1 year ago: Dead hiker’s body is recovered from Arikaree Peak after more than a month

On Aug. 28, 2024, a hiker fell to their death on Arikaree Peak — a 13,000-foot peak located in Boulder and Grand counties. Multiple first responder agencies made recovery attempts, but the efforts were halted due to the extremely steep and dangerous terrain. The body was recovered Oct. 3. Grand County Search and Rescue and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by Wyoming Search and Rescue’s specialized team from Teton County, which offered additional equipment and technical expertise. They were able to safely navigate the terrain that had posed a challenge in previous recovery efforts.

— From the Oct. 11, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Rocky Mountain NP stops timed entry permits as summer traffic winds down

Following a summer implementing a timed-entry system at Rocky Mountain National Park, visitors will no longer need reservations to enter starting Oct. 13, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national park — which saw a record year in 2019 — limited visitors for the first time ever with a timed-entry system capped at 60% of the park’s maximum capacity. Visitors were able to enter in two-hour windows with the bulk of tickets being released the month before and a handful of reservations available two days before the desired date. A spokesperson said the park is working on a “long range day-use visitor access strategy” to address the crowding and congestion in the park during peak periods.

— From the Oct. 9, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

15 years ago: Channel between Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain closed for construction

The channel between Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake is closed for construction work as the Northern Water Conservancy District’s contracted builder rehabilitates the connecting structure. Built 65 years earlier, the dam and bridge at the entrance to Grand Lake maintains the natural lake’s water level to within 12 inches of the high water line when Shadow Mountain Reservoir, the water body connected to the lake, is lowered. It was modified in 1963 to allow boats to travel from one lake to the other. Updates to the structure are intended to provide more safety features and operational efficiency. Other than new railings to bring the bridge up to code standards, it “won’t look very different,” said Northern spokesperson Dana Strongin.

— From the Oct. 8, 2010, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Winter Park Ski Area eyes possible expansion into Little Vasquez

With the Winter Park Ski Area preparing up open the new Mary Jane section, the Little Vasquez area near Hideaway Park is now being examined as a possible expansion area for the ski resort, according to Jerry Groswold, president of the Winter Park Recreation Association. Grosswold said the Little Vasquez area was first considered foe development as a ski area prior to 19 when developers opted for the Mary Jane area instead, largely because of the size of the Little Vasquez area and the projected cost needed for development. (The ski area would open up part of Vasquez Ridge in 1986, with additional expansion in later years.)

— From the Oct. 9, 1975, edition of Middle Park Times

100 years ago: Grand County road crews continue to make improvements

The Grand County road men under the supervision of Grover Woolums are doing excellent work throughout the county. A crew with foreman Gene Brinker recently made a new stretch of road on Coulter Hill near Tabernash, eliminating a dangerous curve and bypassing a previous stretch that was almost impassible during rainy weather. The stretch of road between West Portal and Fraser has also been gone over in the past month and is currently in excellent condition in all weather types.

— From the Oct. 9, 1925, edition of Middle Park Times

Sky-Hi News is working to digitize Grand County newspaper archives and make them available to the public for free. Support the project at SkyHiNews.com/donate.