Hello and thanks for checking out the second official edition of the Mountain Life!

What a strange time it is to be living in Clear Creek County.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been in Idaho Springs for 15 years now, but what’s even harder to believe is I’m just getting back to the house from a morning walk in a tee-shirt and Chaco’s, with sunshine and temperatures in the mid-50s.

Neighbors around town are taking in the sun on front porches, working early gardens or taking the dogs for a walk. This is the outdoor community I love to be part of… in May.

Locals you pass universally shrug their shoulders and point to the bluebird sky, understanding the mutual, unspoken, question: ‘Isn’t this supposed to be winter?’

However, the warm temperatures and now record-low snowpack in the mountains have repercussions for our mountain communities, which are already becoming a reality, with new implications for the entire county when the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning.

What will be the impact of the mountain snowpack for the multi-million dollar economic driver that is the rafting season in Clear Creek County?

It’s what people are talking about and this edition of Mountain Life hopes to continue the conversation.

No one was injured, but the wooden home was destroyed, according to fire reports. According to the Clear Creek Sheriff, from here forward, a Red Flag warning issued by the National Weather Service for any part of the county will now result in a Stage One Fire Ban for the entire county. What’s odd is county leaders, along with the fire authority, agreed on this change back in January. It was scheduled to take affect, by coincidence, the day after the Silver Plume fire. Check it out:

According to statistics from The Colorado River Outfitters Association, the overall economic impact of the rafting industry for Colorado in 2024 totaled $209,289,069.

In Clear Creek County, rafting is undoubtedly one of the biggest economic drivers, with rafting outfits, seasonal employees, tourists, downtown businesses, and lodging. However, Clear Creek relies on melting mountain snow to supply its historic Class IV rapids.

What happens if the snow doesn’t fall?

Any interest in working with ski patrol or as a backcountry guide? A free course through Mountain Youth Network in Clear Creek County will teach you the basics of avalanche safety and earn you a national certification with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.

“These are really important skills for folks to have if they’re spending time in the back country,” Nico Guzman, with MYN, said. “The certifications would be expected for any person applying to be a ski patroller or any kind of guiding, taking people out in the backcountry in a professional capacity. It will definitely look good on a resume.”

Clear Creek boys basketball finished 10-10 this season, just the second time since 2020 the Golddiggers have reached .500, led by a senior class that head coach David Schuessler has known since they were in fifth grade. With state tournament seeding coming in the final week of February, this group's run may not be over yet.

Thursday:

Curious if bears and rattlesnakes could make an appearance sooner than usual with this warm weather? Me too. I’m digging into the effect warm weather could have on our mountain wildlife.

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