Top five most-read stories last week

Stories in this list received the most page views on aspentimes.com from Oct. 6-Oct. 13

1. CDOT ends access to about 136 cameras, including along 1-70 corridor and mountain passes, after contract expires 

The Colorado Department of Transportation has ended access to about 136 cameras from roadways across the state.

Residents in the high country often used these cameras, many of which were located on mountain passes and rural roads, to check driving conditions. This was especially helpful in the winter when snowy conditions and ski traffic impacted local commutes.

“These cameras were a really big deal for us, especially in the winter,” said Jeff Delazaro, who noticed earlier this summer that several cameras had been taken down on Berthoud Pass, which he drives regularly on his way to his place in Tabernash.

-Ryan Spencer

2. Old Snowmass house burns in fire, ‘considered a total loss’ 

A home in Old Snowmass burned on Wednesday night, resulting in a “total loss.”

Officials confirmed that the home was located at 568 Light Hill Road and all its contents were destroyed. No injuries were reported. 

Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority responded to the reported structure fire at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to a press release. Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority Chief Scott Thompson said the local wildfire camera system, Pano AI, notified them of the fire within a minute of getting the initial report, prompting them to call for additional resources around the valley.  

“You could see it — it was huge on the camera,” Thompson said. 

-Skyler Stark-Ragsdale 

3. Aspen airport sees more delays, cancellations in wake of new wind-reporting policy 

A change from instantaneous wind-speed reporting to average wind-speed reporting aligned with a higher rate of flight delays, diversions, and cancellations this summer at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.

Following a safety investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration control tower at the Aspen airport reportedly offered pilots with average wind speed this summer — taking the mean of wind speed over a time period, including gusts and lulls — which affected delays, diversions, and cancellations, according to airport officials. In the past, the control tower offered instantaneous wind speed, or the speed at a single moment, in addition to average wind speed.

Most aircraft have a “tailwind restriction” of 10 to 15 knots, which dictates the tailwind speed in which a pilot can safely take off or land. This restriction remains consistent regardless of the method of wind speed reporting, according to Bill Tomcich, consultant with Fly Aspen Snowmass and managing partner at Air Planners Inc. 

-Skyler Stark-Ragsdale 

4. Colorado skiers may need to wait longer for snow this winter 

Colorado’s ski season may see a later start this winter as unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures and a budding La Niña are forecast to delay snowfall across much of the Rockies.

The consensus thus far is that climate patterns are trending toward a weak La Niña phase, which signals a shift towards drier-than-average conditions. According to meteorologists at OpenSnow, the latest sea surface temperature anomaly in part of the Eastern Equatorial Pacific is -0.4ºC, just shy of the -0.5ºC threshold needed to reach La Niña.

This only shows a lean toward La Niña because the threshold “must be met for five consecutive 3-month overlapping periods” for it to officially be classified as a La Niña. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest outlook shows a 71% chance of La Niña from October to December, with neutral conditions returning by spring.

-Andrea Teres-Martinez 

5. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport announces closure dates for 2026 pavement maintenance 

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport has announced the future dates for its annual spring closure in order to complete required airfield pavement maintenance — the airport will be closed at 9 a.m., Thursday, April 23, 2026, until Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Spring maintenance has become a requirement on the ASE runway and taxiway in recent years to address the aging pavement and ensure safety for commercial and general aviation users, according to a Pitkin County press release.

“This closure approach has been well-received in recent years, and we are continuing the practice in 2026,” Airport Director Diane Jackson said in a prepared statement. “We’re also pleased to complete the work ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, with a second phase of improvements taking place overnight later in the season to avoid an additional runway closure.”

-Staff report