Hey there, neighbor—
The sun’s sticking around longer, wildflowers are starting to pop, and things here at Pathfinder are buzzing right along. We’ve been tackling unpredictable weather, upgrading networks, dodging rogue branches (again), and getting ready for rodeo season.
As always, we’re keeping you connected—not just to fast, reliable internet, but to the stories and people that make our mountain towns feel like home.
Here’s what’s in this issue:
We’re back at the rodeo—guess what we’re sponsoring?
Line of sight and leafy surprises: what spring means for your Wi-Fi
Why one big-name competitor just raised prices again (and we didn’t)
- Basalt’s faster, Redstone’s next: find out what’s changing
- Meet Whelan, the Pathfinder guy you’ve probably seen around town
- Can you crack this quarter’s riddle?
Hometown Highlights:
Our People & Our Places
Employee Spotlight: Whelan Smith
Whelan Smith didn’t just join the Pathfinder team—he helped build the local internet scene from the ground up. Back in 2017, he co-founded Aspen Community Broadband as part of Project THOR. It quickly became his favorite part of his job in public sector IT. So, when Pathfinder came calling? “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” he says.
Now, as Director of Mountain Fiber Development (or, as he puts it, “a fancy way of saying I’m a project manager”), Whelan leads the charge on expanding Pathfinder’s fiber-optic infrastructure. His goal: bring faster, more reliable, symmetrical-speed internet to the people and places of Western Colorado. “Internet by Locals for Locals says it all,” he says. “We pride ourselves in providing the best internet to the best people.”
Whelan’s been rooted in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1993, when he moved back from Alaska and landed a job at the Chart House—where he also met his wife. Their kids were born at Aspen Valley Hospital and raised in Carbondale, and the family still calls the valley home.
In his off-hours, you’ll find him hiking Highland Bowl, paddleboarding the Roaring Fork, or trail running the Elk Traverse. And as for fishing? Don’t even ask.
“One of my favorite fishing holes I call Westbank Beach... if you know, you know. If not... well... I’m not going to tell you where it is.”
(We’re not saying he’ll spill if you ask nicely… but we’re not not saying it either.)
Want to talk fiber—or swap trail recommendations? Whelan’s your guy.
📬 Want to nominate someone for the next spotlight? Email us.
We’re Sponsoring the Wildest Event in the Valley
This summer, Pathfinder is proud to be the Calf Scramble Event Sponsor at the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo—a Thursday night tradition that’s as local as it gets.
From June 5 through August 21, the rodeo brings neighbors together with broncs, barrels, bull riding—and yes, kids sprinting after calves. It’s muddy, chaotic, and a blast to watch.
We’ll be there, boots on, cheering loud.
Hope to see you-too.
Tech U:
What the Big Guys Don’t Want You to Notice
Starlink Charges More in Congested Areas—Then Slows You Down
Starlink is now charging up to $250 just to sign up in “high-demand” areas. And even if you pay for their $150/month Priority plan, your speed can still drop to just 50Mbps once you hit a data cap.
Translation? You’ll pay more upfront—and still get stuck buffering.
At Pathfinder, we don’t throttle. We don’t charge congestion fees. And we definitely don’t think you should pay extra just because your neighbor’s binge-watching Yellowstone.
Tech Tips of the Month:
Spring Growth, Summer Storms
1. Trim for Speed
Summer’s great for BBQs and wildflowers… not so great for wireless internet.
If you’re on a wireless connection, your service depends on line of sight—a clear view between your receiver and our tower. But fast-growing trees, heavy branches, and overachieving aspens can block your signal just enough to cause lag or drops.
The fix:
- Trim back overgrown limbs, vines, or bushes near your antenna
- Skip placing patio furniture or new décor in your signal path
A little yardwork now = smoother streaming later.
2. Reboot After the Boom
Spring brings electrical storms—and your router doesn’t love them.
Even if you never lose power, voltage fluctuations can cause weird hiccups in your connection. So if your Wi-Fi starts acting up after a storm, don’t panic.
Just unplug your router, wait 10 seconds, plug it back in.
That single reboot clears up 99% of post-storm weirdness. If it doesn’t? We’re always here to help.
Update: Basalt’s Got More Bandwidth—
Redstone’s Up Next
Big news from down the road: we just wrapped a major upgrade in Basalt. Faster speeds, stronger connections, and a more stable experience are already live—thanks to new fiber installs and a fixed wireless refresh.
And we’re not stopping there. CO-133 and Redstone are next, with improvements rolling out this June
We’ve been out in the field—on rooftops, climbing towers, installing smarter gear—so folks in across the valley can stream, work, Zoom, and doomscroll without buffering.
It’s all part of our mission to connect the places the big guys overlook—and to follow through where their “Coming Soon” promises usually fade out.
Want Better Internet on Your Street?
Be the One Who Makes It Happen.
We love a good infrastructure project—but sometimes, all it takes is a roofline, a plug, and someone who says “sure.”
If you’re in a spot we haven’t reached yet, becoming a Pathfinder host helps us close the gap. You might get faster service, priority installs, discounts, and the satisfaction of knowing you helped your neighbors get better internet.
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Live at the edge of our coverage map? Hosting could bring service to your house—and your block.
Last Quarter’s Riddle:
I can be cracked, made, told, and played. I can be a key to your secrets, but I’m not a lock. What am I?
Answer: A joke!
Shoutout to everyone who guessed it—especially the person who submitted “my HOA board,” which honestly… also counts.
This Quarter’s Riddle:
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind.
What am I?
We’ll reveal the answer—and our favorite wrong guess—in next quarter’s newsletter.
That’s a wrap on your Q2 update—from leafy Wi-Fi fixes to rodeo sponsorships to Redstone’s big network glow-up.
As always, we’re proud to keep you connected—not just to fast internet, but to this incredible place we all call home.
Until next time,
—The Pathfinder Broadband Team
📞 970-808-0000
🌐 https://www.path-finder.us/
P.S. Don’t forget to wave if you see us on a tower.
