BY JOHN MEYER, JMEYER@DENVERPOST.COM

Pro tip regarding the women's downhill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday: Watching to see how Lindsey Vonn's knee holds up despite a ruptured ACL isn't the only reason to tune in. I have traveled to spectacular mountain destinations for work assignments in five European countries plus Canada, Japan and the Himalayas. The most beautiful I 've seen is Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Sunday's race will be held. The breathtaking Dolomite Range features spectacular steep peaks painted in enchanting hues of pink, white and gray. The downhill course has a narrow, super-steep chute between two enormous rock formations where racers hit 85 mph. I'll be watching Sunday morning, and you should, too.

Heads up

Weekend weather in the metro area will be sunny with forecast highs in the 60s. The mountains will remain sunny and dry with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s through Monday.

A cyclist rides past the warning sign about radioactive materials on the gate leading to the Colorado Highway 128 underpass in the area of Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The sign was posted in December “in response to requests from members of the public for additional signage,” a county spokesperson said. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

Your Weekly 5:

1. New signage outside of Colorado’s Rocky Flats warns public of "radioactive materials"
2. Town of Vail to make budget cuts as slow season affects revenue
3. Colorado skating, snowboard newbies should look to this Denver shop
4. Ruby Hill Rail Yard opened Sunday with new features
5. Skier injured, airlifted to hospital from Eldora Mountain Resort

Worth Your Time

Crested Butte's Cam Smith in action during the Sprint Race at the 2025 ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Championships last March in Monthey, Switzerland. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Crested Butte resident’s rise as face of U.S. ski mountaineering led to sport’s Olympic debut

Get Yourself Outdoors

The Vail Pass Recreation Area covers 85 square miles of the White River National Forest, offering exceptional backcountry skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. In this photo, Copper Mountain can be seen, looking southeast, and behind it peaks of the Tenmile Range. (John Meyer/Denver Post file)

You’ll find little or no avalanche risk at these 4 backcountry ski touring spots

More Headlines

• DIA wants to shave 13 seconds off travelers’ train waits using newer cars
• Colorado’s reintroduction of wolverines based on science, not ballot-box biology we saw with wolves (Opinion)
• Avalanche accidents near Keystone, Vail highlight need for caution even amid dry spell -- Vail Daily

DOG OF THE WEEK

Cooper

Cooper is very friendly, and loves all other dogs, adults and children. He is very playful and gets all his buddies running at the dog park," owner Nancy Madonna writes.

If you want your pup featured, email a photo and short description to tfries@denverpost.com.