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Colorado - Tue. 12/30/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
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Alpine Bank will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, for New Year's Day. We invite you to use Alpine Online or the Alpine Mobile app for 24/7 banking access, even when we are closed. Learn more at the link below.
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U.S. PENDING HOME SALES SURGE TO HIGHEST IN NEARLY THREE YEARS IN NOVEMBER
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Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly shot to the highest in nearly three years in November, as improving affordability conditions drew in buyers, the National Association of Realtors said Monday. Pending home sales rose 3.3 percent last month after an upwardly revised 2.4 percent gain in October. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast contracts, which become sales after a month or two, rising 1.0 percent. Pending home sales rose 2.6 percent from a year earlier. The index tracking sales rose to its highest level since February 2023. Contracts rose in the Northeast, Midwest, the South and the West.
Mortgage rates have edged lower since the Federal Reserve resumed interest rate cuts in September, though it is unclear if rates will fall much further in the months ahead with the central bank signaling a likely pause in the reductions. Data from mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac showed the latest 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.18 percent, near the lowest since the fall of 2024.
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DENARGO MARKET TO OPEN BEER GARDEN IN 2026
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Hopscotch Beer Garden is set to open next year at Denargo Market in Denver’s River North Art District. Developed by Golub and FORMATIV and operated by DrinkDenver, it will serve draft beer, wine, kombucha and canned cocktails, plus light bites and rotating food trucks. The venue at 3380 Denargo St., designed with Sasaki, will offer more than 17,000 square feet of bar and patio space with casual outdoor seating, seasonal programming and weekly events. Features include a heated tent for colder months, flexible event space and a turf lawn for games and pick‑up sports such as volleyball, soccer and badminton. On‑leash dogs will be welcome. Hours are 2–10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays. As part of the broader development, land at 2700 Wewatta Way was donated for a 56‑unit affordable housing project for young adults ages 18 to 24 transitioning from foster care or experiencing homelessness.
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MAKING A LITTLE SNOW GO A LONG WAY
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Despite far‑below‑normal snowfall across Colorado, Monarch Mountain is operating with far more open terrain than most resorts thanks to strategies that stretch limited snow. The ski area, located by Monarch Pass between Salida and Gunnison, has no snowmaking and has received only 47 inches this season, with a settled base of 15 inches. Even so, 54 of 80 trails are open — 67 percent — while many Colorado areas have less than a third of terrain available. Only Wolf Creek, also on a Continental Divide pass, has a higher percentage at 100 percent. Monarch benefits from elevation, with ridge tops reaching 11,800 to 11,900 feet, and from northeast‑facing slopes that avoid afternoon sun. Crews also prepare trails in summer by removing rocks, clearing trees and grinding vegetation so thin snow remains skiable. An extensive system of snow fences helps capture and redirect snowfall, and staff move snow to areas where coverage is most needed.
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LOW SNOW & WARM TEMPERATURES FORCE WORLD CUP SLOPESTYLE MOVE TO SNOWMASS
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Aspen Skiing Co. has shifted next week’s World Cup slopestyle event from Buttermilk to Snowmass after warm temperatures and minimal December snowfall left both the slopestyle and halfpipe venues at risk. SkiCo’s John Rigney said concentrating snowmaking at separate mountains prevents losing one or both courses, noting Buttermilk saw only six inches of snow last week after days in the 50s. Builders now have just over a week to complete the Snowmass course, which sits at a slightly different elevation and offers better snowmaking dynamics. The move comes as athletes prepare for their final Olympic qualifying events, adding pressure to finish construction while managing limited staff and logistics. Halfpipe viability remains strong, and SkiCo plans to return slopestyle to Buttermilk for X Games on Jan. 23.
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SNOWMASS CANCELS FIREWORKS AS LOW SNOWPACK MAKES LAUNCH SITE UNSAFE
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Snowmass has canceled its New Year’s Eve fireworks because current mountain conditions leave the launch site too unstable to repair without disrupting ski operations. Senior Events Producer Shane Vetter said heat from fireworks can melt snow that later refreezes, requiring snowcat work the mountain cannot support, and debris cleanup would further damage the skiable run. The Roaring Fork Valley remains below median snowpack, with United States Dept. of Agriculture data showing roughly half its median Snow Water Equivalent despite a recent nine‑inch storm. The Torchlight Parade, featuring 250 skiers and snowboarders descending Fanny Hill with LED torches, will proceed at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, and other town celebrations remain scheduled.
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EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS OFFERED FOR 2026 ASPEN IDEAS EVENTS
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Early registration for Aspen Ideas: Health and the Aspen Ideas Festival offers $500 to $700 in savings on 2026 passes, with discounted rates available through December 31. Aspen Ideas: Health runs June 22–25 at $2,500, while Festival 1 and Festival 2 run June 25–28 and June 28–July 1 at $4,500 each. “Both festivals are using the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence as a lens for this year’s programming,” Alex de L’Arbre, senior advisor for Aspen Ideas: Health and The Aspen Institute, told The Aspen Times. More information can be found at aspenideas.org.
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WARM TEMPERATURES LEAVE COLORADO MOUNTAINS WITH LOW SNOWPACK & RAINFALL AT HIGH ELEVATIONS
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Persistent above‑normal temperatures have kept Colorado’s mountains unusually brown, with Grand Mesa at roughly half its normal snowpack and lower areas like Mesa Lakes near forty percent. Meteorologist Matthew Aleksa said recent moisture has fallen mostly as rain because atmospheric river systems have not combined with cold northern air. Powderhorn reports a seven‑inch snowpack and limited terrain, though three inches fell over the weekend and snowmaking has resumed. Even recent storms began as rain in high‑elevation towns including Leadville and Aspen. Aleksa said a northerly jet stream has blocked cold air despite a La Niña pattern that typically favors snowfall. Highs around Christmas were more than twenty degrees above normal, and the three‑month outlook calls for continued mild weather with only average precipitation.
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CPW SURVEY LINKS FISH FEEDING TO MORTALITY ON LOWER BLUE RIVER
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A Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey of the Lower Blue River concludes that supplemental feeding of large rainbow trout on Blue Valley Ranch is likely contributing to higher natural fish mortality, outweighing angler impacts. The multiyear study, the first CPW analysis of this reach, found seasonal shifts in biomass, heavy gill lice infections on fed rainbow trout, and brown trout dominating fall samples. Anglers have criticized a proposed permit system limiting float fishing, arguing ranch practices affect fish health. Ranch biologist Brien Rose disputed CPW’s conclusions, saying feeding is limited, conditions are driven by habitat, flows, and angling pressure, and that spring biomass fell below Gold Medal standards. CPW plans continued monitoring as public access expands through a recent land exchange.
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WARM WEATHER DELAYS ICE FORMATION AT ROUTT COUNTY LAKES & RESERVOIRS
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Unseasonably warm winter temperatures have kept Stagecoach Reservoir and Steamboat and Pearl Lakes largely ice free, leaving winter fishing conditions uncertain. Stagecoach remains open water, and the park’s Ice Fishing Tournament, already moved from Jan. 3 to Jan. 17, may face further changes depending on ice development. Several Pinnacle Campground sites stay open, while the Tailwaters section of the Yampa River below the dam is closed through spring. CPW reports patchy ice at Steamboat and Pearl Lakes, with thickness near the Steamboat Lake marina ranging from 3 to 7 inches. Officials say colder nights could strengthen ice if subzero temperatures persist. Limited snowfall has also delayed grooming on North Routt trails, though volunteers have helped clear downed trees.
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CDOT PLANS TO START EXIT 203, COLO HWY. 9 IN FRISCO PROJECT IN APRIL 2026
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Frisco drivers will see major changes around Exit 203, Dillon Dam Road and access routes to Whole Foods as the Colorado Dept. of Transportation moves forward with its long‑planned Exit 203 project. Town Council was told on Dec. 9 that construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026, with two phases running from roughly April 15 to Oct. 31 in both 2026 and 2027. The project aims to address backups on the Interstate 70 queue lane and expected traffic growth over the next 20 years. CDOT resident engineer Grant Anderson said the agency hopes to advertise for contractor bids in mid‑January.
The single lane leading to the offramp will stay, but the offramp itself will widen to two lanes. The I‑70 overpass will be expanded with a 10‑foot multi‑use trail, and a signal will be added to the eastbound ramp. New roundabouts are planned at Dillon Dam Road and North Ten Mile Drive, and at Lusher Court and Meadow Drive behind Safeway. An underpass will be built on Colorado Hwy. 9, and a new “Frontage Road” behind the AC Hotel will connect to the roundabout and pass under Hwy. 9.
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COLORADO UTILITY COSTS ARE THE BEST IN THE NATION BY THIS MEASURE
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Utility bills are often a hidden cost for first‑time homebuyers, especially when larger homes lead to higher‑than‑expected charges for electricity, natural gas and other services. A new Move.org study, however, shows Colorado residents fare relatively well. The report found monthly expenses in the state were at or below national averages in six measured categories. Nationwide, utilities now average about $611 per month, up from $583 in 2024, with increases in electricity, natural gas, water, sewer and streaming services, while trash, internet and phone costs remain steady. Move.org’s analysis shows Coloradans spend about $568 per month across eight utility categories, the 15th lowest total among states. More notably, that amount equals roughly 6.4 percent of the state’s median monthly household income of $8,875 — the lowest share of income devoted to utilities in the country.
Here is how those expenses break down:
- Electricity: $101
- Natural gas: $79.41
- Water: $45
- Sewer: $76
- Trash: $62.50
- Streaming: $69
- Internet: $69.27
- Phone: $66
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COLORADO STATE PARKS HOSTING FIRST DAY HIKES TO START NEW YEAR
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For many Coloradans, starting the year off right means starting on a trail. That explains the New Year’s Day tradition called First Day Hikes — a national tradition tracked by America’s State Parks, the organization recognizing the first day of 2026 as particularly special. Jan. 1 marks the start of America’s 250th birthday celebration. Colorado, meanwhile, will celebrate 150 years as a state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists several parks that will host guided hikes in the morning.
- Close to Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park has posted a 3-mile hike ending with hot chocolate.
- A greater reward might await at Barr Lake: The state park near Brighton mentions the chance to spot bald eagles in its event post.
- Meanwhile, Chatfield State Park has posted details for a 3-mile hike starting through the cottonwoods along the South Platte River.
- Closer to Colorado Springs, to the west where Pikes Peak looms large, Mueller State Park has listed several hikes scheduled for the morning and afternoon. Some hikes are geared toward kids and families, while the forest bathing experience is listed for “those who like to go slow.” The reflective session will include tea. And any and all can warm up with chili in the visitor center.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds hikers to wear layers this time of year, when snow and ice might also require shoe spikes. Many of the hikes require online registration, along with a parks pass. Find that registration information and more details at CPW’s First Day Hikes webpage: cpw.state.co.us/event/2026/01/first-day-hikes
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MARKET UPDATE - 12/29/2025 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 12/24/2025)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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