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Giving you the news the old-fashioned way since Tipper and Al were a thing
Giving you the news the old-fashioned way for nearly 20 years.
There’s nothing like a run to keep you grounded in difficult times by Kirbie Bennett
Forest Service lands excluded from sell-off, but BLM still in the mix by Jonathan P. Thompson / Land Desk
On the loose Moose have officially come to SW Colorado - here’s what not to do by Missy Votel
I’ve fallen
Thousands of people are rescued from Colorado’s mountains each year by Haylee May / Colorado Public Radio
missy@durangotelegraph.com
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The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
CAST: Kirbie Bennett, Jonathan P. Thompson, Jesse Anderson, Lainie
Now with p. 4!
Due to a printing snafu last week, two p.3s were printed and no p. 4. We would like to say we’re embarrased but this is par for the course for the way the world’s going lately. Our apologies – we’re gonna try reprinting last week’s p. 4 this week. Wish us luck.
On the cover
The waterfalls in the San Juan high country are going off right now, like this one on the trail to Highland Mary Lakes./ Photo by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground:
“Is everything OK? You’ve hardly touched your margarita.”
– Telltale sign that something is up with your drinking buddy
Pulling tubes
Tubing season is here, but have no shuttle fear. The City of Durango has announced DuranGO! Outside, an on-demand “microtransit” service providing transportation to and from popular recreational areas for just $2 a ride. Offered through Durango Transit, the service launched June 4 and will run daily through September from 10 a.m.6 p.m.
DuranGO! Outside provides curb-to-curb service between any location in city limits and various recreation areas including: Lake Nighthorse; Oxbow; 32nd and 29th street put-ins; Cundiff Park; Santa Rita Park; High Bridge; Dallabetta Park; Colorado Trail at Junction Creek; Horse Gulch; Dalla Mountain Park; Animas Mountain; Smelter Mountain; and other areas within city limits.
Riders can book a lift using the DuranGO app (found on your phone’s app store or by scanning the QR code on the ad on the back page of this week’s Telegraph.)
Rides will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Bikes and small watercraft, such as tubes and paddleboards, will be accommodated when possible. Well-behaved pets on leashes are allowed.
The service was made possible by a grant from CDOT’s Office of Innovative Mobility with the goal of alleviating congestion at popular recreational areas and expanding access to areas that are not served by the City’s fixed-route transit service.
Clyde’s goodbye
After more than six years of service, La Plata County Commissioner Clyde Church is stepping down July 1. Church, a Democrat, submitted his resignation June 23 citing family and personal reasons.
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“I have enjoyed serving the wonderful people of La Plata County,” said Church, who was elected as commissioner for District 1 in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. “I’m pleased with the progress we have made as a county during my terms, including the implementation of fire mitigation projects, several major road projects ... approval of a new land use code and standing up a public health department. However, it’s time to step aside to allow for more time for me to be the primary caregiver for my wife.” By state law, La Plata County Democrats must appoint a new commissioner by July 11, 10 days after the vacancy.
A public farewell and thank-you for Church will be held at 3:30 p.m. Mon., June 30, in the County Administration Building, 1101 E. 2nd Ave.
LaVidaLocal opinion
In praise of running
When I’m outside running, my body is in communion with heaven and earth. What I mean is that lately, I’ve been rediscovering my love for running, and in doing so, I’ve renewed my gratitude for what it means to run. A few times a week, I make sure to set aside time for this act of movement. I mean, it’s a blessing to feel the rhythm of my feet tapping the ground, to be in tune with my body in motion, seeing how far it can take me every time. It’s a blessing to start the day like this, by moving toward a beginning. Honestly, in recent years, I took running for granted. Whether it was indoors or outdoors, forcing myself to run became an unenjoyable habit. Sometimes I would overexert myself, and that would leave a swelling discomfort in my left leg. The accumulation of pain resulted in shin splints earlier this year, which took nearly two months to heal. During that painful downtime, I re-evaluated how I was treating myself. The time spent massaging and stretching my inflamed left leg gave me a greater appreciation for the body. Throughout that downtime, I missed running and the sense of freedom it gave me. There were days when I feared that perhaps I did too much damage. I started wondering, “What if I can’t run anymore?” The question left me crushed.
move, the more miles don’t matter. A gust of southwest wind combs my hair. The shade from trees soothes my sweat-drenched neck and back. I’m in that stride where the weightless bliss distills me down to legs and lungs. What I mean to say is, these prayers to the day that I pronounce with legs and lungs are reminders that man-made borders and kings are foolish. I only bow to the monarch butterfly.
By springtime, thankfully, my left leg had recovered. As a writer and guitarist, I’m already appreciative of my hands and wrists. And after enduring shin splints, I now have a better appreciation for the bones and tissue in my lower legs.
As the sun is rising and I’m running alongside the roar of the Animas, a prayer is taking place with every step. When I say this act of movement feels liberating, I mean I’m in awe of these muscles and limbs letting me glide through beautiful earth. On the river trail, there’s one lamppost I’m fond of because back in early 2020, when the world was once again ending, someone wrote “MARX” on it with a white marker, and every lockdown day it felt like a miracle to wake up and see that streetlamp tagged with communist dreams. See, the sun is rising and bird songs are swelling, and suddenly I’m in that stride where the more I
Thumbin’It
$54,000 from Lodgers’ Tax funds and local organizations have been donated to maintain 20 vault and portable toilets on public lands in Southwest Colorado in the face of budget shortfalls.
The Klamath River in Oregon and California is running free for the first time in 100 years after the removal of four dams. Even better, a group of youth from area tribes –to whom the river was sacred – had the honors of making the first (re)descent.
Looks like Mike Lindell will be crying into his MyPillow after being found guilty to the tune of $2.3 million for defaming Dominion Voting’s Eric Coomer over false election conspiracies. Naturally, Lindell, who obviously does not know truth from fiction, heralded the ruling as a victory.
Sometimes on a run, I’ll reach new milestones, but the goal isn’t to always outdo myself. I’m grateful for my body’s capacity to excel and log more miles. But I’m also grateful for the running sessions that are more gentle. In any case, when I’m winding down, I can feel my heart returning from the sky. Then I’m restored and grounded again.
Since I’m being honest, dear friends, I must acknowledge the strange contradiction of cultivating a fitness routine while our society is in a state of self-annihilation. It doesn’t take long for me to be overwhelmed by daily headlines of more genocide and deportations. The reassured heart I nurtured on a run becomes instantly shattered, day after day, when I turn my attention back to the world. I have moments where I ask internally, “What’s the point of caring for myself if the world isn’t getting any better?” I’ve been sitting with that question for a while now. I’m realizing that perhaps, despite sanity, I want to live longer in the hopes that a better world will come into being. I mean, I want to outlive this godforsaken empire. And, my dear friends and loved ones, if the grieving won’t end, then I offer my ears and shoulders to you. I mean, I want to live longer in order to do what I can to help shape a better world.
The mornings when I offer myself to the day through sweat, breath and movement, it’s a recognition that there are still beautiful things worth living for and fighting for. Dear friends and loved ones, may we never lose sight of those beautiful things. May our bodies carry us forward with love and labor pronounced in every limb. May we outlive empires and kings in the fight for beautiful dreams.
– Kirbie Bennett
Trump’s onslaught against public lands –and everything else – continues, with this week’s repeal of the roadless rule. Enacted 25 years ago, it is one of the pillars of open space protection across the nation. Without it, millions of acres of Colorado are now under threat from development.
A new report raises the alarm on diminishing groundwater in the Colorado River Basin, finding that water losses beneath the surface are more than twice as severe as reservoir losses.
A new study found addictive use of phones, video games and social media makes kids three times more likely to have thoughts of suicide or self-harm. We really don’t need a study to tell us this, do we?
Last January, a nonbinary AI named Flynn was accepted as a student into Vienna’s University of Applied Arts, and last month, Miles Astray entered a real photo in an AI photo contest to prove humans were still relevant. But his firstplace prize was revoked when the judges found out his picture was real. Craziest of all, Grammy-winning producer Timbaland just launched the world’s first AI music label called Stage Zero, which signed TaTa, pictured here, two weeks ago as his first artist. Timbaland calls TaTa a “living, learning, autonomous music artist.” All of this is great news for starving artists who want to be even hungrier, but it’s horrible news for traditional producers like R. Kelly for obvious reasons. SignoftheDownfall:
Art Official Intelligence
WritersontheRange Bursting bubbles
Americans face a test of community and citizenship
by Stephen Trimble
Each of us Americans conducts our daily life in bubbles, all shockingly siloed from each other. These days, we don’t share much common ground between our circumscribed worlds based on culture, zip code, religion and political beliefs.
We feel empathy toward others inside our comfortable corrals. But too often, mutual support doesn’t reach outward. Mistrust replaces compassion.
I spent late April in my conservationist bubble. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, I’ve tried to take stock of how we’re treating our home planet. For this year’s “Earth Week,” I celebrated past successes rather than present catastrophes.
I was on a radio panel recounting unlikely partnerships that led to the protection of public lands. I attended an event honoring Dave Livermore for a lifetime of Nature Conservancy triumphs in Nevada and Utah. And I delighted in an exhibit of photographs of Glen Canyon, emerging from droughtdiminished Lake Powell.
For a few moments, my compatriots and I relaxed inside our green bubble.
Then we looked outward and found Interior Secretary Doug Burgum operating from starkly different values. As a wildly successful businessman, Burgum lives in a bubble of unimaginable wealth and power. In his confirmation hearings, he called America’s public lands “assets” on the “national balance sheet.”
Secretary Burgum had no qualms about delegating nearly all administrative decisions to a former oil executive turned DOGE operative. His Interior Department has abandoned regulations that protect our health, water and land in order to fast-track mining operations to demonstrate compliance with decades of settled environmental law.
The secretary is preparing to eviscer-
A rally in
support of public lands at the Utah State Capitol on Jan. 11. To counter Trump’s chaos and cruelty, our society needs more of what author Robert Putnam calls “social capital,” coming out of our respective bubbles and connecting around shared interests./
ate six national monuments. He’s talking about transferring public lands to the states for development and disposal. He sounds eager to turn our cherished public lands into cash cows churning out billions to cover a national debt accelerated by tax cuts for the wealthy.
Ensconced in a bubble of their own, Trump administration officials believe they have a mandate to act without opposition. Their certainty is an illusion. Four in five self-identified MAGA voters want to keep existing national monuments, and 85% of Utahns prefer rangers, scientists and firefighters to make decisions about public lands, water and wildlife, not political appointees from industry.
Every day brings new blows to our
nation – and not just to public lands and national parks. Scientific research, the arts, the humanities, veterans’ health, services for Medicare and Medicaid clients, food for the hungry, international aid, climate action – all are under attack.
President Trump’s supporters cheer his actions, paying attention to media that mostly tell incomplete stories. Their opponents, turning to legacy media for their news, rally against what seems to be the president’s vindictiveness. The courts push back against the administration’s disdain for the law, pausing 180 of its initiatives.
We won’t escape this impasse until we somehow pop our bubbles. We won’t be able to resist Trump’s drive toward
authoritarianism without talking to each other, young and old, finding shreds of common ground across the infinitely varied spectrum of America.
To create a national movement to counter Trump’s chaos and cruelty, our society needs more of what Robert Putnam, author of “Bowling Alone,” calls “social capital.” We’ve lost the crossbubble associations we had in the mid20th century, the clubs, churches, unions and neighborhoods that connected us across class and culture.
Putnam documents today’s “political polarization, economic inequality, social isolation and cultural self-centeredness,” the consequence, in part, of our separate bubbles – and major reasons that Donald Trump won the election. To connect and pierce our bubbles and build social capital, Putnam advises us to “join or die.” Reciprocity builds social capital, and social capital builds trust.
What makes democracy work? Community. But now, AmeriCorps volunteers have been terminated. The Peace Corps may be next. We are losing every program that brings us together. Still, the diversity and number of citizens who have resolved to march in protest give me hope. Their chants ring in our streets:
“The people united will never be defeated.”
“The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
“Democracy is not a state, it is an act.”
An act takes actors, and every one of us has a role. I’m taking heart in this cast of millions. We’re connecting, we’re finding allies. And as we do so, the people in power will have no choice but to listen.
Stephen Trimble is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a writer and photographer who lives in Utah. ■
Photo by Stephen Trimble
SoapBox
Another great Nordfest
Nordfest was a great success! On June 22, five bands performed at the Mancos Brewery to benefit regional cancer support organizations. This special annual celebration created a time for community connection and love of music. We are so grateful for the effort that went into this event and all the community members who attended.
Thanks to all the bands: Farmington Hill, The Crags, Dana Ariel & the Comin’ Up Roses, Group Shower, and Bluegrouse. Together, we are making strides to break the barriers people face while dealing with cancer in rural Colorado. Extra thanks to Erik Nordstrom and his team of volunteers and sponsors, including Mancos Brewery. We are already excited next year!
– Toni Abbey, Cancer Support Community SW Colorado, and Sue Tompkins, Cancer Resource Alliance Serving Montezuma and Dolores counties
All about the trees
I guess it’s all about the trees, How they stand strong in the rains, How they move in the wind,
How they find a way Through time, growing stronger As years pass.
Yes, I guess it’s all about the trees. It’s about the birds alighting On their branches
In the warm spring mornings, Where light illuminates Their myriad colors.
Yes, I guess it’s all about the trees. It’s about shades of green. It’s about shades of life And how things are.
Yes, it’s all about the trees. We can all find strength in the resolute branches. Time will pass.
We will pass, And the trees will remain.
I guess it’s all about the trees.
– Burt Baldwin, Bayfield
We’ll print damned near anything
Please email your profundities in 750 words or less to: telegraph@duran gotelegraph.com
by Rob Pudim
Not out of the woods
Trump bill backs off Forest Service land; BLM still fair game
by Jonathan P. Thompson
On Tuesday morning, Sen. Mike Lee, the Utah Republican and Trump sycophant, slightly backed off on his proposal in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” budget bill to sell off public lands. But only slightly.
Lee posted the following on X/Twitter at 5:42 a.m. Tuesday:
Big sigh of relief? Nope.
Sure, it’s great he’s removing Forest Service land from the pool of land eligible for “disposal.” This means the Hidden Valley/Falls Creek area near Durango is out of danger, as are parcels near Flagstaff, Boise and Santa Fe that could have ended up on the auction block under the original provision. The 5-mile limit from population centers will also take some remote BLM parcels out of consideration – parcels that wouldn’t have been prioritized, anyway.
The change reduces the size of the pool of available land and presumably also reduces the amount of land that could be sold to between 1.25 million and 1.9 million acres. However, that’s still a crap-ton of public lands that will be privatized, cluttered up with houses, roads, cul-de-sacs, power lines and so forth, and to which the public will lose access. If this goes forward, you still can plan on houses popping up on some of your favorite hiking, trail-running or biking areas such as:
• Animas Mountain and upper Horse Gulch near Durango;
• Swaths of BLM land near Naturita and Nucla;
• BLM land, including wilderness study areas, near Moab (wilderness study areas and areas of critical environmental concern are not exempted from the sell-off);
• Parcels that abut Zion National Park’s boundaries (within 5 miles of Springdale and Rockville);
• The lower slopes of Jumbo Mountain near Paonia;
• Parcels around Fruita and Grand Junction that have been proposed as “Freedom Cities.”
And the list goes on and on. (To get an idea, just check out the Wilderness Society map. Look for “population centers” around the brass-colored areas to see what might be eligible).
Lee says he will protect ranchers, which may or may not mean his provision would again leave out land that is in active grazing allotments. In addition, he doesn’t explain what the hell he means by “Freedom Zones,” except to imply that he wouldn’t let any foreigners buy the land. Lee once again doesn’t mention a damned thing about affordable housing, meaning he’s just fine with public lands being used for luxury developments or even multi-million dollar mansions.
Oh, and then there’s that little aside about the Byrd Rule. Yeah, that might get in Lee’s way. See, the nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian ruled that the public land sell-off provision, along with several other sections relating to energy development on public lands, were subject to a 60-vote threshold. This means they would likely be dropped from the reconciliation bill altogether, since leaving them in could sink the entire “Big Beautiful” whatever. Still, the GOP has a thing about ignoring the parliamentarian and the rules, and Lee indicated he would push on with this concept in one form or another. So now is not the time to back down.
The public lands sell-off provision has generated a huge amount of outrage and public pushback, which is clearly working (after all, why else would Lee make those changes?) But it’s not the only or even the worst thing MAGA folks are inflicting on America’s public lands.
For example, on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that plans to repeal the Clinton-era Roadless Rule, which blocks roadbuilding and other development on about 58 million acres. If the rollback survives inevitable legal challenges, it will open up a lot of forest to logging.
The Land Desk is a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.” To subscribe, go to: www.landdesk.org. ■
Although Forest Service lands will be safe from the auction block under Trump’s bill, BLM lands close to town, such as those in Horse Gulch (above) or Animas Mountain could still be sold off./ Photo by Missy Votel
Moose mania
As introduced ungulates make home in SWCO, here’s what you need to know
by Missy Votel
Atall, dark stranger has come to the mountains of Colorado. (And no, this is not another story about Bigfoot.) Rather, we’re talking something a little less exotic: Alces alces shirasi. For you non-bio majors out there, this is the scientific name of the subspecies of moose found throughout Colorado – aka the shiras moose, also commonly called the Yellowstone or Wyoming moose. (Or Bullwinkle if you’re a kid of the ’70s.)
And if you’re lucky, you’ve caught a glimpse of these stealthy cruisers of the creek bottoms by now.
“I was surprised at how quiet they were,” Durango resident Deb Hall said of a recent visit in her campsite along South Mineral Creek, north of Silverton, by a mama moose and her offspring. “I just looked up, and there they were.”
Fortunately, the moose went undetected by the family dog – and vice versa – and eventually went merrily along their way down the stream.
But Hall was among the luckier ones. Although human interactions with the mostly docile creatures in Colorado are rare, they have been on the rise in recent years. So far this year, there have been six reported incidents of aggressive moose attacking people in Colorado –up from just two in 2024. All incidents entailed a mother moose protecting her calves and humans with dogs.
“We see between two to four moose attacks in an average year,” John Livingston, Public Information Officer of the Southwest Region for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Durango, said. “This year is certainly a little bit alarming.”
Although there have been no reported moose incidents in Southwest Colorado this year, he said there was one a few years back in Ironton, north of Silverton, involving a tourist who saw a moose from the highway. When the moose disappeared into the willows, the tourist got out of her car to follow it and get a better look. Things did not end well.
“She walked down into the willows, and the moose was right in front of her,” said Livingston. The moose charged, but the woman was able to run back into the road and hide behind a car.
New kids on the block
All of this, of course, highlights a basic lack of knowledge about these relative newcomers to the Colorado landscape. And with good reason. Up until about 45 years ago, moose were virtually nonexistent in the state, with only small numbers occasionally wandering over into northern Colorado from Wyoming, perhaps in search of a cold Coors. But, thanks to a reintroduction effort that started in the 1970s, moose now number about 3,500
in Colorado.
“Colorado would’ve been on the southern end of their range historically,” Jamin Grigg, senior wildlife biologist in CPW’s Durango office, said.
However, at the behest of wildlife watchers and hunters, moose were introduced to Colorado starting in 1978. The first batch of 24 was transplanted from Utah and Wyoming to Colorado's North Park region, near Walden. There were five more subsequent releases in other parts of the state through 2012.
“They were brought here both for hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities,” said Grigg. “They are one of the top species for wildlife viewing.”
Keeping a safe distance
True, nothing starts the car rubbernecking conga line like a moose by the highway (of which I, myself, am guilty.) Once as rare as a one-legged unicorn, sightings of these largest members of the ungulate family are now fairly commonplace around Silverton and Purgatory. Nevertheless, it’s still perfectly normal to get goose, er, moose bumps when you see these guys (and gals), who can tip the scales at 1,000 pounds with their statuesque silhouettes.
But, when it comes to moose viewing, there are a few guidelines – namely that they are not statues. And despite their cute, cartoonish appearance, moose are, in fact, wild animals.
“They are very territorial,” said Livingston. “We recommend 330 feet of distance for viewing. They can cover a lot of ground in a hurry.”
For starters, moose have long legs and can hit speeds of 35 mph. He also noted that although moose can be seen any time of the year, June and July are prime time for moose activity, as it is calving season.
Secondly, moose are what are known as “browsers,” subsisting on willows and wetland plants. They can consume up to 60 pounds of vegetation in a single day. Therefore, anglers and others who frequent riparian zones should be extra vigilant about not surprising moose, who are quietly going about their daily browsing.
“If you live in or go out in moose habitat, take a look around you and be really aware of your surroundings,” said Livingston. “You never know what you’ll find around the corner.”
A bull moose “browses” through some willows near Silverton. Once virtually unknown in Colorado, moose are now a common sight, with about 650 in Southwest Colorado. / Photo courtesy Deb Hall
And of course, as much as it pains us to do so, if you’re heading into prime moose habitat, it’s best to leave the fourleggeds at home. Even having your dog on a leash or hanging onto them may not be enough. In fact, it will only bring the object of the moose’s ire closer to you.
And what if, god forbid, you find yourself on the receiving end of a moose’s bum rush? As in the Ironton attack, Livingston recommends a) running like heck, and b) hiding behind something large, like a vehicle, boulder or tree. Grigg also said deterrents work, from bear spray to loud noises, like yelling, banging pots and pans, honking car horns or blaring Kid Rock or Nickelback. (Just kidding about those last two – that would be animal cruelty.)
Steady growth
Most importantly, though, we need to remember that while moose attacks gain a lot of attention, they are relatively rare. Since 2006 – when there was a human fatality from a moose attack in Colorado –CPW has had 30 reports of moose attacks in the state, 20 of which involved dogs.
“Moose are still pretty low density in Colorado,” said Grigg.
For example, in the southwest portion of the state, there are about 5,000 black bears and 1,000 mountain lions compared to around 650 moose. This is up from the 93 moose that were first introduced to Southwest Colorado near Creede from 1991-93. Since then, the population has grown and spread out, dispersing to Archuleta, Conejos, Gunnison, La Plata, Rio Grande, Saguache and San Juan counties.
Livingston said there may be a mis-
conception there are more moose around since, occasionally, young rogue males will wander down drainages to places where they are not normally found.
“We’ve had moose in Santa Fe, Alamosa, Bloomfield, Shiprock and Ignacio,” he said. “This kind of plays into the thought that there are more moose on the landscape.”
In those situations, the moose are usually left to, uh, mosey on. Although, in some situations – like when a moose wandered onto Durango’s grid near the Fort Lewis College hill a few years ago –they are relocated for safety.
“He was hanging around in people’s yards for a few days, so it wasn’t safe,” said Livingston. “We loaded him into a horse trailer and brought him up into the San Juan National Forest.”
Here to stay
And speaking of hanging around, Livingston and Grigg say moose are here to stay in Colorado – a true wildlife introduction success story. In fact, Colorado has one of the fastest growing moose populations in the Lower 48. “We really don’t know why they’re doing so well in Colorado, but they are,” said Grigg.
In fact, they are doing so well in some places, like Rocky Mountain National Park, that there are concerns about overbrowsing of wetlands.
One management tool, of course, is hunting. In 2024, CPW issued 670 moose licenses with 501 harvested. For 2025, 716 moose licenses were issued.
However, Grigg said the agency is still trying to get a handle on what the state’s carrying capacity for moose is and what a healthy population target looks like.
They may look cute, but moose should be given a wide berth. Although fairly tolerant of humans, they are territorial and can attack, especially if protecting their young or if they feel threatened by dogs./ Photo courtesy CPW
With that in mind, CPW is in the process of developing a draft herd management plan, which should be available for public comment in a few weeks.
One thing that may affect moose numbers in coming years, Grigg said, is the reintroduction of the gray wolf. Although they prefer elk, which are smaller, wolves have been known to prey on moose, which have few other natural predators.
“There are still some unknowns with that,” said Grigg.
However, one risk to moose that we can control is humans behind the wheel of speeding automobiles. “Their bodies are so dark, so it’s extra tough to see them some-
times,” said Livingston. “Their hooves aren’t very good for running on asphalt, so those situations can be a little tricky.”
Six moose were killed by cars in CPW’s Region 5, which includes Durango, in 2023. Fortunately, there were no deaths in 2024 and, so far, none in 2025.
“Luckily we haven’t gotten a report of one in the last year,” said Livingston. “That’s not a fun time at the body shop.” So, for everyone’s sake, slow the heck down, if you’re driving through moose country at night. And, if you’re lucky enough to happen upon one, give it a wide berth and enjoy your wildlife moment – from a safe distance. ■
The most fun outdoor
Sunday brunch in Durango!
10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring a new DJ every week and brunch dishes from all our food trucks
This week’s live music: 6/26, 6-9pm, Christy Harrington • 6/27, 7-10pm, Animal Soul • 6/28, 6-9 p.m., Alex Blocker • 6/29, 10am-1 pm, Spark Madden & TJ the DJ
1101 Main Ave. • DGO, CO
StateNews
Thousands
by Haylee May Colorado Public Radio
BMountain 911
are rescued from Colorado mountains each year (don’t become one of them)
etween 2,800 and 3,000 people are rescued annually from Colorado trails. Most call for help from mountains that are easily accessible from the I-70 corridor surrounding Denver and Boulder. Many of them are visiting.
“We are almost at a hundred calls so far this year, which, if we continue on this trajectory, will put us at our busiest year ever,” Ben Butler of the Summit County Rescue Group, said. His group is one of 50 volunteer teams organized by the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (C-SAR). “Our busiest (so far) was 2021, where we did almost 210 calls. If things continue, I could see eclipsing that number.”
Those life-saving services are free of charge.
“Colorado feels very strongly that backcountry search and rescue services should be free,” C-SAR spokesperson Anna DeBattiste said. “We know from experience that people who think they’re going to get charged delay calling. And when they delay calling, that can make everything more dangerous for them and for the rescuers.”
Lower leg injuries, getting lost and being unprepared for either the weather or a trail’s elevation gain are the most common reasons crews are activated.
“It used to be around 50/50 searches and rescues. Now it’s more like 60% rescues and 40% searches,” Alpine Rescue Team Mission Coordinator Steve Wilson said.
With access to maps and trail apps on cellphones, people aren’t losing their way as frequently as they were prior to advances in technology. “The reason people get lost now is just unfamiliarity with the area. So that tends to be more non-Colorado residents, people from out of the state,” Wilson said.
That’s what happened to two hikers from New York who had become lost on the technical Kelso Ridge route on Torreys Peak on June 12. After they called 911, a member of the Alpine Rescue Team was able to direct them toward a safer descent route over the phone. But during that descent, lightning hit them. The hiker who called for help told the mission
coordinator his companion was momentarily unconscious and “foaming at the mouth.” Both hikers were later taken to local hospitals after what’s believed to be one of the highest helicopter hoist rescues ever performed in Colorado
While fewer people are getting lost, call volume has increased significantly over the last few decades. “When I joined in the late ’90s, we were averaging 60 to 80 missions a year,” Wilson said. “Now it’s more like 140, and last year was 172.” Mission coordinators across the state believe the increase is due to a combination of several factors: more people both living in and visiting Colorado; social media honeypot locations that aren’t as easy to get to as they seem; bad directions
from AI and online apps; and the postpandemic push to be outside. According to the state’s most recent tourism report, visitation in the “Rockies Playground” region, encompassing Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Gunnison, Lake, Park, Pitkin and Summit counties, increased by nearly 8% from 2019-23.
“I think COVID had an impact where people realized that being outside in Colorado is pretty fun. Being in the mountains is good for the soul. Once you get that bug, you want to go back as often as you can,” Wilson said.
More people on the trails
Last weekend, which was the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, San Miguel County Search and Rescue responded to the Bri-
dal Veil Trail in Telluride twice. Both calls were due to injuries. One woman hurt her ankle, the other her knee. Both were from out of state.
While C-SAR does not have a centralized database to keep track of how many of their search and rescue calls are for locals versus tourists, mission coordinators told CPR News that people who don’t live here are more likely to need help than those who do.
“People from here are just innately more familiar with the environment of Colorado, whereas a tourist isn’t really going to be. They’re more likely to get a mission because of altitude sickness or because they’re used to hiking or walking 2 miles a day or something, and it takes 45
Hikers make their way up to Grays and Torreys peaks in August 2022. With its close proximity to the Front Range and I-70, the trail is one of the busiest for hikers – and rescuers – in the state./ Photo by Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
minutes. They’re not used to having 2 miles take four hours because it’s steeper. It’s up a rugged trail at 13 or 14,000 feet. They’re not used to the changes in weather,” Wilson said.
The Alpine Rescue Team is one of the most called crews in the state on average, largely because their jurisdiction covers three counties with several popular fourteeners, including Torreys Peak, Grays Peak and Mount Bierstadt. In 2023, an estimated 55,000 people hiked the three mountains combined.
“Our four fourteeners are easy to access for the tourists and the citizens in the Denver metro area,” said Wilson. “From Denver, you can be up on Mount Blue Sky at Echo Lake or Summit Lake in an hour to an hour and a half. You can’t do that with the Maroon Bells or the San Juans or even some of the places around Breckenridge and Summit County. It takes you a couple more hours to get there.”
Outside of trails with proximity to major cities, mission coordinators and spokespeople with “beginner 14ers” or easier trails in their jurisdictions typically field the most calls. That includes Boulder, Summit and El Paso counties.
Places like Quandary Peak and the Manitou Incline are also common locations for missions. “There are a lot of folks who are out venturing, but also our
public messaging has really helped,” Butler said. “Folks call when they need help. I think through that public education piece, more people are aware of our services and have requested them.”
The state’s highest peak, Mount Elbert, draws a lot of beginners because the trail to the top is shorter than most 14ers, at 7 miles. “You might be a little daunted by a 15-mile hike,” Lake County Search and Rescue spokesperson Katy Aigner said. “But when you see something that’s under 10, it does look really attractive and seems doable, but obviously (tourists) are not used to the elevation and just the true nature of being up that high and what it does to you.”
Tools like ChatGPT and Google AI may be helpful for structuring an itinerary, but C-SAR warns against relying on the technology for trail difficulty ratings or conditions.
“Online resources are great for planning your backcountry adventure, but you do have to be careful,” said DeBattiste. “Google Maps is not a trail app. There have been some cases recently where people are using ChatGPT to get trail conditions, and you may not get the most local information that way. Does this trail usually have snow in May? Maybe not, but what about this particular day in May in this particular year?”
She recommends getting advice instead from local hiking forums. DeBattiste also reminds those planning an outdoor adventure that accidents can happen to anyone. “I think there’s a misperception among the general public that people who get rescued are either backcountry newbies who are doing something foolish, or they’re extremists, winter mountaineering or base jumping or paragliding or whatever. But actually, our largest demographic is hikers on local trails – and many of them just had a mishap that couldn’t be foreseen, like a twisted ankle or a blown-out knee.”
Remember the three Ts “Trip planning means doing your homework, figuring out the length and difficulty of your route and the weather forecast and leaving a trip plan with a responsible person back home that can call 911 if you don’t come back within a reasonable time. Training means making sure you have the knowledge, the experience, the skill and the physical endurance for whatever it is that you’re planning,” DeBattiste said. “And the National Park Service 10 essentials – they’re great, but don’t restrict yourself. You might need more than 10 if you need certain sportsspecific gear, you might even need less than 10 if you’re doing something short. So just really put some thought into it.”
10 Essentials from the National Park Service:
1. Navigation - Map, compass and GPS device to help plan your route and orient yourself.
2. Sun protection - Sunglasses, sunprotective clothing and sunscreen to protect against UV rays.
3. Insulation - Additional insulating and weather-protective layers beyond the minimum.
4. Illumination - Headlamp with extra batteries for lighting.
5. First aid kit - Supplies to address minor injuries and medical needs.
6. Fire - Waterproof matches, a lighter and tinder for staying warm, cooking and to use as an emergency signal.
7. Emergency Shelter - Such as a bothy bag, bivy sack or emergency blanket to protect against the elements.
8. Nutrition - Additional nonperishable food beyond the minimum expected for the trip.
9. Hydration - More water than the minimum needed and the means to purify additional water.
10. Communications - A cell phone, or even better, a two-way satellite communicator, so you can communicate with rescuers when cell service does not exist.
For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to www.cpr.org. ■
Thursday26
Walk & Wonder, a walkers’ meetup, Thursdays 11 a.m.-12 noon thru Aug. 31, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
Cyanotype Fabric Project, 2-4 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Ska-B-Q with music by High Country Side Project, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Durango Green Drinks, 5-7 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Will Overman plays at Concert Hall at The Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Buckley Park
Waterwise Gardening and Landscaping, 5:306:30 p.m., SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab, Riverview Elementary School, 2900 Mesa Ave.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Doc Wesson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 hwy 550
Jeff Solon Jazz, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Name That Tune Trivia Bingo, 6-8 p.m., Barons Creek Vineyards, 901 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Christy Harrington plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Richard Gans plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Rob Webster plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Trivia Night Outside on the Plaza, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
“Becky and Her Lung Transplant,” Playfest play reading, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Pride Trivia Night hosted by Aria PettyOne, 7:309:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 8-11 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Friday27
Pika Monitoring Volunteer Training, 9 a.m., meet at Whislestop Gas Station, 315 Greene St., Silverton
Nature Walk at Haviland, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Haviland Lake first parking area, off HWY 550
“There Are Monsters,” Playfest play reading, 3-5 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino del Rio
Southwest Safehouse 40th Anniversary Celebration, 5-8 p.m., Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Colorado Healthcare Coalition public meeting, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Pete Giuliani plays, 6-9 p.m., Gazpacho Restaurant, 431 E. 2nd Ave.
Friday Nights at Fox Fire Farms, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms Winery, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio
3 Way Street plays, 6-9 p.m., The Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Jason Thies and Jeff Haspel play, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Mike Testa plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Drag Queen Magic,” Playfest play reading, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Open Mic Comedy, 7-9 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
Animal Soul plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Planet Petty Drag Show, 8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Saturday28
Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Saturdays thru Oct., TBK Bank, Parking Lot, 259 W. 9th St.
Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Saturdays thru Oct., 1328 CR 501, Bayfield
Naughty School Girl Run annual veterans benefit, 8:30 a.m., Durango Harley Davidson, 750 S. Camino Del Rio
La Plata County Quilters Guild: 2025 Quilt Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
La Plata County Historic Preservation Driving Tour, 10 a.m., Old Fort Lewis campus, 18683 HWY 140, Hesperus
Open Mic poetry, 12 noon-2 p.m., White Rabbit Garden, 128 W. 14th St.
Live Clay Painting with Eunika Rogers, 12 noon-6 p.m., Blue Rain Gallery Durango, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
D&D Club, 12 noon-3 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Yarn Meetup, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Summer Brew Festival, 1-4:30 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Stretching with Cats, 2-3 p.m., Cat Care Durango, 72 Suttle St., Suite J
“Drowning,” Playfest play reading, 3-5 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“San Juan Sessions,” live music, 3 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Tracy Wiebeck plays, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino del Rio
Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Jose Villarreal plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Karaoke, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Pete Giuliani plays, 6-8:30 p.m., Esoterra Arboretum, 270 CR 303
Kirk James plays, 6-9 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, 18044 CR 501, Vallecito
Terri Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., The Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Alex Blocker play, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
“There Are Monsters,” Playfest play reading, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Pride Prom, 9 p.m.-midnight, Esoterra, 558 Main Ave.
Sunday29
Eli Cartwright plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
DJ Spark Madden & TJ the DJ play, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
La Plata County Quilters Guild: 2025 Quilt Show, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
AskRachel Moth-erly advice, bad carma and little heathens
Interesting fact: Some moths make silk. Other moths eat silk. I’m not very high, but I’ve been sitting with this realization for half an hour now.
Dear Rachel, My girlfriend’s house is infested with moths. The kind that eat your clothes. She’s doing a full purge. Washing, drying and then freezing all her clothes in Ziploc bags. She just handed me all my clothes, including her favorite hoodie of mine, and said I need to get everything out of the house. She swears this isn’t a breakup. But if she finds one moth at my house, we’re probably finished. How do I prevent my own infestation?
– Godzilla vs. Mothra
Dear Misunderstood Monster, Why do people get this wrong? Mothra is usually Godzilla’s ally. They fight side by side. OK, I would have gotten this wrong too, until I Googled it in
“Becky and Her Lung Transplant,” Playfest play reading, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Walk & Wonder, a walkers’ meetup, Sundays, 11 a.m.-12 noon thru Aug. 31, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Pride Skate, 1-4 p.m., Chapman Hill
Open Folk Jam, 2:30-5 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
“Drag Queen Magic,” Playfest play reading, 3-5 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Devin Scott plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Drowning,” Playfest play reading, 79 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
hopes of sparking some witty response. Mothra is misunderstood, but clotheddestroying moths are the work of Satan. Get yourself some moth traps and build a cedar chest for all your clothes. Better yet, just build yourself a cedar house. Might be cheaper than replacing both a girlfriend and a wardrobe.
– Flutteringly, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
It’s time to sell my car. She’s done me good: a dozen years, many an adventure, but we’re in overtime. A few of the dash lights keep flickering. Sure I could take her in, but it’s bound to cost more than she’s worth. Can I sell it to some unsuspecting driver who doesn’t test drive long enough to see the lights? Or will that bury me in bad carma?
- A Spiritual Question
Dear Tempted, You are absolutely very near to sinning. You cannot in good conscience
Monday30
“Where Art Meets Science” breakfast and conversation with Elena Carrara, associate research curator with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 8:30-10 a.m., FLC Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum, Rm 120
Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., in person at The Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109, or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org
Terry Hartzel plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave
Tuesday01
Stories in the Park, 10-11 a.m., Santa Rita Park Picnic Shelter, 111 S Camino Del Rio
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
pass along car problems without disclosing them. This will bite you when you can least afford to be bitten. Unless, of course, you sell the car for a three-digit number. Anything under a grand is presumed to be on death’s door. Your conscience, and your soul, will be clear.
– Unrepentant, Rachel
Dear Rachel, My niece is being raised in an evangelical household. I recently heard a story that she shocked the teenage babysitter because she got a new stuffed animal and declared she wanted to hold a sacrifice. (She is 4½, for the record.) I want to know what I can do, as an uncle, to further encourage her heathen tendencies. (My sister, her mom, filters all gifts for probably this reason.) Any ideas?
– Fierce Pagan
Dear Earth Uncle, Ah, so hers is the Old Testament god. It’s always the sons that Yahweh wants
Locals at Leplatt’s Pond, music, food trucks, fishing and family fun, 5-9 p.m. every Tuesday through July, LePlatt’s Pond, 311A CR 501, Bayfield
Twin Buttes Tuesday MTB Ride, 5:30-8 p.m., Twin Buttes Trailhead
Blue Zeal plays, 5:30-8 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 hwy 550
Terry Hartzel plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Book Club” “Calling for a Blanket Dance,” by Oscar Hokeah, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Rob Webster plays, 6-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.
Nina Sasaki & Dan Carlson play, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Outdoor Movie, 8-10 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.
Poetry Open Mic, 6-8 p.m., The Reading Room, 145 E. College Dr.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
to sacrifice, so maybe she feels safe enacting these rituals. I can’t believe you didn’t spill the dets on whether she went through with it. Poor stuffie. Still, many a stuffed animal has perished at the altar of dogs. That’s a pretty benign sacrifice, as far as they go. You want to really help her? Set her up with some moth eggs in her mom’s closet.
– Burning at the stake, Rachel
Wednesday02
Animas High School Campus Tour, 5 p.m., 22 Osprey Way, animashighschool.com to RSVP
Nina Sasaki & Dan Carlson play, 5-7 p.m., Meadow Market, 688 Edgemont Meadows Rd.
Carute Roma plays Community Concert Series supporting SW Conservation Corps, 5:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Word Honey Poetry Workshop, 67:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Devin Scott Ukulele, 6-8 p.m., Grassburger Downtown, 726½ Main Ave.
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“When Lightning Strikes!” wilderness medicine Dr. Tiffany Brainerd discusses lightning risks, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Live Jazz, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 636 Main Ave.
True West Rodeo, 6:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
June 26, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hawaiian word pō refers to a primal darkness from which all life flows. It’s not a fearsome void, but a fertile mystery, rich with possibilities and ancestors’ hopes. In coming weeks, treat your inner life as pō. Be as calm and patient and watchful as an Aries can be as you monitor the inklings that rise up out of the deep shadows. Have faith that the cloudy uncertainty will ultimately evolve into clarity, revealing the precise directions you need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 17th century, Taurus Athanasius Kircher constructed a fantastical machine called the Aeolian harp. It wasn’t designed to be played by human fingers but by the wind. It conjured music with currents invisible to the eye. I nominate this contraption as your power object for the coming weeks. The most beautiful melodies may come from positioning yourself so that inspiration can blow through. How might you attune yourself to the arrival of unexpected help and gifts? Set aside any tendency you might have to try too hard. Instead, allow life to sing through you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The painter Vincent van Gogh wrote, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” That’s good advice for you right now. Your ambitions may feel daunting if you imagine them as monumental and monolithic. But if you simply focus on what needs to be done next – the daily efforts, the incremental improvements – you will be as relaxed as you need to be to accomplish wonders. Remember that masterpieces are rarely completed in a jiffy. The cumulative power of steady work is potentially your superpower. Here’s another tip: Use your imagination to have fun as you attend to the details.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to this edition of “What’s My Strongest Yearning?” I’m your host, and I’m delighted you have decided to identify the desire that motivates you most. You have many wishes and hopes and dreams, but one is more crucial than all the rest! Right? To begin, take three deep breaths and allow every knot of tension to dissolve and exit your body. Then drop down into the primal depths of your miraculous soul and wander around until you detect the shimmering presence of the beloved reason you came here to this planet. Immerse yourself in this glory for as long as you need to. Exult in its mysterious power to give meaning to everything you do. Ask it to nurture you, console you and inspire you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In certain medieval maps, unexplored territories were marked with the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones – “here be dragons.” It was a warning and a dare, a declaration that no one knew what lay beyond. In coming weeks, you may find yourself traveling into one of those unlabeled regions. Rather than flinching or dodging, I invite you to press forward. Some of the so-called dragons will be figments. Others are protectors of treasure and might be receptive to sharing. Either way, productive adventures are awaiting you in that unmapped territory. Go carefully – but go.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In traditional Japanese carpentry, joints are made so skillfully that they need no nails, screws or adhesives. Carpenters use intricate joinery techniques to connect pieces of wood so tightly that the structures are strong and durable. They often require a mallet for assembly and disassembly. In metaphorical terms, you are capable of that kind of craftsmanship these days. I hope you will take advantage of this by building lasting beauty and truth that will serve you well into the future. Don’t rush the joinery. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Re-cut, re-measure, breathe deeply and try again.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Here’s one of my unruly rules about human competence: In every professional field, from physicians to lawyers to psychics to teachers, about 15% of all the practitioners are downright mediocre, even deficient. Seventy-five percent are at least satisfactory and sometimes good. And 10% of the total are surpassingly excellent, providing an extraordinary service. With this in mind, I’m happy to say that you now have a knack for gravitating toward that exceptional 10% in every domain. I predict your intuition will consistently guide you toward premium sources.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing.” It invites people to immerse themselves in the natural world, drawing on its restorative power. In accordance with astrological portents, I urge you Scorpios to maximize your forest bathing. To amplify the enrichment further, gravitate toward other environments that nourish your soul’s need for solace and uplift. The naked fact is that you need places and influences that offer you comfort, safety and tender inspiration. Don’t apologize for making your life a bit less heroic as you tend to your inner world with gentle reverence.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The camera obscura was a precursor to modern cameras. It projected the outside world upside down onto interior walls. Artists loved it because it helped them see reality from new angles. I hereby proclaim that you will be like both the artist and the camera obscura lens in the coming weeks. Your perceptions may feel inverted, strange, even disorienting, but that’s a gift! So let unfamiliarity be your muse. Flip your assumptions. Sketch from shadow instead of light. Have faith that the truth isn’t vanishing or hiding; it’s simply appearing in unfamiliar guises. Don’t rush to turn things right-side-up. Relish and learn from the tilt.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m sure you enjoy gazing into some mirrors more than others. It’s amazing how different you might look in your bathroom mirror and the mirror in the restroom at work. Some store windows may reflect an elegant, attractive version of you, while others distort your image. A similar principle is at work in the people with whom you associate. Some seem to accentuate your finest attributes, while others bring out less flattering aspects. I bring this to your attention, because I believe it will be extra important in the coming weeks for you to surround yourself with your favorite mirrors.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Leonardo da Vinci filled thousands of pages with sketches, notes and experiments. He never finished many of them. He called this compilation his “codex of wonder.” It wasn’t a record of failures. It was a way to honor his creative wellspring. Taking a cue from da Vinci’s love of marvelous enigmas, I invite you to be in love with the unfinished in the coming weeks. Make inquisitiveness your default position. Reconsider abandoned ideas. Be a steward of fertile fragments. Some of your best work may arise from revisiting composted dreams or incomplete sketches. Here’s your motto: Magic brews in the margins.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Chile’s remote Atacama Desert, certain flowers lie dormant for years, awaiting just the right conditions to blossom in a sudden, riotous explosion of color and vitality. Scientists call it a superbloom. Metaphorically speaking, you are on the verge of such a threshold. I’m sure you can already feel the inner ripening gathering momentum. Any day now, your full flowering will erupt – softly but dramatically. You won’t need to push. You will simply open. To prepare yourself, start rehearsing lively shouts of “HALLELUJAH! HOORAY! WHOOPEE!”
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum.
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Lost/Found
Cid Come Home
Last seen in Durango on July 21, 2024, by St. Columba Church. He is chipped, missing left canine tooth, white, big black spots, green eyes. Reward. 970-403-6192.
HelpWanted
Reliance is Hiring!
HOA Financial Administrator. $2530/hr, 15-20 hrs/week start. More at reliancemanagement.co/aboutus
Classes/Workshops
Weekly Fast, Fun 45-Minute Aikido
Don't like to fight but want to feel safe? Try Aikido, the blending, calming martial art. Mondays 5:30-6:15pm $8 for 18+. Must book online: durangoaikido.com
West Coast Swing
Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no
partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly social dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
ForSale
Vintage 1977 Airstream Land Yacht
$19.5k 970-759-0551
’96 Mazda P/U
Extended cab, 4.9 liter V-6 4x4 auto 200k miles. Good engine, bad trans. $750. 970-259-9709 (no texts)
Reruns Home Furnishings
Time to spruce up your outdoor space. Multiple patio sets, bistros, vintage patio sets and yard art. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush
LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric
Colorado licensed and insured. Residential and commercial. New, remodel and repair. Mike 970-403-6670
Electric Repair
Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
CommunityService
Help Protect the Pikas
Mountain Studies Institute needs volunteers for the San Juan PikaNet Project, a citizen science initiative to collect data on the American pika. Volunteer training
HaikuMovieReview
‘Better Man’ I mean, the whole thing is really insulting to Chimpanzees, innit?
– Lainie Maxson
June 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Velocity Basin outside Silverton. www.mountainstudies .org/pikanet.
Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show needs volunteers. The show is happening this July 11-13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Volunteer receive free access to the show! Visit durangorocks.org.
