The Rocky Mountain Life

Break In The Snow but More On The Way

February has provided a fantastic encore to January powder. With a break between storms, skiers and riders eagerly hit the slopes around Summit County to take advantage of that long awaited blue bird powder day. This year is quickly catching up to the epic 2010-2011 season in total snowfall and local resorts could be approaching the 300 inch mark by the end of the weekend and with the snowiest months ahead there's reason to be excited.-Photo Credit: Loveland Ski Area

The snow has continued to pile up since the dawn of 2014 and taking one quick glance at the picture to the right will surely cause more than a few people to start the typical "When is the East Wall gonna open at the Basin?" discussion. While nothing has been announced yet one can only imagine that at the very least the Lower East Wall is not too far off. Patrol has been conducting avalanche mitigation and prepping for the next storm cycle. With another storm or two and a little bit of luck the terrain below the traverse could open before the end of the month. 

Summit and Eagle Counties are arguably home to the best snow in the country at the moment and the conditions from Loveland to Beaver Creek have been nothing short of spectacular. Storm skiing powder days have been stacking up almost every weekend with a brief respite for a sunny powder day in the middle of storm cycles. It looks like another storm on the horizon. -Photo Credit: Arapahoe Basin

Copper Mountain skied exceptionally well this week after the most recent snow and conditions should only improve again with the next chance of snow coming later Saturday into Sunday. Special thanks to Copper Mountain for sponsoring the Pabst Colorado Pond Hockey Championships in Silverthorne this weekend. -Photo Credit: Copper Mountain 

What's Happening in Summit County

Daylight Saving Time Returns

Remember to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night, March 8th, as we have the return of Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 9th! We'll lose an hour of sleep, but the days will be getting longer...

Breckenridge Spring Fever

The annual Breck Spring Fever festival is from March 22-April 20. Once again, Breck hosts the biggest spring party in the Rocky Mountain region, with great skiing and riding, competitions, dining specials, kids events, beer festivals and more, taking place both on the mountain and throughout town!

Here's the free concert lineup for Spring Fever in Breckenridge:
April 12 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
April 13 - Gin Blossoms
April 19 - Yonder Mountain String Band
April 20 - Blues Traveler 

If that's not enough, how about more skiing & riding? Breckenridge announced a new closing day; Sunday, April 27th! During the past two years Breck has extended their regular season with extra weekends tacked on, and with this year’s significant snowfall, resort officials made the decision to include the extra weekdays as well. Breck will open three of the resort’s signature peaks during the extended week, Peaks 6, 7 and 8, with Rip’s Ride, 5 Chair, Colorado SuperChair, T-bar, Imperial SuperChair, Independence SuperChair, Zendo Chair, and Kensho SuperChair all slated for operation. In past years’ extended seasons, only terrain on Peak 8 was open. This year’s package will give guests another chance to be able ski or ride Breck’s newly-added terrain, Peak 6, during the final days of its inaugural season.

Sunsation at Copper Mountain

Two weekends of fun in the sun and on the snow! April 12-13 & 19-20, Sunsation has live music, Red Bull Slope Soakers and the world-famous Eenie Weenie Bikini Contest, back by popular demand. Closing weekend brings Colorado's largest Easter Egg hunt to the slopes and village. 

Friends of CAIC Launches Fundraising Campaign

The Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center have launched a $150,000 fundraising campaign in an effort to expand avalanche forecasting and education throughout the State of Colorado.

The fundraising campaign will run until April 30, 2014 and Friends of CAIC will be offering prizes, challenges, and incentives, to anyone who donates $25 or more. Donations can be made and progress can be tracked here. 

The State of Colorado is very supportive of the CAIC, but to provide the best Vail/Summit County backcountry forecasts and education possible we need and are asking the users to get involved and support the avalanche center.

This public-private partnership is the best way The Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center can expand the CAIC's backcountry forecast program and avalanche education throughout the State of Colorado. 

The Krystal 93 SnowShow

Tom Fricke and Leon Littlebird hit the snow on the Krystal 93 SnowShow, our 11th year of bringing you lifestyle fun from various ski areas and resorts around Colorado Ski Country USA. Tune in Saturday and Sunday mornings between 8am and 9am for the Krystal 93 SnowShow, presented in part by Bighorn Toyota in Glenwood Springs , AirAide and Peak One Express. This season, Tom and Leon are sporting FlyLow Gear, Kastle Skis and Apex Ski Boots. Hear any or all of this season's SnowShows in the archive on the SnowShow page!

Apres Ski with Krystal 93!

Join Krystal 93 at Pug Ryan's Steakhouse & Brewery for the next apres party on Wednesday, March 19th from 5-7pm, the final party of the season is Wednesday, April 16th and Tom Fricke is your party host with prizes! Join Krystal 93 at Pug's for apres ski parties, the only place to sign-up for custom skis from ScottyBob Ski Works in Silverton, given away at our final apres party on April 16th.

Summer Red Rocks Concerts!

John Butler Trio - June 6th
Big Head Todd & The Monsters - June 7th
Blues Traveler - July 4th
Umphrey's McGee - July 5th
Amos Lee - August 1st
Railroad Earth - August 2nd
Jack Johnson - August 18th
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - September 20th

Follow Krystal 93 on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all that's going on in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne and the ski areas of Loveland, Arapahoe Basin, Copper, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay in the know even when you're not listening. You'll hear about all the mountain life! 

Today's Top Local News Stories

Breckenridge Extends Season 

Breckenridge Ski Resort officials announced today (3/07) they will extend the resort’s ski season by one additional week, from Monday, April 21 through Sunday, April 27, due to a deep snow pack and terrific conditions that can be expected at Breck’s elevation in the spring. In January, Breck was the snowiest resort in the U.S. and has received more than 28 feet of snow so far this season.

During the past two years Breck has extended their regular season with extra weekends tacked on, and with this year’s significant snowfall, resort officials made the decision to include the extra weekdays as well.

Silverthorne Cancels Municipal Election

The number of candidates running for Mayor and Town Council was equal to the number of open seats, and therefore the election has been cancelled.  Candidates for the three open Town Council seats include current Town Council member Derrick Fowler, Planning Commissioner Peggy Long, and business owner Jonathan Bird.  Current Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Butler was the only candidate to submit a petition for the position of Mayor.  Each will be sworn into office on April 9th to serve four-year terms.

SMS student brings a gun to school

On Friday it was reported to Summit Middle School officials that a student was in possession of a firearm at the school.  The weapon was found in that student's locker.    The student was immediately removed from class and Local law enforcement removed the student and the weapon from campus.  It appears that the weapon was to be used for target practice after school, but regardless of intent, it is a violation of state law and the policies of the Summit School District.  At no time was any threat made.  School officials will be discussing the return to school of the student this week.

More local news on the LOCAL NEWS Page