12 Weirdly Specific Colorado Problems Only Locals Truly Understand

In Colorado, the struggle is real—whether it’s dodging tourists who can’t drive in snow, pretending altitude sickness is just a myth, or dealing with your weird obsession over Subaru ownership. Life here is a unique mix of outdoor pride and bafflingly specific frustrations. Grab your Patagonia fleece and craft beer, because here are twelve weirdly specific Colorado problems that only locals truly understand.

Endless frustration at out-of-state drivers during the first snow.

Come on, Texas plates—it’s just a dusting, not the apocalypse.

Constantly explaining that not everyone lives in Denver or skis every weekend.

Yes, Karen, we have actual jobs—and some of us prefer hiking anyway.

The outrage when your favorite brewery gets discovered by tourists.

Congratulations on your Instagram post; now the IPA is sold out.

Trying to find your white Subaru in a parking lot full of white Subarus.

It’s the official state car, right next to the Toyota Tacoma.

Having to defend Rocky Mountain oysters to horrified visitors.

Hey, it’s a delicacy—don’t knock ’em till you try ’em.

Adjusting your baking recipes to the altitude and still failing miserably.

Why are these cookies flat? High-altitude baking: 1, your ego: 0.

Realizing your “Fourteener” hike isn’t special because everyone at work climbed one last weekend.

“Only 14,000 feet? Cute.”

Always correcting tourists on the proper pronunciation of Buena Vista.

“It’s Byoo-na Vista, trust us—don’t make it weird.”

Pretending not to notice newcomers struggling with altitude sickness.

“Feeling dizzy? Just drink more water, rookie.”

Battling road rage on I-70 every single weekend.

If traffic is backed up, it must be ski season—or leaf-peeping—or summer.

Having a closet equally divided between summer clothes and blizzard gear.

Shorts in January, puffer jackets in May—it just makes sense here.

Secretly judging anyone drinking mass-produced beer.

We have 400 local breweries, Greg—expand your horizons.

If you’ve laughed knowingly or rolled your eyes at least three times, congratulations—you’re officially Colorado-approved. Sure, our problems might be oddly specific, but they’re a small price to pay for endless sunshine, incredible mountains, and the smug satisfaction of surviving another tourist-filled ski season. After all, there’s no place quite like the Centennial State.