Education

Hide and Seek

Find These Gems on San Juan Mountains Association’s Scavenger Hunt Article by Staff Writer GO WILD FOR WILDFLOWERS Summer wildflowers pop like fireworks on the Pass Creek Trail (#500) up to Engineer Mountain. Wildflowers are like your nose—resist picking! Flowers are a key food source for pikas and marmots, which eat dried wildflowers stored in their burrows over winter. Take pictures and create virtual bouquets instead. SCARS ARE HOT Did you know ponderosa forests, like those engulfing the...

July 2024

Life + Culture

Dark Sky Destinations

The Darker the Prairie, the Sweeter the Views Article by Zac Robinson | Photography by Rob Lovato, Justin Sutton & Mary Teraji Gem-toned leaves dripping off trees and sweeping mountain vistas—drives up US-550 easily fill a camera-roll with calendar-worthy shots of Southwest Colorado. But most tourists and locals neglect the best time to view this region’s splendors: nighttime! A near-perfect combination of high altitude, dry climate, and minimal light pollution combine to create world class...

July 2024

Education

Generation Wild

Exploration is an Expectation at the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County Article by Jenny Mason | Photography by Kathrene Frautschy Wade in a stream. Bury a time capsule. Watch a sunrise. On the official 100 Things to Do Before You Turn 12 list, young people are invited to explore life’s simpler pleasures. All too often, these pleasures are sidelined and ignored in today’s fast-paced, screen-based culture. Luckily, the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County (AKA The Club) is adept at...

July 2024

Food + Beverage

Fishing for Compliments

Wow Your Backpacking Buddies with a Fancy Al Fresco Fish Dish Article by Richie Samora This easy, trail-ready recipe will satiate and wow your band of backpacking pals! Ingredients 2-4 tbsp olive oil 1 fresh-caught trout  2-3 packets red wine vinegar 1 lemon garlic salt Sriracha powder packet of crackers Servings: depends on how hungry you are, how big that trout is, and how good your fishing skills are… Instructions Step 1. Catch your fish. Backcountry fishing requires flies or...

July 2024

Travel

Bet the Ranch

When the Time of Your Life Lights Up Your Lifetime Article by Staff Writer | Photography by Amanda Johnston Aching to travel, yet dreading the rigamarole of flying? Not sure how to entertain your summer visitors? Saddle up and head to the Colorado Trails Ranch, an all-inclusive dude ranch and resort surrounded by over two million scenic acres. For over six decades, this getaway has provided first-class hospitality. “One of our goals is to help our guests have a great time,” explains ranch...

July 2024

Sports + Recreation

Hook, Line, and Sinker

One Angler Confesses the Woes and Wows, Facts and Fish Tales of Fly Fishing Article by Jenny Mason Sunshine gilds the river’s rills and runnels in silver lamé. Birds chatter. Buggy clouds swirl over the water. Birds swoop and snatch these snacks. The cold current shoves your bare legs with steady pressure. A similar pressure shoves your hunter’s instincts to fool nature.  Your relaxed wrists and shoulders flick the long rod. Your line loops as it dances with the air. Your fly hovers, daubs...

May 2024

Shopping

Trailblazers

Featherweight Gear that Keeps Guys Traveling Light and Fast on the Trail Article and Photography by Brandon Mathis Today’s modern mountain man knows that lighter weight adds up to more comfort on the trail. Here are three products that will change the way you see trail essentials and allow you to travel farther faster.    The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 Mini Stove Kit This is a very light, compact and self-contained backcountry cooking system offering everything you need to boil water quickly and...

May 2024

Entertainment

Dad's Day Out

Five Father's Day Ideas to Connect and Have Fun Article and Photography by 1. Mesa Verde National Park Close to home and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park offers so much to see and do as a family. 2. Hike Our Amazing Trails It's free and fun for all ages!  3. Backyard BBQ Family, food, and laughs. Hit up Jack's at Nature's Oasis for their quality meat selection.  4. Sweet Treats Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will satisfy any dad's sweet tooth. 5. Durango Hot Springs Soak...

May 2024

Life + Culture

Men of Influence

Lessons on Leading By Example Article by Rachel Rosenthal We all have men in our lives who have influenced us in many ways, and the lessons they teach us have a lasting impact on how we walk through life. Durango is a community which prides itself on the many influential figures who help us. Here is just a small sampling of some of those influential men who inspire others through their work. Chad Cheeney Co-Founder and Coach at Durango DEVO & Head Endurance Coach for FLC Cycling   What...

May 2024

Arts + Culture

Durango's Beauty On Display

Ben Rogers Creates a Balance Between Nature and Urban Living Article by Rachel Rosenthal | Photography by Josh Cannon A new mural has bloomed on the corner of 8th and Main in Downtown Durango. It doesn't take a sleuth to see the amount of detail that has gone into creating the majestic creatures emblazoned on the side of one of Durango's longstanding establishments. "The wall immediately struck me as a perfect place for a mural -- the location, the texture of the stucco, the shape, and the...

May 2024