The YAK is a beloved Leadville and Lake County tradition, revived through the One Community Project to celebrate the stories, voices, and creative spirit that shape our community. The storytelling contest and community event, hosted April 25th, 2025, invited community members to share personal stories, poems, photography, art, and reflections that paint a rich and authentic portrait of who we are. Together, these stories help ground the future vision for Leadville and Lake County in the real hopes, challenges, and connections that define our community today.
A Leadville Life
Born and raised since day one
Never seen any different lifestyles
Snowing nine months out of twelve
Only about ten aisles
But that’s not the end of the fun
Though numbers few in daily sight
The world arrives in daylight
World entire
Gone by midnight
Except there’s much more to acquire
God’s painting every morning
Comes with the beautiful sights
Prepare for SkiJoring
Where Skiing; and Rodeos meet
People filling the street
Where beer is drank
All this but my face is blank.
That’s my Leadville life
No stranger here, no one alone,
In every face, a friend is shown.
For in this place, where hearts align,
We know each soul, and they are mine.
They say it’s cold
It’s really just brisk
Need more flour
But don’t forget to whisk
We have it here; power
That’s a Leadville life.
My DNA has been here for generations
I know to come prepared
Nothing beats HIS creations
Leadville family keeps me cared
Life in Leadville isn’t easy
And a Leadville life isn’t fair.
They say it’s better here
They say they care
Except when September falls
Their expectations don’t pair
Leadville Life
Leadville Life
Leadville Life.
It used to be Mining
But now it’s much more
They say it’s better here
Except I can’t stand it
It’s hard to stay here
I don’t want to be here anymore.
But what roots me back
What brings me back
Leadville will always be my home
I will always have; a Leadville Life.