The stories on this list had the most views on SummitDaily.com from September 22-28.

1. The 2024-25 ski season could be a “weak” La Nina in Colorado. See what the snow level has been like in the last 6 cases.

If one thing is almost certain for the 2024-25 ski season, it’s that the atmospheric patterns that can determine snow conditions will be different than last year.

Before winter, the continental United States is expected to transition into a La Nina phase, characterized by steeper, colder weather in the north and drier, warmer weather in the south. La Nina occurs when the surface temperature of the equatorial Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America drops below average, pushing the jet stream north.

In the 2023–24 season, the opposite trend occurred, i.e. El Nino, which may have the opposite effect.

In a blog post on OpenSnow.com earlier this month, meteorologist Sam Collentine said forecasts showed a “weak” La Nina forming, meaning the accompanying snowfall could be on the lower end of what La Nina typically brings.

Collentine cautioned against taking any long-range predictions as gospel, adding: “We know that skiing quality improves and deteriorates with storm cycles that last anywhere from a few days to a week.” Still, by analyzing data from previous poor La Nina seasons, Collentine offers insight into what this year may hold.

—Robert Tann

2. ‘What’s happening is a disaster’: Farmers and lawmakers question Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s latest decisions on wolves

Colorado ranchers and lawmakers have been questioning how Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have been making decisions about wolves since the animals were reintroduced to the state in December.

But concerns have peaked in recent months as wildlife officials have moved beyond recommendations in the Wolf Recovery and Management Plan and raised questions about whether Gov. Jared Polis makes the decisions about wolves.

Sen. Dylan Roberts – representing the 8th Senate District, which has been the epicenter of Colorado’s reintroduction efforts – asked Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis how decisions were made during a Senate Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee hearing held September 18.

“Can the public trust that it is run solely by experts, biologists, scientists and all of you, as designated department heads, can the public trust that all of you have the final decision-making authority on this matter? ?” Roberts said. “Or maybe there are other people here?”

Davis said the agency is trying to balance concerns, ideas and advice “from everyone” and adapt them to its technical expertise and decision-making plans, but acknowledged that wildlife officials are trying not only to manage wolves but also the complex ” social change” and conflict” play a role in restoration efforts.

—Ali Longwell

3. The Winter Dew Tour is not returning to Copper Mountain in 2025

After hosting professional ski and snowboard competitions every winter season for the better part of a decade, the Winter Dew Tour will not return to Summit County for the 2024-25 season.

The event was omitted from Copper Mountain Resort’s extensive list of 2024-2025 winter season events, and event organizers Dew Tour later confirmed it would not be returning to Copper or another Summit County ski area.

“There will be no Dew Tour event in 2025,” Dew Tour event organizers said in a statement provided to Summit Daily News. “For two extraordinary decades, the Dew Tour has helped showcase the incredible talents of world-class athletes in skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, BMX and motocross, and the Mountain Dew brand is incredibly proud of its support of the action sports community.”

– Cody Jones

4. There were 3 serious accidents during the week on Colorado Highway 9 in Blue River, where a speed limit change is planned

Editor’s note: The Colorado Department of Transportation has changed speed limit signs in Blue River According to Blue River City Manager Michelle Eddy, speeds ranged from 50 to 45 mph on Wednesday morning, September 25.

There were three serious crashes in Blue River this week on a stretch of Colorado Highway 9 where the state Department of Transportation promised to lower speed limits.

Blue River Police Chief David Close said Tuesday, Sept. 24, that the section of Highway 9 through Blue River could be “very dangerous,” especially due to the numerous private driveways that intersect with it.

Between September 14 and 24, three accidents occurred on this stretch of highway, resulting in injuries, Close said. He noted that the Colorado Department of Transportation has said it will reduce the speed limit in the area from about 80 mph to 86 mph, from 50 mph to 45 mph.

—Ryan Spencer

5. Breckenridge officials are looking for solutions amid an increase in complaints about a lack of dog control on trails

Breckenridge officials are looking for ways to increase education about how owners should control their dogs on trails after a season that has brought numerous complaints.

Breckenridge Open Space and Trails staff, the Breckenridge Police Department and Summit County Animal Control have reported an increase in public complaints this summer related to lack of dog control. As of Aug. 31, Summit County Animal Control reported a 22% year-over-year increase in animal service calls in unincorporated areas of Summit County.

Victims of dog attacks speak out about their experiences and the lack of responsibility from dog owners. Alicia Vargo spoke to the Breckenridge Open Space Advisory Commission at their Sept. 16 meeting about how charges she brought against the dog’s owner were recently dropped.

– Kit Geary