Ski Resorts

There’s a growing shortage of workers in the ski industry – including the people who keep ski lifts across the country operating safely. Colorado Mountain College hopes to fix that by training future lift mechanics at its Leadville campus, with a program designed around a newly donated ski lift.

Dark sky communities help people observe the vast wonders of space right above their heads by reducing the amount of light pollution that reaches the sky. Breckenridge recently became the first ski resort town in Colorado to attain 'dark sky' status. So: are mountain communities like Breckenridge bracing for a wave of astro-tourism?

Town leaders say the purchase will boost local economic development and will allow it to better support mountain ski employees.

The 103-page plan, which has been submitted to the US Forest Service for review, also proposes expanded parking at the ski area.

The worst part of a trip to the mountains is often sitting on I-70, waiting for traffic to start moving again. But a retired train conductor – who conducted the Winter Park Ski train – has a plan that, he says, would clear up congestion. It involves getting semi-trucks off the highway and onto railroad cars to make the trip across the Rockies.

The transition means several ski lifts, trails and resort restaurants shuttering for the season. But other recreation opportunities are not far off. Listen to our "Morning Edition" host Michael Lyle, Jr. discuss this story with Steamboat Pilot reporter Tom Skulski and then read the Steamboat Pilot and Today story at the link below.

Russ Scholl's "periodic table of snow" contains more than 100 different slang names for snow.

If you want to hitch a ride to the top of the ski mountain in a trailer pulled by a snowcat... there’s a place where you can do that. Cuchara Mountain Ski Park in Southern Colorado is a nonprofit resort that has no operational ski lift, but still manages to pull skiers up the mountain on weekends. Today on In The NoCo, hear why the mountain’s managers are feeling good about its future.

Vail Resorts, which endured an unprecedented wave of bad PR, says the contract that ended a 12-day patroller strike is consistent with pay for all patrollers. Listen to "Morning Edition" host Michael Lyle, Jr. discuss this story with The Colorado Sun reporter David Krause and then read The Colorado Sun story at the link below.

Ski patrollers at the biggest U.S. ski resort have reached a deal to end a strike that put a wrench in operations during the busy holiday season. A joint statement released from the ski patrollers' union and Utah's Park City Mountain Resort said a vote was scheduled Wednesday on an agreement "that addresses both parties' interests and will end the current strike."