Last week’s 10 most-read stories on AspenTimes.com

Which article got the most views and what else rounded out the top 10?Here’s a preview: A hockey melee brings out the whole family | In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s ski season | Aspen Skico’s new pricing structure is already saving local businesses thousands of dollars | AND MUCH MOREFrom the joyous to the tragic, the AspenTimes.com Top 10 is a weekly recap of our best local stories. Check out the complete list and e-mail your favorite to rmoulton@cmnm.org.

10.Loveland to open Wednesday, A-Basin on FridayIn the ongoing rivalry to see which Colorado ski area opens first, this year it was Loveland, which announced it will open Wednesday.9.Aspen runway extension pitched as economic boost extension Pitkin County’s plan to extend the Aspen airport runway won’t attract larger aircraft but it could pump millions of dollars into the economy each year by filling more seats on existing flights, officials said Tuesday. 8.Aspen employers opt for cheaper ski passThe Aspen Skiing Co.’s new pass-price structure is saving local employers thousands of dollars. 7.Colorado teens find rare mastodon fossilsWhat began for two 13-year-old friends as a day of throwing rocks near a creek turned into a rewarding expedition that unearthed a glimpse of one of Colorado’s oldest dwellers – a mastodon that could be as old as 150,000 years.6.Valley horse lovers rally to save animals from slaughterRoaring Fork Valley horse lovers have saved 24 mares and foals from almost certain slaughter this fall, and they are trying to rally residents to help protect hundreds more.5.Meet Scott Fitzwilliams, new boss of the White RiverThe new top official in the White River National Forest says he won’t get bogged down in the same old clashes that have hijacked the attention of public land managers for decades.4.Forest Service not sold on Hidden Gems proposalThe U.S. Forest Service doesn’t believe all the lands targeted for Wilderness in the Hidden Gems campaign actually qualify for the special protection, according to the top local official in the agency.3.Low fares lure local residents back to Aspen airportStrong competition between airlines has lowered fares at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport and lured more Roaring Fork Valley residents to use the facility. 2.Fists, father fly at Aspen Recreation CenterAn on-ice fight between two players in a men’s hockey tournament Sunday in Aspen led to one player’s brother and father jumping in, the latter leaping from the Lewis Ice Arena balcony. 1.Aspen’s Ruth’s Chris goes out of businessRuth’s Chris Steak House served its last meal in Aspen on Saturday, nearly two weeks after it lost a court battle with its landlord.