Top 5 most-read stories last week
Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Courtesy photo
Stories in this list received the most page views on aspentimes.com from Jan. 26-Feb 2.
In a Dec. 18 letter, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave Parks and Wildlife 30 days to submit the following: a complete reporting of all gray wolf conservation and management activities that have occurred from Dec. 12, 2023, until the present, as well as a narrative summary and all associated documents describing Parks and Wildlife’s January 2025 release of wolves imported from Canada and any more releases, including its recent release of a wolf from a pack with a confirmed history of repeated depredation.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded on Jan. 16, with the following documents and exhibits, sent in seven emails, according to a public records request obtained by The Aspen Times.
— Ali Longwell
2. Aspen Skiing Company employee dies at Snowmass
Aspen Snowmass confirmed the death of an Aspen Skiing Company employee at Snowmass Ski Resort. The individual, identified as Rohan J. Verplank by the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office, passed away on the mountain on Thursday morning.
According to Aspen Snowmass, Snowmass Ski Patrol attended the scene.
“The skier was an Aspen Skiing Company employee, and our hearts are broken to share this news,” Aspen Snowmass said in the statement. “Our deepest condolences are with the individual’s family and friends, as well as with all of our employees who knew and worked with him.”
— Colin Suszynski
3. Backcountry skier dies en route to 10th Mountain Division hut
A backcountry skier died Friday while touring to Margy’s Hut, northeast of Aspen.
The skier, accompanied by two others, lost motor skills while touring in snowy terrain to the 10th Mountain Division hut, located about six miles northeast of Lenado, according to a Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office press release. The medical event occurred 3 miles northeast of Lenado and was reported from Larkspur Road to the Pitkin County Emergency Dispatch Center at approximately 6:40 p.m. Friday.
“The call was forwarded to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn notified Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), as a backcountry rescue would be necessary,” the release states.
— Staff report
4. National Weather Service issues warning for ice jam between Snowmass Canyon, Carbondale
An ice jam that was released on the Fryingpan and floated to the Roaring Fork River on Wednesday will be cause of concern for those from Snowmass Canyon to Carbondale through Sunday, officials warn.
According to a Pitkin Emergency Alert that went out at 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service has advised all river users between Snowmass Canyon and Carbondale, including Basalt and the Fryingpan, to “be aware.” As of 3:44 p.m. Thursday, the NWS issued a flood advisory for potential ice and water release through 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1.
The NWS website states, “Rapid rise in water levels and potential river flooding caused by an ice jam release is possible” between the Roaring Fork River and Fryingpan River from Snowmass Canyon through Basalt and downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River.
— River Stingray
5. Aspen area sees three backcountry rescues in four days
The Aspen area has seen three mountain rescues in four days.
Two more backcountry rescues ensued Sunday and Monday, following a backcountry fatality and mountain rescue response Friday night, which occurred when a backcountry skier experienced a medical event after nightfall en route to Margy’s Hut northeast of Aspen.
The two most recent rescues were also called in by those en route, or already at, a backcountry ski hut, and resulted from nighttime temperatures as cold as -22 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office press release and Mountain Rescue Aspen.
— Syler Stark-Ragsdale
