family of Companies.”

The announcement follows a commitment by the company to provide a one-time bonus to frontline associates which will be paid on April 3.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Companies, owners of Safeway, announced a similar $2 per-hour premium for all non-union and union frontline employees on March 20.

The temporary increase was effective March 15, 2020 until at least the end of the following pay period on March 28, 2020 for approximately 230,000 Albertsons’ associates. Albertsons has extended the pay boost until April 4, Kris Staff, a spokesperson for Albertsons/Safeway, said.

Read more at the Denver Post.

More information released on Colorado trail runner who choked mountain lion to death after attack

The bloodied Colorado trail runner who fought off a rare mountain lion attack pummeled the young cat with a rock, wrestled it to the ground and ultimately choked the animal to death with his hands, arms and feet, state wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The man — who is his 30s and has yet to be publicly identified — was released from a hospital Tuesday morning after being treated for bite wounds and lacerations to his face and arms.

“This is crazy but true. We have no reason to believe that this is a hoax,” said Rebecca Ferrell, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The shocking tale of survival on Larimer County’s Horsetooth Mountain quickly spread far beyond Colorado, with news of Monday’s attack prompting media calls from around the world, as well as suggestions of film and book deals, and even marriage proposals, Ferrell said. Gov. Jared Polis chimed in too, posting on his Facebook page: “Don’t mess with Colorado trail runners.”

“He should never have to buy another beer in his life,” Ferrell said.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Ferrell offered the most complete description yet of the life-and-death struggle between the runner and the wild cat in the 2,711-acre park west of Fort Collins.

Read the full story on The Denver Post website, click here.

I-70 in Glenwood Canyon closed ‘most of the day’ due to overnight rockslide

Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon is closed in both directions because of a rockslide overnight just west of Grizzly Creek, the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday morning. The slide occurred about 1 a.m. Tuesday and there is no timeframe on when the road will be opened. The Colorado State Patrol said expected the canyon to be closed “most of the day,” according to a tweet about 5 a.m.  Alternative routes are advised. CDOT officials said for safety reasons, crews “will wait until daybreak to further evaluate the size of the rockslide and any damage to the roadway. CDOT’s geohazards team has also mobilized to the scene.” It does not appear that any vehicles were involved or any injuries occurred. The highway is closed at the main Glenwood Springs exit 116 on the canyon’s westside , and at Dotsero (mile marker 133) on the east side. The Colorado State Patrol suggests an alternative route of Highway 131 (Wolcott) to Highway 40 (Steamboat Springs) to Highway 13 (Rifle). “Do not use Cottonwood Pass,” the tweet says. Cottonwood Pass and numerous other high-mountain passes are closed in the winter, including Highway 82 over Independence Pass east of Aspen. The Bustang bus route from Denver to Grand Junction will stop at Eagle, officials said Tuesday morning. With snow in the Glenwood Springs-area forecast through Wednesday, travel advisories are out for other western Colorado highways, as well. The state’s passenger vehicle traction law and a requirement for commercial vehicles to use chains are in effect for Highway 133 over McClure Pass south of Carbondale. The stretch of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon is prone to rock slides, in particular the section west of the Hanging Lake Tunnel. A major rockslide on Feb. 15, 2016, resulted in a near week-long closure in both directions and lengthy detours north via U.S. 40 and south along U.S. 50. The canyon was open to one lane only in both directions after six days, but using a pilot car to guide traffic in alternating fashion for several weeks. I-70 through the canyon was not fully reopened until the middle of April that year, after $5 million in emergency repairs. CDOT said the average daily traffic for Glenwood Canyon is around 300 vehicles per hour. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Trail runner attacked by mountain lion in Larimer County kills the animal in self defense

A mountain lion attacked a runner Monday afternoon on a trail in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space and the runner, who was bitten and injured, killed the big cat, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The victim was running on West Ridge Trail “when he was attacked from behind,” according to a news release.

He was able to fight off the big cat, killing it in the process. The man hiked to safety and was able to get to a local hospital on his own, officials said. On Monday evening the victim was being treated for serious injuries including facial bite wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs and back. The man, who was not identified, is expected to recover.

Wildlife officials described the cat as a “juvenile.” The man killed the lion in “self-defense.”

Mountain lion attacks in Colorado are rare, officials said. The act of running may have triggered the young lion’s instinct to hunt.

“Mountain lion attacks are not common in Colorado and it is unfortunate that the lion’s hunting instincts were triggered by the runner,” said Ty Petersburg, area wildlife manager for CPW. “This could have had a very different outcome.”

Read the full story on The Denver Post website, click here.

Two years after head injury nearly took his life, 15-year-old snowboarder Jake Canter competes at X Games

All that stood between Jake Canter and his dream of competing in the X Games was remembering his Social Security number.

It was last Friday when the 15-year-old Canter had his father, Carl, drop him off at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen. Canter, a U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team rider, was initially there just to hang out.

Then, on Saturday, that all changed when one of Canter’s childhood snowboarding idols, Mark McMorris, dropped out of an X Games competition. Late Saturday afternoon, the Canadian star McMorris was fresh off of winning the X Games snowboard slopestyle competition in thrilling fashion. Riding high on the victory, McMorris opted out of the X Games’ inaugural “Knuckle Huck” competition, which was scheduled to begin a couple of hours later. So he turned to Canter and told him that he could take his spot.

“I’m like, ‘holy, this is really happening,’” Canter said.

With that news, the clock was officially ticking on Canter to gather the requisite information and paperwork to compete. At first, Canter’s father didn’t believe him. It was only a couple of picture texts of his son’s competition bib, credential and paperwork that convinced him.

Once Canter corralled that final required detail, his Social Security number, he was slated to not only compete in the Knuckle Huck, but to be the first to drop in. That meant the Silverthorne resident, effectively, would lead a crew of the world’s best snowboarders down the big air course at Buttermilk.

Riding behind Canter were snowboarders he looked up to, including Olympic slopestyle gold medalists Sage Kotsenburg and Red Gerard.

Canter described the sudden nerves before the competition as the most extreme he’s felt in his young snowboarding life. It was a mainstream moment where even his extended family members back in Wisconsin tuned in to watch, despite their scant knowledge of the sport. After he landed his first trick, Canter smiled wide at the bottom of the course.

“It was definitely the best contest I could have ever done to debut at X Games,” Canter said.

Despite his youth, it was also a major achievement for Canter. Just two years prior he suffered an injury that nearly ended his life.

Awakening

It was early in the 2016-17 winter season when Canter’s life was altered by an accident while practicing on a trampoline at Woodward at Copper at Copper Mountain Resort. As a kid, one of Canter’s favorite places in the world were Woodward’s indoor trampolines, where he’d go each day after he finished up riding on the mountain.

The accident occurred when another athlete on a neighboring trampoline lost his bearings in mid-air and collided with Canter. It resulted in a fractured skull, a traumatic head injury and a brain bleed. The injury forced Canter to stay off snow for a few months. Then, in the spring of 2017, the trampolining injury resulted in an even more serious health concern for Canter.

Canter said spinal fluid was leaking due to the injury. The leakage, he said, led to bacterial meningitis. He and his family first realized something was wrong when a terrible two-week-long ear ache left Canter vomiting and then unconscious in his bedroom.

Canter’s family brought him to a hospital in the Denver area where doctors put him into a medically-induced coma.

“I had no clue until I woke up and I thought I was dead,” Canter said.

While he was in the coma, doctors adhered breathing tubes to Canter’s nose and throat and connected several IVs to his body. It was so bad that Canter said the doctors told his parents that he had a 20-percent chance of surviving. At one point, his family brought a priest into his hospital room.

When he groggily woke up from the coma on his sixth day in the hospital, Canter could barely see. But what he could view were the elated reactions of his parents and the doctors.

The next day, Canter had no issues walking around the hospital. Doctors were surprised at how quickly Canter was recovering, as they expected him to be in the hospital for two more weeks. But just two days after he woke up from the coma, Canter was released from the hospital. And a day after that, he grabbed his skateboard to get back to riding.

 
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It wasn’t until August of 2017 when Canter returned to snow for the first time. That came right after he had his ear drum removed due to an infection stemming from the meningitis. The injury left Canter fully deaf in his right ear. But that didn’t leave him too down to enjoy that first time snowboarding again in New Zealand.

“When big things happen like that to you,” Canter said, “I don’t know, everything feels so surreal.”

Despite the injury, Canter said his balance for snowboarding wasn’t affected. Still able to compete in the sport he loved, Canter transitioned into a 2017-18 season, where he continued his progression as one of the country’s most talented young halfpipe snowboarders.

It was a successful season in the pipe for Canter, concluding with his victory in March of 2018 at the Burton U.S. Open Junior Jam, an annual competition that pits some of the world’s best young riders against each other.

Despite his success in the halfpipe, Canter had a change of heart later in 2018 after he learned bigger tricks on the slopestyle jumps in Saas-Fe, Switzerland. During the later half of 2018, Canter expressed to his U.S. Rookie Team coaches and sponsors, such as Burton and Red Bull, that he wanted to change disciplines. He said the coaches and sponsors were hesitant at first, trying to convince him to stick to halfpipe.

“But I knew in my heart I wanted to do slopestyle,” he said.

The perspectives of his coaches and sponsors changed quite a bit when Canter won a post-Christmas Rev Tour Elite Nor-Am slopestyle competition in New Hampshire. And, after a few more events this season, Canter sits in first place in the tour’s slopestyle standings. If he concludes the season in the top two, he gets an automatic berth to compete in World Cup slopestyle competitions next season.

Dreaming

Two years after Canter suffered that traumatic head injury at Copper, it was Woodward that helped to provide Canter with the experience of a lifetime — riding with Danny Davis.

Davis is the first name Canter says when you ask him about a snowboarder he idolized as a child. So when the youngster had the opportunity to tag along with the snowboarding star in early January, he soaked it all in. As Davis dialed in tricks ahead of his bronze-medal performance at the X Games, Canter played shadow to his 30-year-old hero. When on the chairlift, Davis asked Canter about typical things, like how school was going. When riding, Davis helped Canter to improve his tricks, offering up tips such as how to spot his landings and when to grab his board to maximize rotational force.

But the main thing Canter took from Davis is to have conviction on a snowboard. Harboring that newfound confidence after his health scare, Canter is excited to follow in the snowboard tracks of predecessors like Davis and reach his ultimate goal: to compete at the Olympics.

“He’s so confident in his riding,” Canter said of Davis, “Even if he doesn’t land something right away, he gets back up and tries and tries and tries. His work ethic is just amazing. It was a dream.”

HAZMAT spill at Exit 205 interchange in Silverthorne Friday evening causes long delays

A truck and semitrailer collision near the 7-Eleven at the I-70 interchange in Silverthorne has caused a 60-gallon diesel spill. Summit Fire & EMS reported that HAZMAT teams have been dispatched to the scene and clean up will take at least two to three hours; the area is ecologically sensitive as it is near the Blue River.

Delays are expected on I-70 in both directions from Exit 205 while clean up is underway. One injury has been reported, with the individual sent to St. Anthony Summit Medical Center for treatment.

The following are images sent from Summit Fire & EMS chief Jeff Berino.

Jeff Berino / Special to the Daily

Jeff Berino / Special to the Daily

Jeff Berino / Special to the Daily

Jeff Berino / Special to the Daily

  This story will be updated.

CBS4 to profile Vail locals who saved Denver man on Vail Mountain in segment after Super Bowl

VAIL — On-snow reporter John LaConte often has his GoPro with him on Vail Mountain to record the Vail Daily’s On the Hill conditions report throughout the winter.

When he was enjoying a powder day with locals Taylor Seaton and Pat Baskins at the end of November, though, he stumbled upon a medical emergency in Earl’s Bowl at Vail.

Todd Ermentraut is thankful for the trio finding him after suffering a complete fracture of his femur and getting stuck under a dead tree in the deep powder on Nov. 29.

“I’m lucky to be alive,” he said.

Footage from LaConte’s camera will be used in a story by KCNC channel 4, the CBS News affiliate in Denver, documenting Ermentraut’s story. The segment is set to air after the Super Bowl on Sunday at 9 p.m.

“Pat and Taylor tended to Todd while I marked off the area so ski patrol could find us,” LaConte said. “When I could tell that Todd was most likely going to be OK, I did start recording that day. I couldn’t help it.”

X Games interview

While a reporter, LaConte said he decided against writing about Ermentraut during his normal course of reporting for the Vail Daily.

“I tried but it felt more like a diary entry,” he said. “It was during Birds of Prey and I was really busy at the time so I moved on to a different story and pretty much forgot about it.”

KCNC reporter Matt Kroschel caught wind of the story from a colleague who had seen a Facebook post and contacted LaConte, who was at the X Games at the time, covering Seaton of all people.

“I thought it was pretty funny he contacted me on the same day Taylor was competing,” LaConte said. “That night when I would normally be interviewing him about his performance, we were looking at our calendars setting up a visit with CBS4.”

When they met on Monday, “We didn’t realize Todd would be there, too,” Seaton said. “He had a bunch of delicious baked goods and some heavy beers waiting for us.”

LaConte has shared his clips with Kroschel, who will use the material to tell Ermentarut’s story in the post-Super Bowl broadcast.

“Thirty minutes before these guys got there, I was having the best runs of my life,” Ermentraut said. “I’m glad (LaConte) was filming so everyone can see how quickly it can turn from your best day to your worst nightmare. The Vail Ski Patrol are absolute heroes.”

Ermentraut has agreed to be a guest on LaConte’s On the Hill video snow report for vaildaily.com when he returns to skiing.

“I’ll be back before the end of this season,” he said. “You better believe it.”

Assistant editor Ross Leonhart can be reached at 970-748-2984 and rleonhart@vaildaily.com. Follow him on Instagram at colorado_livin_on_the_hill.

Summit County officials say heavy weekend traffic hindering first responders

As residents and tourists from across the state sat frustrated among a sea of crawling bumpers on Summit County’s roadways last weekend, emergency workers struggled to navigate their way through the chaos.

Like most motorists who chose to brave Interstate 70, Highway 9 or the backstreets of Breckenridge on Saturday, fire engines and ambulances found themselves stacked against rows of backed-up traffic, and officials are concerned the problem is becoming a major public safety issue.

“Without a doubt it was the most challenging traffic day that I’ve ever seen,” said Jim Keating, chief at the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District. “People who have been in the organization longer than me said it was the first time they’d ever experienced anything of that magnitude. Last year during the snow sculptures we had a situation and traffic was fairly heavy, but it was maneuverable. We were able to get through it and deal with it. But between about 3:30 and 7 p.m. last Saturday, it was impossible to move hardly anywhere.”

There’s a number of explanations for why traffic may have hit the saturation point, most notably what Summit Fire & EMS Chief Jeff Berino called a “perfect storm” of weekend attractions in the area, including snow sculptures in Breckenridge, Ice Castles in Dillon, the X Games in Aspen, the Spontaneous Combustion Bonfire in Frisco and premier snow conditions at the resorts.

“I think we live in a wonderful destination, but the infrastructure wasn’t designed for volumes like this,” said Berino. “Nobody ever envisioned what we’d grow into. I think that’s something our community needs to start monitoring, and see if there are any viable solutions. But the problem is not going to get better. … there’s special events going on almost every weekend. And we’ve noticed that increased traffic is inhibiting our ability to respond promptly to certain calls at certain times.”

The biggest trouble area may be Breckenridge, where Keating noted things nearly got out of control for Red, White & Blue on Saturday. The department operates two advanced life support medical units from its downtown Breckenridge station, one from its station in the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 and a reserve unit at the station in Blue River. By about 5 p.m., with all of their regular units already deployed — and fighting their way back from St. Anthony Summit Medical Center through gridlock on Highway 9 — the reserve unit was called into service, and was immediately sent to a medical emergency at Carter Park, along with an engine from the Tiger Road Fire Station.

The engine became lodged in traffic, and aborted the call, forcing the shift battalion chief from the downtown station to respond to the park to wait for the Blue River medical unit. Not only was traffic severely affecting response times (Keating noted that responses took up to two-thirds longer than the department’s normal six to eight minute response time), but for about 30 or 45 minutes after 5 p.m., the department was left with no resources left to respond in case of a major fire, accident or hazardous materials incident.

“Everywhere we were turning was a closed door,” said Keating. “We were able to serve every emergency call received, but it was uncomfortable for us knowing that there was a 30-45 minute period that if anything big happened, we were in trouble.”

Adding to the issue is that normally during major events that stress one department’s resources, automatic mutual aid kicks in and help from other departments will arrive. But when immovable traffic is the major factor, that option can fold quickly.

“We couldn’t have gotten to Breckenridge in a timely manner if we wanted to,” said Berino. “If there’s nowhere for the cars to move it’s not really the drivers’ faults. It’s bumper to bumper. We can turn on all the sirens we want, but the cars don’t have the ability to move out of the way.”

Other officials, including those in law enforcement around the county, reciprocated the worries of the fire districts. Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said that his phone was ringing off the hook from concerned citizens around the county wondering about safety and highway traffic spilling into side streets and subdivisions.

“There was nowhere to go,” said FitzSimons. “If there was an emergency, there was realistically nowhere to go. … I think the community should be very concerned. I’m very concerned whenever we can’t get to a 911 call in a timely manner.”

But potential solutions to the issue, especially as the full-time population continues to grow and the county’s shoulder seasons continue to shrink, are few and far between. There are some longer-term fixes such as the potential of adding additional shoulders along roadways in trouble areas so emergency teams could get through, working toward a high-speed transit system to keep drivers off I-70 or expanding the number of emergency responders in areas around the county. But for now, emergency officials are left to their own devices.

Keating noted that Red, White & Blue is currently reassessing where it places its resources during high volume traffic periods, so that units could be deployed faster from areas they don’t expect to be gridlocked, and areas with multiple routing options so drivers can try to avoid the busiest areas. Berino called for the formation of a taskforce with representatives from fire, emergency medical, law enforcement, the Colorado Department of Transportation and county officials to help find potential solutions for the problem.

But regardless of what those solutions may be, there’s one thing that officials agree on: the problem isn’t going away on its own.

“We know it will happen again,” said Keating. “We’ll do whatever we can in our power to prepare for that. … Police, fire, the sheriff’s office and EMS will all have to work together to deal with this, and ultimately find a solution.”