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No snow? No problem: CMC Leadville’s Ski-Down rides again

The worst snowpack year in Colorado's recorded history couldn't keep CMC Leadville's ski area operations students from keeping a long-loved graduation tradition alive. A few weeks ago, it didn't seem likely that the Ski-Down would happen. But with some concerted effort and snowmaking expertise, Dutch Henry Hill turned from brown to white and once again, Colorado Mountain College graduates and faculty rode and skied their way to commencement.

The 2026 Ski-Down generated media attention from John Meyer at The Denver Post to Matt Renoux at Channel 9 News in Denver to Cameron Barnard of the Leadville Herald and even Rick Seltzer of the Chronicle of Higher Ed in Washington D.C. who appreciated a fun story when he saw one. Photo by Joe Kusumoto