The Skier Scribbler - December 2024

the

SKIER SCRIBBLER Volume II

December, 2023

The first few days of the opening season show continuous snow covering the Snowmass Ski Area with fresh early winter snow.

Aspen High School

Photo by Madelyn McAllister

El Niño Unleashes Weather Whirlwind: Blanketed Regions Across the West Elsa Tullar, Editor-in-Chief

Throughout the Aspen community, we are all still riding on an all-time high from last year’s record-breaking winter season.

But everyone better buckle up because the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) weather pattern is hitting Colorado this year, making snowfall expectations greater than in past years.

It is almost guaranteed that Colorado’s Rocky Mountains are going to see an El Niño winter for the 2023-24 season. Typically, El Niño winters tend to favor snowfall in Colorado’s mountains. This is due to the positioning of the jet stream, making El Niño occur irregularly about every two to seven years. Although weather pattern predictions are uncertain since there are so many changing factors in the atmosphere, there are some variables that can provide some insight into the upcoming winter, including El Niño. Colorado is currently coming off of a three-year streak of the La Niña weather pattern (the inverse of El Niño),

which is a rare occurrence considering that this streak has only occurred three times since 1950.

Typically, La Niña occurs from a buildup of cooler surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Easterly trade winds then strengthen, resulting in a cold upwelling of water on the west coast of South America and sea-surface temperatures drop below average. Whereas El Niño represents the warm cycle of ENSO meaning that ocean temperatures are warmer than average.

Warm water builds up around the equator in the eastern Pacific which allows moisture-rich air to rise, developing into rain and snow storms.

Alan Smith is a meteorologist for Open Snow who along with his passion for tracking weather, is an avid skier, biker, and hiker. Smith received a B.S. in meteorology from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. According to Smith, the La Niña pattern quickly reversed during the Spring months and has transitioned to an El Niño

phase. This alteration is what caused such a moisture-heavy summer, resulting in consistent monsoons during June and July. The pattern has continued to strengthen over the summer and is mostly certain to remain for the 2023-2024 winter. Further, Smith states that El Niño has the possibility to occur but in a weakened state. Therefore, the strength of the pattern is one of the most important factors in determining Colorado’s upcoming winter snowfall. As of August 2023, the sea surface temperature in the El Niño region has already increased an additional 1.1 which determines that the pattern is off to a strong start.

During a strong El Niño phase, wetter conditions are expected to rise across the Southwest United States, the West Coast of California, as well as the Pacific Northwest.

This strong pattern tends to favor warmer and drier winters across the Northern Rocky Mountains and colder, snowier winters across the Southern Rockies. The Elk Mountain Range in Aspen, Colorado

is located in the Central/Southern Rockies meaning that El Niño will hopefully provide an exceptional winter this year, mainly from December through February.

Even though the 2022-2023 winter delivered high snow accumulation levels, breaking many records across the west, the Rockies were in the La Niña which means that even in the unfavorable weather pattern, our mountains received surprising precipitation levels. Now that this unfavorable pattern is gone and El Niño is taking over, it is expected that Aspen and the majority of the other western states will receive even more snow than last year.

Although it seems as though Aspen is off to a slow start in snow accumulation in comparison to years before, confidence in a successful winter continues to increase as we get even closer to the snowier months.

The last strong El Niño pattern occurred in 2015-2016 and since 1950, it has only occurred eight times, making this winter one not to miss. (continued on pg. 2)

News

Opinion

A&E

Table of Contents

A Watchful Eye: ASD Can Monitor All Internet Traffic

Consumerism During the Holidays

What Your Favorite Holiday Song Says About You

News...........................................1

“Many students don’t know the extent of the school’s online monitoring capabilities. Zimmer pointed out that as a school under CIPA jurisdiction, AHS is required by law to ensure that students cannot access inappropriate sites but do not have to monitor internet access....” (pg. 3)

“There are so many ways to responsibly consume during the holidays while still spreading joy, supporting local or small businesses, and celebrating the end of a year and the start of a new one. Make sure that the gifts that you are giving come from a source that you know produces high-quality pieces that will last, try checking Good on You, a website that gives input on how sustainable different stores are...” (pg. 7)

“Holiday music is one of the best things about the upcoming winter celebrations and giving season. These ballads make countless people happy (arguably all year), especially during the months of November and December. Here are some popular holiday songs, exactly what they say about you.” (pg. 10)

Sports.........................................4 Opinon........................................5 A&E...........................................8

NEWS SKIER El Niño Unleashes Weather Whirlwind, Continued

PAGE 2

December 2023

Continued from Page 1...

This upcoming season is very exciting as it hopes to deliver stronger storms, however, it is important to remember general winter and snow safety in order to ensure the safety, and enjoyment of everyone this wintertime. To many in Aspen, winter is the favored season, locals and tourists flock to the resorts to ski the perfect line and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. However, it must be understood that these activities come with many risks. Putting snow tires on your vehicles, driving slowly and cautiously, and being snow-smart when having fun on the mountain are all methods to stay safe during this increase in storminess.

Additionally, stay in bounds on the ski resorts because avalanche danger is always a concern. If venturing into the backcountry, always travel with others and be trained and prepared for anything.

And most importantly, remember to have fun this winter. Even if the cold is not for you, it is going to be a healthy and happy one full of snow and smiles.

Courtesty of National Oceanic and Atmopspheric Administration Forecast showing probability of an El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral phase between summer of 2022 and spring of 2023.

The Scientific Search for Alien Life Stella Iverson. Editor-in-Chief

Scientifically, the possibility of aliens existing is extremely high. There are countless myths and stories of people wearing tin foil hats to protect their minds from being taken over by aliens or unexpected UFO sightings. However, scientists still aren’t certain if aliens exist. Besides these popular narratives, there is not any strong evidence to support the presence of abstract life.

The discovery of exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, has opened up new possibilities. With advanced telescopes and observation techniques, astronomers have identified thousands of exoplanets in the habitable zones of their host stars—regions where conditions may be home to water. The study of these exoplanets is important for understanding the potential habitability of other planets and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Advancements in technology have grown our ability to find life in space.

Radio telescopes scan the cosmos for signals to rovers exploring Mars. The tools for exploration are more advanced than ever. The invention of AI has the ability to identify patterns that could show the presence of aliens.

“I think there’s a massive, massive difference between being able to find life elsewhere, and being able to find evidence of intelligent life and being able to contact them,” Emily Mitchell, a paleobiologist at the University of Cambridge said in a Washington Post article on Nov. 25, 2023.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is a scientific effort made to detect signals or other evidence of extraterrestrial civilizations. Radio

telescopes, like the Allen Telescope Array, scan the skies for artificial radio signals that might originate from other beings. While no hard evidence has been found the exploration of SETI still gets the attention of scientists and the public.

An article published by Live Science, explains the lack of evidence

supporting the assumption of alien life.

“The sobering reality is that there isn’t any yet. There’s no scientific evidence for aliens in the declassified UFO videos, in mutilated cows whose injuries are blamed on extraterrestrial activities, or in purported alien bodies.”

The most habitable zone of space, known as the “Goldilocks zone,” is the region around a star where conditions are both too hot and too cold for liquid

water to exist on a planet’s surface.

Figuring out which planets within this zone is a huge factor in determining the potential for life. Ongoing missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, are to continue the investigation of exoplanets within this habitable zone, bringing us closer to answering the question of whether is there life

tive extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy. The equation takes into account factors such as the rate of star formation, the fraction of stars with planets, and the number of planets that could potentially support life.

One of AHS’s very own scientists Barton Tofany, who is a physics teacher, elaborated more on the theory of why extraterrestrial life is possible.

“DNA is so superior that that’s why life all has DNA. So in theory, that should have happened on all other planets.

So it should have the same basic building blocks,” Tofany said.

Scientists are studying space in order to find plants that could be home to basic human needs such as oxygen, food, and water.

“We can actually use the telescope and look at the light and see if that atmosphere has oxygen and water. All the building blocks for life. We will be able to say there are these planets that while we can’t see little green people running around, we can see there’s definitely markers of molecules that are made by Graphic by Trey Morrissey life.” Tofany said.

Looking for extraterrestrial life is an ongoing journey, driven beyond Earth. by scientists and technology. WhethJay Lockman, a former director of er we discover life on Mars or detect the observatory, thinks it is “silly” to signals from a distant exoplanet, the say we are alone in the universe. search for alien life remains one of the “There’s no killer barrier in the most exciting adventures in science. As Drake equation that we know of,” we continue to find new things, the posLockman said. sibility of finding evidence of extraterIn the 1960s, astrophysicist Frank restrial life stands as a question waiting Drake introduced the Drake Equation, a to be answered. mathematical formula designed to estimate the number of active, communica-

December 2023

SKIER

A Watchful Eye: ASD Can Monitor All Internet Traffic Owen Cruz-Abrams, Staff Writer

Digital privacy is foreign to many and yet applicable to all. In April 2023, Italy banned ChatGPT due to “a suspected breach of Europe’s strict privacy regulations.” The United States doesn’t have the same privacy regulations; some laws, such as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), require schools to monitor student internet access - AHS is one of those schools.

“We have a web filter… But we also have words that are flagged,” said Kim Zimmer, Instructional Codirector of Learning and Innovation at ASD. “If someone were to do a web search on something that is a flagged word, we will get a notification that someone was searching on our school district internet Wi-Fi for this thing.”

Many students don’t know the extent of the school’s online monitoring capabilities. Zimmer pointed out that as a school under CIPA jurisdiction, AHS is required by law to ensure that students cannot access inappropriate sites but do not have to monitor internet access.

Nonetheless, ASD’s second Technical Codirector of Learning and Innovation, Jason Pfeifer, pointed out that it is still possible to trace internet usage.

“Every device has an IP address, and so I could trace down that IP address and see exactly what that device has been doing on [our] network,” Pfeifer said.

Pfeifer also emphasized how unlikely it is that a student’s internet access is being actively monitored at a given time, as the

school district lacks the technical staff needed to do so. However, to comply with CIPA, schools must filter internet access to prevent access to inappropriate content by minors on the Internet, which ASD does via its web filter. After the FCC’s 2011 update to their internet guidelines, all schools complying with CIPA must be able to view all student internet access. While the school may not actively monitor usage, Pfeifer’s method could be used to gain access to the history of any device using the network. This monitoring power is extended within school-provided Chromebooks.

Blocksi, a web extension installed on all ASD-provided computers, monitors and reports student computer usage. All K-8 students encounter this extension daily, in addition to the Wi-Fi monitoring the district has put in place for all students. Khalil Khan-Farooqi, sophomore at AHS, has used Blocksi for years.

“I was not sufficiently informed by the school of how internet access is monitored on the school WiFi, ” Khan-Farooqi said. “I believe that it is important that the school tells us these things because it otherwise could be seen as a violation of our privacy without our knowledge.”

NEWS

PAGE 3

Aspen School District Updates School Safety Marley Rich, Staff Writer

While students and teachers were out of school for their 2023 summer break, Garrett Seddon was working hard to improve the Aspen School District campus in his new role as Head of School Safety and Security.

Following ASD’s swatting event last February and the continued national problem of school violence, the need for stronger security measures continues to grow. Managing safety measures requires a lot of organization – this is a primary reason behind ASD’s creation of the Head of School Safety and Security position. Seddon was hired this summer after helping the district with safety last spring.

Superintendent David Baugh has been with ASD for over three years. He came to the school after working as the superintendent for the Centennial School District in Pennsylvania.

“He [Seddon] was a natural for it,” Baugh said. “[He] brought so much to the table, including his many relationships with other agencies in Aspen and the Valley.”

One of Seddon’s first initiatives is to get students to “Stop the Prop” which means stop propping doors open to allow anyone to enter the building. In addition, the district has used some of its $6 million bond funds to update fire alarms, purchase radios, install new doors with more advanced locking technology, implement the Raptor app which allows teachers to take atten-

dance during emergencies, and improve safety response protocols.

Seddon’s past work experiences include working as an aircraft rescue firefighter and the trainer safety and security coordinator at Aspen Airport. He also worked for the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

“I have a passion for safety and security, and found this opportunity here and was excited to help the district further their mission of promoting safety and security of the students, staff, and faculty,” Seddon said.

In addition to Seddon, student resource officers, seventy-two law enforcement personnel, architects, and all school officials are involved in school safety as well.

These positions are of the utmost importance as the number of school violence events continues to rise and students fear being in a school building. – this includes Aspen High School sophomore Oliver Kelly.

“During drills, I often think I should I call my mom to tell her I love her,” Kelly said.

Even though safety is a top priority, making sure that students and staff still feel free and comfortable at school is also important.

“We are trying to find a balance between making sure schools are safe and not feeling like a prison or military installation,” Baugh said.

Experiential Outdoors: Aspen Moutain Guide School

Rylee Smith, News&Sports editor, Stella Iverson Editor-in-Chief

An exceptionally unique course has been offered at Aspen High School known as ‘Aspen Mountain Guide School’. This course presents both aspects of active involvement and leadership development through experiential learning undertakings. Led by science teacher Brent Maiolo, the course is open to juniors and seniors but juniors may have a harder time making it in due to the rising popularity of the class and seniors being first in line.

“Guide school started by an interest in just kind of extending a lot of the philosophical components of Ex-Ed (Experiential Education) to an actual class.

So I wanted to create a class where kids could build a resume to help them find jobs either within the valley or beyond Aspen,” Maiolo said.

This increasing popularity is a result of various reasons including the exclusivity of the certifications and the future pathways these open up for real-life jobs and opportunities throughout the valley and beyond. The class itself offers a wide range of job opportunities as well as a general wider range of learning regarding the outdoors and knowledge surrounding backcountry safety precautions.

Maiolo explained that the certifications within the program include,

“Leave No Trace, Wilderness First Aid, Professional Ski Instructors of America PSIA level 1, an AIARE avalanche 1 certification, and an AMGA climbing certification.”

Each certification is accompanied by an aspect of individuality in that the different course opportunities attract a variety of students based on personal background and future pursuits. For example, the Wilderness First Aid certification is one that locals within the valley may put more emphasis on given our surrounding environment.

It provides basic medical training in wilderness settings which includes CPR and anaphylaxis certifications. Students are able to earn their PSIA level 1 ski instructing certification which could land them a local job with Aspen Ski co.

Though all of the courses primarily revolve around the outdoors, a certification like AMGA rock climbing can be taken anywhere and the others can be applied to rural communities. Although, in the case that a student is uninterested in a course certification, the experience still offers students an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and absorb new, unanticipated knowledge which in itself may prove useful in the future.

“Again, the idea of the class is to build your resume so the idea is that

you can take these certifications and “Moving forward, I would love to they may help you find a job. I have just have more time to complete more some kids who have come back, say certifications and it would be nice to from college during the winter, and they offer another section of it but it is hard use their level 1 Ski instructor to get the logistically to manage so many students benefits of working for Ski-co and a job and the schedules of all these different teaching skiing during the vacations. It course offerings.” is good money and you get a free pass,” Maiolo said.

This program, Maiolo explained, is a mix of excited and adventurous students ready to dive into aspects of outdoor exploration and knowledge.

“They are all kids who are interested in the outdoors and hands-on learning.” Maiolo added, “They are willing to challenge themselves and work in real-world scenarios.”

This class is another example of the distinctiveness of Aspen’s education.

Through the utilization of the surrounding mountainous environment, engaged students/leaders, and an all-around willingness to learn, Aspen Mountain Guide School has become the one of the many faces of experiential learning at Photo by Brent Maiolo Aspen High School.

Aspen Moutain Guide School battling extensive injuries.

December 2023

SKIER

SPORTS

PAGE 4

The College Recruiting Process Araya Thompson, Staff Writer

In the United States, the recruiting process is when college coaches add student-athletes to their roster before the start of collegiate sports seasons. Typically the process includes a coach extending an athletic scholarship offer to a player who is currently or about to be a junior in high school. Coaches gather a large group of recruits at the beginning of recruitment. They identify players who meet basic criteria for their respective sport like height, weight, position, graduation year, academic performance, and where they are located. To find such information, university coaches use recruiting media sites like rivals.com or 247-Sports, as well as third-party recruiting services like NCSA. How do you better your chances of getting recruited? To increase chances of getting coaches and recruiters to notice you, attend camps and showcases held by schools you’re interested in make a good impression by talking to coaches or other present significant leaders within the sport organizations. Creating a NCSA Recruiting Profile is also important in order for college coaches to have easy access to specific information. Having your own measurables and recruiting videos online also helps those in charge of recruiting to consider you as a candidate. Getting your name in sight and mind of college coaches as much as possible is another thing that you should be thinking about. This can be done through social media and emails. Be

sure to include key pieces of information college coaches need to know to conduct their initial evaluation of you as a recruit. A highlight reel or portfolio helps coaches see what you can do and help them make a decision. It should include videos with clips of your abilities and skills in your specific sport.

Fletcher Vynne, helped the University of British Columbia reach their first NAIA World Series in 2006. Vynne was also the graduate assistant coach for the Seattle University basketball team. He is a four-time All-Academic Award winner at UBC and twice won the JF Francis award 2007 and 2008.

“You will know you are being recruited by the school if the coaches at the school contact you directly either via a phone call or in person. The recruiting process varies from athlete to athlete and school to school. However, when I was recruiting at a Division 1 school I would typically call each player I was recruiting once a week, which is the maximum limit allowed by the NCAA, and would have players come to campus and attend practices so that they could get a feel for the program,” Vynne said.

With recruiting there are many rules to be followed, both by yourself and coaches of collegiate-level teams. For most sports, coaches can begin reaching out to athletes starting June 15 after sophomore year or September 1 of their junior year of high school. The NCAA recruiting rules are specifically designed to limit communication with elite athletes from

coaches to give student-athletes the time to make a decision about where and if they want to go to college.

When can you expect communication and official visits? A change ensued in 2019 as the NCAA approved new rules, changing the way that Division 1 college coaches contact and recruit athletes during personal campus visits. These changes were made to cut back on early recruiting and an effort to streamline communication. The new rules only apply to certain sports, not including softball, football, Womens and Mens lacrosse and baseball. The rules are different for Men’s hockey, coaches can start contacting recruits starting January 1st of their sophomore year. But recruits also need to wait until their junior year to receive verbal scholarship offers as well as take official visits.

Vittoria Gortan, a senior on AHS varsity dance, has been a serious dancer since she got into high school and has always wanted to go to college for the sport.

“This process started my junior year when I decided I really wanted to dance in college,” Gortan said.

It is a little different to be recruited for dance since the teams are usually so specific to what they are looking for. It is also different because there are only so many people that can be recruited for the team each year. There are many different teams with their own set of requirements. Each year, every college or team will schedule a tryout. Usually

held in spring. But some teams may hold pre-tryout prep classes or dance clinics to help you get ready for an upcoming audition.

Gortan started the process by attending recruitment camps and reaching out to coaches. Right now she is in the recruitment process for CU Boulder, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. Her first choice is UC Santa Barbara, however they do not recruit, they are audition only.

Recruitment for college dance is really different from other sports. As an athlete you either have to send in a video, go to an audition, or attend camps to get noticed and offered a spot.

Mino Khan-Farooqi is also a senior student athlete on the track team. She has been running since middle school and has been wanting to go to college for track and field since high school.

“The D3 recruiting process is a lot different compared to D1 and D2, especially in the schools I’m applying to, especially because the schools are more academically driven,” Khan-Farooqi said.

The recruiting process sometimes involves more early reads, submitting, your transcripts, test scores and usually a short supplemental. You would submit more of a shortened application that admissions read and rank you on tiers such as A,B,C,D or positive and negative. The school then decides if you have chances of getting into the school and if your chances are high they will continue the recruiting process.

like they’re being held back from their best performance level in their sport. All of these components work together to create a burnt out student-athlete.

It is not always outside factors that contribute to burnout in athletes. It can be a battle within themselves. Some experience pressure on themselves and their mind. The athletes can feel they have a “reputation” that if they are not consistently working and succeeding, then they are not the best athletes they can be. Sometimes, this mindset is formed at a young age, when athletes don’t feel like their training isn’t productive anymore.

The signs and symptoms of burnout can vary based on the individual. Some can see a plateau in performance, a decrease in strength and endurance, and also experience extreme exhaustion.

Athletes can have cognitive issues, difficulty in concentrating or finishing work in school, and forgetfulness. Emotional issues such as disinterest, moodiness, and irritability are also symptoms of burnout. As a result of falling short of sports demands, athletes can experience low self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression.

Time away to rest from their sport is another method of preventing burnout

in student athletes. Being away from the demands of their sport, even for a short period several times a year, provides an athlete with an opportunity to accomplish their schoolwork and relationships that are necessary to have a more wellrounded life that leads to enhanced motivation once they return to their sport.

Student-athletes who are trying to balance school, work, and sports often don’t get enough sleep to feel rested and ready for physical and mental activity throughout the day. According to Children’s Hospital Colorado, nine to ten hours of sleep is recommended for student athletes. Considering that many athletes rise before or at dawn for practice, their sleep cycle is not fully effective in providing the rest necessary for the best school and sports performance.

This results in a state of constant fatigue, placing the athlete at risk for developing burnout and mental health issues.

It is important to educate teachers and parents about the symptoms of burnout so they can help in identifying and preventing burnout in athletes by communicating with coaches and strength staff to monitor the athletes for overtraining, a large contributor to burnout.

Burnout is a very real and underreported mental state that many student-ath-

letes experience. Having an understanding of how burnout occurs, along with knowing the signs and symptoms are important steps in the prevention and treatment of this kind of situation. It may prevent the start or worsening of a mental health disorder in an athlete.

Please reach out when you are feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. AHS has resources, like the Hope Squad, who can refer you to professional help when it is necessary.

The Challenge of Student-Athlete Burnout

Sara Michelin, Staff Writer

At AHS, many student-athletes participate in multiple athletic seasons. Our community holds athletes to high standards and as winter sports are in session, student-athletes are faced with various challenges. From shorter, colder, winter days, to semester-one finals, it can be overwhelming, even for a student who doesn’t participate in school sports. This overwhelming feeling can lead to burnout, a mental condition that can cause mental and physical fatigue brought on by extended or recurring stress. Even while issues at work, school, or sports are the main source, it can also arise in other spheres of life, such as caring for oneself, parenting, or loving relationships.

Some student-athletes get burnt out at an early age because they see that the sport they participate in isn’t productive anymore. Sometimes an athlete becomes burnt-out and overwhelmed by being placed in a situation that tests their time management as well as their physical ability. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program at AHS can be hard for students to balance their school work while also training. Even something as simple as not having enough time to recover and rest can make athletes feel

Photo by Sara Michelin Quintessa Frisch and Elsa Tullar burnt out after doing layout for the Skier Scribbler’s October issue.

December 2023

SKIER

Opinion

PAGE 5

Drug Overdose and the Availability of Narcan in our Community

Olivia Cook, Opinion and A&E Editor

According to The World Health Organization, “Worldwide, in 2019, about 600,000 deaths were attributable to drug use. Close to 80% of these deaths are related to opioids, with about 25% of those deaths caused by opioid overdose.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died from drug overdose in the year 2021.

An overdose is caused by one or more drugs that are consumed that in turn the body can not cope with. The number of overdoses has increased in recent years due to the more accessible access to potent drugs. The majority of drugs can cause an overdose, including medications prescribed by healthcare professionals. The most common drugs that cause overdose are opiates (primarily illicit produced fentanyl). Others include stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Opiates include compounds that are derived from the poppy plant (Papaver). Opiates are often used to relieve pain in small doses. Those medicines contain morphine, fentanyl, and tramadol. Fentanyl, being a leading cause of overdose, is a potent synthetic opiate

with its primary purpose being to treat pain. It is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin as a pain reliever and 100 times more potent than morphine. If opiates are used for a prolonged time for non-medical use, it can lead to addiction and, in larger doses, can lead to overdose. The opiate targets a part of the brain that regulates breathing. The three main signs of an overdose are unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, and pinpoint pupils.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that is used to reverse drug overdose caused by opiates and stimulants. If used at the correct time, Narcan is likely to be successful. There are two forms of Narcan. There is a nasal spray that is easy to use, accessible, and the same as used by first responders. It is available to buy online or in pharmacies near you. The other form is by injection into a muscle or under the skin. Narcan helps patients start breathing generally within 2-3 minutes.

People who are likely to witness a drug overdose are close friends and family members of a person who uses opiates regularly or who are not familiar with opiates, leading to uncontrolled use.

Therefore, it is essential to note that even

if the person has no opiates present in the body, Narcan will do no harm. So even if an overdose is suspected, Narcan should be used.

According to the official Narcan website, when there is a suspected overdose, lay the patient down and check for slow breathing or unresponsiveness. Then lift their head and insert spray into either nostril, and press on the plunger to administer. After giving the first dose: -Call 911 immediately.

-Spray more amounts if needed.

-Wait with the patient until emergency services arrive.

The National Safety Council reported that people in the 35-44 age group are experiencing the most drug overdose deaths. Although there are a significant amount of reported teen drug overdoses, it is less likely among teenagers. This can be related to the increased accessibility of certain drugs. Drug overdoses can also happen unknowingly. When a person receives a particular pill, drink, or another substance that they think is safe, there’s a possibility that it can be laced with a form of opiate. There are many ways people can prevent a laced substance. Staying on the safer side of things will always benefit when it comes

to drug lacing. When going out, always keep your drink with you and stay with friends you trust. Fentanyl cannot be tasted or smelled, so saying no to any drink or drug that is offered to you can save you from a potentially laced substance. It is usually in the form of powder or liquid, which can be pressed into prescription pills such as Percocet or Xanax, and it can be a replacement for heroin.

Local emergency officials, as well as Aspen High School nurses, have Narcan in case of a potential emergency. The Aspen Times published an article in September of 2023 stating that Aspen received its first shipment of Narcan.

Aspen’s City Market pharmacy now has Narcan nasal spray for $44.99 (the package includes two single-dose nasal sprays). Local officials have trained in how to treat drug overdose, and all possess the nasal spray. Before this shipment, the pharmacy contained the prescribed version of Narcan for several years. It is recommended to carry Narcan spray in your everyday purse or bag so that in the event of an overdose, you can save someone’s life.

Navigating News Consumption in a Time of Social Media

media posts in your feed that are related information is accessible to everyone. prominent, it is not new. In 2002, a terIn an era dominated by technology, to what you have previously interacted Contrary to this, traditional news outlets rorist suicide bombing by Hamas killed social media has emerged as a source of with. This leads consumers to go down adhere to journalistic ethics, including 30 and injured 140 Israelis at a Passover information for many, causing the landrabbit holes of a specific viewpoint on fact-checking and an editorial process. event. Israel soon after raided Hamas’ scape of news consumption to undergo a a topic; this approach can be problemWhen letters to the editors are submitted hub in Jenin, located in the West Bank. transformative shift. With the increase in atic as it neglects diverse perspectives for publication in the Washington Post, “Palestinian sources originally claimed social media use globally; acquiring there were 3,000 dead in the street news from social media is inevitable. fighting, later lowering the tally to 500.

Although it may have benefits, it has An independent report found the actual major liabilities. number to be around 50, more than half According to Pew Research Cenof whom were terrorists. Despite the ter, 72% of the American population clarification, the myth of a Jenin massauses a form of social media. Popular cre persists,” wrote Ivana Stradner and social media platforms, such as InsDavid May, researchers for the Foundatagram, Facebook, and X (formerly tion Defense of Democracies.

Twitter), can be downloaded and As exemplified in the Russian inused at no cost - this significantly vasion of Ukraine, disinformation is contributes to their widespread common in warfare. In attempts to deny accessibility and provides many Ukraine’s right to exist and justify Ruswith free news. On the other hand, sia’s invasion and other exterminating commonly read newspapers in the acts against Ukraine, Russia asserted United States, such as the New York fake news and propaganda. Not only Times, the Wall Street Journal, and does this aim to justify, but it propels the Washington Post, are not free, hatred against Ukraine from Russian cihindering their accessibility. vilians and encourages Russian loyalty As stated by the New York Times, these allegations were labeled as untrue.

Courtesy of Pew Research Center “Offer for a New York Times All Misinformation is everywhere, and Data collected by the Pew Research Center that demonstrates the percentage of social media site’s users out are Access subscription - current subit can be incredibly harmful. However, U.S. adults who regularly get news on these platforms. scribers not eligible. Subscription when it is tied into bias, such as through excludes print edition. Some games social media, it reaches a larger audimay be available without a subscription. and is specifically risky as it may often for instance, they undergo a fact-checkence and can send consumers down a Your payment method will automatically foster or reinforce biases regarding news ing process as well. Because publication loophole in favor of a single perspective. be charged in advance the introductoconsumption. on social media is not cohesive with an This being said, social media still has ry offer rate of $4 every 4 weeks for 6 An additional risk that comes with editorial process as such, misinformation truthful and reliable information in some months and after 6 months the standard consuming information from social can easily filter into these platforms and circumstances. When consuming news rate of $25 every 4 weeks.” media or untrustworthy news sources is reach a broad audience before they are from these platforms, it is vital to be Social media is evidently a less costly the possibility of misinformation, othlabeled as libelous or false. aware of its negative attributes. Social platform, attracting a larger audience. An erwise known as ‘fake news.’ Anybody In times of war, people are eager to media should not be a primary source additional asset that social media offers on social media has the capability to see raw and unfiltered accounts. Amidst of information for anyone. However, in is its relatability and capability to conpost almost anything they want, with the current events, such as the Israel-Hamas instances where news is gathered from nect with individuals on a personal level exclusion of specific censorships. Conwar, it is imperative for consumers to social media, it is imperative to fact- this is achieved through algorithms. sequently, the capability to put out infor- consider any and all possible bias or check information with reliable news Instagram, for example, curates social mation and claim it as news and reliable misinformation. While this is currently sources to confirm its accuracy.

Quintessa Frisch, Editor-in-Chief

December 2023

Shedding Light on

SKIER

OPINION

PAGE 6

A Letter to the Senior Class of 2024 as 2023 Departs

Light Therapy

Sara Michelin, Staff Writer

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), commonly referred to as seasonal depression in the media, occurs when the days get shorter and the air gets colder. As a result of the lack of sunlight during the winter months, serotonin levels are lacking as well. Almost half a million people have recurring seasonal depression in the US. According to The Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of SAD can include changes in sleep, appetite, or weight, as well as feeling anxious, angry, and fatigued.

Some doctors recommend light therapy for SAD and standard depression.

Light therapy uses a light box that mimics outdoor light. Generally, a lightbox emits 10,000 lux of light and produces as little UV rays as possible.

This kind of light is meant to trigger a chemical shift in the brain to improve mood and reduce the symptoms of SAD. Light boxes are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so you can purchase one without a prescription, but the cost may not be covered by your health insurance provider.

To properly use a light box, you want to set it up 16 to 24 inches away from you and be sure to not look directly at the light since it is bright. Use the box within an hour of waking up for about 30 minutes. Note that if you are someone who is new to light therapy, you may want to start with shorter increments.

Light therapy is convenient, given that you can use it while reading in the morning, or simply eating breakfast.

It is a noninvasive tool, providing an alternative option to help with SAD rather than taking medication.

While light therapy might work for some, it does not work for all. You may want to avoid this treatment if you have sensitive skin, eye conditions, or a history of skin cancer.

There are also side effects, like a lot of treatments. Some have reported headaches, eye strain, insomnia, euphoria, fatigue, and irritability. If you use a light box properly, these side effects are rare. Talk to your doctor if you think light therapy is a good option for you.

Achieving results with light therapy takes time, and requires consistent use. It is important to understand that everyone’s mental health story is unique While seasonal depression passes as the summer rolls around, it is just as valid. This is a reminder to check up on your friends and family and ask how they are doing.

The senior class poses for their first and last senior sunrise on the turf at AHS on Sept. 26, 2023.

Dear AHS Seniors, I am writing to you in response to this chaotic and challenging time we are all facing right now. As we approach the beginning of the end of our high school journey, I find myself reflecting on the whirlwind of experiences we have gone through, the feelings we have collectively felt, and the countless memories we have all created over the past three years. The challenges we have faced, the uncertainties we have navigated, and the amount of resiliency we have developed as the AHS class of 2024 have truly been inspirational to me as well as our community.

The first quarter of this year was hectic, to say the least. While trying to plan our future at such a young age and simultaneously maintaining acceptable academic standings, we have all been so preoccupied it has been difficult to find the time needed to fully embrace our senior year. However, as this busy time is hopefully slowing down, we must pull ourselves out of the strong current of academics to soak up the last months of our high school experience. For many the strong river ahead may still be uncertain, but the collective spirit of our senior class can serve as the tongue of a river to follow and guide the way.

Reach out to your classmates, share your experiences, and support those who may be facing their own unique struggles. We are a community and

our strength lies in our ability to come together in times of need.

It seems like this part of the year will never come to an end, trust me I know. Regardless, it is important for us to discover different outlets and new interests to keep us - somewhat sane. Balancing never-ending amounts of school work and college applications at the same time is not easy. But, spending every waking moment that you are not at school sitting in a dark room with glazed eyes glued to your computer is no way to live. It’s our senior year! Let’s make the most of it!

Recently I completed an essay for college, exploring the value of simplicity.

Living in an ambitious mountain town has developed a competitive environment, propelling us to engage in all possible opportunities. Although it is fun to participate in various activities all in a short period of time, it is also important to slow down in order to gain more enriching experiences.

In order to apply these concepts to our lives in and outside of school, we need to focus on our priorities. By prioritizing school work with a balanced mix of spending time outside or doing something that we love, we will be able to manage our time, reducing our daily stressors to a much more manageable level.

Although these anxious times won’t completely diminish, making time to engage in something that you enjoy, or even just spending a couple of minutes

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Slossberg

outside in nature will allow for a more balanced lifestyle as we continue to navigate one of the most important times in our lives. Throughout the first and second quarters, I have been trying to say “yes” more to opportunities. I, along with the rest of you, only have a couple of short months left in high school, and I have found it so important to take up experiences that you normally would not participate in.

That’s a wrap on this one, seniors. I hope you have been inspired by some of these ideas to help you maintain your mental health during this overwhelming time. As we continue through our final year of high school, just promise me this. Go easy on yourself. Remember to breathe. And most importantly, remember to have fun. We are all doing our best and that is enough. Keep crushing it and in times of doubt, just think about how rewarding it is going to walk across that stage, the crowd cheering loudly, and finally receiving our diplomas.

As we approach the end of 2023, we are about to enter OUR year. 2024 is about to be filled with so many smiles and exciting news as in this same year we will be graduating from high school and moving on to the next steps of our lives. The end of all of our hard work is so incredibly close. All of the blood, sweat, and of course, tears are finally going to pay off. I believe in all of you.

Tips up and go class of 2024!

December 2023

SKIER

OPINION

PAGE 7

Has Consumerism in the 20th Century Corrupted The Holidays?

Sara Kershow, Staff Writer

Every year there seems to be an increasing pressure to buy your loved ones gifts during the holiday season, for if you don’t it may seem like you don’t care about them. But is a gift that will probably be thrown away within a year, actually the best way to show your love during the holidays? The culture of consumerism in America and around the world has corrupted the holidays into a capitalist’s heaven, and the working class nightmare.

All religious and non-religious holidays during November and December include an element of gift-giving. There are some traditional gifts given for holidays like Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, but overwhelming commercialization has put a burden on people and our planet while celebrating the holidays.

The exchange of gifts for many holidays like Diwali and Christmas is age-old and the custom of gift-giving has always been to celebrate a joyful time of year. Gift-giving has always had good intentions, to help the people who need it, to show love to your friends and family, and to spread joy during the changing of the year. The practice of giving gifts for Christmas, Diwali, Kwanzaa, or even Haunakkah is not inherently bad, but the way that we go about it might be.

Christmas Gift giving during Christmas is an ancient tradition, beginning with gift giving during the new year at Stonehenge.

Later on during the Roman period, Saturnalia was one of the most popular holidays celebrated by the Romans. It was celebrated around the winter solstice and was a time when people feasted, small gifts were exchanged like lambs and toothpicks, many social norms were disregarded. However, once Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the tradition of giving gifts was credited to the biblical story of Magi giving gifts

of frankincense, gold, and myrrh to baby Jesus.

Gift-giving during the holidays has always been in addition to rowdy feasting and drinking. Until a Turkish saint called St. Nicholas who is said to have helped a poor man pay his daughter’s dowries by putting gold down their chimney, falling into the socks they had hanging to dry on their fireplace, thus the beginning of stockings.

Dutch settlers who came to America brought with them the tale of St. Nicholas, to them SinterKlaas who eventually turned into Santa Claus as we know him today.

The Victorians are the ones to credit with changing Christmas into a family-centered, wholesome holiday. During the age of industrialization it was much easier to acquire small gifts for children and all loved ones, the tradition of having gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve was born. Even today gifts are given on different days in different countries such as St. Nicoulas’s Day, in parts of Eastern Europe. Epiphany in catholic countries for example Spain, Italy, and Mexico.

Hanukkah Traditionally Hanukkah had no gifts associated with it, and historically Jewish people have not paid it much attention.

In the 20th century around the time that obscene amounts of Christmas gifts were being given and received, Jewish parents started giving their children gifts for Hanukkah. Large companies found a market in Hanukkah gifts and ran with it. Hanukkah is not the most important holiday in Judaism but it’s one of the most celebrated holidays by Jewish Americans. Gifting during the celebration of Hanukkah would not be the same without the successful commercialization of Christmas.

Commercialization The values and properties that are the

holidays have significantly changed come from a source that you know proin the past century, causing a wave of duces high-quality pieces that will last, overconsumption and waste created try checking Good on You, a website during the holidays. In the U.S. alone that gives input on how sustainable difit’s predicted that Americans will spend ferent stores are. It’s also important to about 957.3 billion U.S. dollars during make sure that the recipient of your gift the holidays in 2023. Additionally, since wants and will utilize your gift. Giving Covid 19 the culture of shopping has just to give is fun but gifting your loved shifted significantly towards online shop- ones clutter they have to deal with is ping, which has many adverse effects on not. Giving an experience and reusing the planet due to carbon emissions from wrapping and decorations are both ways shipping and the waste of packaging. to watch your waste this holiday season.

According to NEEF, Americans returned Some families even wrap their presents $816 billion in products in 2022, and in reusable bags. Wrapping in reusable shockingly almost 80% of returns get bags allows you to wrap multiple gifts thrown away. Not to mention the average throughout the season as well as repurAmerican throws away 4.9 pounds of pose the bags after the holidays have trash per day, the gift of items that will passed. Taking a dive into the history most likely be thrown away or break will of the holidays and trying old traditions only make this number continue to grow. can be another great way to celebrate The waste from Christmas decorations, the holidays more sustainably. I recomgift wrap, holiday food, and travel all mend reading Christmas in Aspen by leave a dent in the health of our earth.

Jill Sheeley to understand the origins Gifting extra clutter may also give your of Christmas as we know it. I hope you loved one the gift of stress and anxiconsider the gift of our planet while ety, in many cases, clutter can lead to holiday shopping this winter season. increased stress levels which is not what we want our loved ones dealing with during and after the holiday season.

You Can Celebrate the Holidays Sustainably There are so many ways to responsibly consume during the holidays while still spreading joy, supporting local or small businesses, and celebrating the end of a year and the Photo by Sara Kershow start of a new one.

A Christmas display in AJ’s Grocery Store in Phoenix, Arizona on Nov. Make sure the gifts 21, 2023. that you are giving

The Significance of Seasonal Gratitude All Year Long Rylee Smith, News and Sports Editor

The snow is falling and the string lights are displayed across trees and lamp poles every which way, signaling the arrival of another holiday season. This season consists of major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more. The holiday season is a period of gratitude, centered around the importance of being in the presence of loved ones.

In definition, gratitude is defined as the “quality of being thankful” accompanied by a readiness to, “show appreciation for and to return kindness.” Now, this is the general definition given by a generic Google search and Oxford Language, yet it describes gratitude as both something to receive and simultaneously give.

Gratitude is an important concept in our society today in order that we may grow in authenticity through the simple expression of one’s thanks toward life.

Though gratitude may look different depending upon the individual, it all surrounds a general appreciation for what and who we have.

Senior Ella Pendarvis defined this grat-

itude as, “recognizing the things in your life that are important and feeling the full impact of how they have benefited and changed your life.”

Whether it’s a family dinner, a laugh with a friend, a meal, the outdoors, or a simple breath, gratitude should become a crucial part of not only the holiday season but our everyday activities. Not to say that in some ways it may be difficult to feel, yet when we take a second to look around at what we have been given, it has the ability to change both our outlooking perspective and interaction with others.

Senior, Zala Smalls defines this gratitude as, “a conscious and aware thought,” and for her, this includes, “ the environment and the places that I have grown up in and how they have shaped me. I am also grateful for my family and all that they have done and made possible for me.”

Gratitude can revolve around objects, experiences, and most importantly people. Similar to gratitude, the holiday season is also associated with giving back to those around you.

Senior, RJ Stoll explained his expression of thanks as, “giving back to my family through cooking dinner, cleaning up the house, and keeping my room in order, just to make sure they are happy.”

In this holiday season, snow indefinitely surrounds our valley which is one of the many reasons one might feel gratitude. Stoll added, “I am grateful for the beautiful place we live in, the mountains, and I am definitely more grateful during the winter, being able to go skiing and spend time with my friends on the mountain.”

Other students described their expression of gratitude by telling others they love them and being there for them.

Staff member Nadia Vonderhaar said, “I am grateful for my family and for the people whom I love. I don’t think it is necessarily connected to particular seasons of the year. It is truly about the people in my life.”

Though gratitude is often a repeating emblem during the holiday season, it does not necessarily depend upon the season surrounding us but rather a decisive choice to appreciate everything

from simple to large details within our outer environment and inner community.

Small actions like a hug, being a helping hand, or directly telling others you are grateful can be used to express one’s thanks toward these gifts. Or maybe it is just internal knowledge that they/it is valuable.

Senior, Montana Flynn added, “I make sure I say I love you and thank you and try to give back to the ones who gave to me.”

So here’s your time to take a second and think. Think about someone who makes you happy or something that you enjoy doing, or an opportunity you were given…the list goes on. Though gratitude may be hard at times, it can be beneficial to slow down and realize how far you may have come and how it was made possible through the support around us and the things we love, driving us to become our very best. After all, life should be about love and appreciation for what we value.

December 2023

SKIER

A&E

PAGE 8

Dear You, All I Want for Christmas is a Book, From Your Loved Ones

Addy Christensen, News & Sports Editor

It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and many other winter celebrations are upon us. Trees will soon be put up, lights strung across towns, menorahs set out, and families gathered together. This also means those presents you’ve been meaning to order are sold out. Cue the kicking and screaming.

It’s easy to want to pull out all the tricks to give your grandma, your dad, or your brother’s super hot best friend, who may or may not be the actual love of your life, the perfect gift. But sometimes it’s hard to do so. Time, overthinking, doubt, and in some cases laziness, lead you to get them a ratty old pair of socks.

Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place. With the help of myself and expedited shipping (truly one of the top innovations of this era), you won’t be diagnosing yourself with a crippling case of unpreparedness this festive season.

Say goodbye to the embarrassing moment when your brother asks what you got mom for Christmas and the answer is nothing. Or the urge to order everyone on your list the same t-shirt they got last year. I have the exact subsidy in mind to give for every holiday this winter: a book.

As of now, you may be doubting, and I must say I understand. I mean, who reads in this day and age?

Am I right? But trust me on this one: a good book can change someone’s life in a second. A

word, a sentence, or a page is all it takes to catapult someone into a different time period, world, or place that they’ve never been before. Books can inspire creativity, learning, and joy. A book is truly magic.

Plus, a little birdie told me that your friends, family, or significant other (real or imaginary) keep saying they always want to read more. Might as well contribute to their long-strung goal.

But you can’t just get them any old book, no, no, no. You have the job as a friend, sibling, child, or grandchild to get them THE book that will change their lives forever. One they will talk about and recommend for years to come.

FANTASY Starting off, calling all fantasy lovers!

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the thrilling tale of Violet Sorrengail, who has grown up knowing she wouldn’t amount to much. A quiet life, full of solitude, books, education, and little else, is what she has yearned for. She aims to stay invisible, minimally noticed among her peers at Basgiath College in the mystical land of Navarre. All Violet wants is to fade into the background of history.

Unfortunately, her mother is a wellknown general, so Violet’s life could not be farther away from the one she truly wants. Violet is especially and quite suddenly rocked when she is forced to train to become one of the elite in her world, a dragon rider.

There is no shortage of all things dragon, magic, and romance in Fourth

Wing. The trio of any good fantasy book, obviously. Yarros’s first book in the predicted series of five is a perfect addition to any magical fantastical story lover’s shelf or any loved one who is a beginner reader of the genre. Be sure to pair this bad boy with the new Iron Flame for the ultimate package. You won’t be sorry.

ROMANCE This one is for my friends who live for the single dad romance troupe, want yet another book boyfriend we all wish was real, and are mildly (scratch that; incredibly) obsessed with Christmas.

Annie Ellis’s Inn Love for Christmas is a cozy romance set in the frosty mountains of Sugar Creek, Vermont, where Lucy Sweet attempts to find true love following her ex-boyfriend, Erik, to his family reunion. After being left once again, Lucy is forced to fend for herself in the quaint East Coast ski town. Desperate and lost, she finds herself at the Sugar Creek Inn, and something unexpected along the way.

Torin is a single dad reminiscing over the last two years without his wife.

With a four-year-old daughter and now his parents struggling inn to take care of, there’s a lot on his plate, and absolutely no chance of romance, until one fateful night, when Lucy (quite literally) falls into his arms.

There’s also lots of mistletoe, Scandinavian men, and a toe-curling kiss that changes everything. Your friends and family won’t want to return to reality after finishing this one. In fact, you might

need to pick up an extra copy.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer is another honorable mention for the hopeless romantic (I know it’s secretly you).

Rachel Rubenstien-Goldblatt has a secret she can never tell her Jewish family.

She loves Christmas and writes romance novels exclusively about the holiday.

Encouraged by her publisher to write a Hanakuh romance, Rachel decides to attend the Matzah Ball to gain inspiration and hopefully find her own match.

Until she comes face to face with her old nemesis, Jacob Greenberg.

Rachel can’t seem to stay too far from her old summer camp bully, but they can’t seem to get enough of each other over time. Maybe Hanukkah is what she needed after all.

THRILLER Who doesn’t love a shady law firm story? A new John Grisham novel, The Exchange, has been released just in time for you to snag one for the mystery lover in your life. A sequel to the infamous The Firm, The Exchange continues to follow the story of lawyer Mitch McDeere and his wife, Abby. Years after narrowly escaping a death sentence at a law firm in Memphis, Mitch is a successful partner at the largest law firm in the world in New York. His life in Manhattan is like heaven compared to his early days as an attorney at the Firm in Tennessee.

Until the call. And he finds himself in danger, all over again. Dun, dun, dun!

Happy holidays and happy reading!

gingerbread became associated with all things fancy and elegant in England. The carved, white architectural details found on many colonial American seaside homes is sometimes referred to as “gingerbread work”. Similar to the classic Victorian-style houses.

However, Gingerbread houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. The elaborate cookie-walled houses, decorated with foil in addition to gold leaf, became associated with Christmas tradition. Their popularity rose when the Brothers Grimm wrote the story of Hansel and Gretel. In the famous story, the main characters stumble upon a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest.

Over the past several centuries the art of gingerbread houses has evolved into a more competitive activity. A range from friendly competition for world records to deadly competition amongst siblings.

On a more local level, Your typical DIY gingerbread house kit purchased at a supermarket usually produces a modest gingerbread shack. Two of Colorado’s premier resorts, the St. Regis in Aspen and the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs are not messing around when it comes to gingerbread. They take the traditional gingerbread house to a whole new level of holiday spirit.

Here is your disclaimer: your gingerbread house does not need an entire farm of butter and sugar to be perfect.

The secret to a good gingerbread house lies in the materials used to decorate it.

The candy for the gingerbread house makes them what they are. It is best to use a variety of candy and colors when decorating. On that note, here are some ideas…

M&MS AND MINI M&MS In holiday colors (of course) M&Ms are perfect for creating patterns and designs on any part of the gingerbread house. They are especially perfect for covering up seams or lining edges.

MIKE & IKES Mike & Ike’s can be used as lights, or on roofs or along seams. It will give the look of a classic Clark Griswold house from Christmas Vacation. The gingerbread neighborhood will love you. The more the better, go big or go home, trust me.

MINI CANDY CANES A classic gingerbread house staple. Are you even a real gingerbread architect if you don’t use mini candy canes for your gingerbread house? Or to give your gingerbread bachelor some wheels, two candy canes can be used to make little sleighs, a “gingerarri”. Or for more of a lovey dovey winter gingerbread honey moon you can lean two together to make a cute heart shape.

GUMDROPS Gumdrops. A classic addition. Centuries of gingerbread architecture have included them. Buddy Elf has seen them in their natural habitat when he, “passed through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, through the sea of swirly-

twirly gumdrops, and then walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.” They are perfect for lining up at the peak of the roof, or arranging around the base of the house.

LIFESAVERS Green Lifesavers are perfect for wreaths. Add a red mini M&M for a makeshift “bow” on top and you’re all set.

PULL N PEEL TWIZZLERS These flexible skinny ropes are great for making bows! Acting just like rope you can tie them in knots and wrap up your house like a present. They are also awesome for outlining windows or hiding seams.

NERDS Sometimes you need tiny pieces of candy for gingerbread house decoration, and Nerds are a great choice. They may be hard to work with, but with the right dedication your gingerbread house will look like it belongs in the high-rent district. They work great as little ornaments on trees, or even as tiny lights.

STARBURST The universal candy that can transition between holidays. Time to reuse the candy from your trick or treating and slap them onto your gingerbread house.

Starburst is like candy clay, it can be flattened and shaped into any size or shape.

A Reader’s Guide to Crafting a Gingerbread House

Greta Holton, Staff Writer

This is the season that cookie real estate values are booming. The month of December is full of new gingerbread listings on the market. Some properties range from ginger-shacks to ginger-mansions with a full-sized chocolate lap pool. The style of the estates is all determined by the architect’s vision: colorful chimneys, pretzel shingles, gum drop wall sconces, or even candy cane framed windows.

The history of Gingerbread houses dates way back. According to Rhonda Massingham Hart’s Making Gingerbread Houses, the first known recipe for gingerbread came from Greece in 2400 BC. Chinese recipes were developed during the 10th century and by the late Middle Ages, Europeans had their own version of gingerbread. The hard cookies are sometimes decorated with gold leaves and shaped like animals, kings, and queens. They were a staple at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland and Germany.

Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies in this fashion after she had some made to resemble the dignitaries visiting her court. Over time some of these festivals came to be known as Gingerbread Fairs, and the gingerbread cookies served there were known as the iconic treat. The shapes of the gingerbread changed with the season, like flowers in the spring and birds in the fall. Elaborately decorated

December 2023

SKIER

NEWS

PAGE 9

Has Tik Tok Changed The Culture of Reading?

Sara Kershow, Staff Writer

Imagine you meet someone new and instantly connect over your love for reading, they read classics, while you read romance. Instantly you will never be friends because classics are seen as snobby, and romance is ‘not real literature.’

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, reading has grown in popularity, with 2021 being the highest recorded book sales in over 20 years.

Reading has been a hobby worldwide since the beginning of time, but the genres and demographics of people reading have recently shifted with the rise of Book-tok and Book tube, targeting a younger audience and promoting books solely for entertainment purposes.

During the difficult times of the pandemic and years after, reading became an escape for many people. Specifically, romance books written by author Emily Henry. In 2023, the fantasy genre also got lots of hype in mainstream media due to the extremely popular book Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Starting in 2020 a shift occurred regarding what genres were popular specifically in the media.

Literature and entertainment fiction are distinguished by whether there is a

deeper meaning within the text. At the same time, literature is fantastic and fun to read but it is not the most accessible way to start for people of differing backgrounds and educations. Many pieces of literature, especially the ones read in schools, are hard to read and understand.

This manufactures a belief that all books are like this the only books people are exposed to are works of literature.

Romance and fantasy are mainly female-dominated genres for both the authors and the readers. The validity of the genre has been questioned for decades. The rise in popularity of reading for entertainment alone, in genres partially dominated by females, is not bad.

This shift may be helping more people become literate past their school years.

Overall, book sales have gone up from the pandemic, but reading scores from within high schools and middle schools have dropped significantly, to a level that is concerning. This begs the question of whether kids are even reading their school books. The answer is more likely to be yes in recent years.

Books read in schools used to be solely classics, but reading hard-to-understand classics discourages students from ever reading again. In schools today, more and modern literary fiction is being

assigned, like Homegoing and The Things They Carried. The rise of books written to entertain people that are more accessible to larger demographics regardless of education and the addition of easier-to-understand literary fiction in schools provide a hopeful future for reading.

Photo by Sara Kershow Stacks of well-loved stories await their next

In many ways, this shift was so significant because it created a space where reading was more accessible and didn’t feel like it was only for the smart and rich, who could understand classics. It also painted someone who reads in a more positive light by bringing aware-

ness to the media.

This also happened when corporate bookstores like Barnes and Noble and small local bookstores needed it. With the rise of Amazon, sales from book-only retailers were at an all-time low, but the resurgence of romance, fantasy, and general fiction novels helped to save Barnes and Noble from going under.

There is the argument that the quality of literature is getting increasingly watered down because more people read for entertainment. Genres like romance and fantasy are gaining popularity, overpowering the attention of more regularly celebrated literary fiction and classic genres. Many people want the reputation of reading to be separate from entertainment rather than deepening knowledge of the world and dissecting the deeper meaning of literature. Because reading has become more popular, publishers may very well publish mediocre books, and people may read them not believing that there is anything better.

Whether you believe romance novels are worth your time or not, the popularity of reading is invaluable to struggling bookstore owners and children who have grown disdain from reading through school. Reading is still reading no matter what you read.

Hot Take: Moon Boots are NOT a Hot Take because this is the start of the end.

I get it, the comfort of a safety shoe that goes with ‘every outfit’ is appealing, but at the cost of fashion?

Walking through town during the winter is full of Jordan, Sambas, and Converse sightings; if it isn’t one of the five repeated sneaker brands, you’re usually seeing UGG slippers or Dr. Martens, (which in my opinion do NOTHING for you on the icy sidewalks and roads). Aspen’s favorite funky boot is being booted from the beloved town it has called home for decades; there needs to be a stop to this atrocity before it’s too late, or the iconic moon boot legacy will be gone forever.

So why the sudden change of heart in Aspen fashion trends? The answer lies in the youth who’ve opted for a more minimalistic approach. When this change occurred is Photo by Gia Galindo Bartley unclear, but nevertheTeens pose for a photo in the City Market isle while rocking moon less, the optics of the boots situation are unac-

Gia Galindo Bartley, Opinion/A&E Editor

Moon Boots: Formally Aspen’s favorite piece of tourist gear, most commonly paired with microwave jackets and lip filler. Brought to the world of ski resort-chic in the 70s and is now unfortunately, a trend of the past. Say goodbye to classic Aspen fashion,

ceptable. Just three years ago, teenagers all over the country were running around in demonias, bright colored sweater vests, and cow print bucket hats. Granted, many of these trends were interesting, to say the least - but the idea still applies.

One theory of why everyone suddenly hates moon boots is mob mentality. If your friend hates something, nine out of ten times you’ll start to hate it too. Especially in high school environments when the opinions of your peers matter - or so teens believe.

Who first started hating the most fabulous funky boot remains a mystery, but the issue still remains.

Another theory is tourists. Locals will do anything in their power to differentiate themselves from the people that plague our town every winter season (rightfully so). However, we can’t all be ski bums (no matter how hard I try to achieve perfect slut strands and braids under my helmet every year).

Looking cute AND skiing sometimes makes you look like a tourist, and I think we as a town need to accept that fact of life. I mean, who doesn’t want to look like they just popped out of the 70’s when hitting the slopes?

Moon Boots are the foundation of a classic winter-in-Aspen fit whether you would like to admit it or not.

Sure, they don’t go with everything like your Nike Blazers, but that’s the beauty of them. Hate to break it to

all of you avid Moon Boot haters out there, but they truly are the perfect winter boot. Warm, comfy, good on ice and snow, and available in dozens of fun colors and styles, there’s literally nothing wrong with them.

You can count on me walking through the halls looking like an astronaut this winter because as soon as over three inches of snow hit the ground, I’ll be rocking my pair of tall, and short moon boots all season long. I hope you all do the same and embrace looking like a tourist for a season. Don’t worry, I’m not buying a microwave jacket (yet).

December 2023

SKIER

a

e

PAGE 10

Top 5 Non-Holiday Songs to Put on Your Playlist This Winter

Quintessa Frisch, Editor-in-Chief and Gia Galindo Bartley, Opinion and A&E Editor

There is more to winter songs than holiday music. Let’s face it: when you start listening to holiday music during Thanksgiving, it gets a little tiring by the end of Winter - especially after the holiday season and when the snow here doesn’t seem to melt until May. Nevertheless, as winter approaches, there’s no better way to welcome the new season than to make a new playlist. So pack up your fall playlist, and follow our carefully selected guide to the top 5 non-holiday songs to make up your winter playlist if you want this Winter to top all the others.

Song 1: Mariners Apartment Complex

by Lana Del Ray With the sun setting earlier and afternoons seeming to be taken over by darkness, seasonal depression can kick in and make you feel lost. However, the New Year offers a time for reflection and a new opportunity for growth and self-awareness. This is captured perfectly in Lana Del Ray’s “Mariners Apartment Complex,” specifically through the lyrics:

your cure. Arctic Monkeys scream ‘winter playlist,’but if this song is not up to your liking, then “I Wanna Be Yours,” “Do I Wanna Know?” and “505” are equally good options.

and one by one, we all fall victim to cuffing season at one point or another.

But once the holiday season is over, and all those winter break flings crash and burn, what do we have left? That’s right, Aspen’s favorite winter event: the X

ner.” What are you doing if you haven’t seen How to Lose a Guy in 10 days?

While not particularly a winter movie, after all the hype set around it last December, it’ll always hold a special place in my heart during the cold months.

When reflecting on a failed relationship, “You’re So Vain” compliments “Doses & Mimosas” perfectly. While it remains a winter classic in my world, if that winter fling turns into a failed summer fling and it happens to play during August, I won’t tell anyone.

“You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht Your hat strategically dipped below one eye Your scarf it was apricot You had one eye in the mirror, as youwatched yourself gavotte And all the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner They’d be your partner and You’re so vain You probably think this song is about you”

“Catch a wave and take in the sweetness Think about it, the darkness, the deepness All the things that make me who I am.”

If you are looking to take the deepness and darkness of winter and make the best out of it as you can, this song is essential for your playlist. Consider this song and make this season one of self-discovery.

Plus, what’s a playlist without at least one Lana Del Ray song?

Song 2: Knee Socks by the Arctic Monkeys Summer flings can be lots of fun.

However, we all know winter is the perfect time to fall in love. While holiday festivities are much more fun with someone by your side, so are snow activities like skiing, sledding, and building snowmen. If you want a love song to listen to and relate to in the coldness of winter, then “Knee Socks” by the Arctic Monkeys is your song. “Knee Socks” is about falling in love with a girl and is explicitly set in winter, as seen through the lyrics: “Well, you cured my January blues Yeah, you made it all alright.”

If you want to get through January, the coldest month of the winter, our advice is to listen to this song. Much like the girl talked about in the piece, it will be

Photo by Quintessa Frisch AHS Junior Darienne Kenny listening to “Doses & Mimosas” by Cherub, an essential song for the perfect winter playlist.

Song 3: Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine If you are looking for a much calmer song after listening to “Knee Socks,” Lizzy McAlpine’s “Ceilings” is the perfect option. “Ceilings” also focuses on the topic of love, but through the lens of a dreaming teenage girl - let’s be honest, this is probably more relatable to you.

With the below-freezing weather, winter is a cold and uncomfortable season, as hinted at through the lyrics: “You’re kinda cute, but it’s raining harder My shoes are now full of water Lovely to be rained on with you.”

Replace ‘rain’ with ‘snow,’ and it’s perfect. Through the distress of Winter, finding someone to help you through these cold months is key. However, as tempting as cuffing season is, we both know this isn’t as easy as it sounds. If you can’t seem to find someone to make it bearable, just put this song on repeat, and you’re halfway there.

Song 4: Doses & Mimosas by Cherub Sure, getting cozy and sentimental is a common theme throughout the holidays,

Games. Buckle up because the weekend of X Games is always one to remember, and what better way to celebrate than with every frat boy’s favorite song: “Doses & Mimosas” by Cherub?

“Something’s gotta give soon Or I’m gonna lose it Substance abuse it And never come down, down Fall off the deep end And forget my English What’s the point of language, If you don’t say what you feel” The winter season after the holidays tends to get a bit gloomy, so having hype songs is essential during the colder months. Other notable party songs to scream this winter break are “The Thrill”

by Wiz Khalifa, “Cola” by CamelPhat and Elderbrook, and “The Spins” by Mac Miller (before any of you try to argue that it’s a summer song because it talks about graduating; you’re wrong.)

Song 5: You’re So Vain by Carly Simon “And all the girls dreamed that they’d be Ben’s partner, they’d be Ben’s part-

The callout with the last line, “You probably think this song is about you,” remains one of the coldest verses to this day - I applaud Ms. Simon and thank whoever broke her heart. Thanks for taking one for the team - we all owe you one.

While these five songs are a good starting point for the best winter playlist yet, there are countless other options if these don’t quite complement your taste.

A few honorable mentions include “New Year’s Day ” by Taylor Swift, “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters, “Blue World”

by Mac Miller, “The View Between Villages” by Noah Kahan, and “Starman”

by David Bowie. If this flawless list is still not good enough for you, then check out the actual playlist!

Graphics by Trey Morissey

December 2023

SKIER

A&E

PAGE 11

From Fall Frost to Early Season Blankets Maddie McAllister, Head Photographer

Photo by Maddie McAllister The first heavy snowfall lays a blanket on Aspen Highlands the the surrounding mountains. This blanket of snow gets most locals and tourists excited for the hundreds of feet of snow to come in the coming weeks.

Photo by Maddie McAllister A view of the Tihack lift on a snowy morning makes locals more and more excited to hop on the soft slopes after Thanksgiving.

Photo by Maddie McAllister A bright and cold morning in early November shows the early snowfall for the upcoming 20232024 winter season.

Photo by Maddie McAllister A light overnight snowfall leaves the sights of fall still viewable on one side along with the sight of winter on the other.

December 2023

SKIER

A&E

PAGE 12