The state of Colorado sits landlocked in the middle of the nation with the mighty Rocky Mountains dominating the west and vast, sweeping plains to the east. The terrain and weather can be a dangerous combination when it comes to road travel. Deadly highway crashes are all too common with the mix of big rigs traversing the state via the Interstate system on I-70, I-76 and I-25 and inexperienced, out-of-state drivers on ski, wilderness and casino adventures.

Skiing and snowboarding are extremely popular in Colorado. During the 2007-2008 ski season, Colorado had 28 ski areas in operation according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The NSAA also reports that over 21 million skiers visited ski areas in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, during 2007-2008.