Winter-Ready, Mountain-Steady: Your Q4 Connection Update

“There are only a few ways in and out of the Valley by road,” he says. “We don’t want the internet to work that way.”

The turning point came on a project where a national provider quoted an outrageous construction cost to a local customer—then backed out even after the customer agreed. “That was the moment we knew they’d never prioritize our community,”

Ande says. “If we wanted a network that worked for us, we had to build it, manage it, and stand by it ourselves.” 

Since then, Ande’s led projects that didn’t look possible on paper, like bringing fiber ten miles up Castle Creek Valley through rough terrain and rougher weather. The secret wasn’t magic gear; it was partnership. Crews from vendors like Sturgeon Electric and strong cooperation from the City of Aspen and Pitkin County Road & Bridge turned a long shot into a live connection. 

Ask him what really moves the needle for getting Pathfinder onto a new street, and he doesn’t hesitate: local champions.

“Demand matters, but what makes it real is a property owner, HOA, or building owner who’s willing to host equipment or conduit. Those partnerships are how we cross the last mile.” 

Looking ahead, Ande’s focused on expanding high-speed wireless, growing our fiber footprint in Basalt, deepening the partnership that powers free Wi-Fi at Basalt River Park, and rolling out new security and advertising tools to help local businesses compete.  

When he’s not talking infrastructure, you’ll find him at Village Smithy over a plate of Huevos Rancheros or hauling friends up to Glenwood Caverns to show off the valley he’s working so hard to keep connected.  

And yes, he’ll still tell you that turning a misbehaving router off and back on is underrated.