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Alternate route into Aspen now included in traffic counts

Combination of Castle Creek Bridge, Power Plant Road data provides clearer picture of upvalley mobility

An analysis of a calendar year’s worth of data confirms that the side-entrance traffic makes up a significant portion of total traffic, as drivers seek to beat the gridlock that typically chokes Highway 82 during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Added together, vehicle counts from Highway 82 and Power Plant Road through all…

Laurine Lassalle by Laurine Lassalle

HISTORY: B. CLARK WHEELER. THree Part series

History

B. Clark Wheeler, a nimble man in his time

In 1880, B. Clark Wheeler, bearing grief, snowshoes into Ute City in the dead of winter, claim-jumps the town, renames it Aspen, horse-trades silver mines and seeds his indomitable legacy.

The yarn is often spun of Wheeler’s Herculean mid-February 17-day roundtrip snowshoe odyssey from Leadville to Ute City over Independence Pass to inspect mining prospects and lay out a town.

Tim Cooney by Tim Cooney
History

Aspen mayor and defendant 

While all in on silver to win, one-term Mayor B. Clark Wheeler collars pet grizzlies, chases Little Annie silver vein through Famous Tunnel, loses his second wife and infant son, erupts his temper in the streets and buffaloes bankers.
Tim Cooney by Tim Cooney

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Aspen Journalism wins seven awards in 2026 Top of the Rockies Contest

AJ reporters recognized across the categories of business enterprise reporting, climate reporting, legal news, general reporting for a series or package, arts & entertainment, information graphic, and social justice.

“It is an honor to have six journalists writing for Aspen Journalism awarded, showcasing the strength of our freelance team, full-time journalists and editors — and the efficiency and efficacy of our model.”

Aspen Journalism Leaf by Aspen Journalism Staff
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THE BILLIONAIRES OF ASPEN

Wealth and Property

The Aspen 80

Property records analysis shows where the Forbes billionaires list and local owners overlap

There have never been more billionaires in the world—3,028, by Forbes’ count, crossing the 3,000 threshold for the first time in 2025. It stands to reason that there also have never been more billionaires in Aspen, their collective influence shaping the community’s social fabric.

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Catherine LutzLaurine LassalleCurtis Wackerle by Catherine Lutz, Laurine Lassalle and Curtis Wackerle

Public Lands series by Paul ANdersen >>

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MEET THE Aspen Journalism NEWSROOM

Curtis Wackerle

Curtis Wackerle

Curtis Wackerle is the editor and executive director of Aspen Journalism and the editor and reporter on the Connie Harvey Environment Desk. Curtis has also served as editor, managing editor, and reporter at the Aspen Daily News, where he covered Aspen’s city hall. He has a journalism degree from the University of Montana. More by Curtis Wackerle

Heather Sackett

Heather Sackett

Heather Sackett is the managing editor at Aspen Journalism and the editor and reporter on the Water Desk. She has also reported for The Denver Post and the Telluride Daily Planet. Heather has a master’s degree from CU’s Center for Environmental Journalism and her reporting has been recognized by the Colorado Press Association. More by Heather Sackett

Laurine Lassalle

Laurine Lassalle

Laurine Lassalle is Aspen Journalism’s data desk editor, where she works to catalog and analyze local public data. She has a master’s degree in data and investigative journalism from UC Berkeley with an emphasis on environmental reporting. More by Laurine Lassalle

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