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Colorado - Fri. 05/22/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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NOTICE OF HOLIDAY CLOSURE FROM ALPINE BANK
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All Alpine Bank branches will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026. The Alpine Bank family wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday. 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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MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL TO INCLUDE TRAFFIC SURGE IN COLORADO'S MOUNTAINS
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With Memorial Day on the horizon, millions of people across the country — and hundreds of thousands in Colorado — are packing their bags for a weekend getaway. Roughly 437,000 travelers are expected to take off from Denver International Airport between Thursday and Tuesday. That’s a 2 percent decrease from the same holiday weekend in 2025. The busiest travel days will be Thursday, Friday and Monday. More than 80,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport’s security checkpoints on each of those days. Denver remains the ninth most popular destination in the U.S. for Memorial Day, behind Orlando, Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Anchorage and Chicago.
Americans overall are expected to travel at record numbers, with 45 million taking trips of at least 50 miles from home, including more than 39 million by car and nearly 3.7 million by plane. Those estimates are both slightly higher than 2025 and, together, are a 5 percent jump from 2019 levels. Colorado Dept. of Transportation officials said in-state traffic over the holiday weekend could “easily surpass” historical averages, especially in the mountains. Drivers heading to the mountains on I-70 are advised to travel before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on both Friday and Monday. AAA’s national data shows the worst time to drive — because of heavy congestion anticipated on roadways — will fall between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday.
Other heavy traffic periods will include:
- 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 22
- noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 23
- noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 25
- For those traveling through DIA, security wait times can change quickly and often peak between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
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TSA NOW SAYS AIR TRAVELERS CAN BRING MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON FLIGHTS
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A Transportation Security Administration update says air travelers can bring medical marijuana stowed in their carry-on and checked bags, but screening officers who find marijuana still have discretion to notify local police. Despite that, Denver International Airport is sticking to its rule that prohibits all marijuana, with no exception for medical use. The TSA website “updated on April 27” states that medical marijuana is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags. “The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint,” the site says. TSA did not provide details on how much medical marijuana may be allowed per person on a flight.
At DIA, any marijuana is prohibited, according to city policy. “It is illegal to take marijuana across state lines. Denver International Airport prohibits marijuana on its property.” The ban covers the possession, use, display, transfer, transport, distribution, and sale of marijuana anywhere at the airport. Marijuana for medical use is legal in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Colorado and 23 other states have also legalized marijuana for recreational use. On April 23, the U.S. Dept. of Justice reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as a “Schedule II” drug with low potential for creating dependence.
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THREE NEW DENVER COCKTAIL BARS AMONG BEST IN THE U.S.
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The 20th annual Spirited Awards, part of the esteemed Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans, announced its roster of top 10 honorees this week, which are essentially the semifinalists in the national competition categories. The awards, hosted by the nonprofit Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, "celebrate excellence across the global bar and cocktail industry." While many of the honorees hailed from cocktail powerhouse cities such as New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, Denver made an impressive showing in the “best new U.S. cocktail bar” category. Out of 10 semifinalists, three came from the Mile High City.
Those include:
- The Peach Crease Club, a RiNo concept from local cocktail power-couple Alex Jump and Stuart Jensen
- Rougarou, a new bar in Five Points from the team behind the esteemed beverage haunt Yacht Club
- Semiprecious, a self-described “neighborhood bar” which came to Denver by way of Los Angeles, where ownership operates two other cocktail joints
Lady Jane, a cocktail staple of the Highland neighborhood since 2018, and Yacht Club were also nominated in the “best U.S. bar team” category. Both places have been recognized for national awards recently. Lady Jane was named an “outstanding bar” semifinalist for this year’s James Beard Awards, while Yacht Club won the title of Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2024 Spirited Awards. The Spirited Awards finalists will be announced on June 8 ahead of the awards ceremony, taking place on July 23 in New Orleans. See the full list of nominees at talesofthecocktail.org.
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USFS WARNS SOME CAMPGROUNDS MAY HAVE LIMITED OR NO WATER THIS SUMMER
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As camping season kicks off, U.S. Forest Service officials are warning that some campgrounds may not have water in their wells or be low on water as Colorado faces widespread drought conditions. Anyone who is planning to camp this summer is encouraged to conserve water after the state experienced a historically low snowpack, this includes filling up any holding tanks in RVs at home rather than at the campground so that water supplies last the whole season. The Lowry and Prospector campgrounds as well as the Windy Point Group Site at the Dillon Reservoir currently do not have water because the well that serves them is dry this spring. So, campers should bring their own water.
All visitors should also check the White River National Forest website before leaving for any updates related to drought conditions, such as fire restrictions, which can be found at FS.USDA.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts. Visitors are asked to abide by fire restrictions. In areas where fires are allowed, visitors should be careful with fire and ensure that their campfire is cold to the touch before leaving camp. Fires should never be left unattended.
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2026 BRINGS THIRD-LOWEST ANIMAS RIVER PEAK FLOW IN HISTORY
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After sparse snowfall last winter and a warm spring, the Animas River has likely seen its peak spring flow. According to data from the Colorado Basin River Flow Center, the Animas River was measured at 1,401 cubic feet per second Friday. In the days since, the river has receded to 878 cfs and is expected to spike to just over 1,200 cfs by May 26 before going back down. That is because of what little of the winter’s snowpack remains in the San Juan Mountains and the relatively rainless short-term weather forecast. The 2026 peak is the third smallest on record, right after 2002 and 1977, which saw only 777 cfs and 1,220 cfs, respectively.
What’s more, this year’s peak is earlier than normal; on most years, the Animas usually peaks in late May or early June. More snow means higher river flows, more water storage for down-river communities and reduced fire danger. With this year’s low snowpack, residents are urged to be conservative with their water use and to avoid activities that could spark a wildfire.
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STRONG TURNOUT EXPECTED FOR 54TH IRON HORSE BICYCLE CLASSIC
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Memorial Day is almost here, and that means one thing in Durango: The 54th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic weekend is back. Local rising stars will battle for supremacy at one of Colorado’s most prestigious and longest running cycling events. The 47-mile Coca-Cola Road Race will be center stage once again as it has every year since 1971. Last year, the big change was the Subaru Mountain Bike racecourse featuring Steamworks Brewing Co. for the first time in six years. The return to downtown racing went so well that the iconic route through Steamworks is returning on Sunday, along with the LaStrada LaPlata Gravel race. Great weather in Durango and Silverton is expected this weekend, making it worth it for local spectators and riders.
IHBC has brought in a new volunteer coordinator, Therese Geter, to partner with local businesses as volunteer sponsorships. These businesses will provide staff and help feed the volunteers. The IHBC will kick off on Friday with the Faceplant Ale Kick Off Parade at 4:20 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Participants will gather at Ska Brewing Co. before the parade departs at 5 p.m. For a full schedule, visit online at ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.
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MCWC RECEIVES $350,000 WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INVESTMENT, HIRES PROGRAM MANAGER
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The Middle Colorado Watershed Council has received a $262,500 Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation grant award from the Colorado State Forest Service, securing critical funding to expand community wildfire resilience efforts across the middle Colorado River watershed. The grant is paired with $87,500 in matching contributions from ten regional partners, creating a total three-year investment of $350,000 to support the Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative and fund a new full-time program manager position. MCWC welcomed Sam Feuerborn as its Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative Program Manager this week. In this new role for the organization, Feuerborn will lead implementation of priority wildfire resilience projects throughout the watershed.
Funding partners include Garfield County, Chevron, Holy Cross Energy, the towns of Silt, Rifle, Parachute and New Castle, De Beque Fire Protection District and Colorado River Fire Protection District. As program manager, Feuerborn will coordinate wildfire mitigation efforts in the wildland-urban interface, support woody biomass repurposing initiatives, expand community outreach and education, and continue fundraising efforts to advance ten priority projects identified by the collaborative. More information is available at the link below.
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STUDY SHOWS HOW 13 COLORADO CITIES RANK ON AFFORDABILITY
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WalletHub ranked 300 cities nationally on how affordable buying a home is, comparing the average cost of owning a home — including the purchase price and ongoing costs such as maintenance and insurance — to what people living there make. The study included 13 Colorado cities.
- Pueblo was the cheapest, finishing 42nd nationally. It was the only Colorado city in the top quarter of the country for home affordability.
- Boulder was an outlier at the other end, finishing 282nd in the nation overall. That made it the only community outside of California or the Boston and New York City metro areas to finish in the bottom 10 percent for affordability in the U.S.
The study also grouped communities by size, dividing into large (more than 300,000 people), mid-sized (150,000 to 300,000 people) and small cities (less than 150,000 people). Pueblo fared best among its peers, finishing 11th among 129 small cities, while Boulder finished 119th in the same cohort.
Where are the most affordable places in Colorado to buy a home? Here is the list, including their national rankings compared to the entire study and similar-sized cities:
- Pueblo (42 overall, 11 among 129 small cities)
- Colorado Springs (78 overall, 22 among 69 large cities)
- Thornton (101 overall, 37 among small cities)
- Aurora (105 overall, 30 among large cities)
- Arvada (117 overall, 43 among small cities)
- Centennial (118 overall, 44 among small cities)
- Westminster (121 overall, 45 among small cities)
- Greeley (135 overall, 52 among small cities)
- Denver (150 overall, 40 among large cities)
- Lakewood (153 overall, 56 among 102 mid-sized cities)
- Longmont (173 overall, 65 among small cities)
- Fort Collins (183 overall, 66 among mid-sized cities)
- Boulder (282 overall, 119 among small cities)
What are the least affordable cities in the U.S. to buy a home in?
- No. 300: Santa Barbara, California
- No. 299: Santa Monica, California
- No. 298: Costa Mesa, California
- No. 297: Glendale, California
- No. 296: Berkeley, California
- No. 295: Los Angeles
- No. 294: Pasadena, California
- No. 293: New York
- No. 292: San Francisco
- No. 291: Westminster, California
- No. 290: Burbank, California
- No. 289: Irvine, California
- No. 288: San Mateo, California
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WHICH HIGH MOUNTAIN PASSES WILL BE DRIVABLE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?
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Some mountain passes, like Trail Ridge Road, were blanketed from Monday’s snowstorm, while others stayed on trend with a historically low snowpack. Don’t pack away the winter coat just yet. Memorial Day weekend usually rings in the summer, with amusement parks opening, pool covers being removed for the season and families racing off on vacations. If plans included taking a trip to the mountains this weekend, they might need some adjusting. Some of Colorado’s high mountain passes have already opened for the season, some a bit earlier than usual.
Here are the high mountain passes that will be drivable for Memorial Day weekend:
- Cottonwood Pass: According to Eagle County, Cottonwood Pass, which connects the Roaring Fork Valley with the town of Gypsum, opened on April 11 for the summer season. The pass usually opens around mid-to-late May. Even with the road opening early, Eagle County officials warn drivers to use caution while on the road and to be vigilant about weather conditions. They also remind drivers to be aware of unpaved portions of the road and sharp turns.
- Independence Pass: Independence Pass opened on May 21, just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, according to the Colorado Dept. of Transportation.
- Kebler Pass: Gunnison County officials announced on Tuesday that Kebler Pass, the pass that connects the town of Crested Butte to the small town of Paonia, would open Thursday. Officials said to expect wet and muddy conditions throughout the pass with some potential for spring snow showers.
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Officials with the National Park Service announced on Wednesday that they are uncertain if the 48-mile-long Trail Ridge Road will be open for Memorial Day weekend following a large snowstorm, which brought more than a foot of snow to the portion of Trail Ridge Road above Rainbow Curve along the east side of the park. The park service said that on Tuesday night, more showers brought a few more inches of snow to the area.
- Guanella Pass: Clear Creek County officials announced in April that Guanella Pass would begin its summer season significantly early due to an unseasonably low snowpack. The pass officially opened April 16 after crews cleared the route of snow more than a month ahead of the typically planned schedule of Memorial Day weekend.
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HERE ARE COLORADO'S MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES FOR 2025
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The top 100 most popular Colorado baby names for 2025 are out — and there was a change atop the “girl name” list. Charlotte surpassed Olivia in 2025 as the most popular girls’ name in Colorado. Charlotte has now taken the top spot three times in the last decade, including in 2023 and 2019, while Olivia has been No. 1 in Colorado in six of the past 10 years. The U.S. Social Security Administration this week released the 2025 list based on Social Security card application data from last year.
Top 10 most popular Colorado girls’ names of 2025:
- Charlotte – 293
- Olivia – 256
- Sophia – 242
- Emma – 227
- Mia – 217
- Evelyn – 214
- Amelia – 187
- Sofia – 177
- Isabella – 172
- Eleanor – 161
Top 10 most popular Colorado boys’ names of 2025:
- Liam – 397
- Theodore – 373
- Noah – 348
- Oliver – 310
- James – 256
- Henry – 252
- Mateo – 244
- William – 228
- Cooper – 196
- Elias – 193
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MARKET UPDATE - 05/21/2026 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 05/21/2026)
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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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