Top 5 most-read stories last week

Stories in this list received the most page views on aspentimes.com from Oct. 5- Oct. 12:

1. Shiffrin — and Vonn? — highlight the 2026-27 Stifel U.S. Alpine ski team

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has officially announced the 49 athletes named to the Stifel U.S. Alpine ski team for the 2026-27 season. All athletes qualified for the team based on existing alpine criteria. 

Returning to the 2026-27 roster are some of the sport’s biggest names, including Mikaela Shiffrin, the winningest alpine skier of all-time, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, eight-time world champion and reigning World Cup overall champion. Shiffrin announced recently she would focus more on giant slalom and super-G this upcoming season, taking a step back from her traditional strength as a slalom skier.

Olympic downhill champion and two-time world champion Breezy Johnson; two-time Olympic super-G silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle; and Olympic team combined bronze medalists Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan also made the cut.

— Vail Daily staff report

2. Shuttles between Aspen and Eagle airports could start this winter

While Aspen has never been the easiest place to get to, the upcoming Aspen/Pitkin County Airport closure — from April to November 2027— is about to make it even harder. 

That’s where the recently formed Community Continuity Planning Group has stepped in. 

“What could transportation look like for the closure?” County Manager Kara Silbernagel asked at Wednesday’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting. “How do we still encourage people to come here?”

— Genny Gottdiener

3. Aspen One begins work on world’s first battery-backed chairlift

Aspen One announced their plans at Wednesday’s annual Afternoon Blend event to make history with the introduction of the world’s first battery-backed chairlift on Snowmass Mountain.

The first phase of the installation happened on Wednesday.

“There are over 4,000 ski lifts in the world,” said Chris Miller, senior vice president of sustainability at Aspen One. “We are doing something for the first time here at Snowmass.”

— Grace West

4. Should Colorado establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish? Amendment 83 asks voters to decide 

In November, Coloradans will be asked whether the right to hunt and fish should be enshrined in the state constitution, defining those activities as the preferred way to manage the state’s wildlife. 

Amendment 83 was brought forward by a conservative law firm, West Group but has been largely funded and supported by the International Order of T. Roosevelt, a Wisconsin-based hunting advocacy nonprofit that has been working to establish similar constitutional rights in multiple states.   

Advocates argue the measure would help protect hunting and fishing from a growing number of threats from advocacy groups, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and lawmakers. They claim its passage will maintain the status quo in wildlife management in Colorado. 

— Ali Longwell

5. Halloween pumpkins could be a problem for Aspen bears

This spooky season, bears don’t need an invitation to trick or treat.

The city of Aspen is asking the community to leave Halloween decorations that might attract bears inside, particularly pumpkins.

Following increased bear activity this summer due to the major food failure caused by the drought, bears across the nation have now entered hyperphasia, where they ingest quadruple the amount of calories as winter approaches to account for lost fat during hibernation.

— Grace West