By Shannon Lukens.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating some pictures of wolf tracks in the snow, reported in South Routt County. CPW agents are also collecting DNA samples from the area, including some hair samples on a barbed wire fence. Results are expected in the next few weeks. If confirmed, this would be the first confirmed report of wolves in Routt County.
A breeding pair of wolves was first reported in Jackson County, having naturally migrated down from Wyoming. They had a litter of six. Then on Nov. 25, three separate reports were sent in to Colorado Parks and Wildlife of a pair of wolves, one wolf, and a group of four in Jackson County. CPW asks that if you think you see a wolf, please report it through the CPW website.
Colorado Department of Transportation has provided a bit more information on what happened up at the CDOT maintenance facility on Rabbit Ears Pass Tuesday. One employee was taken by ambulance to the hospital and has been released. Another employee was airlifted and is still hospitalized. The Routt County Sheriff’s Office responded but they are not the ones doing the investigation of what happened. Colorado State Patrol says the same thing. CDOT says crews from other areas have been covering Rabbit Ears Pass during this most recent storm.
Routt County Dispatch is getting emergency calls every day from a feature on phones that automatically calls 911 when it thinks someone has had a severe car crash. But it happens when people are skiing or riding fast. It’s happening 15 to 20 times a day from people on the mountain, and up to 40 times a day on a busy snow day with people who have an Apple IPhone 14 or IPhone 14 Pro or Apple Watch. Routt County is asking that you figure out if your device has an automated emergency feature and if it is activated. Check your phone by going to Settings, and then Emergency SOS, where you can turn off “Call After Severe Crash.”
The new Wild Blue Gondola will officially start carrying skiers and riders up the mountain on Saturday morning, to the Greenhorn Ranch SnowSports Learning Center. The celebration starts at the gondola maze at the base of the resort around 9 a.m. tomorrow. Hot chocolate and treats will be at the upper terminal.
Steamboat Resort is open for skiing and riding over the holiday weekend.
But Howelsen Hill will NOT be open on Christmas Day, so no Ski Free Sundays this weekend. The new tubing hill at Howelsen Hill will also not be open on Sunday.
You are invited to the 35th Annual Christmas Dinner, presented by your local realtors. It’s from 1-5 p.m. Christmas Day, Sunday afternoon, at the Steamboat Springs Community Center. Everyone is invited for great food and good company. Please contact 970-879-4663 with any questions or to donate food.
Santa Claus and his big fire truck sleigh are visiting Steamboat Springs neighborhoods every afternoon through Christmas Eve. Santa and his big red fire truck sleigh will hit the road at 4:30 p.m. Today, he’ll visit the neighborhoods of Steamboat II, Heritage Park, Silver Spur, Sleepy Bear and Riverside.
On Saturday, he’ll visit downtown Steamboat Springs and the neighborhoods of Fairview, Brooklyn, and Yampa Street.
When you are finished with your Christmas Tree, you can recycle it at Emerald Park. It’s free to drop off your tree to be recycled, starting on Friday, for about ten weeks. Trees can be dropped off in the northwest corner of the Emerald Park parking lot. Make sure all ornaments and lights are removed. And no wreaths, please.
Check out upcoming events in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.