Editor’s note: Stories in this list received the most page views on SummitDaily.com for the past week.<\/p>\n
1. Kratom: It’s legal, unregulated and has contributed to 2 Grand County deaths<\/a><\/p>\n A story from the Sky-Hi News in Grand County explores what kratom is, and how it has been affecting the community. Kratom, a substance derived from a tropical evergreen tree that is native to Southeast Asia, becomes a sedative with effects that are analogous to opioids when taken at higher doses. While it may initially appear innocuous, like any other natural supplement, many public health officials, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are beginning to sound the alarm on the still unregulated substance. Kratom has been linked to two specific deaths in Grand County in the last four months alone, according to the county coroner. Much of the ongoing debate about the regulation or banning of kratom revolves around the drug’s unique properties and the way in which it mimics the effects of opioids. Advocates, however, claim the picture is more complicated than government officials acknowledge and that a ban on kratom could make addiction issues worse, not better.<\/p>\n 2. What ruined Sunday’s commute in Summit County? Events, snowfall and Google Maps to blame<\/a><\/p>\n While weekend traffic in Summit County and on I-70 is notoriously bad, Sunday, Jan. 27 was even worse. Whether it was the fresh snow, the Snow Sculpture Championships, Dillon Ice Castles or Aspen’s X Games \u2014 or a combination of them all \u2014 Sunday’s traffic was described by one woman on social media as as “insane,” while another likened it to having Christmas, New Year’s and the Presidents Day weekend all rolled into one. Based on figures provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the weekend was particularly bad for travel with 54,730 vehicles passing through the Eisenhower Tunnel on Sunday alone, only 3,000 shy of the single-day record.<\/p>\n “I have lived here over 15 years and I have never seen anything like this,” a third woman wrote only to have her comments echoed by a fourth who said she’s been here even longer and “each year is stupider than the last.”<\/p>\n 3. Is resort skiing getting more dangerous? A new group thinks it’s time to do something about it<\/a><\/p>\n Dozens of concerned residents gathered at the Summit County Community and Senior Center last week for a widespread discussion about safety on the ski slopes. The discussion was led by the Alliance for Skier and Snowboarder Responsibility, a recently founded group dedicated to better helping skiers and snowboarders understand and adhere to their responsibilities in regards to safety while on the mountain. The group collectively identified issues with skier education, substance abuse, enforcement of rules on the slope and respect for fellow skiers and boarders as the core issues surrounding skier safety \u2014 diving more specifically into ancillary problems such as speeding, lack of awareness and control, and distractions like selfies and headphones on the mountain.<\/p>\n 4. Breckenridge Ski Resort working with town, Forest Service to lengthen ski season<\/a><\/p>\n Breckenridge Ski Resort recently announced plans to extend its ski seasons and run lifts into late May, starting this year and continuing into the future. While the decision has been celebrated by some winter enthusiasts, there are still conversations in the works on how the details of this decision will be worked out. For one, the ski resort is working with the town on potential implications to the town’s public transportation system. The resort’s plan to go into late May doesn’t necessarily mean the town is going to run its winter operations that late into the year. Another consideration in Breckenridge Ski Resort’s efforts to extend its ski season is that the decision is ultimately subject to U.S. Forest Service approval \u2014 although district ranger Bill Jackson said he doesn’t expect that to be too heavy of a lift.<\/p>\n “It isn’t like analyzing a brand new chairlift,” he explained as he said that resorts’ efforts to adjust their open and closing dates are fairly typical.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories For You<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n