Colorado Mountains Become An 'Attractive Nuisance'

"The problem is that I-70 — the main artery to the nation's busiest ski resorts and a lifeline for tourist-dependent towns like Vail — is becoming more congested every year. Hundreds of thousands of Colorado skiers, hikers, backpackers and families are vying with tourists to get to resort towns... In Vail, where the average home costs more than $1 million, retreating from the hurly-burly of urban life is becoming much more difficult. Summit County Commissioner Gary Lindstrom, who spent 31 years in law enforcement, puts it this way: 'The mountains have become an attractive nuisance.' "