[contents]
July 2012 [departments]
[features]
4 Viewpoint
14 Cybersecurity
5 Letters 6 Calendar 7 Co-op News 12 NewsClips 29 Funny Stories 30 Discoveries
16 Pack it Over the Pass
Annual meetings showcase electric co-ops in action
Co-ops stave off hackers with increased grid protection Colorado’s original adventure sport is pack-burro racing
14
30 29
[columns]
16
20 Recipes
Funny Stories
New ways to enjoy watermelon
22 Gardening
Spice up your garden by adding assorted savory herbs
24 Outdoors
Ego gratification of contest hunting doesn’t belong
25 Energy Tips
A reverse cycle chiller with a heat pump can save money
20
22
24
[cover]
Pack burro racer Hal Walter runs with Laredo during the 28.6-mile World Championship Burro Race in Fairplay. Photo by Tim Van Riper. COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Donna Wallin, Associate Editor; dwallin@coloradocountrylife.org • Amy Higgins, Administrative Assistant/Writer; ahiggins@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276; NCM@800-626-1181
The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 43, Number 07
OFFICERS: Bob Bledsoe [ Tri-State] President; Bill Midcap [Fort Morgan] Vice President; Don Kaufman [Sangre de Cristo] Secretary; Jack Schneider [Poudre Valley] Treasurer; Kent Singer [CREA] Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS: John Porter [Empire]; Don McClaskey [Grand Valley]; Jim Lueck [Highline]; Michael Glass [Holy Cross]; Dan Mills [K.C.]; Tom Compton [La Plata]; Stan Cazier [Mountain Parks]; B.D. Paddock [Mountain View]; Joseph Costa, Reg Rudolph [San Isabel]; Mike Rierson, [San Luis Valley]; Marcus Wilson, Kevin Ritter [San Miguel]; Mark Grasmick [Southeast]; Jim Jaeger, Ron Asche [United Power]; Bill Jordan [ White River]; Stuart Travis [ Y-W ]; Charles
Perry [Yampa Valley]; Basin Electric, CoBank, Moon Lake Electric, Wheatland Electric [Associate Members] EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: MNeeley@coloradocountrylife.org • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: Colorado Country Life • Twitter: @COCountryLife Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.
[viewpoint]
Co-op Board Members Work for You
Annual meetings showcase electric cooperatives in action BY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || KSINGER@COLORADOREA.ORG
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Kit Carson. Buena Vista. Cortez. Steamboat Springs. Monte Vista. We were at each of these communities and others in June as the Colorado Rural Electric Association staff crisscrossed the state to participate in your local electric co-op annual meetings. Kent Singer One of the great parts of my job is that I get to attend these meetings and visit with you, the members of our member co-ops. These meetings also provide a chance for you as co-op member-owners to meet not only with your neighbors, but also with your local co-op directors and employees, who are often also your friends and neighbors. That’s because one of the characteristics of electric co-ops that distinguishes them from other electric utilities is the fact that you elect your board of directors from among the co-op’s membership, which comes from the local communities the coop serves. Directors care how their actions affect the local community because they are part of that community. Your co-op directors provide the direction and leadership for your local co-op, sacrificing hours of time and miles of travel on their vehicles to do so. They typically are reimbursed in some fashion for their service, but they spend hours and hours on co-op business each month, attending board meetings, reviewing balance sheets and contracts and reading an endless stream of information on a complicated and changing industry. They attend education classes and are also expected to attend state and national meetings designed to keep them updated on recent developments in the electric industry. The electric business is extremely complex, and co-op directors must understand its issues.
And they do. Colorado’s electric co-ops have had outstanding directors over the years. One of La Plata Electric Association’s board members, Pam Patton, was recently recognized for her expertise when Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) appointed her to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The governor’s appointment is just one more way of noting the experience and knowledge of co-op board directors. But, sadly, we are also losing some of that expertise as some longtime directors retire. I’d like to recognize two of these co-op leaders: Sam Haslem and Tom Turnbull.
It’s your co-op directors who provide the direction and leadership for your local co-op. Sam served on the board of the Yampa Valley Electric Association in Steamboat Springs for 20 years and retired from the board last month. Sam also served on the CREA board for many years, and we appreciate his many contributions to both Yampa Valley and CREA. I got a chance to take a road trip last
year with Sam as we drove to a meeting with the Moon Lake co-op in northeastern Utah. It was an opportunity to learn the history of the area and the co-op program in northwestern Colorado. When Sam was recognized for his service at YVEA’s annual meeting in June, he eloquently summed up his devotion to the co-op program when he said, “The REA movement is a bright light in American history.” Another bright light in that co-op history is Tom, who retired last month after 33 years on the board of Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs. Tom was instrumental in the transformation of a small rural electric co-op into the largest electric utility on the Western Slope and one of the most innovative power suppliers in Colorado. During a long presidency on the Holy Cross board, Tom, his fellow board members and the staff expertly managed Holy Cross through some challenging times. Today Holy Cross is one of the lowest-cost providers in the state and it incorporates a large amount of renewable energy into its power mix for more than 55,000 members. I’ve also had the pleasure of casting a fly or two with Tom, and he is as deft with a fly rod as he was overseeing Holy Cross. Tight lines, my friend. We will miss those who are leaving our ranks. But we look forward to working with the new, dedicated board members that you, as co-op members, have elected to represent you.
Executive Director
FOLLOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENT SINGER’S BLOG AT COLORADOREABLOG.WORDPRESS.COM ColoradoCountryLife.coop 4 July 2012
[letters] Questionable Claims Your article “U.S. Second in Renewable Generation” (March ’12) was misleading. You state “the U.S. consumes the most renewable energy from sources other than hydropower, twice as much as Germany and more than three times as much as Spain.” Considering we have over three times the population of Germany and seven times that of Spain, it should not be surprising. When you look at the per person installed capacity, according to the International Energy Agency, Germany has 212.5 watts and the U.S. 8.1 watts. In 2010 alone, Germany installed 7,411 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity while the U.S. installed 918 megawatts. — Ron Sheller, Salida
Renewable Energy Costs To all who are in favor of alternative energy sources: •W ind energy generators run about one-third of the time. They kill about 30,000 birds every year. They last about 10 years, which means they have a useful operating life of 3.5 years. The blades cost $50,000 each to replace. •T he large solar array south of Raton, New Mexico, can supply power for 8,000 households. That will about handle Raton, if the sun is shining. Otherwise, power must come from good old coal or gas, which is required for a backup. The result is two systems. •W hen 10 percent green energy was voted in, 1 kilowatt-hour cost went from 8¢ to 15¢. — Ralph Carson, Walsenburg
Appreciation for Power Lines I enjoy overhead power lines. It only makes sense to distribute power the safest, most reliable, most cost effective way and that is by overhead lines. During an outage, it is much easier and faster and cheaper to spot a downed line than to test for a fault in an underground line. — Robert Garey, Ignacio
Send your letter to the editor by mail or email. You must include your name and address to be published. Letters may be edited. ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 5
[calendar]
[ July] Through September 28 Craig Norman Rockwell Exhibit Museum of Northwest Colorado museumnwco.org July 8-29 Durango Music in the Mountains Various Durango locations musicinthemountains.com July 10-15 Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo Rodeo Arena 5:30 pm • 970-586-6104 July 12, 19, 26 Black Forest Open house Historic Black Forest Log School 12-3 pm • 719-495-4021 July 14-15 Buena Vista Stampede Rodeo Rodeo Grounds buenavistacolorado.org July 14 Ovid Ovid Days Ovid City Park 12-11 pm • 970-463-0960 July 14 Winter Park Supersized Saturday Winter Park Resort 11 am-3 pm winterparkresort.com July 16-20 Pueblo “Lords, Ladies, Dragons” workshop Sangre de Cristo School of Arts sangredecristoarts.org/ education July 17-21 Grand Junction Mesa County Fair Mesa County Fairgrounds mesacountyfair.com
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 6 July 2012
July 20-22 Gunnison Jack Russell Terrier Trials Fred R. Field Multi-Purpose Building westelkjrt@gmail.com July 21 Durango Artists Market Edgemont Picnic Grounds 10 am-4 pm durangofriends.org July 21-22 Pagosa Springs Craft Fair Pagosa Lodge 970-731-4560 July 21 Westcliffe Wet Mtn. Valley Rotary pancake breakfast High School parking lot 7-10 am wetmountainvalleyrotary.org July 21-22 Winter Park Alpine ArtAffair Downtown Winter Park 970-531-1228 alpineartaffair.com July 22 Calhan Dutch Oven Cook-Off El Paso County Fair 719-648-8260 July 22 Elbert All-you-can-eat breakfast Russell Gates Mercantile Community Hall 8 am-1 pm townofelbert.com July 23-27 Beulah New Mountain Adventure Camp Mountain Park Environmental Center hikeandlearn.org July 23 Crested Butte Alpenglow: Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds Center for the Arts outdoor stage 5:30 pm crestedbuttearts.org
July 24-28 Creede Black Light Puppetry camp Creede Repertory Theatre 10 am-1 pm • creederep.org
July 30-August 7 Kiowa Elbert County Fair Various Kiowa locations elbertcountyfair.com
July 26-28 Burlington Library book sale Outback Park 10 am • burlingtoncolo.com
[August]
July 27-29 Breckenridge Main Street Art Festival Main Street and Wellington 10 am-6 pm mountainartfestivals.com July 27-29 Mancos Mancos Days Various Mancos locations mancoscolorado.com/ Mancosdays.htm
August 3 Littleton Free admission day Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield botanicgardens.org August 3-5 Pagosa Springs Puebloan Pottery Workshop Chimney Rock ancientarts.org August 4 Brighton Farms Tour for Families Bromley Farm to Berry Patch Farms 1-4 pm • historycolorado.org
July 27-August 11 Trinidad “Fox on the Fairway” play Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre 719-846-4765 • scrtheatre.com August 4 Grand Junction July 27-29 Woodcarver’s Show Windsor Clarion Inn Fine Arts Festival 970-257-1549 Boardwalk Park windsorfinearts.org August 4 Grand Lake July 28 History Day Greeley Kauffman House Fiddle Fest 1-4 pm • 970-627-9644 Island Grove Park Pavilion 10 am-6 pm August 4-5 weldcountyfair.com La Veta Digital photography workshop July 28-29 La Veta School of the Arts Ignacio thelvsa.org/workshops.htm San Ignacio Fiesta Various Ignacio locations stignatiuschurch-ignacio.com July 28 Sedalia Buckaroo Jamboree: Cherokee Style Cherokee Ranch 10:30 am • cherokeeranch.org July 29 Fairplay Burro Days Hand Hotel burrodays.com
{
SEND CALENDAR ITEMS
TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303-455-2807; or email calendar@coloradocountrylife.org. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountry life.coop
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 11
[newsclips]
Electric Co-op Representative Named to PUC
G POWER FOR THE PEOPLE Affordable electricity is an indispensable resource that is essential to families, businesses, communities and the economy throughout Colorado. This graphic illustrates just how plugged in the average electricity consumer is at home. Proposed government regulations are threatening to drive up the cost of all of this power we use. Since every room at home depends on affordable electricity, even a small increase in costs could undermine our way of life. Visit KeepElectricityAffordable.org to learn more.
“It’s terribly unwise … to create a regulatory regime that bans one of the nation’s most plentiful resources. We own 28 percent of the world’s coal reserves. …” — Tom Fanning, Southern Company CEO, speaking of coal
Gov. John Hickenlooper announced in June that Pam Patton, secretary on the La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors, has been appointed to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Patton, of Bayfield, has served on the LPEA board since 2000. Prior to moving back to her home state of Colorado, she served 20 years in the U.S. Navy. She is a Credentialed Cooperative Director and has a Cooperative Board Leadership Pam Patton certificate from the Photo by Lindsay Eppich National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. She is active in her community and was awarded the Barbara Conrad Leadership Award by Leadership La Plata and the Morley Ballantine Award for business leadership by the Durango Chamber of Commerce.
Yes or No to Electric Vehicles? Electric vehicles aren’t practical for some electric co-op members. Others like them and have been driving them for several years. Whether co-op members are interested in EVs or not depends on where they need to drive and what the terrain is like. That’s what we discovered when, last month, we asked who was interested in an electric vehicle and what perks they would like in an electric vehicle. Some mentioned the problems EVs would have with their country road, while others noted they want a car that will go at least 100 miles on a charge. One member who praised EVs is Dave Hawkins of Lyons. He and his son have started an EV conversion business as they spread the word on electric vehicles. Find out more at bbevs.com. ColoradoCountryLife.coop 12 July 2012
A Question for Readers What would you like to see your local electric co-op invest your money in? • More renewable resources • Community programs • Youth programs • Assisting those who can’t pay their electric bills • None of the above; return it to members as capital credits Email your answer and why you selected it to info@ coloradocountrylife.org.
[newsclips] This Whale Rock three-phase power line burned during the High Park Fire.
Northern Colorado Electric Co-op Affected By High Park Fire
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Lines went down. Poles burned. Members were without power. The High Park Fire was only 15-20 percent contained. That was life in one part of Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association’s territory in north central Colorado as this magazine went to press. At one time, PVREA had more than 1,100 homes without electricity. There were also several hundred others who had intermittent power as those directing the firefighting asked the local electric co-op to de-energize lines in areas where planes were dropping water and fire retardant. The fire broke out Saturday, June 9, northwest of Fort Collins and quickly grew to more than 52,000 acres. At deadline, PVREA estimated that it had more than 100 poles burnt or damaged and miles of line gone. One new three-phase line, which had just been rebuilt and energized about a week before the fire, was destroyed. The co-op also nearly lost its Bellvue Substation when, early in the fire, flames got within 50 feet of the substation, which has four feeds sending power out to members. Firefighters were diligent in protecting this infrastructure and turned back the fire. The co-op itself was quick to begin the rebuilding process. While firefighters were still trying to contain the fire June 13, PVREA crews set the first poles to rebuild their system. They were able to energize that new line June 14 while other lines were going down as the fire continued to spread along Highway 14 and the Poudre River.
Staying Cool Summer is here and, for parts of Colorado, it’s hot. At lower altitudes, beyond the foothills and out on the plains, air conditioning makes the hot temperatures bearable. Did you know that about 12 percent of the total U.S. electricity consumption is used each year for cooling? That’s 479 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. — Energy Information Administration ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 13
Cybersecurity PATROLS Electric co-ops stave off hackers with increased grid protection so lights stay on BY MEGAN MCKOY-NOE, CCC Sandia National Laboratories computer scientists Ron Minnich (foreground) and Don Rudish have successfully run more than 1 million Linux kernels as virtual machines, an achievement that will allow cybersecurity researchers to more effectively observe behavior found in malicious botnets. They used Sandia’s Thunderbird supercomputing cluster for the demonstration.
“ There is no question that there will be some kind of legislation. It’s important that policy-makers make a distinction between what’s appropriate security for bulk power versus distribution systems. The question is whether what’s put forward makes sense, if it will be overly burdensome and if it will make electricity less affordable for our members.” — Glenn English, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 14 July 2012
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Your home probably has several security features — door locks, bolts and an alarm system. When it comes to cybersecurity, electric cooperatives follow the same principle of building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to safeguard your personal data from attacks. Securing digital data on an electric distribution system isn’t a “once and done” job. It’s a continual process of evaluating and addressing risks, tightening measures, planning and then evaluating again. While it’s difficult to thwart a determined computer hacker, with constant vigilance electric cooperatives can significantly minimize the possibilities. “Keeping our members’ information secure is a top priority,” explains Michael Milligan, director of system engineering for Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation in Covington, Georgia. “Technology constantly changes, requiring a ‘continuously improving’ approach toward cyber hazards.”
Two Idaho National Laboratory cybersecurity specialists conduct research on an electric utility Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system.
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Snapping Shoals EMC represents a national trend of cooperatives bulking up cybersecurity with tools from the Cooperative Research Network, the research arm of the Arlington, Virginia-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. CRN’s “Guide to Developing a Risk Mitigation and Cyber Security Plan” and supporting documents, released in 2011 with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy, help utilities of all types develop a process to shore up cyber defenses. “Electric cooperatives have made substantial progress in cybersecurity without additional regulation because they owe it to their members to protect system reliability and prevent unauthorized access to personal information,” explains Glenn English, NRECA’s CEO.
of Standards and Technology and other industry organizations, the guide focuses on procedures co-ops should adopt to continuously monitor cyber threats and enhance risk preparedness. “CRN’s cybersecurity resources are well-rounded tools that helped make our existing security plan more complete and serve as references for future projects,” Milligan says. Andy Bochman, an energy security lead for IBM’s rational division, praises CRN’s efforts. “While the [information technology] community is waiting for [practical] implementation guides from NIST, CRN’s offering breaks things down into actionable, prioritized parts. It allows co-ops to travel down a well-marked path toward better cybersecurity and risk mitigation planning in the age of the smart grid.”
Security sweep
Regulating security
Electric cooperatives have been working with the DOE, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Obama administration, and the electric utility industry to strengthen and bolster cybersecurity. An assault on a co-op, for example, could be a prelude to, or part of, a coordinated cyber strike on the country’s power grid as a whole that could impact electric reliability. Last year, NERC, the nation’s electricity reliability watchdog, conducted an exercise dubbed “GridEx” to identify cybersecurity concerns and encourage utilities and government agencies to work together to mitigate the issues uncovered. “GridEx provided a realistic environment for organizations to assess their cyber response capabilities,” says Brian Harrell, NERC manager of critical infrastructure protection standards, training and awareness. “Through the interaction, participants forged relationships across the cybersecurity community.” A report on the test indicates most utilities have adequate response plans in place, but more training and updated guidelines were suggested. Communication difficulties were also identified — a problem NERC will confront by developing outreach strategies for secure information sharing. To further pinpoint cyber vulnerabilities, a seven-year utility system security study was conducted by the DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory. Poor “patch management” was cited as the biggest utility weakness. Patches fix publicly-known security problems. To prevent would-be hackers from discovering security lapses, teams of grid guardians routinely scour electric distribution systems to find and fix weak spots. “I look for vulnerabilities in control system software,” says May Chaffin, an INL cybersecurity researcher. “I try to get them repaired before someone takes advantage.” Lessons learned from the GridEx activity and researchers like Chaffin have been incorporated into CRN’s cybersecurity toolkit. Based on best practices developed by the National Institute
The possibility of cyber mischief undermining automated digital technologies used by utilities has Congress, the White House and regulators considering the right balance of security and emergency response initiatives. “There is no question that there will be some kind of legislation,” English predicts. “It’s important that policy-makers make a distinction between what’s appropriate security for bulk power versus distribution systems. The question is whether what’s put forward makes sense, if it will be overly burdensome and if it will make electricity less affordable for our members.” In 2010, the U.S. House considered the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act. A similar measure, the Cyber Security Act of 2012, was introduced in the U.S. Senate in February. Both bills would provide the federal government with more power to draft cybersecurity standards but would weaken the NERC and FERC partnership that allows industry stakeholders to help ensure standards are technically sound and able to be properly implemented. NRECA cybersecurity experts believe any legislation should focus on encouraging federal agencies to routinely provide actionable, timely intelligence about cyber threats and vulnerabilities to utility industry experts. “Hackers are getting smarter, and for some, much of the fun is the challenge of beating your system,” says CRN Program Manager Maurice Martin. “Co-ops understand cybersecurity isn’t a one-time thing. Improved communications about potential trouble remains key to this effort.” Electric co-ops are building cyber barricades and fashioning robust plans for addressing current and future dangers. But in a rapidly evolving cyber environment, there’s no such thing as perfect security. Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC, writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service organization for the nation’s 900-plus consumerowned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives. Rob Holt contributed to this article. ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 15
Pack-burro racer Hal Walter runs with Laredo during the 28.6-mile World Championship Burro Race in Fairplay.
Colorado’s original adventure sport isn’t
PACK it over the PASS BY HAL WALTE R
skiing or snowboarding. It’s actually the obscure and quirky sport of pack-burro racing. Recently named the state’s official “Summer Heritage Sport” by the Colorado legislature, it certainly deserves the recognition. It has a 64-year history of rough-and-tumble competition and has had myriad write-ups in national newspapers and magazines, as well as coverage by radio and cable television programs.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 16 July 2012
Yet, sadly, pack-burro racing remains relatively unknown. When I ran in my first pack-burro race in Leadville back in 1980, the whole race was sort of a whimsical notion for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into — not just for that race, but for my entire lifetime as well. I finished “Last Ass Over the Pass” in my first attempt, and even after I completed that epic 19-mile run up and down 13,187-foot Mosquito Pass with a donkey, it never occurred to me that I would write a book on the subject, be a central character in a documentary film or be a world champion in the sport six times. Pack-burro racing would also lead me on a path of a rural lifestyle that would prove to be far different than anything I could have ever imagined. In fact, after that first attempt, I couldn’t imagine I’d ever race again. But I did race again, and everything in the 33 years since that first race now serves as a testimony to a lifetime of adventure. I’ve now run up and down Mosquito Pass at least 75 times in conditions ranging from thunder blizzards to skin-scorching sunshine. As I wrote in my book Wild Burro Tales, there’s been something different and yet something the same about each trek. I’ve crossed the finish line with seven different burros, and two of these burros have now crossed into that great pasture in the sky. I’ve finished last. I’ve finished first a few times, too. But over the years the thing that has impressed me most about my trips up and down Mosquito Pass is that they have provided a stunning backdrop for a life filled with wonder, magic, change and challenges. In other words, pack-burro racing has become a metaphor for life itself. For those who don’t know what pack-burro racing is, it’s part running race, part rodeo and part mountain climb. Humans and burros race as teams over long, high-altitude distances usually on rugged mountain courses. For example, Fairplay’s 28.6-mile world championship course boasts more than 3,000 feet of vertical gain and descent; a two-mile long, above-timberline grind across an expanse of tundra known as American Flats; two crossings of icy Mosquito Creek; and a climb up a narrow path through a rock glacier to the summit of Mosquito Pass. Prizes range from $500 to $1,300 for first place. The winning team is the first burro and racer to cross the finish line as a team. In the case of close finishes, the first burro’s nose to cross the line determines the winner. There are some other quirky rules. The burro is required to carry a packsaddle weighing 33 pounds and the rig must contain a pick, pan and shovel to commemorate the mining history the
Jim Anderegg and his burro Gus in one of the Triple Crown races.
Runners and burros jockey for position on the Old Midland Trail in the Buena Vista Gold Rush Days Pack-burro Race.
sport celebrates. The lead rope may be no longer than 15 feet. Riding is not allowed. These rules have been in place since the first Rocky Mountain Pack-burro Championship Race in 1949. Legend has it that the sport was originated much earlier by miners racing back to town to file their claims at the courthouse, or it may have started from a bar bet between prospectors. While such yarns provide a nostalgic basis for the sport, the truth is the first documented pack-burro race was the brainstorm of local merchants hoping to attract tourists to Fairplay’s Gold Days celebration. At stake in the first 22.9-mile race, starting at the Lake County Courthouse in Leadville and crossing Mosquito Pass to Fairplay, was $500 cash and a trophy presented by the Rocky Mountain News. Of the 21 starters, 13 entrants finished. Melville Sutton of Como and his burro Whitey were the first to reach the finish line at the Prunes monument in Fairplay. After topping the Mosquito Pass summit in about two hours, Sutton battled it out with Fairplay’s Ed Knizely and Prunes IV over the final 15 miles for bragging rights as the sport’s first champion. [continued on page 18]
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 17
Hal Walter and Laredo (left) and Bobby Lewis and Wellstone reach the Mosquito Pass summit , 13,187 feet elevation, in the Leadville Boom Days International Pack-Burro Race.
[continued from page 17]
Thus a new tradition was born. Burros had carried the loads Pack-burro racing is actually a Zen sport. It’s difficult to for miners since gold and silver were found in the 1880s. Now, have everything working right for you — where both you and with mining on the wane, the job of keeping this heritage an animal not especially known for its cooperative nature are alive was resting firmly on the backs of these sturdy in tune, physically and mentally. Finding that space in animals. which I am totally in sync with the burro is how I’ve Since that original race from Leadville to managed to win at this sport. Fairplay in 1949, the sport has evolved to Back in 2000, I had led the Fairplay World include a triple crown of races each sumChampionship race with my burro Spike for mer in Fairplay, 28.6 miles in distance; almost the entire distance. In about the last Leadville, 19.3 miles; and Buena Vista, mile, I looked back and could see 11-time about 11 miles. Other shorter races winner Tom Sobal running up from are held in the Colorado towns of behind. He and his burro Bullwinkle Georgetown and Idaho Springs. quickly caught up and passed us. It was With my 32nd consecutive race like a bad dream and quite deflating to at Leadville’s Boom Days last be dropped so quickly at the end of such summer, I’ve been involved with a long race. We picked up the pace but pack-burro racing for half of the they just pulled away, trotted over the sport’s existence and well more than last hill and out of sight into town. Still, half of my own. I’ve had the good Spike and I didn’t give up. and unlikely fortune to win a few of There’s an old ghost town at the north these events over the years, including end of Fairplay, then a couple blocks of six world championships at Fairplay, pavement to the finish line. As Spike and four victories at Leadville and a couple I came down the last hill into the ghost of wins at Buena Vista. I say “unlikely” town, I saw Tom and his burro weaving back because I don’t consider myself to be any and forth on the pavement. I was surprised sort of super athlete — as some pack-burro because I’d figured they’d already finished and Shelly Hall pulls Sabina onto racers are — but have found success through won. Spike picked up the pace and as we neared the Arkansas River bridge in the Buena Vista Gold Rush Days determination, animal know-how and by the finish line, Bullwinkle veered off the street Pack-Burro Race. simply showing up enough times. and up onto the boardwalk of the Park Bar.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 18 July 2012
Pack-burro racer Hal Walter has been
Spike and I coasted right on I heard footsteps and turned competing for more than 30 years. by for the win. around to see Joe and friend Jim Pack-burro racing is also Feistner. They had crossed over a gnarly and somewhat Mosquito Pass from the Leadville dangerous sport. Consider side, passed us quickly and ran the animals’ herding instinct on out of sight. A few miles later as a shotgun or pistol blast when we reached the old Veterans sends competitors racing out of Foreign Wars post, just past of town. Out on the course South Park City, we saw their there’s the combination of burros tied up out front. high-mountain environment, It was one of those clear, dry treacherous footing, and summer days when the highunpredictable equines. I’ve altitude sun reflects off the snow seen entrants taken to the and talus slopes and parches your hospital after falling, being body. Curtis and I went inside caught in ropes and dragged, and found Jim and Joe sitting at and even kicked. a table in the dim light of the bar, The natural elements also cooling down with a couple of can get your attention. Once beers. It looked pretty good to me, fellow burro racer Curtis but since we still had to run that Imrie, and I were training last few miles to Fairplay, Curtis above timberline on the and I ordered water, talked to the Fairplay course. A thunderLeadville pair about the upcomstorm rolled in over the top of ing race and then headed out. We the Mosquito Range, and we figured they were done. crouched on the balls of our We weren’t 20 minutes down feet to watch it pass. A bolt of the road, running the old twolightning shot down from the track along the Middle Fork of the black clouds and, just above South Platte River, headed toward the talus slope where the race Fairplay, when I heard a burro course winds, the lightning coming and turned. Joe caught up bolt branched into several to us and passed without so much forks and then illuminated as a word. When we reached Fairthe entire area with a purple play, his burro was tied up outside glow. We looked at each other the Park Bar. Whenever I think I in disbelief. might be taking pack-burro racing Is it worth the risk? Heck too seriously, I remember how yeah! Two weeks later I a man more than twice my age caught the figurative lightfueled by Coors passed me like I ning in a bottle and won a was standing still. fifth world championship on this same course. For me, pack-burro racing has been the adventure of a Even if danger were completely removed, pack-burro raclifetime, and that adventure seems to be lasting a lifetime ing is a tough sell to most athletes. It’s a demanding sport that as well. Now that Colorado’s original adventure sport is the almost requires an alternative, rural lifestyle in order to house, official Summer Heritage Sport it’s still all the same to me. The transport and train a burro. Plus, these big animals have a way of enduring and endearing qualities of the burros, the allure of the getting in the way of big egos. Over the years, I’ve seen some fan- backcountry and the competitive nature of both humans and tastic athletes give the sport a try with various results. Some elite animals continue to inspire me to get my ass up the pass each runners have quit in fits of frustration. The problem with many summer. Hee-haw! super athletes is that they take themselves way too seriously. Writer Hal Walter and his wife and son live on a small ranch at nearly I started racing burros when Joe Glavinick, a legend in the 9,000 feet in electric co-op territory in southern Colorado. You can read sport and nine-time world champion, was heading toward more of Hal’s adventures at hardscrabbletimes.com. retirement. But I saw enough of his act to know that fun and adventure were the only reasons to be doing this. During one of my earliest training runs on the Fairplay course, Curtis and I were running down Mosquito Gulch when
Whenever I think I might be taking pack-burro racing too seriously, I remember how a man more than twice my age fueled by Coors me like I was standing still.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 19
[recipes]
Reinventing the Watermelon
New ways to enjoy nature’s masterpiece at a summer barbecue BY AMY HIGGINS || AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG FUN WATERMELON FACTS Did you know the flesh of a watermelon isn’t always red? There are scrumptious orange, yellow and white flesh varieties as well.
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Nothing beats sinking your teeth into a big slice of watermelon on a hot summer day; it’s juicy, refreshing and delicious. What’s more, it’s easy to get your hands on one this time of year. The National Watermelon Promotion Board has some cool suggestions on how to jazz up this classic fare even more. So, step away from the grill and mix up a new watermelon treat for the next barbecue.
Greek Pita Bread With Watermelon 4 wedges seeded watermelon 1 cup diced cooked chicken 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt Dash cayenne pepper 2 whole pita breads, halved or whole grain flatbreads 1/4 cup prepared spreadable herb cheese 4 large lettuce leaves
A GOOD WATERMELON Choosing a watermelon that shows no visible damage is a good start during your selection process, but the National Watermelon Promotion Board says it should also be heavy for its size and suggests you inspect its underside for a creamy yellow spot. That spot is where it sat in the garden and ripened in the sun.
Place sliced watermelon on paper towels to remove excess liquid. Mix chicken, cilantro, yogurt, garlic salt and cayenne. Spread inside surfaces of pita bread halves with herbed cheese and fill each with 1/4-cup chicken mixture. Arrange watermelon and lettuce in pita bread. Serves 4.
Breakfast Lasagna 4 cups corn flakes 2 cups minced watermelon 2 cups fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries 2 cups vanilla yogurt Place 1/3 of the corn flakes in an even layer on the bottom of an 8-by-8 serving dish. Mix together the watermelon, blueberries and yogurt and spoon half of it over the corn flakes layer evenly. Sprinkle another layer of the corn flakes over the yogurt and then layer the remaining yogurt over that. Sprinkle the remaining corn flakes evenly over the top. Serves 6.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 20 July 2012
Frozen Watermelon Split 3 bananas 1 cup melted semi-sweet chocolate chips 18 ice cream scoops of seedless watermelon 1 cup puréed fresh raspberries 1 cup caramel sauce 2 cups sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping 1 cup chopped walnuts 6-12 maraschino cherries Peel bananas, cut them at the midpoint and then in half lengthwise to make 12 pieces. Dip them in the melted chocolate and place on a wax paper-lined tray. Freeze until chocolate is hard. Place 3 watermelon scoops in split or ice cream bowls and arrange banana slices on the sides. Spoon puréed raspberries over fruit. Top with caramel sauce to taste and garnish with whipped cream, nuts and cherries. Makes 6 splits. Find more juicy watermelon recipes at coloradocountrylife.coop.
[recipes]
Watermelon S’mores 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup chocolate fudge sauce 4 2-inch by 4-inch by 1-inch thick rectangles of seedless watermelon 1 cup mini marshmallows Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the center of 4 plates. Drizzle 1/3 of the fudge sauce over the crumbs. Place a watermelon rectangle over the crumbs and chocolate on each plate. Drizzle 1/3 of the chocolate fudge sauce over the watermelon. Sprinkle the marshmallows over the watermelon and drizzle the remaining chocolate fudge sauce over the marshmallows. Serves 4.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 21
[gardening]
Garnishing Your Garden
Spice up your plant variety by adding assorted savory herbs BY EVA ROSE MONTANE || ABUNDANTEARTHGARDENS.COM
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Colorado offers great conditions for growing some of the tastiest culinary herbs. My favorites are the ones that come back year after year on their own because they are easy and do well in my native clayey soil (with a touch of sand, of course) with little to no supplemental water. In fact, it is widely recognized that herbs growing in poor soils with less water produce a superior flavor and aroma. Seven years ago when I planted lavender, chives, purple culinary sage and Greek oregano, I remember amending the soil with organic matter and watering the herbs to get them established. But I haven’t done much of either since then and they all are thriving. And an added perk is deer don’t care much for them. That’s my kind of plant. You can add thyme to this list of perennial herbs, but make sure you have the culinary variety. Even with neglect, ornamental oregano grows well for me, but I selected it for its floral splendor, not for its ability to produce anything desirable to add to a meal. Marjoram, tarragon and horseradish are also perennial for much of Colorado. The many varieties of mint and lemon balm are perennial, too. They enjoy richer soil and more water like many of the annual herbs. All of the above generally require full sun (six hours), although mint does well in partial shade. In addition to enjoying richer soil and more water, annual herbs tend to appreciate some afternoon shade. If they don’t get it they will bolt sooner than you’d probably like, turning the otherwise edible leaves bitter and undesirable. These include cilantro, parsley and basil. With the exception of chives, you don’t want to let your herbs flower. Chives’ flowers are actually delicious in salads and their leaves are unaffected by the flowering. Lettuce, spinach and other cool season crops bolt when they get too hot. The same goes
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 22 July 2012
This flat Italian parsley will flourish among annual flowers on the east side of the house where it gets water each morning.
Nepeta cataria (catmint)
Bolting is a plant’s attempt to duck out and finish its life cycle by flowering, producing seed and calling it quits. for annual herbs. Bolting is a plant’s attempt to duck out and finish its life cycle by flowering, producing seed and calling it quits. Harvesting your herbs continuously helps prevent flowering. If you catch herbs trying to bolt, you can stave off this natural process for a while by pulling off the bolts (stalks that will produce flowers) or the buds of flowers on perennials. Planting
annuals on an eastern exposure will help, too. Herbs of any variety can be freely mixed around borders and in planters with ornamentals. While waiting for your perennials to mature and fill in, try using annual herbs in place of annual flowers to fill in the space. Perennial herbs make great additions to beds since the soil doesn’t need to be minced in every year like you would need to do when replanting annuals. Herbs are versatile in the garden, and you may be surprised to know how good for you they are, too; they’re chock-full of vitamins, nutrients and healing properties. So make use of our ideal climate and start growing more herbs. Eva Rose Montane is a garden coach, consultant and designer. Send your questions for her to gardening@coloradocountrylife. org.
Read more gardening advice at colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Living in Colorado and then Gardening.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop June 2012 23
[outdoors]
Heart of the Matter
The ego gratification and titles in contest hunting don’t belong in this sport BY DENNIS SMITH
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Okay, I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a minute just to give contest hunters another point of view to consider, though I suspect many will disagree with it. Before any of you go all “Bubba” on me, let me preface this whole thing by stating that I’m no PETA freak, bunny hugger, animal rights extremist or anything else of that nature. Nor am I even remotely sympathetic to their philosophies, causes or agendas. In fact, I’m vehemently opposed to them. In my opinion, they’re founded in scientific ignorance, misplaced emotion and blatant hypocrisy. I’ve been hunting and fishing since I was old enough to zip my own fly and I’m sneaking up on 70 now, but I’m no fan of hunting contests, big buck tournaments, “tape-measure” hunting or other similar, gratuitous hunting events. They create a horribly distorted and incredibly destructive image of what traditional, fair chase hunting and game conservation is all about. Killing animals for fame, fortune, celebrity status, meaningless titles, (Seriously, do you really care that Joe Blow is the Grand Master Prairie Dog Champion of the World?) bogus awards, and big cash prizes portrays hunters and what we do in the worst possible light to the millions of non-hunters who have no clue what our real purpose is or what our responsibili-
“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.” — Will Rogers ColoradoCountryLife.coop 24 July 2012
Traditional, fair-chase hunting is essential to the conservation and preservation of our wild big game herds.
ties to our game herds and flocks are. It’s evident from the number of hunting competitions, high-dollar canned hunts and closed-fence trophy hunts these days that a lot of us have lost sight of it, too. Hunting isn’t, nor was it ever meant to be, about ego gratification, score keeping and phony, grandiose titles. Shooting animals for the heck of it on one hand and then trying to convince the rest of the world on the other that we hold our game animals in the highest regard reeks of the same kind of hypocrisy animal-rights groups practice. The primary reason sport hunting even continues to exist at all today is because hunters provide a vital service controlling and preserving our wild game populations
as established by professional fish and game biologists. Beyond that, we are of little use to society. We can’t expect anyone to respect us if we demonstrate such transparent disregard for the animals we supposedly esteem. It’s one thing to hunt for food, fur, personal challenge, or necessity; it’s quite another to kill for thrills and prize money — which is exactly how most of these contests appear to the rest of the world. Do you not remember the avalanche of outrage from the national hunting community that accompanied the financiallydriven proposal for a World Deer Hunting Championship television show a few years back? It was overwhelmingly rejected by every major national and international hunting association and conservation organization in the book, and hundreds of thousands of Joe Sixpack hunters like you and me. Prospective corporate sponsors recoiled in sheer panic. The lesson should have been obvious: If we’re not careful how we represent ourselves and our rationale for hunting, we’ll lose it to popular opinion. And we’ll have deserved it.
Miss an issue? Catch up at colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.
[energy tips]
THE COLD TREATMENT News on reverse cycle chillers BY JAMES DULLEY
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How do reverse cycle chillers work, and are they efficient?
Colorado Country Life has been around for 60 years. Tell us a story about you and how the magazine has made an impact on your life. Send your story to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email to info@coloradocountrylife.org.
COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE IS a super place to advertise! CALL KRIS AT 303-902-7276.
A reverse cycle chiller with your home’s heat pump can be a less costly alternative to supplemental resistance heating. The primary advantage of a reverse cycle chiller is it transfers heat to an insulated water tank. This allows you to install a heat pump with an extra large capacity for adequate heating even in cold weather without the associated summertime cooling issues. Many of the major heating and cooling manufacturers’ heat pumps can be used with a reverse cycle chiller system. During summer, this large heat pump cooling capacity chills the water in the insulated tank to 40 degrees or This Uniflo heat so. The chilled water exchanger unit either heats or chills water is run through a coil depending on whether in the blower sysheating or cooling is tem, which cools and needed. Source: Unico Systems dehumidifies indoor air just like a standard heat pump. The heat pump can cycle on and off as needed to chill the water in the tank independently of the indoor blower. Therefore the blower can run as long as needed to provide comfort and efficiency. A heated water tank has a wintertime defrost mode where the heat pump regularly switches to the cooling mode to defrost ice that collects on the outdoor condenser coils. With a reverse cycle chiller, the heat to defrost the coils comes from the heated water tank so warm air continues to blow out the registers. During regular operation, the temperature of the air coming out the registers is also warmer than with a typical air source heat pump. For more information on maximizing your cooling system efficiency, visit colorado countrylife.coop. Click on Energy Tips .
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 25
EXPOSING A KILLER BY AMY HIGGINS AHIGGINS@COLORADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG
Colorado Meth Project makes progress in methamphetamine awareness
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Photo courtesy of The Pueblo Chiefton
In November 2011, Colorado Country Life announced that the teen attitudes about methamphetamine. Thanks to the Colorado Colorado Rural Electric Association, Tri-State Generation and Meth Project, more young people in our state understand how Transmission, and CoBank support the Colorado Meth Project dangerous this drug is,” said Attorney General John Suthers at and its efforts. Since then the prevention program has been made a Colorado Rockies pre-game ceremony. “The Teen Advisory great strides in getting its message out. Council is helping us spread the word about the risks of using On November 8, 2011, the Colorado Meth Project announced meth throughout their own communities, as well as to a broader the launch of MethProject.org, a website aimed toward teens audience online. I want to thank them for the commitment they that provides a slew of information about methamphetamine. have made to speaking out against meth, which will help us Through the project’s website, teens can gather facts; take prevent its use among a new generation of teens.” polls and quizzes; read, watch and listen to first-hand acMethProject.org was created with teens in mind, but the counts through literature and videos; ask questions and more. information it contains is also valuable to adults who are In essence, the website is a resource of more than 350 pieces of concerned about methamphetamine use in their communities content that tells you what meth is, explains its physical and and around their loved ones. mental affects, teaches you how to recognize the signs of a user, and offers ways to find help for anyone affected by the drug. The results are noticeable. Since the launch of MethProject.org, Colorado site traffic has increased eight fold, reaching teens where they live across the state, according to the Project’s statistics. The Meth Project’s online videos garnered more than 6 million views by Coloradans since the launch. Additionally, the project formed a teen advisory council designed to help raise awareness about meth and offer a teen perspective on how to reach other teens. On June 12, the project announced its 2012Jolie Norton, a 15-year-old Pueblo County High School freshman, created 2013 Teen Advisory Council members at the a painting that is now the face of the Colorado Meth Project’s “Not Even Young Americans Center for Financial Education Once” campaign. The painting reads “Don’t take the first step” which in Denver. The 13-member team is comprised shows a girl standing at the edge of a cliff. of eighth to 12th graders from Colorado. These students will participate in outreach activities The painting was transformed into a mural and is featured on the and implement a service project for each of their Arkansas River levee in Pueblo. It is a reminder to passersby not to use communities over the next school year. meth, not even once. “We are making great progress in changing
Not Even Once
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 26 July 2012
[marketplace]
Advertise in MarketPlace and be a Super Hero! Colorado Country Life goes more than 190,00 readers.
Kids should always swim with a buddy. For more info. Keepkidshealthy.com
Call Kris at 303-902-7276 to place your ad.
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ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 27
[classifieds] TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD Please type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807 email: classifieds@coloradocountrylife.org
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BOOKS IZZY AULD’s incredible e-Books. Download mysteries, intrigue, suspense, from Amazon or B&N, www.izzyauld.com (014-12-12) RODEO ROOTS to Modern-Day Cowboys is a fine, fun book about rodeo. Great gift! $20. Bulk order discounts. Call 303-455-4111 to order one today. (106-12-12)
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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
FOOD
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LIVESTOCK
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[funny stories] REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
WANTED TO BUY
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TICKETS NFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. All seating levels available. Call 1-888-NFR-rodeo (1-888-6377633) or www.NFR-Rodeo.com. *BBB Member; Since 1990. (912-11-12)
VACATION RENTAL KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makana crest.com; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-13)
OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-12) OLD COWBOY STUFF–hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-11-12) OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. considered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-12) OLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 watch doctor@hotmail.com. (870-12-13) VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. Call Gary at 970-222-2181 (960-12-12) WANT TO PURCHASE minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201. (402-02-13)
Visit us at coloradocountrylife.coop throughout the month. You’ll find: • extra information about our cover story • new recipes • additional energy tips • contests In July, click on Contests and find out how to win a set of watermelon serving dishes.
Johnny and his friends were sitting around the campfire sharing jokes and funny stories. When it was Johnny’s turn, he asked, “What do you call a big, old grizzly bear with no teeth?” “What?” his friends asked. “A Gummi Bear.” Rose Schumacher, Colorado Springs
Our family went to Branson, Missouri, to visit the Titanic exhibit. As we were browsing, I turned to my 4-year-old grandson and asked, “Why did the Titanic sink?” He paused and then said very matter-of-factly, “It hit an ice cube.” Gene Erker, Burlington
A ticket agent struggled to find the destination for a woman who called wanting a flight from Chicago to Rhino, New York. “Are you sure that’s the name of the town?” the ticket agent asked. “Yes. What flights do you have?” the woman asked. After more searching, the agent came back on the line and said, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find Rhino anywhere.” “Oh, don’t be silly,” the woman said. “Everyone knows where it is. Check your map again.” Scouring a map of New York, the agent finally asked, “Do you mean Buffalo?” After a long pause, the woman said, “Give me a break. I knew it was a big animal.” Anonymous
After waiting for a very long time to be seated for dinner at a popular restaurant, I pointed out to my daughter and 10-year-old grandson that it didn’t matter how long the line was because we were all looking forward to eating there. “We’re here for the duration,” I said. “Not me, Grandma,” my grandson said. “I’m here for the ham.” Susan Chermack. Salida
We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year, we draw one name from those submitting jokes and that person will receive $150. Send your 2012 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@ coloradocountrylife.org.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop July 2012 29
[discoveries]
Stomp Around the Northwest
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Dinosaur National Monument encompasses 211,000 acres of canyons throughout northwest Colorado and northeast Utah. With dinosaur fossil exhibits, hiking trails, fishing spots, river rafting opportunities, petroglyph sightings, guided tours, stunning scenery and great campgrounds, tourist options are endless. Kids can even earn a free Junior Ranger or Junior Paleontologist badge simply by completing a booklet of age-appropriate activities. Visit the Craig County Chamber of Commerce website at http://www. craig-chamber.com/Dinosaur-National-Monument.html for more information and to read about cool camping locales in the Dinosaur National Monument area.
SCOPE OUT THE SOUTHEAST
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Plan a trip south of La Junta to Picketwire Canyonlands and immerse yourself in ancient history. This landscape features more than 1,300 brontosaur and allosaur footprints, Native American petroglyphs, and the Dolores Mission and Cemetery, which was built in the late 1800s. Approximately 3.4 miles past the dinosaur tracks you’ll find the Rourke Ranch, a cattle and horse ranch built in 1871. Take a guided tour in your four-wheel drive or hike out on your own. Keep in mind that temperatures can exceed 100 degrees in July in the southeast, so be sure to pack plenty of water, spread on the sunblock and wear appropriate footwear. For more information, visit exploresoutheastcolorado.com/picketwire.htm.
[Explore Exciting Colorado]
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In northeastern Colorado there is a lovely location called the Pawnee National Grassland. This is a hot spot for bird-watchers and photographers, but the scenic buttes, numerous bird species and hiking opportunities make Pawnee a must-see for everyone. About an hour outside Pawnee near Briggsdale you can set up camp at Crow Valley Recreation Area. This facility features fire rings, picnic areas, multifamily campsites and lots of room to play games, explore and fit in some more bird-watching. For more information or to download the Pawnee National Grassland Bird Tour Pamphlet, visit fs.usda.gov/main/arp/ maps-pubs.
ColoradoCountryLife.coop 30 July 2012
Soak It Up
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No matter which corner of the state you visit, you’re sure to find some great places to get your splash on. Here’s a handful of hot spots we found: Northeast — Jackson Lake near Fort Morgan Visit this 2,700 surface-acre lake for swimming, waterskiing, boating, fishing or just relaxing on the sandy shore. With 260 campsites and 60 picnic sites, you can make a weekend of it and do it all. Southeast — Lake Henry near Ordway Fishermen will delight in Lake’s Henry’s supply of large channel catfish, bullhead catfish, wipers, trout, bass and perch. Visitors can swim, go bird-watching, enjoy a little “primitive” camping and, if they have them, take a spin on their jet skis. Water levels can get a little low at the peak of summer, so if you want to bring your boat visit crowleycounty.net or call 719-267-5555 ext. 2 beforehand to find out about any restrictions. Northwest — Elkhead Reservoir near Craig This man-made reservoir is a popular destination in the Craig area. Grab your pole and go fishing for smallmouth bass, trout and northern pike, but don’t forget your swimsuit because this is also a great place to swim, water-ski and play on the beach. Southwest — Vallecito Lake near Durango From river rafting, fishing and boating to horseback riding, hiking and camping, you get the whole shebang at Vallecito Lake. Be sure to take a drive to see the tree carvings that were created in memory of the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire.
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