Posted inEducation

Defying limits: Austria’s Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner to speak about climbing the world’s tallest mountains

On Feb. 24, Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House hosts a speaker who will turn the audience’s attention to the heights. Not just any heights: specifically, 8,000 meters, the 14 tallest mountains in the world. She is Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, one of the only women to have climbed the planet’s tallest mountains, and the first woman to have […]

Posted inEnvironment

Winter nighttime temps surge above historical average

As Roaring Fork Valley residents navigate this winter’s low precipitation, leaders at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) are warning that shifting average temperatures are also a significant concern. At the beginning of the month, Forest and Climate Director Adam McCurdy noted the asymmetric warming trend in ACES’ monthly “Wild Tracks” newsletter.  Asymmetric warming […]

Posted inEnvironment

Former Forest supervisor warns of ‘deliberate dismantling of the public lands system’

Last year, Scott Fitzwilliams retired from his position as supervisor of the White River National Forest. He had been in the role for 15 years, nearly half of his 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. His previous locations with the agency included northern Wyoming, Alaska and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The newly inaugurated […]

Posted inEnvironment

RFPLWF unites common interests

In late spring and early summer, signs began appearing at many outdoor access points throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. These notices included reminders to recreate responsibly alongside information about reduced public lands funding and ways to steward outdoor spaces. These signs are just one aspect of work being done by a new local coalition: the […]

Posted inEnvironment

Naturalist Nights speaker discusses ecological impacts of recreation

On Feb. 19-20, Wilderness Workshop and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) hosted the fourth of five speakers for the annual Naturalist Nights free lecture series. Dr. Christopher Monz is a professor at Utah State University, and teaches classes in recreation ecology and management. He presented to the audience remotely, offering insights on the […]

Posted inEnvironment

At Naturalist Nights, Schendler advocates for connection

In the depth of each winter, local nature enthusiasts gather in Carbondale and Aspen every two weeks for the Naturalist Nights speaker series. This is the 25th year that the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and Wilderness Workshop have carried the tradition. Past events featured high-altitude mountaineers, conservation specialists, activists and even politicians. The […]

Posted inEnvironment

Naturalist Nights set to begin Jan. 8

On Jan. 8 and 9, the highly anticipated Naturalist Nights, an annual winter speaker series spotlighting critical environmental topics pertinent to the Roaring Fork Valley, commences. In a collaborative effort between Wilderness Workshop, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and Roaring Fork Audubon, the series will feature five experts who will discuss pressing conversations such […]

Posted inNonprofits

Toklat restored and open again

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) announced in late November that its wilderness retreat facility in the Castle Creek Valley, the Catto Center at Toklat, was reopening to the public after a major renovation of the historic structure. In a conversation with The Sopris Sun, ACES CEO Chris Lane said that the nearly three-year project, […]

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