I heard a lot of grumbling at the trailhead yesterday about the new residential parking permits downtown. People were saying that paying seven hundred dollars a month to keep their trucks near their apartments is “exorbitant” or “a threat to the working class.” I honestly don’t see why everyone is so worked up.

If you break that seven hundred dollars down, it’s really just the cost of about twelve fancy avocado toasts or maybe four tanks of diesel if you’re idling while waiting for your buddy to finish waxing his skis. When you look at it through the lens of pure utility, you aren’t just paying for asphalt; you are paying for the privilege of not having to walk four blocks in your ski boots.

My buddy, Chad, who works mornings at the coffee shop and nights at the taproom, was worried about how this fits into his budget. I told him he just needs to be smarter about his gear rotations. If he sells his backup set of touring skis, he covers the parking permit for the entire winter season. It’s simple math. We all chose to live in the greatest ski town on earth, and you can’t expect to have a world-class mountain town and also have extra money left over for boring things like groceries or insurance.

I’m happy to pay it. It keeps the streets tidy and reminds us that if you can’t afford to store your vehicle in the heart of a boomtown, you’re just not prioritizing your turns enough. Besides, if you park far enough away, you get a solid warm-up walk in before you even reach the lift line.

Rick Tailgate works two jobs, skis 60 days a year, and believes strongly that his lifestyle is sustainable. His truck payment suggests otherwise.