When I said goodbye to sea-level life in New Orleans and moved to Colorado Springs six years ago, the term "fourteener" was absolutely foreign to me. When I learned there were more than 50 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado, my curiosity got the best of me. Where do I start? What should I pack? What does it really take to go up against the altitude and summit a fourteener?
Thirty or so summits later and I can tell you: A lot of prepwork goes into climbing a high peak before even reaching the trailhead. If summiting one of Colorado's iconic mountains is on your summer wish list, please join us Wednesday in Colorado Springs for a panel discussion on everything you need to know to get started on choosing a peak and how to best prepare to keep you and our trails safe.
We'll be getting safety tips from experts who know Colorado's backcountry better than most:
You can RSVP to this free, in-person event here. (And if just the thought of hiking a fourteener makes your head hurt, forward this to a friend who is up for a challenge!)
Hope to see you there. And now, for the news.
For decades, Colorado's population grew younger and younger -- in 1970, the state's median age was 26.2. That's all changing as birth rates have dipped, migration into the state has eased and retirees are staying put. Today's median age is 38.5, reports Tamara Chuang, who breaks down trends across age groups in the latest entry in our new Aging in Colorado series.
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A $3 million cleanup effort at Denver International Airport has largely rid tanks and gear used to tackle PFAS-filled firefighting foam of the stubborn toxins, aka per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. But what do you do with the remaining residue? Michael Booth reports on a health and environmental problem awaiting a solution by the state's hazardous waste experts.
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Colorado initially planned to stop covering the cost of GLP-1 medications for state workers relying on those drugs for weight loss. Facing public backlash, lawmakers have decided to continue paying for those medications -- with a few caveats. Jesse Paul has more on what the new policy will mean for state employees and the state budget.
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With "The Lion's Den," author Jerry Fabyanic follows up his 2016 novel "Sisyphus Wins" by continuing the story of two characters, including Father Daniel Murphy, who stands at a personal crossroads as he considers his devotion to the priesthood and a longstanding relationship. In this passage, a trusted friend helps him confront the danger of self-pity.
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Have a great Tuesday! Catch you back here tomorrow.
-- Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun
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