LOCAL’S DAY Jan 13 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort
OUTLAW SNOWDOWN Feb 8-9 [Pagosa Springs] Town Park, outlawsnowdown.com
ROMANCE ON THE RAILS Feb 16 [Durango] D&SNGR, durangotrain.com
SENIOR’S DAY Jan 16 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort
WINTERFEST Feb 8-10 [Pagosa Springs] pagosaspringschamber.com
WINTERFEST WEEKEND Feb 14-17 [Pagosa Springs] visitpagosasprings.com
WINTERFEST CELEBRATION Jan 19-20 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort
SNOWSCAPE WINTER FESTIVAL Feb 8-10 [Silverton] Kendall Mountain Recreation Area, 800-752-4494, silvertoncolorado.com
OCAA WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL Feb 15-17 [Ouray] ouraycolorado.com
MOON RISE/SUNSET SOUP AND CHILE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI SOCIAL Dec 28 [Pagosa Springs] pagosanordic.com WEDDING EXPO Jan 26 [Farmington] Red Lion Farmington, sjcbridesguide.com SNOWDOWN: “GET YOUR GEEK ON!” Jan 30-Feb 3 [Durango] snowdown.org
FEBRUARY JORDAN WORLD CIRCUS Feb 1 [Farmington] McGee Park Memorial Coliseum, thejordanworldcircus.com LOCALS APPRECIATION DAY Feb 3, 10, 27 [Pagosa Springs] Wolf Creek Ski Area, wolfcreekski.com FIRST THURSDAY ART WALK Feb 7 [Durango] durangoarts.org CHOCOLATE FANTASIA Feb 8 [Durango] La Plata County Fairgrounds, 970-259-1021
REDBALL EXPRESS FUNDRAISER Feb 9 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort, durangomountainresort.com ANYTHING GOES DOWNHILL SLED RACE Feb 9 [Pagosa Springs] visitpagosasprings.com SWEETHEARTS OF THE ARTS Feb 9 [Durango] durangoarts.org LOCAL’S DAY Feb 10 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION Feb 12 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort SENIOR’S DAY Feb 13 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort COMEDY FESTIVAL Feb 14-17 [Telluride] Sheridan Opera House, sheridanoperahouse.com
Home decorated for the holidays in Bayfield, Colo.
MOON RISE/SUNSET SOUP AND CHILE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI SOCIAL Feb 22 [Pagosa Springs] pagosanordic.com HIGH DESERT FINE ART FESTIVAL Feb 22-24 [Farmington] San Juan College Henderson Fine Arts Center KICKER ARENACROSS AND FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS SHOW Feb 22-23 [Farmington] McGee Park Coliseum; 918-629-9930 “PAGOSA PAW” DOG SLED AND CANINE SKIJORING RACES Feb 23-24 [Pagosa Springs] pagosanordic.com GAY SKI WEEK Feb 24 March 2 [Telluride] Telluride Ski Resort DURANGO FILM FESTIVAL Feb 27 - March 3 [Durango] durangofilmfestival.com
SAN JUAN COUNTY HOME EXPO March 1-2 [Farmington] McGee Park Convention Center, 505-327-2678 XMR SNOWMOBILE RACING March 2-3 [Silverton] Molas Lake, 800-752-4494, silvertoncolorado.com LOCAL’S DAY March 3 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort PAGOSA SPRINGS QUAD CHALLENGE March 3 [Pagosa Springs] pagosanordic.com SENIOR’S DAY March 6 [Durango] Durango Mountain Resort LOCALS APPRECIATION DAY March 6, 31 [Pagosa Springs] Wolf Creek Ski Area, wolfcreekski.com FUN DAYS FOR DISABLED March 9 [Silverton] Molas Lake, 800-752-4494, silvertoncolorado.com DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME March 10 Spring Forward MANCOS VALLEY SNOW SHOW March 15 [Mancos] mancosvalley.com
★ BAYFIELD, COLORADO In the Pine River Valley 20 miles east of Durango and about 45 minutes north of the New Mexico border, Bayfield is a pleasant, four-season town of about 1,700 residents. The town is adjacent to two million acres of San Juan National Forest, and draws fly-fishing enthusiasts, horseback riders and people who want a real Colorado vacation. The earliest residents of the valley were Ute Indians — it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the region was settled by non-Indians. The first herd of cattle was brought to the area in 1875 and the valley was further settled as ranchers discovered the fertile soil. The town was named after William A. Bay, who created a vision for the town in 1898 and later helped establish it in 1906. Agriculture is still a way of life for many Bayfield residents. In the spring and fall, visitors may be surprised and delighted to find themselves in a “lamb jam,” because herders use nearby highways to move livestock to seasonal pastures. Bayfield is downstream from Lake Vallecito, a presence that promotes Bayfield as a haven for boating, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling and crosscountry skiing. Lodging includes cabins, dude ranches, guest ranches, RV parks and motels. Bayfield Chamber of Commerce, 970-884-7372, bayfieldchamber.org
HAL LOTT
32 • 2012-13 Southwest Colorado Winter Guide
SKIJORING Feb 16-17 [Silverton] Blair Street, 800-7524494, silvertoncolorado.com
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