Stories in this list received the most page views on SummitDaily.com from March 30 – April 5. 

1. Hoosier Pass reopens following treacherous morning of travel in Summit County

Editor’s note: This story was published Tuesday, April 1.

U.S. Highway 6 over Loveland Pass remains closed due to safety concerns, but all other highways are open as a break in the storm helped to clear the road surfaces in Summit County.

— Summit Daily News staff

2. As Copper Mountain seeks 500-acre expansion, residents want solutions to traffic jams that spill onto I-70 during peak visitation

While a trail of red brake lights may be frustrating to those trying to plunge deep into pockets of powder, the traffic jams also ensnare people trying to commute to or from work in Colorado’s mountains. 

Those who frequently use Interstate 70 have grown accustomed to congestion and crashes over the last few years as Colorado’s world-class ski resorts continue to attract millions to the mountains. With frequent backups causing issues on I-70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, Exit 205 near Silverthorne and Exit 195 approaching Copper Mountain/Leadville, public officials have been raising concerns about easing the vehicle-fueled chaos, especially around holidays and during snowstorms. 

As Copper Mountain Resort seeks to expand its ski terrain, improve on-mountain circulation and upgrade facilities, according to a recently released master plan, residents in the region have begun to inquire about plans to ease congestion on the roads near the resort.

— Cody Jones

3. Closing days approach for Colorado’s ski resorts; Keystone Resort will be among the first to close

Even with recent snow, Colorado ski resorts are nearing the end of the 2024-25 season.

While some mountains will stretch the season as far as possible, you can mark your calendars with other official closing days.

April 6

Buttermilk
Keystone Ski Area

April 13

Aspen Highlands
Beaver Creek

April 19

Snowmass

— Summit Daily News staff

4. Team Summit coach fired after arrest on charges related to sexual assault of juvenile team member

Team Summit has fired a coach after his arrest on charges related to a report that a juvenile was sexually assaulted during a ski competition in Taos, New Mexico, according to a statement from the Summit County-based team.

The Taos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies arrested Jared Hedges, 48, of Frisco, at Taos Ski Valley on March 22 on felony charges of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and criminal sexual contact. Following his arrest, Hedges was transported to the Taos County Adult Detention Center.

“We are shocked and horrified by the news that one of our coaches has been accused of sexual assault of a minor on one of our teams,” Team Summit executive director C.B. Bechtel said in a statement. “Team Summit takes these allegations seriously, as the well-being of all of our athletes is important.”

— Ryan Spencer

5. Frisco resident intervenes when man attacks woman after crashing on I-70, according to Summit County Sheriff’s Office

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office says a local resident intervened when a man attacked a woman in the yard outside their home after a crash on Interstate 70.

Around 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, Summit County Sheriff’s deputies along with Colorado State Patrol and the Frisco Police Department responded to a rollover crash on I-70, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. The crash reportedly occurred between exits 201 and 203 on I-70 that lead to Frisco. 

On the way to the crash, deputies received two separate reports of a man and woman fighting in the backyard of a home near the interstate, the release states. Deputies, troopers and officers who split up to respond to both scenes at the same time later determined the crash and the fight were connected, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

— Ryan Spencer