12 Tips for Writing a Coloradoan Character

Photo is Estes Park, Colorado 2011. Taken by Kate Ota

​Some caveats to this post: I lived in Colorado for nineteen years and moved away for college in 2011. I’ve been back, but places change. I lived in Fort Collins, which is north of Denver (45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic) and in a region known as the Front Range. Other regions may vary.
 
So, you want to write a book set in Colorado. Or maybe just a few key scenes. Perhaps one character grew up there and the book is set somewhere else entirely. But you’ve never been. This post is for you!

1. Pot was legalized in 2012 in Colorado. Before that pot existed, obviously, but it was still “hippy culture” and mostly associated with Boulder.
2. The mountains run down the approximate center of the state. The Eastern Plains are to the east, and plateaus are to the west. The Front Range (Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, anything north of Denver and close to the main highway I-25) are considered the foothills.
3. If a Coloradoan says “the highway”, they mean I-25. Yes, other highways are present, notably I-70. But I-25 is THE highway.
4. The airport in Denver is referred to as DIA (pronounced D-I-A) or the airport. Never DEN, even though that’s the airline code.
5. We have the neutral American accent. Colorado has a school where newscasters come and learn our accent so they have maximum national appeal and minimum regional accent.
6. Coloradoans navigate using the mountains. In Fort Collins, the mountains are west. Most of the time, if someone gave me directions, they would include how I’d be oriented to the mountains. This is more difficult in cities within valleys, like Boulder, so keep that in mind.
7. Sixth graders go up to the mountains for Eco Week (technically 3 days, but whatever). This, I’m pretty sure, is universal for the whole state. We learned about mountain flora and fauna and especially mountain safety. Every native Coloradoan knows what to do when confronted with bears, mountain lions, or snakes. We also know how to survive if we get lost in the woods.
8. The air is dry. Which means you won’t feel hot until it’s 95+ and won’t feel cold until it’s below 40. Even then, the cold rarely cuts through clothing like humid-cold does. Dry also means that food doesn’t get stale. I could have a box of goldfish open in the pantry for a year those suckers would still taste fresh. For contrast, in Virginia my goldfish get stale after about three weeks. Dry also means nosebleeds.
9. Altitude sickness is real and feels like a hangover. Headache, even nausea if you change altitude too fast. Drink water, breathe deep, and you’re fine. 
10. We master snow driving at a young age. They don’t cancel school for anything less than an actual emergency. If the school bus can get out of whatever parking lot they stay in, you can get your ten-year-old used Corolla out of your sloped driveway. God bless antilock breaks.
11. Fifth graders in Colorado (at least as of 2002) get free state-wide ski passes. This doesn’t include equipment rental, but it’s still a great deal. It maximizes how many people can ski. Lift passes are very expensive, but smaller local places are more affordable. For example, I never went to Vail or Aspen because YIKES. But we could go to Loveland Ski Area or El Dora multiple weekends in the winter.
12. A few more quick items for YA or MG writers: the state-wide testing is called the CSAPs. Colorado Student Assessment Program, done in March for grades 3-10. Prom is usually April, there’s a 50% chance of snow on prom night. Public school goes mid-August to late May, never beyond Memorial Day. Too many snow days can add days to the end of the school year or eliminate teacher work days. Halloween costumes are ALWAYS chosen/made with snow in mind. It always snowed before Halloween. Some kids had an indoor costume for parties and an outdoor costume for trick-or-treating. Every school has done school shooter drills since 2000.

 
Are you a writer who found this helpful? Maybe you were hoping for some specific information not listed here. Are you a Coloradoan who agrees? Or maybe a Coloradoan who disagrees? We can discuss in the comments!