the durango
Too hot to handle
Yes, this is the Southwest, but must we add spice to everything? by David Donley
Disco’s not dead
Local group seeks to breathe fresh vibes into local roller skating scene by Missy Votel
Recharging EVs
Gas prices, revamped rebates aimed at rural drivers may help drive sales by Allen Best
Feast
to famine
After banner 2024-25 season, skier visits drop nearly 15% nationally by Jason Blevins / The Colorado Sun
PIT CREW: JENNAYE
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The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
STAR-STUDDED CAST: David Donley, Auden Schendler, Allen Best, Jason Blevins, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
LITERAL ADDRESS:
On the cover
Some aptly named parrot tulips make a big but fleeting squawk in a local garden./ Photo by Alex Krebs
Ear to the ground:
“You haven’t even used all your good lies yet.”
– When a relationship ends too soon
Making plans
Wondering what’s up with the old 9-R Admin building at the end of E. 2nd Avenue that was going to be a fire department, then wasn’t going to be a fire department and is now going to be City Hall and the Police Department?
The City of Durango will demystify plans for the historic building during a public session Wed., May 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center. The session will begin with a short presentation on recent changes to the proposed design including: auditorium uses and layouts (council chambers, municipal court and community space); corridors showcasing historic memorabilia; trees; lighting; and exterior repair.
Following the presentation, there will be breakout sessions on design options for the rose garden and east alley, proposed paint colors, and the Buckley Park connection. Meanwhile, the City is soliciting historic photos of the building that could be incorporated into the final design. They can be uploaded to: tinyurl.com/2edzb768
A second open house is planned for June and will focus on connectivity, Police Department design, Buckley Park connection, exterior paint and public entrances. For more info., visit the Engage Durango webpage.
Late-season turns
Not quite ready to hang ’em up? Well, neither is A-Basin, Colorado’s small but mighty GDI ski area. Sitting at an elevation of nearly 10,800, A-Basin is notorious for its long season, often extending until July.
We’re not so fortunate this season. But after a heavy dumping courtesy last week’s Front Range storm, the Summit County ski area – which had planned to close lat weekend – announced it will stay open one more weekend, May 15–17. This makes it the last hanger-oner of the 2025-26 season.
ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-
tributed in the finest and most discerning
The resort reopens at 9 a.m. Friday, with a forecast high of 51. Showers are predicted for the weekend, with snow expected Mon.-Wed., May 18-20. Could another weekend of skiing be in the offing? Only Ullr knows.
LaVidaLocal opinion
Belgian waffles, 4 Corners style
Imagine your family sitting down for Saturday breakfast, longing for the production of a store-bought frozen Belgian waffle (similar to which you have actually tasted – in Belgium), only to find it is contaminated with pineapple and habañero. I know we should have checked the label. But should we have to?
This passes an important Rubicon crossing of culinarily undelightful food combinations. It needs to stop now, before the entire food supply is taken over by hot spices.
Not that I don’t like my share of hot spices. I love many Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes that effectively clear my sinuses. What I don’t love is sabotaging classic food dishes that have no earthly need for spice. For example, why put spice in a Caesar Salad? Why put hot chiles in wine? Oh, I know – so no one will ever drink it again.
And surely, I’m adaptable. My culinary tastes vary wildly. I consider myself a risky eater, willing to try almost anything exotic. I used to think hoppy IPAs were a ridiculous trend until the brewing got better, and I developed a taste for them. By “developed,” I mean I can now tolerate one IPA at a time. Sorry IPAs, Belgian beers are far superior.
were at that same bottom in one sitting, which I guess is the point. I have purchased, but never eaten, a scorpion encased in a lollipop.
Let’s take this continuing spice fad to the extreme. Our jumping off point is the escalation of burger, chicken and pizza joints all vying for a niche in the hot and spicy food realm. You now need to ask at the finest restaurant if your dish will be spicy, even for the presumably most bland of entrées. It’s out of control, starting with microscopically labelled spicy chips, then moving onto peanut butter, chocolate, gummies, ice cream, and a variety of snack mixes and condiments. Even honey and maple syrup have spicy varieties. Blah.
The food industry explains this is a trend spurred on by younger consumers and those who apparently spend way too much time scrolling TikTok.
So why stop there? Why not make spicy yogurt, milk or cottage cheese? I’m guessing the agriculture and food industry, “as a consumer convenience,” will find a way for chickens to lay spicy eggs. Why not spicy Gerber baby food and formula? Let’s go ahead and contaminate the entire food supply, including pet food. That’s sure to be a promising trend, until your pet passes it out the other end.
I draw the line at eating the worm at the bottom of a mezcal bottle. I suppose I would be inebriated enough to eat a worm if I
If you’d can’t stand your bland Belgian waffles, I suggest having a plate of pineapple and habañero on the side. Bon appétit.
– Dave Donley
In a win for immigrants’ rights, a federal judge ruled this week that ICE must retrain its officers in Colorado within 45 days. This comes after they were found in violation of an order barring them from warrantless arrests without first determining if people are a flight risk or living here undocumented.
A huge turnout for last Saturday’s first Durango Farmers Market of the season, which lined the 900-1100 blocks of Main with 138 vendors and hundreds of hungry locavores
Woohoo! Time to warm up those rusty shoulders and combat rolls. The Animas River cracked the 1,000 cfs mark this week – just enough to surf a boat or board on. Get it while you can.
Man down! The beleaguered Florida Road roundabout sculpture “Endurance” may have to come up with a new name after the second vehicle in as many weeks took out yet another rider, bringing the number of upright cyclists to one.
We probably don’t need to tell you this, but prices are way up, to the tune of 3.8% over last year. The increase is largely driven by the Iran War, which is being driven by … a crazy person.
And speaking of the crazy person, Trump also rescinded the Public Lands Rule, which put conservation on equal footing with extractive industries like oil and gas, and rolled back controls on coal-burning power plants, leading to about a 9% increase in mercury emissions in 2025. Among other things, the toxic chemical impairs brain development. Wait? Anyone see a connection here?
Three Men for a Lady
With 2.5 million daily users, Janitor AI is the most popular interactive erotic fantasy site for women on the planet. Users can create and interact with any sort of conjured AI chatbot, such as nudist werewolves, tall alcoholic ghouls, or sassy vampires, but the ladies just can’t get enough. Janitor AI is owned and operated by three men from San Francisco: Jan Zoltkowski (who has the most tech-bro name of all time), Hugo Smith and a third anonymous employee, because a fantasy AI smut site wouldn’t be complete without a mysterious man in black pulling the strings. And of course, one of the site’s most popular chatbot tropes is a janitor with magical powers, because a sexy man who actually cleans is the most mythical creature ever.
WritersontheRange
Missing the stoke
by Auden Schendler
At this time of year in Western Colorado, my friends and I watch rivers, eagerly anticipating a bruising spring runoff and the start of kayak season. When it arrives, many of us become obsessive, meeting daily after work to paddle.
Not this year. In one of the driest springs in Colorado history, our watershed’s snowpack was 26% of normal on April 1. The impact on fire danger, drought, agriculture, economy and ecology is going to be profound.
But this is the new normal in a climate-changed world. Colorado has warmed 2.3° F since only 1980. The Upper Colorado River Basin suffered close to record-low precipitation in March – normally our snowiest month – and record heat. Snowpack peaked at the earliest date and lowest amount ever. This collapsed the ski industry, and many resorts closed in what is typically their most profitable month.
The kayak run my friends and I like best is called, ominously, “Slaughterhouse.” It flows through an alpine forest at 7,000 feet, near the town of Woody Creek. Kayakers must navigate tight channels and churning holes, steering around boulders the size of VW buses.
Though many of us have kayaked this stretch hundreds of times, we never paddle the same river twice, to echo Heraclitus, because flows are always minutely different, as is the turbidity of the water and the quality of sun or clouds. At the same time, there is a Zen to the repetitiveness: a remembered left turn below a spruce tree to hit an eddy; a crucial line that splits two rocks; the plant smells we recall from last year and the previous 30.
This friend group of men in their forties and fifties –a photographer, a paramedic, a ski mountain manager, a caterer – has become attuned to the river. We continuously observe snowpack and storm cycles throughout winter, with an eye to runoff. We know that when it reaches 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) we can float Slaughterhouse for the first time. Eight hundred to 1,000 cfs is juicy, a joyous party, and that level often holds steady for many weeks. The water gets pushy around 1,300 cfs, and some of us stop paddling when it gets too scary. No need to worry this spring: Slaughterhouse, which can peak above 7,000 cfs, topped out at about 250 cfs.
We know each other like we do the river. Banter fo-
cuses on making fun of our paddling. One meme of an upside-down kayak shared on a group chat read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, I lied about having a solid roll … where are you?” If you do happen to swim out of your boat, the group instantly switches from a bunch of jerks to a coordinated rescue team. Expect to hear “Are you doing OK?” for the rest of the day.
Later, expect to be made fun of at that location for the rest of your life. When we gather at the takeout, we drink beer and reflect on our glories and failures, loitering past dinnertime.
To be a good kayaker, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences of a mistake. Typically, that means being upside down in cold water, unable to breathe or see. Boaters call this underwater experience “the white room,” or “being Maytagged.” You accept the fact of an inevitable frigid swim, because, as old kayakers say, “We’re all between swims.” This season, the mistake we must endure is a societal one.
Auden Schendler, far right, celebrates with his paddling crew after a successful but presumably cold mission on their hometown run on the Roaring Fork River./ Photo courtesy Auden Schendler
In a sense, kayakers are prepared for the hot, smoky summer ahead: We’ve learned to endure some inevitable pain.; harder to manage will be the loss. We’ll have to forgo the camaraderie, ritual and traditions that come from decades of recreation tied to seasons, place and environment. The truth is, as the planet warms, we’re in danger of losing a sense of who we are.
Philosopher Glenn Albrecht coined a term for this: solastalgia, the distress caused by environmental change, creating a “homesickness you feel while still at home.”
It is widely understood that climate change will forever alter our physical world. Indeed, it already has. It’s less obvious that it’s also coming for our friendships, our identity and the spirit and rhythm of our lives.
Auden Schendler is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Basalt and is the author of “Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering Our Soul.” ■
SoapBox
Dougherty will show up
During a May 7 Attorney General debate in Denver, I observed that the responsibilities of the next winning candidate will be as serious as a heart attack, but only one appeared to understand the depth of this gigantic challenge.
Only one impressed me that they will be ready on day one to organize teams of crime fighters to prosecute scammers and violent crime rings.
Only one had the clout to secure Colorado water rights as the Colorado River Compact deadline arrives this year, and as a Colorado-hating Trump hovers to transfer our water shares to red states.
It’s “game on” now, yet Candidate Jena Griswold chose not to attend and has also skipped all five previous debates.
A second candidate also chose not to attend. It’s nice to have prosecutor experience except when you are Hetal Doshi, and her name is all that I learned about her that night.
Candidate David Seligman described past lawsuits waged for prisoners still forced to do work and beleaguered Ama-
zon workers being overworked with no breaks. His demeanor was pleasant and succinct, but I could not overlook that it was like watching college hockey vs. the NHL when debating candidate Michael Dougherty.
Dougherty presented his case to be our next attorney general that left out no detail. He was precise and has the strength to win for Colorado. Dougherty has traveled 17,000 Colorado miles, truly “showing up.” He requests only the honor of our votes.
– Barbara Day, Durango
Facts, decency matter
John Purser is running for LPEA’s District 4 director. However, his campaign has continually been dishonest. He has stated that LPEA’s debt from the TriState exit is $350 million, when the actual future net exit cost is $70 million. He also stated LPEA’s contract payments to be 15 cents for every dollar earned, while it is 3 cents per dollar earned. These financial figures are verified by Fitch Ratings which assigned LPEA an
D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim
A+ rating. Equally indecent has been his investigation into LPEA CEO’s personal life and living situation in a letter to the Durango Herald
As members of our outstanding coop, we deserve directors with integrity, campaigning on facts and decency.
There is still time to vote electronically until May 19.
Please vote for David Luschen, who is a truly qualified individual with more than 25 years in leading positions in our nation’s largest publicly owned utility!
– Werner Heiber, Durango
Eating holes in American fabric
Talk about bad optics. There sits a huge hole in the ground where a major portion of the White House used to be. The official reason for why there is a hole in the ground is that Trump intends to build a ballroom, which most people know is arguably about as necessary to improving our lives as giving a frog a cigar. But the hole has devolved into another bigger, unintended purpose.
The hole has morphed into a multi-symbolic crater to an already failed presidency. It is not the only hole that Trump has dug for himself, and that he cannot seem to get out of. But it is the greatest visual representation of that seemingly never-ending need Trump has to blunder – another deep unfinished hole for which he will not take blame.
It is just like his war for which he will not take blame, a war he chose – repeat chose – to enter into, not one that was forced on him by an enemy’s aggression, not one that was retaliatory for some perceived slight, not one for which he can give any consistently coherent, relevant reasons for fighting. To put it in language that even he might be able to understand without the help of pictures, it is a sand trap filled with dry desert quicksand from which, try as he might, he cannot extricate himself. And in his desperation, he is dragging the whole country down with him.
And of course, we can assume that, like with all the other mistakes and detrimental moves he has wrought on our country, he will blame Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Hakeem Jefferies, Chuck Schumer and every registered Democrat or anybody who ever even
thought of voting for a Democrat or anybody who ever thought of doing the right thing. Blame is one of the main courses served at the “All-You-Can-Eat, Not-MyFault” Trump buffet. It however is evidently not lowcal, as can be attested to by all the poundage Trump proudly displays around his ankles.
Let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind. Trump is all about holes: holes in our democracy, holes in our Constitution, holes in our judicial system, holes in our alliances, more holes in our already punched out health care system, holes in our economy, and most importantly/dangerously, holes in our national psyche. He loves holes almost as much as he likes plastering his name on anything that stays still long enough for him to desecrate.
And holes will be his legacy as long as those who are supposed to act as the constraints on his abuses continue to be silent. Enabling his destruction with laughter, applause and self-degradation, they are doing nothing to stop this ego debauchery, all in hopes of getting a pat on the head.
– Josh Joswick, Bayfield
Celebrate endangered species
This Fri., May 15, is Endangered Species Day. Worldwide, species extinction is occurring with up to 70% loss of species in almost all ecosystems. This is due to human activities such as deforestation and overfishing leading to loss of habitat, which is the primary threat to species.
The most endangered animal in the world is the vaquito, a small dolphin found in the Gulf of California,
with only six to 10 left due to illegal gill netting. In our area, not using toxic herbicides and pesticides and planting native plants will help pollinators, birds and biodiversity.
Celebrate Endangered Species Day by donating to organizations like Defenders of Wildlife, World Wildlife Fund, Endangered Species Coalition, Center for Biological Diversity, Cornell Ornithological Lab, Audubon Bird Conservation, Oceana, Sierra Club and others. Support congresspeople and bills in Congress that support conservation.
On Defenders of Wildlife and World Wildlife Fund sites, you can adopt an animal and get a stuffed toy for your children and learn about the animal and its conservation. Celebrate the day by taking a walk with family and friends and giving thanks for our forests, rivers, wildlife and birds that enrich our lives.
– Margaret Mayer, Southwest Conservation lead, Sierra Club
We’ll print damned near anything
The Telegraph welcomes healthy civil discourse in 750 words or less. Writers must include their (real) name and city/town/state of residence. Personal attacks, hate speech or any other kind of b.s. deemed libelous are not welcome. Please email your profundities to: telegraph@durango telegraph.com
The quad squad
Adult skate nights, DJs and a passionate crew fuel local roller skating renaissance
by Missy Votel
With the return of the mustache and mom jeans, it was only a matter of time – roller skating is back, baby.
But don’t just take my word for it. According to the all-knowing Google, “roller skating is experiencing a significant, lasting comeback that began during the pandemic and has been sustained by social media, nostalgia and its appeal as a fun, accessible workout. Interest spiked in 2020 and has continued, with skating rinks reporting higher attendance and sales.”
So there.
This resurgence of disco balls, rexing and (hopefully) feathered hair is not just confined to the big cities. Durango also saw a urethane revival of its own.
“During the tail end of COVID, roller skating was really popular, and although interest dipped for a bit, we now have a motivated group of adults helping bring it back!” Matt Nimetz, Recreation Facility Operations Supervisor for Chapman Hill, wrote in an email.
That group, the Durango Roller Skaters, has worked with Nimetz to get the word out about the city’s rink rat options. These include adults-only skate sessions Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. as well as a newly added monthly adult DJ skate party, the first of which takes place this SA-T-U-R-D-A-Y night, May 16, from 8:15-10 p.m.
(*While the members of DRS love kids, and have some of their own, their events are for adults only, to ensure that no little whipper snappers are inadvertently mowed over during a feelgood Kool & the Gang singalong. The city hosts all-ages sessions for the kiddos and families on Fridays and Saturdays from 6–8 p.m., and starting May 25, Monday-Wednesday from 4:15–5:45 p.m.)
Nimetz said the rink also upgraded the lighting and sound systems last summer. “The atmosphere is pretty groovy,” he wrote. “We typically play pop dance tunes with a mix of house, ’70s disco and ’80s alternative.”
As for the DRS, they got rolling last fall over a shared nostalgia for skating and the radical idea of socializing in person, and they are looking to grow the ranks of the quad faithful. (Yes, roller skating is a great quad workout, but in this case “quad” refers to the four-wheeled footwear.)
The group was started by Todd O’Toole and John Egesdal, two strapping sexagenarians – a ’70s-sounding word for someone in their 60s – who met at a yoga class. The two struck up a conversation, headed to coffee, and the wheels got turning.
“We were talking about growing up – John grew up in Massachusetts, and I grew up in Minnesota – and all the fun things we liked to do as kids, and we both said, ‘Oh, we loved to roller skate,’” said Egesdal.
Egesdal grew up in the 1970s in tiny Gaylord, Minn., outside the Twin Cities, where he learned to skate in a repurposed WWI pavilion. “It had these amazing wood floors, and someone had the brilliant idea, ‘Let’s get skates in here,’” he recalled. “They were literally playing records until they advanced to eight-track, and we would skate on Fridays and Saturdays. I have fond memories of that little roller rink.”
Alas, a relative newcomer to the area, Egesdal lamented to O’Toole that there was nowhere to roller skate in Durango. That’s when O’Toole clued him in to the weekly Tuesday adult roller nights at Chapman Hill during the summer. (Shout out for starting this goes to local roller skater Dob Robinson, a former national champ who puts us all to shame with his moves. If you’ve seen him skate, you know.)
Egesdal checked out the Tuesday night scene but was dismayed to see it so sparsely attended. Surely there were others, like him, who loved to skate but didn’t know about the options or just needed a little nudge to get out on the floor.
“Todd and I met again, and we asked, ‘What if we were to help them market this,’” said Egesdal.
The two put their feelers out, hanging flyers around town and hosting a meeting last November for those interested in jumpstarting the local roller skating scene. It was election night, yet 12 brave souls showed up, willing to give it a go.
“People had different ideas and stories of where they skated from around the country. And that was pretty much our official beginning,” said Egesdal.
Since then, the group has been meeting monthly at O’Toole’s house, brainstorming ideas for roller nights and other events. “We talk about what made you fired up about roller skating as a kid and what we can do to make it as close to that. We also talk about music, lights, themes,” said Egesdal. And, they’ve also discussed how to go beyond the rink, to do outreach and get involved
Members of the newly formed Durango Roller Skaters at a recent adult roller night, from left: Jane Jaber, Deborah Baldwin, Jennifer Gay, Todd O’Toole and John Egesdal. The group is hosting its first late-night adult Saturday DJ roller party this Sat., May 16, from 8:15-10 p.m. at Chapman Hill./Courtesy photo
with the local community and nonprofit organizations. “Bottom line, we want to try to hit as many people in this community that love roller skating as possible,” he said.
One of those people is Jane Jaber, a longtime Durangoan, who grew up skating in Wisconsin and became involved with the group last fall.
Jaber, who was a two-pompom skater – what we all aspired to be – began skating in 1977 when her town of West Dallas, a suburb of Milwaukee, opened a rink. “We all had the metal skates that we cranked on our shoes with that key … I was there three nights a week, easily,” she said. In fact, her brother was even a rink guard – yes, there was such a person, who was responsible for rink safety and cracking down on speed scofflaws. “He would blow his whistle to tell people to slow down,” she said. “It was Wisconsin, we were rule followers.”
he talked to there had no idea Durango had a rink or any kind of roller scene. He envisions tapping into this larger regional skating community, with Durango acting as a hub to draw skaters from places without rinks or who just want to escape the summer heat.
“We could create conduits to these other places, like Santa Fe, Ouray, Farmington, Phoenix or Albuquerque,” O’Toole said.
What: Durango Roller Skaters Season Kick-off Party with DJ Jake Jones
When: 8:15–10 p.m., Sat., May 16
Jaber also said the size of Durango’s rink could be a big draw, especially after skating somewhere like the diminutive theatre of the Wright Opera House. “It was small. We had to change directions like 20 times,” she said. “But you get back here and go, ‘Oh, wow, yeah. We’ve got a nicesized rink.’”
Where: Chapman Hill roller rink
Egesdal and O’Toole said they hear these kinds of stories almost any time they bring up roller skating. “As we’ve been getting the word out, I would say, nine out of 10 people, when we ask, ‘Hey, did you skate?’ Their eyes light up,” said Egesdal. “They have the same stories we do, and we believe if we start promoting this, more and more people are going to show up.”
They add that Nimetz has been great in efforts to help spice up the scene.
“Matt has been a big proponent of ours. He’s been telling us ‘Go market this, go get DJs, go do what you need to do,’” Egesdal said.
O’Toole said the group, which has about 30 people on its mailing list, is also reaching out to other communities. He, Egesdal, Jaber and other members of DRS, all recently went to a roller skating fundraiser in Ouray at the Wright Opera House. O’Toole said many of the people
Another goal of getting more bodies in the rink is to demonstrate to the city that there is interest in roller skating lest they get bumped by another user group (looking at you, pickleballers.)
And speaking of user groups, DRS said any and every one over the age of 18 is welcome to join, including pickleballers and yes, rollerbladers. Even newbies are encouraged to give it a whirl, with Tuesday night sessions being the more beginner-friendly option, with time and space for instruction.
“We don’t want to just have a bunch of boomers out there listening to ’70s tunes,” said Egesdal. “I’m 62, so, point being, how cool would it be to have twentysomethings, FLC kids, thistysomethings – every generation out there.”
Jaber said she recently attended a skate night at the old Basin Printing building and was blown away by the number of younger people there, many of whom even had their own skates. “There are definitely kids in town who skate,” she said.
Looking ahead, O’Toole said he recently visited an skating school in Phoe-
nix with the goal of possibly bringing instructors to Durango for a clinic. He also checked out some rinks down there to “take notes” on ideas for Durango.
Meanwhile, Jaber is heading to San Francisco, where she plans to skate at the Church of 8 Wheels, a former Catholicchurch-turned-roller-disco where members refer to themselves as “Holy Rollers.”
After all, it’s things like this – going to other rinks, connecting with the rink faithful and converting the skate curious – that helps grow the ever-expanding rollerverse.
“That’s really how it’s building, these little connections leading to the next thing,” said O’Toole.
The next thing, which, of course, is a new old thing. But there’s a reason it keeps rolling back around.
“Aging well is about doing things that bring you joy,” said Jaber. “For me, it’s the skating and the music.” She tells a story of a bartender in a gold lamé suit at the skate night in Ouray. “She came up to me and said, ‘I had so much fun watching you. You seemed so joyful,’ and I’m like, ‘I am, it’s so much fun!’”
Admission to Chapman roller rink is $7 for kids and $8 for adults, Skate rentals are $3. Punch passes are available and can be used for all public skating sessions year-round. ■
Skaters make the rounds recently during a roller skating session at Chapman Hill. The newly formed Durango Roller Skaters is hoping to breathe new life into the roller scene with additional adult-only skate night and a monthly roller dance party with a DJ. / Courtesy City of Durango
BigPivots
Recharging the EV market
High gas prices, revamped incentives aimed at rural drivers may help accelerate sales
by Allen Best
Sales of electric vehicles and hybrids in Colorado soared during the last few years. In late 2024, they constituted nearly one-third of sales. This year, they plummeted.
Might rejiggered incentives put wind in the sails of these sales? Or, for that matter, might high gas prices do the same?
The Colorado Automobile Dealers reported in its quarterly bulletin that battery-electric vehicle sales from January-March 2026 declined 63% compared to the same three months in 2025. In addition, the EV sector constituted only 9% in that time period compared to 21% a year earlier.
Colorado in past years has offered handsome financial incentives to spur EV sales. Coupled with federal incentives, the sticker prices on EVs were within range of those on gas- and diesel-fueled vehicles.
However, a federal tax credit of $7,500 per qualifying EV expired in September. In January, Colorado’s state EV tax credit fell to just $750, although the state still offers a bonus credit of $2,500 for EVs with retail prices of $35,000 or less.
This week, Jigar Shah, a former solar developer and founder of SunEdison, cited Colorado as a state that should rethink its incentives. Shah, who is responsible for one of the first solar projects in the San Luis Valley, oversaw the U.S. Department of Energy’s loan program under the Biden administration. Now, he hosts a podcast, “Energy Empire and Open Circuits.”
On LinkedIn, Shah recently has a post titled, “Colorado Shows Us What’s Possible on EVS – And What Is Missing.”
“Colorado, to its credit, has been scrambling in the right direction for years,” he wrote. “But even Colorado – arguably the most aggressive EV state in the country – is leaving its most powerful lever untouched.”
That lever, according to Coltura, a nonprofit that has mapped American gasoline consumption down to the census block level, are “gasoline superusers”: people who drive an average 40,000 miles a year. These superusers constitute just 8% of Colorado’s drivers yet burn 30% of the gasoline.
Nearly 43% of superusers live in rural areas and spend $8,554 annually on gas, representing 11% of their income. Of those superusers, 19.2% earn below the state median income.
In short, explained Shah, “these are Coloradans who are being slowly bankrupted by gasoline dependence. They stand to gain the most – by far – from switching to an EV.”
To help this happen, Shah argues that Colorado needs to recast its incentives. As of now, most rewards go to those of higher incomes. We need to figure out how to persuade lower-income, higher-mileage drivers to get EVs, as well.
The fix is simple, he says: convert all state EV incentives from flat-purchase rebates into per-mile rebates or tax credits. Bottom line: Switching all 318,000 Colorado superusers to EVs would cut the state’s transportation carbon emissions by 12.2% and total carbon emissions by 4.1%.
“The EVs have been going to the wrong people. The data knows who the right people are,” Shah writes.
Then again, I see lots of 8 mpg trucks driving on interstate highways. A little less pedal to the metal might save gas – and money. But that is another topic.
That said, we do need to make electric pickups attractive to rural drivers. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that a “secret team” of folks from Silicon Valley and Ford Motor have been blowing up the automaker’s assembly line to create a $ 30,000 electric truck. Last year, Ford killed its electric F-150 pickup, which cost between $50,000 - $77,000.
Meanwhile, back in Denver, lawmakers have been working on HB26-1289. The proposed law would make any EV with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price higher than $50,000 ineligible for support while offering extra credit for vehicles that cost less than $40,000.
“That will help make EVs more accessible for the most price-sensitive Coloradans who could easily benefit from more affordable transportation,” Travis Madsen, transportation program manager for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, wrote in an April memo.
After a few years of red hot sales, Colorado’s EV market is in a slump, mostly due to expired tax credits and rebates. However, a new bill, aimed at rural “superusers” would revamp the state’s rebate program, offering more incentives for lower-cost EVS./
The bill would help individuals – but it would also help Colorado’s air quality. Transportation, Madsen noted, is Colorado’s largest source of greenhouse gas pollution and among the most resistant to transformation.
Might higher gasoline prices spur transformation?
The dire Strait of Hormuz situation has incited much speculation. Economist Paul Krugman this week noted that EV sales in mainland Europe are up 51% from a year ago.
“It is now clear that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz marks an inflection point: the global green energy curve, which was already on a rapidly rising trajectory, has suddenly become even steeper,” Krugman wrote, citing a Financial Times report.
The United States produces more oil than it consumes. That said, oil is easily moved around – although, of course, not through the aforementioned strait in the Middle East.
At what point does $4 and $5/gallon gasoline incite a switch to a lower-cost fuel?
As SWEEP’s Madsen points out, charging an electric vehicle at home at night in metropolitan Denver is equivalent to paying about 90 cents per gallon for gasoline.
Allen Best is a Colorado-based journalist who an e-magazine about the energy transition called Big Pivots. Reach him at allen.best@comcast.net ■
Photo by Allen Best
Just how bad was it?
Warm temps, weak snowpack drive second-largest skier drop in industry history
by Jason Blevins / The Colorado Sun
The winter that wasn’t wrecked visitation to U.S. ski areas, with 9 million fewer visits, marking the second largest annual decline in visitation in the history of the resort industry.
On May 5, the National Ski Areas Association announced preliminary surveys showing the nation’s nearly 500 ski areas hosted around 52.6 million skier visits, which is down nearly 15%, from 61.6 million visits in 2024-25 – the second highest on record.
The feast-to-famine collapse in skier visits ranks the 2025-26 season 32nd worst out of 48 seasons on record.
“Few seasons demonstrate as clearly as this one how dependent our industry remains on regional weather patterns,” NSAA President and CEO Michael Reitzell said in a statement that pointed to record warmth, rain and persistently weak snow at resorts out West.
Good snow out East helped numbers there, with resorts in the Northeast counting 12.9 million visits, compared with 12.5 million in 2024-25. In the Southeast, there were 4.8 million visits in 2025-26 compared with 4.4 million the previous season. Resorts in both regions posted their second-best season in the last decade.
But visits melted in the West as record-high temperatures ravaged snowpack . The NSAA numbers show 20.1 million visits in the organization’s Rocky Mountain region, the most trafficked in the country with more than 90 resorts in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and New Mexico. That compares with 26.5 million in 202425, 26.8 million in 2023-24 and a record 27.9 million in 2022-23. Resorts in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington hosted 8.9 million visits, compared with 12.3 million in 2024-25.
Annual resort snowfall tallies in the West were crushed as well. The average snowfall nationally in the 2025-26 season was 112 inches, down 33% from the 10-year average of 169 inches. Despite this, the number of days that resorts operated remained steady – around 110–revealing the strength and increasing reliance on snowmaking across the U.S. Colorado will not release skier visita-
tion numbers until next month. Last year, the state’s 26 ski areas reported 13.8 million visits , making the 2024-25 ski season the third busiest ever for the state. The 2021-25 seasons were the four busiest in Colorado history. The streak ended in 2025-26, with visits expected to fall below 11 million.
But the drop in visits won’t be evenly spread across Colorado. Monarch ski area, for example, saw 172,300 visits, down from recent seasons with more than 200,000 visits.
But the ski area’s new No Name expansion, with 10 new runs and a fixedgrip triple chair accessing 377 acres , lured skiers. Monarch sold more season passes for 2025-26 than ever before and saw record revenues and its busiest day ever in December.
“Net income was our third highest ever. More than we paid for the place,” resort owner Bob Nicolls said. His investment team bought the ski area 24 years ago and has pumped more than $10 million into improvements without any debt.
Vail Resorts late last month released an end-of-season update showing visitation to its 37 North American ski areas down 14.9% compared with 2024-25.
Company CEO Rob Katz, in a statement, said the season’s collapse was due to “one of the most challenging winters in history” with record low snowfall and warm temperatures at its Western ski areas. Visitation to the company’s resorts in Colorado and Utah – Beaver Creek, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City and Vail – was down 25%.
But thanks to the company’s industry-shifting selling of passes and tickets before the snow flies – or in this season’s case, did not fly – lift ticket revenue is down only 5.6%, a sign that the company’s overarching strategy has largely immunized it to the whims of winter.
So now the question is: Will skiers balk at summertime pass buying after such a lousy winter?
Spring sales have launched, and Katz warned investors last month of a “mod-
erate” decline in the number of passes sold through April 12 and a “slight” dip in sales dollars.
Vail Resorts counts more than 75% of its annual visits coming from skiers who bought their passes and lift tickets long before the lifts started turning. Nationally, about 49% of all resort visits come from skiers with season passes, which mirrors use from the previous season.
“After several years of rapid growth, season pass usage has begun to stabilize over the past two seasons, signaling a maturing market,” reads the NSAA release announcing the 2025-26 traffic numbers.
Meanwhile, the number of skiers using daily and multiday lift tickets is in long-term decline, falling from 51% of all visits in 2015-16 to 32% 2024-25.
The Colorado Sun is a nonprofit, awardwinning news outlet covering Colorado. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky. ■
Snow guns go full blast under the Corona Lift at Eldora Ski Area on Jan. 11./ Photo by David Krause, The Colorado Sun
Thursday14
Care and Share Mobile Market, 10-11 a.m., ELHI Community Center, 115 Ute St., Ignacio
The Originals play Ska-BQ, 5-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Bike Durango Group Ride, 5 p.m., meet at Buckley Park, ride to The Powerhouse
“The Engine Inside,” film screening with cyclist and safe streets advocate Megan Hottman, 5:30 p.m., The Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio
La Plata Quilters Guild meets, 5:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
“Birds of Durango,” presented by Durango Open Space Ranger Tosh Black, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Ave.
Dart Tournament, 5:30-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
“To Disturb and Delight: Building the Speculative World,” writing workshop, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Author Event: Dr. Tom Myers, “The Grandest Trek,” 6-8 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Southwest Orchestra Festival, 6-8 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Gary Watkins plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Shallow Eddys play, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Fresh Bits Comedy Open Mic, 6:30-9 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Kirtan Chanting with GaiaShakti, 7-8:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 419 San Juan Dr.
Open Mic Night, 7-10 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Matthew McDaniel plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Tico Time Bluegrass Festival, 12 noon, Tico Time Resort, Aztec
“An Evening of Tribal Water Storytelling,”5:30 p.m., FLC, Vallecito Room
“Cool Under Fire,” self-defense against stress and anxiety, 5:30-7:30 p.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
High Altitude Blues plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Trivia Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co, 3000 Main Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Pete Giuliani plays, 6-9 p.m., Fenceline Cider, 141 S. Main St., Mancos
All Ages Rave, featuring DJs ARSONNICK and Disco Dolly, 6-11 p.m., The Hive/Swarm, 1175 Camino Del Rio
Adult Prom Night, 6:30-9 p.m., EsoTerra Arboretum, 270 CR 303
“A Twist in Time,” presented by Durango Youth Theatre, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“A Myriad of Melodies” presented by Durango Choral Society, 7 p.m., St. Marks Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd Ave.
Ian Lennox plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
“Punk Rock Prom,” Pussyfoot performs, 8 p.m., The Oxford, 118 W. 8th St.
Stargazing the Night Sky, 8:15-10:30 p.m., Lake Nighthorse entrance area, 1795 CR 210
Saturday16
Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, TBK Parking Lot, 259 W. 9th St.
Pine River Garden Club Plant Exchange, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Dr., Bayfield
Stories in the Park, 10-11 a.m., Santa Rita Park picnic shelter, 111 S. Camino Del Rio
Tico Time Bluegrass Festival, 12:30 p.m., Tico Time Resort, Aztec
Acoustic Jam, 1-2 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Literary Festival: Page One Writing Contest Reception, celebrating local writers, 3-4:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Dog Adoption Event with Parker’s Animal Rescue, 3-5 p.m., Creature Comforts, 305 S. Camino del Rio
“The Harmony Games,” family concert by San Juan Symphony, 4 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Shallow Eddys play, 5-9 p.m., The Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave.
KSUT 50th Anniversary Round Dance, 5-11 p.m., Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio
Adam Swanson Ragtime plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Karaoke with Kimmy, 6-9 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
“A Twist in Time,” presented by Durango Youth Theatre, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Vintage Brew plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Livestream Kirtan with Krishna Das and 21 Taras Collective, fundraiser for Tara Mandala Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Center, 7:30 p.m. doors, Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109
Durango Contra Dance, 7:30 p.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Stargazing the Night Sky, 8-10:30 p.m., Lake Nighthorse entrance area, 1795 CR 210
Season Kickoff Adult Roller Skating Party with live DJ, presented by Durango Roller Skaters, 8:15-10 p.m., Chapman Hill Rink
Sunday17
Durango Flea Market, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Friday15
Veterans Friday Coffee, 8-10:30 a.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
La Plata County 4-H Community Garage Sale
Donation Drop Off, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Animas River Clean Up, sponsored by Five Rivers Trout Unlimited, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Rotary Park
Legislative Update, presented by The League of Women Voters of La Plata County, 10 a.m.-12 noon, FLC Noble Hall #13
Plant Sale, hosted by The Garden Club of Durango, 10:30 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
La Plata County 4-H Community Garage Sale, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
KitTea Party fundraiser for La Plata County Humane Society, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., The Rochester Hotel, 726 E. 2nd Ave.
AskRachel
Open doors, hidden illnesses and tax-time panic
Interesting fact: Mr. Phillips didn’t even invent the Phillips head screw. He bought the rights to a Mr. Thompson’s design and slapped his own name on it. Bet your dad didn’t know that.
Dear Rachel, I live alone, and so I have become accustomed to leaving the bathroom door open. I didn’t fully realize this was my way … until I had company. Some people laugh these things off and they fade away. My company was not people like this. There really is no coming back, and this matters because we’re related. How can I either address this or make it go away?
– Doors Wide Shut
Dear Viewing Party,
You can sure put images in other people’s heads. But you can’t take them back out again. You just have to ride this one out, I’m afraid. But I see some bright spots: You will never, ever have to host them again. But don’t feel any shame. We all do what you were doing in there. (Unless you’re a wonderful little freak. In which case, good on you.)
– Airing it out, Rachel
Tico Time Bluegrass Festival, Tico Time Resort, Aztec
Irish Jam, 12 noon-3 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Sunday Record Brunch Club, 12 noon-3 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
“A Twist in Time,” presented by Durango Youth Theatre, 2 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“Light: An Invitational Exhibition,” artist talk, 2 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Monday18
Sign Waving peaceful gathering, 4 p.m., corners of Camino del Rio and College Dr.
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109 or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org
Maria’s Bookshop Reading Group, 6-8 p.m.,
Dear Rachel,
I have never used an accountant, and now it’s biting me in the butt. (Let’s just say there are some discrepancies in my taxes.) I know an accountant would keep me in line, save me time and help me avoid penalties. But I can’t really afford one, but can’t really afford not to. What’s your advice?
– I’m Accounting on You
Dear Delinquent,
I live my life in the financial margins: I do just enough to show that I’m playing by the rules, while also making so little that my margin for error is limited to single-digits. I’m seriously not the person to ask for this sort of advice. Can’t you find a wise older person? Wait – am I an older person now? Dang, I’m sure getting there, one tax extension at a time.
– Book-kept, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
My dad was in the hospital recently. He’s fine, it turns out – just a nasty bout of pneumonia that he and his wife decided not to tell anyone about. On the one hand, no big deal. On the other, shouldn’t they have let me
Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Tuesday19
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12 noon-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Twin Buttes Tuesday, weekly group mountain bike ride, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Twin Buttes trailhead parking lot
Rotary Club of Durango presents Region 9 Economic Development Executive Director Laura Marchino, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Cookbook Club: “The Modern Navajo Kitchen,” 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Author Event: Blake Boles, “Dirtbag Rich,” 6-8 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Tuesday Trivia, 6-8:30 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
know, as the nearest offspring? I’m not saying I needed to rush to his bedside, but isn’t this the sort of detail families should share?
– In the Dark
Dear Looped Out,
Dads are notorious for not sharing info. They’re great at expounding on the flathead vs. Phillips screwdriver, but they’re absolute garbage at relaying critical information. It’s awful you didn’t know how sick your father was. On the other hand, you didn’t have to walk in on him peeing or anything, which is apparently not a sight all families bounce back from.
– Bed rested, Rachel
Barbershop Tryouts, every Tues., 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Rd.
Adult Roller Skating, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Chapman Hill Roller Rink, 500 Florida Rd.
Wednesday20
Weekly Bird Walks with the Durango Bird Club, 89:30 a.m., Botanical Gardens at Durango Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Word Honey Free Poetry Workshop, 6-7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio
The Romantics May Reading Group, 6-8 p.m., Barons Creek Vineyards, 901 Main Ave.
Improv-a-rama Comedy Night, 6-8 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Upcoming
“Edible Plants of the Southwest,” presented by Durango Open Space Ranger Tosh Black, Thurs., May 21, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Ave.
No Secret Police in Durango Time to Decide fundraiser, May 21, 5:30 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Man Ave.
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When naturalist John Muir wanted to experience a storm, he climbed to the top of a 100-foot Douglas fir and rode it for hours through gale-force winds. He later reflected that the danger, in his judgment, was “hardly greater” than staying under a roof, and that the exhilaration and sensory richness justified his experiment. I’m not counseling you to be exactly like Muir in the coming weeks, Aries. Please don’t take foolish risks. However, I would love you to explore what truths are available when you put yourself in the path of intensity.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Soil biologists say a teaspoon of productive soil may contain billions of living organisms. These bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes work in cooperative networks, generating a hidden abundance that ensures that everything above ground thrives. Your immediate future has this quality, Taurus. Beneath the visible surface of your life, beneficial processes are generating fertility and possibility. You don’t need to see the miracle to trust it’s happening. Your role is simply to have faith as you maintain the conditions that allow this mysterious abundance to do its work.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I suspect you would benefit from engaging with a friendly devil’s advocate in coming weeks. Your clarity and understanding will deepen in just the right ways if you converse with affectionate skeptics who like and respect you but also want to help you grow. I realize that such people may be hard to find. If you can’t locate any, you could hire one. Or do the next best thing: Argue with yourself. Entertain lines of thought that are contrary to your usual ideas. Don’t let your habitual self get away with its usual rationalizations. The benefits of this exercise will be unpredictably huge.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star holds a fixed place in the sky. Also known as Polaris, it hangs in almost the same spot throughout the night while other stars rise and set. Because of this steadfast presence, it has long served as a trusted marker for navigation, especially for sailors. Over time, it naturally came to represent an inner compass or a guiding ideal. In your own experience, what serves as your North Star? What’s the steady, orienting force that helps you decide where and how to move? Now is an auspicious moment to revitalize your bond with this central source of direction.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the mid-1950s, researchers developed reliable methods for creating synthetic diamonds in the laboratory. Since then, advances in technology have made it possible to grow large, high-quality diamonds from small seed crystals in a relatively short time. I invite you to make this one of your operative metaphors, Leo. In coming weeks, the forces of destiny will align with your efforts if you experiment with nurturing and expanding the parts of your life that are most like a diamond. Facilitate the development of your valuable beauty.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientist Stuart Kauffman theorizes that living systems are healthiest when they operate near the “edge of chaos.” There’s a critical zone between order and randomness where complexity and adaptability flourish. Too much organization creates brittle stiffness, while excessive chaos prevents coherence. Life thrives when it has both. I invite you to ruminate on these themes in coming weeks. According to my edgy analysis, you’re being invited to cultivate and foster your own personal “edge of chaos.” Your task is to create sweet spots where structure and spontaneity synergize.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Choose two small and specific ways you’re going to stop pretending. One example might be how you respond when someone asks how you’re doing. Another may be an opinion you’ve been softening to keep the peace. Or maybe there’s a desire you’ve been downplaying because it feels impractical or too revealing. Here’s the name of this experiment: Incremental Precision Liberation. The key is to do it casually, with no melodrama or selfconsciousness. If it’s successful, you could try another round in two weeks.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio primatologist Frans de Waal devoted years to watching chimpanzees reconcile with each other after enduring discord. He was fascinated by how they rebuilt trust through elaborate rituals of appeasement, grooming and kind gestures. Once the chimps stopped fighting, he marveled, they actively repaired their connection, which often emerged stronger than it was before the dispute. I hope you will borrow their primate wisdom in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Do your best to navigate through conflict or alienation, and then instigate generous acts of rebonding. Don’t sulk, be evasive or go silent. Be creative as you work to replenish what was damaged. The renewed relationship could be closer for having weathered the difficulties.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The albatross harnesses the wind, enabling it to travel vast distances with minimal effort. There’s an initial effort that leads to big energy savings. The bird climbs into strong winds and then relaxes as it gets transported, surfing the air currents. I mention this, because I suspect you’ve been trying too hard and working too much –unnecessarily so. Less exertion, more gliding, please! Ask yourself what flows are streaming in your favor. Could you catch a ride on existing momentum? Here’s my advice: Figure out where life’s tides are already moving, then position yourself to get carried along.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Ethnomusicologists know that Tuvan singers can produce two or more tones simultaneously. The human voice, it turns out, has the ability to harmonize with itself. Most of us never discover this because we never try. What other multidimensional capacities are you not using because you’ve never investigated them? The coming weeks are ideal for experimentation. What unexpected capacities might you get access to if you explored possibilities you’ve assumed were beyond you? You may be able to develop aptitudes and acquire gifts you haven’t discovered yet.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Cartographer Gerardus Mercator created his famous world map in 1569, enabling sailors to plot straight-line courses across oceans. But his technique dramatically distorts the size of landmasses. Greenland appears larger than Africa, when in reality Africa is 14 times bigger. The truth is that every map privileges certain truths while distorting others. This is a key teaching for you right now. Examine the mental maps you’re using to navigate your life. Might they be warping reality in any way? Consider whether you would benefit from redrawing your inner visualizations.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20):
Perfectionism has increased dramatically in recent decades. Young people are especially affected. But the compulsion for perfection rarely improves performance. It’s more likely to undermine achievement by triggering paralysis and excessive self-criticism. Now is a favorable time for you to rebel against the trend. I encourage you to cultivate a relaxed devotion to being “good enough” as you enjoy yourself. Do you know the difference between cheerfully seeking excellence and grimly striving for perfection? Move away from what demands your obsessive rigor and focus on what requires soulful completion.
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Announcements
Adult Roller Skating
Check out the Chapman Hill Rink schedule. We have added adult skating on Tuesday nights 6:30-8:30pm and DJ parties one Saturday each month 8:1510:15pm. Join us for the first Saturday night DJ disco party of the season on Sat., May 16. Durango Roller skaters will be there to help you get rolling! Todd 970799-013
Classes/Workshops
Life Blueprint Workshop
Free 2-hour workshop to gain clarity and intentionally design the next chapter of your life. For those feeling stuck, in transition, or ready for change. Online: May 14, 12–2. In person: May 16, 10–12, Durango Public Library. Register: davealbrechta.com/workshop
Parenting Classes-Storybook Gardens 970-403-3347
Kids Yoga Camp
June 22–26 | 9 AM–3 PM | Elementaryaged kids | A fun + enriching experience! Movement • Mindfulness • Outdoor adventure • Art • Storytelling Anuyoga school.com | 585-613-1981
Cool Under Fire
A workshop (for ages 8-80) treating burnout from stress & anxiety. Learn how to feel centered and keep calm despite
daily dumpster fires. VFW 5:30-7:30pm on 5.15.26. Info and tickets online: du rangoaikido.com
Lost/Found
$500 Reward
Lost: Gold wedding ring, in/near Albertsons on May 4th. Text 303.918.1936
Services
Woof!
Dog sitting, dog walking in Durango. Dogs adore me and I them. Long/short term. Excellent references. mojosail2@ yahoo.com
Electric Repair
Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
ForSale
Reruns Home Furnishings
Furniture, mirrors, lamps, cool artwork and more! Looking to consign smaller pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.
BodyWork
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Intentional full body fluid movement. Meg Bush, LMT 970-759-0199
CommunityService
The Durango Bird Club will host a spring bird count Sun., May 17: durangobirdclub.wixsite.com
Dog Fosters Needed Parker’s Animal Rescue needs fosters to provide temporary homes for rescued
‘The Rat Catcher’
When people say that: “It takes one to know one,” this is just what they mean – Lainie Maxson
dogs. We supply crates, food, leashes, toys, support and vet visits. Apply at: parkersanimalrescue.com.
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