With a backdrop of mountain vistas and a rink of natural ice, the annual ice hockey tournament at Grand Lake offers a picturesque snapshot of Colorado’s beauty. What’s not apparent is the problem brewing under players’ skates. This year’s tournament was held a month later than normal, with thin ice forcing organizers to postpone the event originally scheduled for the third weekend of January. A vibrant summer destination for travelers seeking access to Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake relies on its winter events to help fill in the gaping economic holes once warm-weather tourists leave town. “We had slushy conditions and less than six inches of ice. There just was no way it could safely be held,” said Steve Kudron, mayor of Grand Lake. That is a reality that many communities that live near lakes, which freeze and provide many activities during winter months, are increasingly confronting.
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