like rats fleeing a sinking ship---and Google Maps shits the bed

 Glenwood Canyon is on fire.  At last check the fire was about 20k acres and 0% contained.  

If that sounds bad it is---but wait there is more..........I70 had to close because of the fire.  Gov Polis has indicated that with luck I70 will re-open in 2-3 days.  I suggest he is high on some of CO finest MJ if he actually thinks that is possible.  Not only is the fire raging around 70, but the fire has also burnt a lot of tress and bushes on the canyon wall that keep it stable.  Next up is rocks falling all over I70 like some bad video game.  That will get worse if and when it rains but truth be told I70 is gonna be in bad shape for a long time.

What does that mean for this Aspen local?  Well first off if you want to get to Denver the last couple of days that means an 8 1/2 hour drive not a 3 hour drive because not only was I70 East closed but they also closed independence pass due to massive traffic jams (maybe 15 times normal traffic over pass) and jacked knifed trucks on pass.  However, this is a very fluid situation and independence pass was just re-opened due to ---well an 8 1/2 hour drive to go to Denver.  They are currently metering traffic (letting cars go in bunches one way and then the other way) and keeping 35 foot plus trucks off road.  

Not being able to get trucks into Aspen is a starting to result in food shortages.

And the air quality is horrible---so you shouldn't exercise (the fine particulate matter from the fire in the air will damage your lunges.)  

Before fire

Now (during down valley fire)---yea that ain't LA that is Snowmass Village

With food shortages, periodic massive traffic jams as I70 traffic is re-routed through Aspen S curves, and horrible air making exercise dangerous what to the private jet folks do?

They flee.

Today when I went by the airport there were about 15 jets lined up on the taxiway and another 25 with their doors open and stairs down awaiting the arrival of the rich and famous looking to flee to their next bolt hold.

Don't tell me Aspen is your home just because you pay $15k in property tax on your $10 million home.  Home is like family--you stick with it in good times and bad.  When things get shitty you deal with it.  You stick it out.  You don't get to get away with saying you're a local when you take wing (literally) at the slightest discomfort.  

Did the school enrollment just fall by 100 kids because of fire, soot, shortages and traffic?  I don't know, but I do know that the ultra wealthy aren't sticking around for the hard times.  And honestly why should they?  But don't demand to be treated like this is your home if you don't ever wait around for vail pass to open after taking your kids to hockey in Denver, or make do with what ya got because what you want isn't available at the local store.  

Society is made strong by sharing the pain (just like families).  If you are going to flee at the slightest discomfort that is your right, but don't expect to have the local bond.  As I tell my kids when we drive from Aspen to LA for Thanksgiving--you may hate the car ride but you will remember it.

Speaking of car rides---some NYC friends of ours (one a senior google exec) were coming to the Aspen area by car on Wednesday.  From the East on 70 and then they detoured to US50 and were going to come over independence pass.  But then that closed so google suggested hangerman pass.  If ya think google is smart ---its not (or not always).  In this case virtually everyone that was trying to go East or West on 70 was being directed to go over Hangerman pass by google.  Hangerman pass is an ok road if it is dry and snow free (it is right now ergo the fires) and you are a skilled 4X4 driver with a serious off road truck-car with hopefully 16 in of clearance and real off road tires.

My friends got to the first tough section and were luckily able to pull a U turn and flee.  They then went over cottonwood pass (no piece of cake and soon to be closed by CDOT as well).  

Just because there is a way doesn't mean it should be THE way google maps.  People will get hurt following google's totally unaware advice.  At this stage of development google maps should be better.  And as my google friend exec said "I am going to write an email".  

Meanwhile welcome to the wild west.  Please ignore the private jets stampeding.