Heavy snow blankets Colorado peaks - Los Angeles Times
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Heavy snow blankets Colorado peaks

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From the Associated Press

A strong storm dropped up to 2 feet of snow in the Colorado high country Tuesday, replenishing ski resorts but making mountain travel treacherous and forcing some of the world’s top downhill skiers off the slopes.

“It’s a big one, a really big one today,†said Hanzi Arnold, a food and beverage manager at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, where the National Weather Service said 2 feet had fallen by Tuesday evening.

World Cup organizers canceled a men’s downhill practice at the Beaver Creek resort near Vail, saying the racers -- who can exceed 70 mph -- couldn’t see far enough ahead through the heavy snowfall. They also cited the threat of avalanches.

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The snow, which moved into the heavily populated Front Range on Tuesday afternoon, was expected to continue falling overnight and isolated spots in the mountains could get up to 3 feet, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Avery. Temperatures may drop as low as 20 below in the mountains, he said.

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