Summer-Fall 2009 Telluride Magazine by Telluride Magazine

M aga zine s u m m e r / fa l l

2 0 0 9

Bluegrass Festival running of the tarps

Ladies Who Rock Spanish Journeys in the Southwest Transformations of Our Forests Victorian Homes, Painted Beauties

$3.95 Priceless in Telluride

t use to be, you knew everything important about a person by their handshake…

1 • Lot 912R, Mountain Village

2 • Villas on Sundance Unit 10, Mountain Village

3 • Tract I Muddy Creek Meadows, Wilson Mesa

4 • Lot 364R, Mountain Village

5 • Little Cone Ranch, Specie Mesa

6 • Knightsbridge, Mountain Village

A private 1.73 acre lot on exclusive Victoria Drive with superb northern views and a private ski trail. $2,495,000

This 111 acre ranch parcel affords ultimate views with a flat building site, aspens and a domestic well. $2,750,000

This 74.56 acre parcel enjoys a trout pond, iconic Wilson Range views and adjacency to national forest. $1,695,000

This 2,011 SF town home is the least expensive new 3 bedroom ski access town home in the Village. $1,199,000

Easy ski access and dramatic northern views, located in the exclusive neighborhood of Hood Park. $1,650,000

On secluded Victoria Drive, this 7-bedroom, 11,359 SF home leaves no stone un-turned. Private ski trail. $10,900,000

…

ome things haven’t changed.

4 6

1 • Indian Hills Ranch, Hastings Mesa

2 • 249 Adams Ranch Road, Mountain Village

3 • River Ranch, West Fork of the Dolores River

4 • 403 Larkspur Lane, Mountain Village

5 • Elk Creek Meadows, Wilson Mesa

6 • Wild Skies Ranch, Wilson Mesa

A unique opportunity to purchase 317 idyllic acres. Includes 2 ponds and a 5,000 foot grass airstrip. $2,795,000

Flawless ranch on 132 acres , 6,795 SF main residence, caretaker’s home, barn, 4 trout ponds. $12,500,000 furnished

527 acres, 360° views, large pond, diverse terrain, yearround access, power, water rights. price upon request

Brand new, five bedroom home with guest apartment sits on a ridge lot affording spectacular views. $2,725,000 furnished

Slope side home features five bedrooms and four plus baths among 7,262 SF with a ski room and spa. $4,295,000 furnished

Stunning log and stone home with 5,921 SF of living space and incomparable views plus three horse pastures. $3,695,000

veryone has a good time when they come to Telluride. The people who are smiling the most are the ones who never left.

Diana Falls Ames Valley Just 20 minutes from Telluride, Diana Falls is magnificent, comprised of two building sites on 33 acres. Unmatched in beauty and privacy — a 50-ft waterfall plummets through the center of the property. Both home sites provide commanding views of the waterfall, the Ophir needles and surrounding peaks. $3,400,000

200 Deer Park Lane Telluride Ski Ranches Charming, classic log home, upgraded in 2005, on a prime & private Ski Ranches lot with Wilson Peak View. Sold with most furnishings, minus a few exceptions; So ready to move in to this sumptuous abode with a wood-burning fireplace, for your instant mountain retreat in Telluride. $1,995,000

Dalwhinnie Ranch Ridgway The Scottish Highlands meet the Pampas of Argentina at this charming riverfront enclave. Sixty plus acres embrace a Europeanstyle 8-bedroom home and caretaker’s, graced with elegance at every turn. The adjoining riding amenities include an imported 250 year old timberframe barn. $8,360,000

Lot 353, Rocky Road Mountain Village Alpine privacy abounds on one of the last available estate-sized lots atop Telluride’s Mountain Village. To the west lies ski access to the Marmot run, and the sunny slopes of the Galloping Goose. An exclusive drive leads to the Saint Sophia, Mount Emma and Dallas Peak views, and a park setting. $1,595,000

Polly Leach-Lychee, Broker/Owner I plychee@tellurideproperties.com I 970.728.4226, Office I 970.728.0226, Cell 237 South Oak Street | Telluride, Colorado 81435 I tellurideproperties.com

rom any perspective, it’s a beautiful investment.

Turkey Creek Ranch Raspberry Patch ■

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This 5,258 square-foot, 5bedroom classic alpine home is located on 29.66 secluded acres only 1 mile from Mountain Village and the Telluride Ski Resort

143 Adams Ranch Road Mountain Village ■

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Beautiful, new 5-bedroom home designed by renowned Tommy Hein Architects Conveniently located on the Telluride Golf Course with dramatic views, abundant sunshine, and a premiere finish level

Outstanding water rights with a year-round creek and large, trout-fishing pond, $3,350,000 horse corrals and access to miles of National Forest trails that border the ranch

Call for pricing

212 South Oak Street Telluride ■

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Beautifully appointed, custom 3-bedroom home with guest house

Residences at North Oak Telluride ■

Located steps from the gondola in the heart of downtown Telluride Rarely do homes of this caliber come on the market in such a coveted location

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$3,350,000 ■

This site of the legendary Oak Street Inn was meticulously restored from the ground up to create three separate residences of the highest quality that embrace nearly 12,000 sqft Shared amenities include billiards room, wine cellars, gym, theatre, ski room, and underground parking Finishes and fixtures of the highest caliber adorn each home, no detail overlooked

Call for pricing

Brian O’Neill, Broker | bfoneill@tellurideproperties.com | 970.369.5367, Direct | 970.708.5367, Cell 237 South Oak Street | Telluride, Colorado 81435 I tellurideproperties.com

classy

comfy

crazy

Whatever your taste, Customs House has it. furnishings

lighting

accents & accessories

135 W. Pacific Ave - Telluride, Colorado (across from the library)

970-369-5003 www.customshouseonline.com

bedding

gifts

Ohs and Ahs.

VAIL 970.926.1355 DENVER 303.321.3232 LA JOLLA 858.459.3757 NEWPORT BEACH 949.729.9144

william-ohs.com

S K I

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G O L F

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S P A

•

S O C I A L

E V E N T S

M O R E

Imagine an even better Telluride. The Telluride Ski & Golf Club –

The best gathering place for everything that Telluride has to offer.

The Telluride Ski & Golf Club is actually three clubs in one: the world-class Telluride Ski Resort, spectacular Telluride Golf Course and the rejuvenating Golden Door® Spa & Sports Facility, plus an active year-round calendar of social events and planned activities.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SUMMER OFFER* PLATINUM MEMBERSHIPS Receive $15,000 reduction on initiation deposit • SILVER MEMBERSHIPS Receive $5,000 reduction on initiation deposit *Join before August 31st

Membership Information: 970.728.7302 • www.TellurideSkiandGolfClub.com

AGENCY: STUDIO BLUESKY • CONTACT: BRANDY COHEN • ADDRESS: 5615 TWELVE OAKS DR, CUMMING GA 30028 • PHONE: 770.888.5210 JOB NUMBER: TSGC_TMS09 • PUBLICATION: TELLURIDE MAGAZINE • AD TITLE: TSGC_TMS09 • BLEED SIZE: 8.875 X 11.375 • INSERTION: SUMMER 2009

KDC

inc. of colorado

kurucz Development company

KDC, Inc. of Colorado is a complete design / build firm offering both professional architectural and construction services. We take your project from start to finish and pride ourselves in our on-time,

Full Service Design / Build Professional We combine architectural and construction services providing one-stop shopping and complete project responsibility

on-budget project performance. We are an experienced firm, having completed over 20 homes in the region ranging in size from 5,000 to 30,000 square feet. If you currently own property and are looking for a highly qualified design / build professional to build your home at a reasonable but less than market price, look to KDC Inc. of Colorado. to discuss your dream home, please contact ron for an appointment: ron kurucz 970-728-4042 / 970-729-0131 ron@kuruczdevelopment.com

High Quality Work ■

Integrity

Honesty

■

extensive experience ■

on-time / on-budget

Elevate your Expectations. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! live the life you’ve imaGined. -thoreau Out Standing in his field.

on the

The creators of downtown Telluride’s premier new development Element 52 are proud to announce their sister development in the Mountain Village, Townhomes on the Creek, conveniently located slopeside. Townhomes on the Creek amenities include: • Private lift and bridge to skiing, hiking and biking • Secluded enclave with awe inspiring views of 13,000 – 14,000 foot Campbell and Dallas Peaks • 4 bedroom townhomes with private entrance, garage and huge backyard, just steps to the bike path, Village core, market and gondola • Superior interior finishes include hand-crafted plaster finish walls, rich walnut floors, custom alder cabinetry, Waterworks fixtures, Italian marble, Viking appliances and custom wood work. • Overlooking the cascading waterfalls of Prospect Creek • Option for an additional thousand plus square feet (in selected buildings) of flexible living space to build your own theater, game room, bunk room, wine cellar and bar or all of the above!

steve catsman, telluride’s local source since 1972. 970.728.6629. www.catsman.com, steve@catsman.com

summer/fall 2009 · volume 27, number 1

M aga zine

f e at u r e s

42 Running of

the Tarps

An Insider’s Slant on Bluegrass

R O B STO RY

46 Seeing the Forest

Through its Trees Journey into the San Juans Ever-Changing Woodlands m ary D uffy

52 Girls Just Wanna

Have Fun

Suzanne Ch eav en s

Realizing the Dream of Playing in a Rock-and-Roll Band

H i s t o ry

56 Strangers in a

Strange Land

Spanish Journeys into Yuta Country

Paul O ’ R ourke

M o u n ta i n H o m e s & De s i gn

82 Color Me

john richter

www.TellurideMagazine.com

Victorian

Tricks of the Paint Trade

Lance Wari ng

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 11

contents

[ 26 ]

74 Headlines

24 tellurideturns

Runway Renovations Close Telluride’s Airport; Alta Lakes on the Path Toward Development; Blues & Brews Keeps the Music Alive; New Edicts to Save the Free Box; Plastic Bag Challenge goes Statewide; Valley Floor Land Use Study; Wilkinson Library Rated Second in the Nation; Road Work; Ski Area Expansion; Telluride Foundation Gives More

Details

15 within 16 contributors 89 advertiserindex

72 greenbytes

Recycling Cell Phones; the Mighty Twist Tie; Improving Your Shave; Paper and Food Scraps Begone

88 homebytes

Green Grilling; Local Eco Gurus Unite; Toilet Paper Versus Bidets?

32 naturenotes

Wicked Weed of the West; Volcanic Bowls; Saga of the Lynx

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Well & Fit

36 mountainhealth

Today’s Vegetables Lack Nutritional Punch; Canine Personal Trainers; Slow Food Movement; Double Dipping

40 askjock

Lifestyle, Art & Entertainment

Queries and Retorts about Mountain Sports

18 upcomingevents

Food & Drink

Summer Calendar

30 rightherewritenow

A Calculated Commute

60 insideart Duncan Mackenzie

62 tellurideplaces Telluride Transfer Building

E nvironment & Sustainability

photos, clockwise top left to right: doug berry; jennifer koskinen; telluride historical museum; jennifer koskinen

64 telluridefaces

Filmmaker Ben Knight; Educator Robyn Wilson; Historian Rudy Davison

70 whereishenow?

74 localflavor

La Cocina de Luz’s Chile Cured Salmon with Cilantro Butter; Poacher’s Pub’s Local Lemonade

77 diningout

Culinary Delights & Appetites

Finale

90 inparting

What Happened to Nothing?

Chris “Bunzy” Bunworth

www.TellurideMagazine.com

Lustre-Shelter-Smr07:Lustre-TShelter

3/29/07

3:25 PM

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Expressions of Beauty Expressions of Beauty ART

FOR

HOME

AND

SELF

ART

FOR

HOME

AND

SELF

CHANDELIERS BY ULLA DARNI • TABLE BY JOHN ARENSKOV

171 South Pine

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Telluride, CO • 970.728.3355

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lustregallery.com

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lustregallery.com

171 South Pine

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credits Publisher John Arnold Editor-in-Chief Mary Duffy Senior Editor Lise Waring Creative & Production Tor Anderson

a store for all

Senior Account Executive Paton Stone Staff Photographer Doug Berry

e i s n o a S ta r y r e v E !

Copy Editor/Proofreader Bonnie Beach

Fun Stuff for babies, kids, tweens & women great gifts • fun accessories

Contributing Writers Matthew Beaudin, Reilly Capps, Thom Carnevale, Suzanne Cheavens, Martinique Davis, Sarah Gilman/High Country News,

970.728.1708 · 359 east colorado avenue

Shawna Hartley, Katie Klingsporn, Michelle Kodis, Lynn Mayer, Paul O’Rourke, Pam Pettee, Rob Story Kara Tatone, Lance Waring

Contributing Photographers Doug Berry, Gus Gusciora, Chris Jordan, Ben Knight, Jennifer Koskinen, Ingrid Lundahl, Erin Raley, Whit Richardson, John Richter, Brett Schreckengost

Contributing Artist Anji Sawant

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ Telluride Publishing also produces the Telluride and Mountain Village Visitor Guide, which can be accessed online at www.VisitTelluride.com. Find Telluride Magazine online at www.TellurideMagazine.com. We are also the creators of the Telluride Calendar. Our products are for sale at our office, many retail shops in Telluride and on our websites. ©2009 Telluride Publishing Co., Inc., a division of Big Earth Publishing Cover and contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher. For correspondence, subscriptions and advertising information: P.O. Box 964, Telluride, CO 81435 phone:

970.728.4245 ·

fax:

970.728.4302

The annual subscription rate is $11.95 14

Telluride Publishing/LA ﬁle name: CashRed_TM07w_13s telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

publication: Telluride Magazine issue: Winter 07/08 (v25n2) client: Cashmere Red job name: new kind date created: 10/10/07 date edited: n/a change deadline: 10/05/07 ad orientation: 1/3 page, square ad size: 4.917 x 4.875” ad source: FedEx pickup issue: n/a pickup page number: n/a notes:

www.TellurideMagazine.com

within

y livelihood depends upon the written word. I write, I read, I research, I edit. I consume magazines and books, web content and news. I like my reading to be fresh, well written and artfully presented.

I’m not a fan of rambling blogs, and I don’t Twitter. Who has time? In today’s techno-immersed world, my attention is torn between radios, cell phones, computers, iThings, newspapers, magazines, books, DVDs and television. No wonder neuroenhancing drugs that help us focus are becoming so popular. What is the fate of reading? Are we really going to give up a good article for YouTube videos and tweets? It was not that long ago that literacy amongst the general public was the exception, not the rule. In recent times, kids were thought to be abandoning reading for television and computer games. Then the Harry Potter books hit the shelves and sold in the hundreds of millions. Just about everyone is reading their emails, text messages, social networks or blogs. I have no doubt that future publications will take new forms: Many newspapers are now available only online; wireless readers are quickly improving; and magazines sport virtual alter egos on the Web. Regardless of the vehicle, the content is still sought after. If you want reliable information and respectable articles, you have to go to the sources that pay for that quality of work: writers who research, interview, fact check and are subject to editors; photographers on locale who capture the image; and designers who marry the two—all benefit the community they serve. There is something innately pleasurable about things that are crafted by many in a creative and mindful effort.

on the cover:

Corn lilies color a meadow below the southwest face of 14,159-foot El Diente.

photo by Whit Richardson In the pages of this magazine, a taste of summer in Telluride is offered. Whether you’ve attended the Bluegrass Festival or not, join Rob Story as he delves into the utilitarian arts of queuing up and claiming ground. You’ll encounter the sated, sunburned and over-served who come for the music and stay for the scene.

If music is your calling, and up on that stage is where you’d rather be, meet a lady who’s had that age-old fantasy come true. Writer and rock star Suzanne Cheavens will take you on a mystery tour: Discover how a middle-age mother became a guitar-ripping member of an all-female rock-and-roll band. If you’d rather play outdoors, then get to know the denizens of this sanctuary: Trees—the barometers of change—color the landscape, cool the planet and provide wildlife habitat. Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology at Yale, said in an article for The New York Times Magazine, “People like to be close to oceans, mountains and trees…. Being in wild places reduces stress.” Well, Telluride has wild mountains and trees aplenty. Take a gander at what’s playing out for the area’s forests. When the first explorers came to Southwest Colorado, the landscape was very different. The Spanish passed through the region in the 1700s, looking for riches and a route to the Pacific Coast from Mexico. Paul O’Rourke weaves a historic tale of virgin exploration and tenacity, driven by that age-old desire to claim and conquer. A century later, the first prospectors came to the San Juans. They quickly cut down the trees and erected a town. Even though Italians, Swedes, Finns and Austrians settled in Telluride, the architecture of the United Kingdom dominated home design. Lance Waring, writer and housepainter, lays out the palette for a Victorian veneer, with a splash of lavender and a hint of green. Speaking of green, go to work with editor Lise Waring. You may not be able to keep up, but in an effort to offer a bit of a reprieve to our carbon-choked atmosphere, she challenged herself to commute via calorie power—all year long. The mind wanders when one elects to take time away from all the rhetoric. This is the gut of Western civilization—we communicate…about everything. Enjoy the read, Duffy

www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 15

Jennifer Koskinen

contributors

Suzanne Cheavens Suzanne Cheavens obeys the three most powerful tenets of life: family, music and writing. She hopes that one day Nathan Followill, of the Kings of Leon, will carry her guitar to an important gig and that she and Keith Richards will swap riffs during a benefit concert for KOTO. (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” page 52)

Paul O’Rourke Often finding himself wandering blissfully on roads to nowhere, Paul O’Rourke would have made an aimless Spanish explorer. He wonders not so much where he’s going as much as how he’s going to get anywhere if he can’t remember where he’s been. (“Strangers in a Strange Land: Spanish Journeys into Yuta Country,” page 56)

Rob Story Rob Story has written about adventure sports for NBCSports.com, the Los Angeles Times, Backcountry, Men’s Journal, and Rolling Stone, among many others. He’s a contributing editor for Skiing magazine, a correspondent for Outside and also acts as editor at large for Bike and Powder. He lays low in Telluride, Colorado. (“Running of the Tarps: An Insider’s Slant on Bluegrass,” page 42)

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

www.TellurideMagazine.com

a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boutique

Bobbi Brown cosmetics Christopher Fischer Citizens of Humanity Current/Elliot Cynthia Steffe Cynthia Vincent shoes Diane von Furstenberg Elie Tahari Elizabeth & James Helen Kaminski Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeans Lela Rose

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127 west colorado ave. 970.728.6828 twoskirts.net artwork by Brittany Miller

upcomingevents

May 31

Telluride Dance Academy Recital

Dancers of all ages from the Telluride Dance Academy perform at the Palm Theatre, 3 p.m. 970.728.9065

brett schreckengost / tellurideimage.com

June June 4

Jazz Festival Exhibit Opening Free admission to the Telluride Historical Museum for those with Jazz Celebration passes. In addition to Telluride’s history, the past posters of Jazz Fest are displayed. 970.728.3344

June 4

jennifer koskinen

Retrospective & Opening Gala

Ongoing Bungee Trampoline

From 1 to 5 p.m. (during the months of July and August), anyone who weighs more than 25 pounds and less than 200 can bounce to their heart’s content when tied into the bungee trampoline in Mountain Village’s Heritage Plaza. 800.984.9068

Cemetery Tours

Explore the disasters, dramas, heroes and horrors of Telluride’s past through its Lone Tree Cemetery. Meet historian Andrea Benda at the Telluride Historical Museum by 4 p.m. Designated weekends: June 14, June 20, July 5, August 22, September 26 or 27. 970.728.3344

Fireside Chats

Telluride Historical Museum presents TMVOA-sponsored free historical talks every other Thursday evening (June 11-August 20) near the firepit in Mountain Village’s Heritage Plaza, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rain or shine; tent provided. 970.728.3344

Pinhead Punk Science

Working scientists introduce kids to the wonderful world of science with unique hands-on experiments and demonstrations. The free talk is at Heritage Plaza in Mountain Village, Tuesdays (July 7-August 11), 5 to 6 p.m. 970.708.7441

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Stargazing

Meet at the firepit in Mountain Village every other Thursday in July and August (in sync with the Fireside Chats) at 8 p.m. to check out Telluride’s resplendent sky under the instruction of an astronomer. 970.728.8959

Sunset Concert Series

Free open-air concerts featuring a variety of music every Wednesday evening at Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village. July 1 to September 2; 6 to 8 p.m. Performers TBA. 970.369.7623

Telluride Art Walk

A self-guided tour and reception to showcase regional artists and galleries. On the first Thursday of every month, participating galleries stay open “late ’til 8,” with many serving refreshments. Find a map for the walk at participating galleries. Stronghouse Studios also hosts an art opening on this night. 970.728.8959

Telluride Farmers Market Fresh organic produce, meats, baked goods, flowers and handmade products from the

region’s farmers and artisans. Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from mid-June to mid-October on South Oak Street. 970.728.1340

May May 22

Gondola Opens for Summer Season

Free public transportation that links Telluride and Mountain Village in a scenic 13-minute ride.

May 22-25

Mountainfilm in Telluride

Filmmakers, artists and outdoor enthusiasts celebrate mountains, culture and the environment with films, presentations and a symposium that will focus on “food” as this year’s theme. 970.728.4123

May 28-30

Family Theater

Join the Sheridan Arts Foundation and SquidShow Theatre for a night of family fun with a show performed by adults for kids. Sheridan Opera House, time TBA. 970.728.6363

A dedication to the founder of the Ah Haa, Daniel Tucker, this exhibit is a tribute to the artists and instructors who have contributed over the years to the spirit of the school. Ah Haa School, 5 to 7 p.m. 970.728.3886

June 5-7

Telluride Jazz Celebration

Join Ozomatli, Bill Frisell, Jimmy Herring, Lizz Wright, Donald Harrison, Rebirth Brass Band, Christian Scott, Kenny Walker, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and many more for music in Town Park by day and in intimate bar venues by night. 970.728.7009

June 5-7

Telluride Balloon Rally

At sunrise, the skies above Telluride Town Park fill with colorful hot-air balloons. At sunset, Telluride’s main street is the setting for the annual balloon glow (weather permitting). 970.708.2202

June 6

Huck Finn Day

Dress the kids up as Huck Finn or Becky Thatcher for a parade followed by a fishing and costume contest at the Kids Pond in Telluride Town Park. The Elks provide fishing poles, prizes and refreshments. 970.728.6362

June 8-13

Wild West Fest

A family oriented festival that celebrates the spirit of the West. Events include celebrity cutting on horseback and performances at the Sheridan Opera House. 970.728.6363

As of press time, these dates and events are accurate. Please call the numbers listed or contact Telluride Tourism Board at 800.525.3455 to confirm this information, or log onto www.VisitTelluride.com for an updated calendar. Tickets for some of these events can be purchased online at www.tellurideticket.com. www.TellurideMagazine.com

upcomingevents June 11

floats following the parade and free admission all day. 970.728.3344

Attend the opening of an exhibit devoted entirely to the Western Federation of Miners during the years of labor strife at the turn of the century in Colorado. Telluride Historical Museum, 5 to 7 p.m. 970.728.3344

JUly 6-14

Western Federation of Miners Exhibit opening

Telluride Playwrights Festival

Explore new plays with professional actors from around the world. Acting and writing workshops are geared toward both novice and experienced playwrights and actors. Sheridan Opera House. 970.708.2839

June 12

Cowboy Family Night featuring T.J. Casey

July 7

Food, fun and music by a real cowboy poet: T.J. Casey often performs in schools, talking about ranches, cowboys, Indians, spirituality, old horses and old friends. Sheridan Opera House, time TBA. 970.728.6363

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “The Cannabis Conundrum: The Science and Politics of the World’s Most Controversial Plant.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

June 13

July 10 or 11

Carlos Nakai Trio

Telluride Yoga Festival Kirtan Jennifer Koskinen

Grammy Award-nominated Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai performs an intimate concert as part of the inaugural Telluride Heritage Festival. Sheridan Opera House, 8 p.m. 970.728.6363

June 13

Heritage Day

Enjoy the past as it happened on main street Telluride: mining exhibit, petting zoo, carriage rides, Butch Cassidy robbery re-enactment, teepee building with Ute Indians, Victorian garb and historical walking tours. 970.728.3344

June 16

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “How Life Works: The Emerging Revolution in Biology.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

June 18-21

Telluride Bluegrass Festival Four days of bluegrass-based music in Telluride Town Park. Artists include Sam Bush Band, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Yonder Mountain String Band, Béla Fleck, Punch Brothers, Todd Snider, The Greencards, John Cowan, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas Band, Mike Farris and many more. 800.624.2422

June 21-27

Bike Week

A week-long celebration to promote cycling for transportation and recreation. Events include trail maintenance, group rides, Bike to Work Day, Lizard Head Pass Hill Climb, a film, auction and more. 970.729.1379

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

June 23

June 29-July 4

A free lecture titled “Tipping Points: Avoiding Collapse in Economic, Molecular and Social Networks.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

National landscape artists paint in the great outdoors. Their work is then exhibited and auctioned as a fundraiser for the Sheridan Arts Foundation. 970.728.6363

Pinhead Town Talk

June 25

Moving Mountain Theatre

Telluride Academy kids create a one-of-a-kind, fun-filled theater performance. All ages welcome. Location and time TBA. 970.728.5311

Telluride Plein-Air

June 30

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Water, Water Everywhere: But Do We Understand a Drop of It?” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

July

JUne 25-28

Telluride Repertory Theatre Telluride’s local theater company presents free performances of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in Elks Park. Bring the family and a picnic. Time TBA. 970.728.4539

June 25-28

Telluride Wine Festival

A weekend of wine tastings, winemakers, seminars with expert sommeliers and food pairings with accomplished chefs. 970.728.3178

June 26-July 5

Telluride Musicfest

Chamber music the way it was meant to be performed: in living rooms, where the experience is intimate. 212.253.6941

July 3

Red, White & Blues Concert Enjoy the holiday weekend with a free concert by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, 3 to 6 p.m. Performance TBA. 970.369.7623

July 4

Firemen’s Fourth of July

Celebrate independence the oldfashioned way: a parade down Telluride’s main street, a community picnic in Town Park, games for kids and spectacular fireworks!

A free evening of kirtan on the Sunset Stage in Mountain Village, time TBA. 970.728.2477

July 10-12

Telluride Yoga Festival

Yoga instructors from around the world offer the opportunity to experience many yoga lineages. Meditation, kirtan and other holistic lifestyle workshops will also be offered. 970.728.2477

July 11

KOTO Yankee Doodle Doo-Dah Concert

Rusted Root opens for headliner George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Telluride Town Park. 970.728.8100

July 11-12

Hardrock 100

In this grueling 101-mile run, participants follow an altitudechallenged course that begins in Silverton, passes through Telluride and winds up back in Silverton. 970.259.3693

July 12-19

San Miguel Basin Fair

Norwood hosts a classic county fair with the judging of 4-H livestock and crafts, a dessert contest and more. 970.327.4393

July 14

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Extreme Honesty: Diclosing Medical Errors and Patient Harm.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

July 4

Old-Fashioned Fourth of July The Telluride Historical Museum offers old-fashioned root beer

www.TellurideMagazine.com

upcomingevents July 15

August 7

A golf tournament to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Call the Pro Shop to register: 970.728.2606

Get your rubber ducky, near the corner of Colorado and Pine or at KOTO’s offices on Pine Street, for a swim down the San Miguel River. Great prizes are awarded to ducks that navigate the river best. 970.728.8100

Play for PINK

KOTO Duck Race

July 17

The Play’s the Thing

A free reading of a play (TBA) presented by SquidShow and TCAH and followed by discussion with the cast at 7 p.m. Location TBA. 970.728.8959

August 8

Hike into History

Meet at the Telluride Historical Museum by 8 a.m. for the drive to Bridal Veil. From there, historian Rudy Davison will guide a free hike to Mayflower Mine in Grays Basin. Pack a lunch and wear sturdy shoes and sunscreen. 970.728.3344

July 17-18

San Miguel Basin Rodeo

The junior rodeo begins in Norwood at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Professional rodeo follows with team ropin’ on Sunday. 970.327.4389

August 9

Gregg Brown in Concert Jennifer Koskinen

July 18

Hike into History

Meet at the Telluride Historical Museum by 8 a.m. for the drive to Tomboy. From there, historian Rudy Davison will guide a free hike to Smuggler Mine in Marshall Basin (3.5 hours round trip) and continue to Imogene Pass and Ft. Peabody (6 hours round trip). Pack a lunch and wear sturdy shoes and sunscreen. 970.728.3344

july 18

Paws for Art

Formerly the Fur Ball, this event features a live art auction, complimentary wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres and live music. Proceeds still benefit homeless dogs and cats, but canines will not be attending this year. Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 4 to 7 p.m. 970.729.2586

July 21

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Science of Explosions: Blowing Things Up for Fun, Profit, War and Medicine.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

July 23-25

Telluride Americana Music Weekend

Americana: where folk, country, rock and roll and the blues come together. Two of the following acts share the bill each night: Shannon Whitworth, Kevin Welch, Walt Wilkins, Slaid Cleaves, Tift Merritt, Irene Kelley and Eric Bibb. Sheridan Opera House, time TBA. 970.728.6363

July 24

Ah Haa Art Auction

This annual fundraiser is known

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for selling an array of art objects, trips and services in both a silent auction and a fast-paced live auction. Doors open 5 p.m.; live auction begins at 7:30 p.m. 970.728.3886

July 24-26

Rotary 4x4 Rally

Jeeping and a BBQ on Saturday. 970.708.2202

JULY 31-August 2

Telluride Tech Festival

An intimate gathering at the Sheridan Opera House, featuring distinguished honorees from around the world who come to discuss the past, present and future of technology. A Tesla coil demonstration takes place on main street on Friday and Saturday evenings. 970.239.4486

July 24-26

August

Strokes of Genius

A benefit golf tournament to create scholarship funds for Telluride High School graduates. 970.728.8717

July 25-26

Mountainfilm’s Outdoor Series

Mountainfilm and TMVOA present free films in the great outdoors (weather permitting) at Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, featuring festival selections and premieres of new films. The show begins at dusk. 970.728.4123

July 28

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Chaos Theory: Weather Prediction and Climate Change.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

August 1

august 11

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Sprites, Elves and Blue Jets: Strange Lights in the Sky.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

August 14

Telluride Festival of the Arts Concert

In celebration of the arts, TMVOA presents a free, open-air concert in Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, 6 to 8 p.m. Performance TBA. 970.369.7623

TCTV Concert

August 14-16

August 4

Culinary and visual arts collide in Mountain Village, bringing together a passion for food, art and entertainment. Highlights include chef demonstrations, food seminars, a showcase dinner and grand tasting, along with a nationally juried art exhibit. 970.369.7623

TCTV brings the New Orleans boogie band Papa Grows Funk to the Sunset Stage in Mountain Village, time TBA. 970.708.3839

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Personalized Energy: A Carbon-Neutral Energy supply for Each Individual.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

August 6

Launch

The opening of an exhibition at the Ah Haa School that showcases the talents of emerging regional artists, 5 to 7 p.m. 970.728.3886

July 31

August 6-16

Enjoy the sounds and cuisine of New Orleans in downtown Telluride. 970.728.5959

The festival’s artistic director Roy Malan, concertmaster with the San Francisco Ballet, brings chamber music to Telluride, up close and personal. 970.369.1351

Cajun Fest

This folk rocker’s songs have been performed by many great musicians. He has recorded over a dozen albums and performs at the Sheridan Opera House, 8 p.m. 970.728.6363

Chamber Music Festival

Telluride Festival of the Arts

August 14-16

Mudd Butts Mystery Theatre Troupe

This zany Telluride Academy children’s theater troupe creates a show like no other. All ages welcome. Palm Theatre, time TBA. 970.728.5311

August 18

Pinhead Town Talk

A free lecture titled “Junk in the Trunk: How Artifacts of Infections Tell a New Evolutionary Tale.” Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village, 6 p.m. 970.708.0004

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 21

August 20-21

whit richardson

upcomingevents August 27-30

Mountainfilm’s Outdoor Series

Telluride Mushroom Festival

Mountainfilm and TMVOA present free films in the great outdoors (weather permitting) at Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, featuring previous festival selections and premieres of new films. The show begins at dusk. 970.728.4123

Gather to celebrate and explore all aspects of fungi in Telluride’s mushroom-rich surroundings. Pick, discuss, parade and eat during an information-filled weekend. 970.728.8312

September

August 22

A golf tournament to benefit the Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club. Call TSSC to register: 970.728.6163, ext. 10.

August 22

September 3

Film Festival Exhibit Opening Telluride Historical Museum presents an exhibit that corresponds with film (exhibitor TBA). 970.728.3344

September 3

Telluride Vaudeville

This fundraiser for TCTV features short variety acts that showcase the talents of Telluride’s adults and children. Sheridan Opera House, time TBA. 970.708.3839

August 23-30

Solo

An opening exhibit at the Ah Haa School that features one regional artist and their body of work, 5 to 7 p.m. 970.728.3886

Telluride’s newest theater company presents an original free play written by Sasha Cucciniello. Location and time TBA. 970.728.8959

September 6-7

Run or bike from Ophir to the top of the pass in this friendly competition. 970.729.1379

Professional Colorado cowboys gather in Ridgway for bronc bustin’, calf ropin’, barrel racin’ and general festivities. 970.626.3304

Ophir Hill Climb

September 4

September 4-7

Tune in to www.koto.org or 89.3, 91.7 or 105.5 FM to hear locals vie for the coveted Silver Tongue Award and raise money for community radio. Call 970.728.4333 to pledge.

A top-secret program (at least until the festival begins) featuring premieres, classics, seminars and discussions with the world’s leading filmmakers and stars. 510.665.9494

KOTO Guest DJ Day

SquidShow

September 4

Ouray County Rodeo gus gusciora

Steve Butts Memorial Tournament

Telluride Film Festival

September 10

KOTO Potato Black Bean Sauté

Eat the musical fruit for breakfast and benefit KOTO, Telluride’s commercial-free radio station.

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telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

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upcomingevents September 18-20

September 12

Microbrew tasting, crafts and food booths, and international blues and rock acts in Telluride Town Park by day and intimate late-night blues clubs by night. 866.515.6166

Imogene Pass Run

Beginning in Ouray and ending in Telluride, this 17-mile course gains more than 5,000 vertical feet. Not for the faint of sole! 970.728.0251

September 14-18

Black Bear Awareness Week

Throughout the week, families can learn about our furry, intelligent neighbors and ways to stay safe in black bear country. 970.728.0190

September 17

Bob Miller Memorial Golf Classic

Telluride Adaptive Sports Program hosts a fundraiser tournament on the Telluride Golf Course. 970.728.5010

September 18

The Play’s the Thing

A free reading of a play (TBA) presented by SquidShow and TCAH and followed by discussion with the cast at 7 p.m. Location TBA. 970.728.8959

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

September 25-27

Artists’ Studio Tours

Your backstage pass into the Telluride art scene starts with this event. Discover how artists have carved out their working spaces, many in their homes. 970.728.4519

September 25-27

Writers in the Sky

Spend a day with regional and national screenwriters and authors as they give presentations, read from their works and engage in dialogue with each other and the audience. Wilkinson Public Library. 970.728.4519

September 26

Mountains to the Desert

As a fundraiser for the Just For Kids Foundation, bikers spin 130 miles on the road from Telluride to Moab. 970.728.4454

October

November

October 1

November 13-15

This event honors regional students for their creativity and interest in the arts. Ah Haa School, 5 to 7 p.m. 970.728.3886

Used and new gear and clothes for all snow activities. Proceeds fund Telluride’s community radio station. Wilkinson Public Library’s underground garage. 970.728.8100

Youth Art Awards

KOTO Ski Swap

October 9-10

November 16-20

Walking Words

Walking Words begins with a progressive dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday featuring three courses, each at a different restaurant, accompanied by a reading. Saturday is devoted to workshops in fiction, poetry and nonfiction at the Ah Haa School. 970.728.3886

KOTO After-the-Swap Swap

October 18

The Play’s the Thing

Gondola Closes for Off-Season

Midnight starts the off-season closure of the Gondola until November 20.

The remains from KOTO’s ski swap move to the old library and are heavily discounted. 970.728.8100

November 20

Gondola Opens

Gondola opens for winter season.

November 20 gus gusciora

Honga’s Lotus Petal/La Cocina de Luz patios, 7 a.m. to noon. 970.728.8100

A free reading of a play (TBA) presented by SquidShow and TCAH and followed by discussion with the cast at 7 p.m. Location TBA. 970.728.8959

October 31

November 26

Get decked out and check out how Telluride parties. Location TBA. 970.728.8100

Ski the first day of the 2009/2010 lift-served season in Telluride. 970.728.6900

KOTO Halloween Party

Telluride Ski Resort Opens

SUMMER

EXHIBITIONS Mark English Maggie Taylor Jerry Uelsmann

Telluride Gallery of Fine Art 130 East Colorado Avenue w w w. t e l l u r i d e g a l l e r y. c o m 970.728.3300 Maggie Taylor, The Herald, 22 x 22 inches digital collage, archival pigment ink print

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 23

tellurideturns

feels is practically communal ownership, because the basin is laced with favorite trails and picnic spots. If everything moves forward as tentatively approved, the Alta area would see 28 homes as big as 12,000 square feet each, and 20 of them could have additional caretaker units, should owners choose to build them. SMI, the developing entity, is a subsidiary of the Leucadia National Corporation, which also owns the New Sheridan in downtown Telluride. SMI holds over 800 acres in the Alta Lakes basin; the development would be concentrated on the 540-acre

john richter

If everything moves forward as tentatively approved, the Alta area would see 28 homes as big as 12,000 square feet each….

[ TEX improved ]

Runway renovations Close Airport Not one prop plane or private jet will make the dizzying drop onto Telluride’s mesa-top runway this summer. Instead, aircraft have been flying right by since April, when the Telluride Regional Airport closed to undertake a major runway reconstruction project. This $54 million renovation, which airport manager Rich Nuttall has been working toward for nine years, is intended to flatten the runway (which currently has a dip in it), widen the safety areas on both sides of the runway, and improve drainage and lighting. The construction will help the airport meet Federal Aviation Administration standards and should provide a safer place to land and take off. The airport was awarded $21 million in federal grants last winter to help fund the project.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

In the current economic storm, no one is sure how much the closure will hurt Telluride’s summer tourist season, as it forces people to fly in and out of nearby Montrose, Grand Junction, Durango or Cortez. The closure comes on the heels of a ski season that saw significant dips in lodging numbers.

…no one is sure how much the closure will hurt Telluride’s summer tourist season. The first phase of the project, which entailed stabilizing the dip area with a buttress wall and fill, took place last summer. The current phase entails removing the existing runway, grinding the grade down and then installing a new runway with new lighting. A third phase will include further widening work and is expected to be completed after the airport reopens in November. —Katie Klingsporn

[ Alta Lakes ]

The right to build If preliminary approvals were gold, then the Alta area developers would need a wagon to move the bullion. In a meeting last winter, San Miguel County Commissioners granted Silver Mountain Industries (SMI) preliminary approval for their Alta-area development proposal, notching a significant step forward for a development that’s seen a myriad of renderings and waves of criticism. Under state law, landowners have the right to build one home per 35 acres, but the developers agreed to cluster homes together— bunching rather than scattering them over the total acreage. In doing so, it’s possible to preserve some land as open space and protect the high country and its patchwork of mining claims. The Alta Lakes area, from the lakes themselves to the historic town of Alta, is largely privately owned but has slipped into what the public

tract called the Turkey Creek Mesa property, near the historic townsite of Alta. “We were happy with the three-nothing [approval], and we think it reflected the work we’ve done,” said Tom Kennedy, local counsel for Silver Mountain Industries. “The plan that was put in front of them was as responsible a plan as possible.” The approval was step two of the county’s fivestep-review process but serves as a roadmap for development. Now SMI will need to undertake infrastructure studies—how to provide services to the properties—in addition to fine-tuning its application. Developers have 18 months to examine basic service needs—water, sewage, access, etc.—before coming back to the county for more meetings, Kennedy said. Final approval is still necessary before breaking ground. This version, it appears, has gone down more smoothly than iterations of the past. San Miguel County Commissioner Joan May had come to terms with some form of development, one way or another. “I think all three of us [commissioners] were sad, but the option of no development was not on the table,” May said. ▶▶

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[ Award Winner ]

Keeping the Blues Alive What began as a festival with music and beer taps has grown into an elite celebration of the blues. Telluride Blues & Brews Festival was recently named best festival by the Blues Foundation, winning the Keeping The Blues Alive Award and marking the festival’s entrance into the dingy, smoky hall of blues fame. “It’s a big honor,” said Steve Gumble, the festival’s founder and director. “You’re being honored by your peers.” Every fall, Telluride Blues & Brews seeps into Town Park. There’s a Grand Tasting with more

than 50 microbrews, and the music runs the spectrum from the bluest blues to the newest blues. “I heard rumors that they were talking about us,” Gumble said. “All of a sudden, they called us and said, ’You guys won it.’”

There’s a Grand Tasting with more than 50 microbrews, and the music runs the spectrum from the bluest blues to the newest blues. The accolades could be because the festival bends the genre every which way, creating an innovative blend of classic and new. “We’re not exactly what I would consider a traditional blues festival,” Gumble said. “What I enjoy about Blues & Brews is my ability to put someone on the stage—a legendary old-school blues person, like Honeyboy Edwards, next to G Love.” This combination of musical generations forces awareness in many of the patrons: The young, for example, may come for modern

brett schreckengost

▶▶ She was happy that SMI will safeguard wildlife corridors and preserve some open space, but belied adoration for a basin that’s peppered with mining relics and rocky towers. “I think everyone in this region would love to see Alta Lakes not developed,” May said. “For the past 13 years or so, various proposals have come through that have been denied, and this is basically the last chance to do something that’s not one [house] per 35 [acres].” —Matthew Beaudin

acts (and beer) and find themselves confronted with blues’ very roots. “I have the ability, the privilege, the honor…to put a 20 year old in front of a legendary blues artist,” Gumble said. “I can attract a wide-age demographic.” Blues and Brews comes to Telluride at the end of each summer, as the leaves change and the community slips into autumn rhapsody. —Matthew Beaudin

Saving the free box The days of people dropping off broken ovens or pieces of particleboard at the Free Box—without consequence—are over. Last winter, Telluride Town Council passed an ordinance that made it illegal to dump any large objects on the sidewalk next to the Free Box. The new ordinance dictates that all items taken to the Free Box must fit inside its cubbies and cites what can, and cannot, go into the Free Box. What can: books, tools, toys, clothes and small household appliances. What cannot: batteries, tires, electronics, mattresses, furniture, refrigerators or large appliances, as well as garbage, compost and recyclable items. The ordinance comes with stiff fines: Someone caught dropping off a sofa on the sidewalk, for example, could be charged up to $1,000. The action came on the heels of a number of smaller improvements and volunteer efforts to make the Free Box a tidier and more neighborly place. Volunteers for Friends of the Free Box put up new bookshelves, signs and a bulletin board, where people can post big items. They also launched an online Free Box at www.t-cycle.org. Volunteers even frequented www.TellurideMagazine.com

Bag the Bag This summer, some 28 towns across the West—from upscale resort destinations to a college town and scrappy remote outposts—are engaged in a widespread, friendly and green competition of eco-consciousness. The 2009 Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) Reusable ▶▶

ingrid lundahl

[ telluride institution ]

[ Statewide Challenge ]

the Free Box to tidy it up and tell people how to use it properly. This flurry of work is what resulted after a community storm erupted last fall over the 30-year-old Telluride institution at the corner of Pine Street and Colorado Avenue. Neighbors complained that the Free Box had devolved into a public mess and financial burden where people

loitered, dumped broken refrigerators and even did drugs. Others, however, argued that the Free Box is an invaluable piece of Telluride’s quirky culture that clothes those in need and offers occasional treasures. Both sides agreed the box of freedom could use some improvements, and work and regulations followed. —Katie Klingsporn summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 25

tellurideturns

Land Use Studies and debates Telluride’s new open space, the Valley Floor, has been accessible to the public for two years. But 10 years from now, what will it look like? A sprawling recreational park, busy with people running their dogs, mountain biking and ▶▶ Bag Challenge began March 1 and runs through September 1. The challenge pits towns against one another to see which can most minimize its use of disposable plastic grocery bags. And the impetus for the challenge started right here in Telluride. In the summer of 2008, Telluride local and plastic bag foe Dave Allen teamed up with the Aspen Community Office for Resource Efficiency to invent the Telluride/Aspen Plastic Bag Reduction Challenge. The competition saw grocers in both

The challenge pits towns against one another to see which can most minimize its use of disposable plastic grocery bags. towns (and Mountain Village) tallying how many people shopped with reusable bags. At the end of the day, Telluride prevailed by using fewer plastic bags and netted a prize of solar panels for the school. But more importantly, the competition eliminated the use

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

of an estimated 140,000 plastic shopping bags. Following the success of the competition, Allen took the idea and ran. He called other ski towns to see if he couldn’t launch something bigger. And the next thing he knew, Colorado towns such as Durango, Dillon, Granby and Crested Butte were on board, with Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Park City, Utah; and Sun Valley, Idaho, following suit. Locally participating stores include Village Market, Clark’s Market and the Market at Mountain Village, in addition to Safeway, City Market, Wal-Mart and Sports Authority in other towns. Grocers at each store will tally the number of reusable bags customers use, and the winner will be determined on a per-capita basis. Alpine Bank will give a $5,000 grant to the winner to install a solar panel system at a public school. Allen is working to secure a grant for another $5,000 to add to the solar funds. Safeway will donate $1,000 for second place. Allen did a little extrapolation based on last year’s bag challenge and thinks that this event is capable of eliminating the use of more than three million disposable plastic bags. “It’s gonna be huge,” he said. —Katie Klingsporn

anji sawant

[ Valley Floor ]

wildlife corridors, known wildlife populations and cultural resources, then establishing the land’s use upon those elements. The research recommended that the prairie-dog colony, beavers and elk be left alone—but monitored to see if they move, grow or affect the surrounding vegetation and waterways—and that existing trails remain if they avoid sensitive areas—and to keep groomed winter trails out of the prairie-dog colony and sensitive wetlands. In addition, the document pinpoints some restoration priorities, such as the tailings pile near Society Turn and returning the San Miguel River to a more natural meander. When it comes to allowing dogs on the Valley Floor—a hot-button topic—the report isn’t definitive. Instead, it suggests an array of strategies for controlling dog access, everything from permitting canines under voice command along designated corridors to prohibiting them from interior trails. But with the Open Space Commission leaning toward banning dogs from the Valley Floor—and some members of the public in vociferous support of allowing dogs entirely—it appears the table was set for a fight. As of press time, the Town had yet to put its management plan for the Valley Floor in place. —Katie Klingsporn

[ Wilkinson Library ]

Named Second in the Country You don’t need a study to confirm it: The Wilkinson Public Library is possibly the best in

photo

jennifer koskinen

Nordic skiing? Or a quiet nature preserve where prairie dogs thrive, beavers build dams and wildflowers grow undisturbed? The answer will depend upon the rules and regulations set out in the Town’s management plan. And to steer those decisions, the Town will refer to an environmental report prepared over the past year by a group of Boulder scientists. The researchers, who spent a good chunk of last summer doing fieldwork on the Valley Floor, compiled an exhaustive document that offers data on everything from the course of the river to the birds that soar above the valley. It touches on the elk herd, tailings piles and such human uses as mountain biking, Nordic skiing and kayaking. The report makes management recommendations, too, such as creating designated zones based on environmental sensitivity,

the country. Even though it’s smaller than the New York Public Library and has fewer books than Harvard’s, you can find everything you need at the library. In fact, for its size, San Miguel County’s library is the second most used in the country, according to ▶▶

www.TellurideMagazine.com

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tellurideturns [ Underground Changes ]

▶▶ the Library Journal. Only the one in Grandview Heights, Ohio, scored higher. The average patron within Telluride’s service area, which includes 6,500 people, checked out 37 things last year, a frequency that amounts to almost one item per week. On average, local library users attended two programs— such as movie nights, discussions or reading circles—out of the 638 programs that were offered.

people, comfortable furniture, bright windows and all the books you could ever want. And if it isn’t in Telluride’s stacks, they’ll fetch it from libraries around the Western Slope. Interlibrary loans increased by one quarter last year. The current library almost didn’t exist. In 2004, the vote to fund the new structure squeaked through by only a couple of ballots. Most adult Telluriders would say it’s a good thing the measure passed. As for kids, it’s an academic paradise. The website, www.telluridelibrary.org, has free online homework tutoring, where students can chat with a live

[ Ski resort ]

new terrain wildly popular Last winter, the ski area expanded while the global economy contracted. Banks foreclosed on stretched-thin homeowners, but the Telluride Ski Resort (Telski) grew, adding new territory onto its existing acreage. On December 10, 2008, CEO Dave Riley cut the ribbon on Revelation Bowl, served by a fixed-grip lift that lived up to its name. The terrain drops off the east side of Gold Hill into the stunning Bear Creek Canyon, where the peaks rise like the spires of an outdoor cathedral. Without question, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the world. In addition to Revelation Bowl, Telski blasted Gold Hill 1 to create a chute that feeds into a wide-open apron. Skiers swooned. But was it enough to stanch the bleeding of a hemorrhaging economy? Riley says he believes the new additions—advertised heavily and extolled by the press—attracted skiers. A record December snowfall also helped, though

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

person and write problems on an online interactive chalkboard. The children’s area is a multi-colored wonderland. Toddlers wobble in for story time; students mob it every day after school; and parents gush over the opportunity to bring their offspring. Of course, it’s not all serious study. People check out movies more than anything else. (The selection is ridiculously good.) Whatever they’re getting, they tend to leave contented. “This is a happy place,” says Brattin. “If you can’t be happy here, where can you be?” —Reilly Capps

storms tapered off significantly after Christmas. (This season’s snowpack was 86 percent of average.) Skier days were down 7 or 8 percent, Riley reported. That’s slightly more than the Colorado average drop of approximately 5 percent, according to Colorado Ski Country USA. East coasters stayed East, it seems, and Colorado Front-Range dwellers were apt to remain in Summit County. Riley viewed the 7-percent drop (compared to the record year of 2008) as an overall success. More expansion may be on the horizon: Riley sent the ski patrol to study the snow in Bear Creek, and he has floated the idea of building a lift in the canyon. Environmentalists are wary, but Riley continues to explore the concept. Since he arrived, expansion has become a theme: This year, he

The pounding, hammering and clanking of construction during off-season construction was fierce. The street closures were even rougher. Just before Bluegrass, the town completed the first phase of its long-awaited water main replacement project under Colorado Avenue between Aspen and Willow Streets. The second half of the plan, which replaces pipes from Aspen down to Davis Street, is not yet underway. One year ago, the project appeared to be impossible: The town had a deteriorating water line under main street—buried with old mine tailings and sprouting leaks like a sun-baked hose—but no money to pay for its replacement. A $5 million bond question to fix the main—and to complete a host of improvements to the street, many aesthetic—was soundly crushed by voters in 2007, and the budget was thin. With no backup plan, Telluride had to get creative. Town manager Frank Bell found a state program that offers grants to towns affected by mining and requested $2 million. Telluride didn’t nab it all, but it was awarded $615,000 from the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund from Colorado’s Department of ▶▶

gus gusciora

Circulation was up 5 percent; Internet use jumped 15 percent. One thing’s clear: This is a reading town. “It’s a curious community,” says Barbara Brattin, the library director. “Of all the libraries I’ve worked at, you never see young people using the libraries—and here they are.” And why wouldn’t they be? The library is like a favorite bookstore— warm and filled with friendly

gus gusciora

The average patron within Telluride’s service area… checked out 37 things last year, a frequency that amounts to almost one item per week.

New Waterline and Underpass

even stretched the ski season by a week, and skiers rode Lifts 7 and 9 into mid-April. Even in a recession, Riley believes bigness will sell. —Reilly Capps ▶▶

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▶▶ Local Affairs, and Town was able to find roughly $400,000 more in its reserves—a sum that is enough to cover the project without street improvements. For a town with a sparse budget, the grant came as a pleasant surprise to many. “I think we were very fortunate to receive the money,” Bell said. Additionally, an underpass— also paid for mostly by the State—will be constructed early this summer for bikers and walkers to cross under Highway 145 between the Valley Floor and Lawson Hill’s entrance. —Katie Klingsporn

[ Telluride Foundation ]

More Generous Than Ever As stock portfolios nationwide shrank in 2008, so did charitable donations. But not at the Telluride Foundation. Last year, the foundation, which is chaired by Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf, gave away

$1.8—a record that will be topped in 2009. In fact, the foundation’s board decided to increase their giving this year by 5 percent. “It really is indicative of Telluride,” says Paul Major, the foundation’s president. “It’s what makes Telluride different and makes it a special place for the people that come here. Here we are in a severe economic downturn, and you still have people who are very charitably generous.” The Telluride Foundation is Telluride’s chief architect in the effort to spread donations throughout the community. The extent to which they are successful can be measured not only in the depth of the giving, but also in the breadth. “It’s a community that, on first blush, looks like it has everything,” Major says. “But the fabric of the community is not just wealthy people, it’s working-class people, it’s immigrants, it’s people from the outlying communities.” The foundation funds a mobile dentist, who visits less-affluent communities, and “patient navigators,” who work to sign kids up for

anji sawant

tellurideturns

government health care. A large chunk of money went to efforts to integrate the immigrant community. And the foundation’s Early Childhood Development Initiative, which supports preschools, received the highest percentage

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for grant requests. This lets little people read and learn, even if they don’t live in Telluride. “It’s not just a moral obligation,” says Major. “It’s the right thing to do.” ■ —Reilly Capps

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 29

rightherewritenow

A Calculated Commute how six pounds of CO2 hit me like a brick

B y L i s e Wa r i n g

’m not a numbers person. It doesn’t matter if it’s my bank account or the population count, a date or a recipe. Digits don’t stick. I struggle to even remember my age. There’s an exception to my number aversion, though, one time when a statistic magically stuck. A few summers ago, I heard a radio news story about the average carbon dioxide a small car emits on a three-and-a-half-mile drive. The distance struck me because it is exactly the mileage from my house in Telluride to my office in Lawson Hill. The answer—three pounds— made an impact because, well, it seems like a lot. It’s tangible. Consider this: The human brain weighs three pounds. A good-size bunch of bananas weighs three pounds. My one-way drive is equivalent to 12 sticks of butter or a bulky Sunday New York Times. Or how about the old joke? A: I just found a henway today. B: What’s a henway? A: About three pounds.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Even with my feeble arithmetic, I’m able to calculate that my seven-mile round-trip commute produces six pounds of carbon dioxide, approximately the weight of a standard clay brick. I know what a brick feels like in my hand. I can imagine its heft, and this, somehow, made a bigger impression on me than Al Gore on a hydraulic lift or photos of polar bears teetering on tiny melting icebergs. It seemed that every time I drove to work, I was essentially hurtling a brick through the fragile ozone. The next day, I rode my bike. Seated comfortably upon my aluminum-frame cruiser, with my iPod cranking, I discovered that the ride took only five minutes longer than driving. Friends waved from the highway, my lunch bounced along in the front basket, and pedal power proved a pleasant way to get from point A to point B. Pleasant, that is, until winter came. I tossed nearly 100 bricks from the tailpipe of my Subaru during the snowy months. And so the jagged

cadence of my commute went for a few years— pushing pedals in the summer and spewing bricks of remorse in the winter. But things changed last winter, when the Nordic trails on the Valley Floor were groomed all the way to Society Turn. My carbon-free commute was back on: Bike to the Shandoka parking lot, skate-ski to Society Turn, change shoes and walk up the hill to work. On the best winter days, the morning sun reflected off the mist that rose from the San Miguel River, and a freshly groomed track lay before me. I’d fall into a rhythm, exhaling with every pole plant and admiring the thick frost on the willows. On the worst days, the track was rough and frozen, and the headwind so fierce that I worried I’d blow backward and end up at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. I seldom saw other people in the morning, but I skied past herds of elk and scared the pellets out of scampering bunnies. The coyotes were my favorite. In Navajo lore, they’re called “tricksters” or “pranksters,” but I never caught

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them at any capers. Granted, there were tufts of elk fur and pieces of rabbit occasionally strewn upon the snow—something I would term more “dinner” than “trick”—but by the time I glided on the scene, they just looked guilty. We’d both stop in our relative tracks and eye each other, until the coyote would tire of me and slink off into the bushes. I must preface this next bit with a short discussion about repetitive motion: As most athletes know, once the body is engaged, the mind is free—and likely—to wander. While skiing, I daydreamed, resolved conflicts (if only in my own head) and even wrote this essay. It doesn’t take much, while in this state, for my brain to carry on a convoluted conversation with itself. For example—and this wasn’t as gross as it might sound—I one day saw a hair-filled coyote turd on the Nordic track in the shape of a perfect question mark. I’m reluctant to admit how much this excrement entertained me. As an editor who is weirdly fond of punctuation, I delighted in the quality of the penmanship. I found “Why?” an

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anthropomorphically good question. I debated whether or not coyotes are concerned with the meaning of life and noted a possible allusion to Monty Python. I wondered if the Navajo were perhaps comic book fans, because the mark reminded me of another trickster, Batman’s

I know what a brick feels like in my hand. I can imagine its heft, and this, somehow, made a bigger impression on me than Al Gore on a hydraulic lift or photos of polar bears teetering on tiny melting icebergs.

sinister archenemy The Joker. As I said, the mind is easily amused when the body is engaged, and that question mark had me smiling for a good 10 minutes or so while I slid home from work. Now that it’s summer again, I’m back on my bike. I seldom think about the brick anymore, perhaps because I rarely drive. In fact, when I do get behind the wheel, I see surprise on the faces of my friends, some of whom don’t realize I own a car. I also chuckle to think that there are probably a few folks who believe I’ve lost my license to a night of binge drinking and are too polite to ask. Ultimately, I’ve lost my taste for it—not drinking, driving. These days, getting in my car means I’m going on an adventure, a road trip of at least a few hours, and anything shorter makes me grumpy. I’ve come to relish my self-propelled time in transit. It’s a break, a mind space and physical place where I neither need to be here nor there. What started out as respect for the environment has turned into an indulgence. The carbon-free commute is now all about me. ■

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 31

mary duffy

naturenotes

[ tamarisk ]

Wicked Weed Anyone who has boated or fished the lower drainages of the Colorado River has tangled with tamarisk. The dense-growing invasive is a nuisance because it narrows stream corridors and chokes out campsites. Also known as salt cedar, tamarisk is estimated to have infested more than 100,000 acres in Colorado and more than 1.6 million acres across the West. Tamarisk consumes massive amounts of water, drying up springs, streams and wetlands. Some estimates say that a single tamarisk can suck up 200 gallons of water per day. In the 1930s—in response to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl—the federal government started a tree-planting campaign to fight soil erosion on the Great Plains. The “shelterbelt project,” as it was called, imported trees from around the world—including a species from Eurasia called tamarisk—and planted them by the millions. The hardy plant—with its wind- and water-born seeds—spread along riverbanks, choking out native trees such as willow and cottonwood.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Tamarisk exudes toxins and salt, which prevent other plants from becoming established nearby. These conditions hinder native seeds from germinating and cause existing plants to die as the tamarisk grows. The impact of this tenacious competitor is symptomatic of poor health in much of the Colorado River system, where damming and excessive irrigation has compromised these waterways’ abilities to function naturally. To

Tamarisk exudes toxins and salt, which prevent other plants from becoming established nearby. address these problems, the Nature Conservancy is working with its partners throughout Colorado and other states on a comprehensive strategy to restore the health of the Colorado River system as a whole. Tamarisk grew its way up the Colorado into the Dolores drainage and continued from the confluence

up the San Miguel River, beyond Naturita. The Conservancy’s eightyear tamarisk control project on the San Miguel represents a major success in the effort to stop this invasive species: The waterconsuming plant no longer chokes off a 120-mile stretch of the river. “We’re now seeing the return of the natives—willows, cottonwoods and grasses,” says Peter Mueller, regional director of The Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy-led effort involved local volunteers, agency staff and contractors with chainsaws, clippers, heavy equipment and herbicides to attack the thirsty weed. Agencies that joined in the grueling work included the Bureau of Land Management, county weed management programs, Marathon Oil Company, the Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Tamarisk Coalition, a group that coordinates tamarisk control efforts around the West. Certain parts of the San Miguel—such as the radioactive superfund site of Uravan—are offlimits to people, and thus still have some tamarisk stands that could not be cut. So Mueller asked if tamarisk beetles might be released there to work where humans could not, and the government agreed. The beetles munched away. The project team will concentrate their next efforts on the Dolores River, which runs through one of the most rugged and remote areas in Colorado. As long as there are tamarisk in Colorado

River drainages, the job of keeping the free-flowing San Miguel rid of “the wickedest weed in the West” may never end. —Mary Duffy

[ Volcanic Aftermath ]

High-country Bowls Sixty-five million years ago, during the Laramide orogeny period, southwestern Colorado was hit by heavy volcanic activity. The area was twice as high in elevation as it is today, and geologists and meteorologists believe that the San Juan region was dominated by high plateaus, rather than the jagged mountains that now exist. Over millions of years those plateaus eroded, and approximately 30 million years later, another era of intense volcanic activity hit Southwest Colorado. This period of eruptions was accompanied by massive amounts of lava and ash that filled in the valleys and fissures, eventually forming mountains. When the eruptions stopped, the magma underground cooled and shrank, creating spaces into which portions of the surface sank. These low spots are the bowls, such as Prospect Basin, of the San Juan Mountains. When hiking in the San Juans, it’s possible to view the bowls firsthand and imagine the volcanic turmoil that created them. ■ —Thom Carnevale

[ for the record ]

may 2008-october 2008 MAY

AUGUST

80˚ (record 90˚ 2002 & 2003) low 23˚ (record 3˚ 1930) precipitation 1.81” (avg 1.8”) snow 13.5” (avg 7.2” max 35” 1930)

high

JUNE 84˚ (record 92˚ 2002) low 26˚ (record 15˚ 1937) precipitation .3” (avg 1.22”) snow TRACE (avg 0” max 8.5” 1979) high

JULY 89˚ (record 96˚ 1922 & 2003) low 39˚ (record 26˚ 1941) precipitation 2.81” (avg 2.5”) high

87˚ (record 91˚ 1979) 36˚ (record 20˚ 1939) precipitation 2.8” (avg 2.92”) low

SEPTEMBER 75˚ (record 88˚ 1990) 29˚ (record 9˚ 1931) precipitation 1.7” (avg 2.07”) snow 0” (avg 0.9” max 23” 1959) high low

OCTOBER 70˚ (record 85˚ 1948) 14˚ (record 0˚ 1956) precipitation 0.97” (avg 1.96”) snow TRACE (avg 9.7” max 42” 1984) high low

—Thom Carnevale www.TellurideMagazine.com

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naturenotes

The return of Colorado’s missing lynx [ Cat’s saga highlights the challenges wildlife face in a growing West ] by Sarah Gilman/High Country News Over the past decade, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has released 218 radio-collared Canada lynx in a $500,000-per-year effort to reestablish the state’s population. The rare, tuft-eared cats have spread through Colorado’s high-altitude conifer forests, and even to other states, settling primarily within the original release area in the San Juan Mountains, as well as on the slopes of the Sawatch and Elk Mountains to the northeast (see orange areas on map). But adjusting to life in one of the most heavily populated states in their range hasn’t been easy for the wide-ranging newcomers. As of last August, 82 had died in Colorado, and 30 had died in other states. People were the leading cause of the deaths, thanks to vehicle collisions and gunshots (see map). The

cats have also stopped reproducing, and no one is quite sure why. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the lynx as threatened in 2000, but declined last February to designate critical habitat for it in Colorado. Now, the cat’s primary protection in the Southern Rockies is a new Forest Service plan designed to promote lynx recovery and soften, though not eliminate, the impacts of activities like logging, mineral development and recreation on 7.5 million acres of habitat. In December, several environmental groups appealed the plan, claiming it falls short at a time when the southern lynx population is especially fragile. The map below highlights some of the challenges the cats face.

[ The Beaten (Snow) Path ]

[ Beetlemania ]

Because of their large feet, lynx have an edge over other predators in deep snow. But snow compacted by snowmobiles and ski trails could make it easier for competitors, such as coyotes, to get at lynx prey in winter, though the science on this is inconclusive. About 27,000 people visit the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area, located in lynx habitat, every winter; a recent Forest Service study found that only about 10,000 of the area’s 55,000 snowy acres are left undisturbed. The high level of use is likely impacting the cats, the study concluded.

The bark beetle outbreak is projected to affect approximately 1.5 million acres of Southern Rockies lynx habitat, mostly in Colorado’s northern mountains. In the short term, that could keep the cats from settling in those areas. But after new trees grow tall enough to provide dense ground cover for hares in the winter, a process that could take decades, the disturbance will likely make the area more suitable for lynx than it is now.

[ All that Gas ]

[ Ski Area Development ] In 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that the controversial development planned near the base of Wolf Creek Ski Area could double traffic on Highway 160—increasing the number of lynx hit by cars and making it harder for the cats to move between some of the best blocks of habitat in the state. That project appears to be on ice, but others look ready to move forward, including a brand-new private ski resort in lynx habitat outside of Minturn, just east of Vail.

[ A Road More Traveled ] In order for one lynx population to persist, the cats need to be able to move between blocks of habitat. In a booming state like Colorado, that means crossing increasingly busy highways and developed land. The western half of the state is expected to roughly double in population by 2035. Interstate 70 bisects a major wildlife migration area near the Continental Divide and has been a trouble spot for the cats. And it could get worse: Colorado eventually plans to add lanes west of Vail Pass and near Silverthorne to help deal with traffic, though officials say that structures that help wildlife cross safely will be part of those projects.

[ Splitting Hares? ]

[ Thrill Kills & Poachers ] Twenty lynx have died by gunshot or probable gunshot since the beginning of the reintroduction program. In 2006, for example, two lynx were shot outside of Silverton in separate incidents within the span of one week. The culprits were never found, though wildlife officials and conservation groups offered a $13,800 reward.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Last April, the Bureau of Land Management offered oil and gas leases on more than 140,000 acres of the Rio Grande National Forest within the state’s core lynx release area. If development had proceeded (the BLM withdrew the parcels in May, though they might go up for auction again), the cats could have faced increased traffic, as well as an increase in competition from other predators in the winter, thanks to plowed access routes.

Dots show travels of the 218 lynx released in southwestern Colorado, from Feb. 1999 through Aug. 2008

Data & maps courtesy High Country News and CDOW

State wildlife officials documented more than 100 Colorado-born kittens from 2003 through 2006, when the state stopped releasing lynx. But no kittens turned up in 2007 or 2008. Tanya Shenk, the program’s lead lynx researcher, speculates that a decline in snowshoe hares—the cat’s primary prey—could be to blame. Lynx numbers in Canada have been shown to rise and fall in tune with the natural cycles of snowshoe hare populations; the same could be true in Colorado. Whatever the case, “We’re in the crux of the reintroduction,” Shenk explains. If it is a natural cycle and both hare and lynx rebound, “that will be huge. If this is a permanent decline, well, the lynx population won’t rebound.” In either case, at this time, the state doesn’t plan to release more cats.

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mountainhealth

[ Dogs ]

Healthy Companions

mary duffy

I am willing slave to a beautiful Border collie/Australian shepherd mix named Violet. Violet will turn 11 this summer, and she shows no signs of slowing down. She has been my 24/7 companion nearly her entire life, and her boundless energy keeps me from becoming a couch potato. Those of you with dogs are familiar with the following scenario. It’s about three in the afternoon. There’s a nasty storm raging outside. The snow/rain/sleet/graupel/hail is flying in angry horizontal slats, and the trees are whipping in circles. Even the hardy elk are bedded down. And there she is—Miss Violet—staring at me, imploring, even slightly accusing: “When are we going for a walk? I love you unconditionally, and this is what I get?”

[ vitamins & minerals ]

american produce in peril Buyer beware: Conventional American fruits and vegetables are no longer bursting with the nutrition they used to. Since the 1930s, a link has been noted between nutrient-depleted soils and increased health problems with evidence that the vitamin and mineral content of food varies enormously with farming methods. Paul Bergner wrote about this issue extensively in The Healing Power of Minerals, Special Nutrients and Trace Elements in 1997, and Michael Pollan touched on the subject in An Omnivore’s Dilemma in 2006. Recent research further supports these writers’ arguments. In the February 2009 issue of the Journal of HortScience,

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Donald Davis—a former research associate with the Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas, Austin—authored a study that shows the average vegetable in today’s supermarket is anywhere from 5 to 40 percent lower in minerals—including magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc—than those harvested just 50 years ago. Davis attributes three factors to the change in mineral nutrition. The first is that common fertilizer

…a study shows that the average vegetable in today’s supermarket is anywhere from 5 to 40 percent lower in minerals…than those harvested just 50 years ago.

has depleted America’s soils, creating an inverse relationship between crop yield and mineral concentration. Second, while produce is now large in size, thanks to both fertilizer and selective breeding, its grander volume contains increased carbohydrates instead of more minerals, amino acids and proteins. And third, with the agricultural industry’s aim to harvest crops more quickly than ever before, produce doesn’t have as much time to absorb nutrients from the soil. The end result is oversized fruits and vegetables with little nutritional content or flavor. If the research doesn’t convince you that organic is a superior option—with farming practices that retain soil nutrients, build soil structure and allow produce to ripen on the vine—just ask your taste buds. —Lynn Mayer, MA, CNC

Dogs keep us honest—and in shape. Studies have proven repeatedly that having a pet lowers blood pressure and releases those yummy neurochemicals… Dogs keep us honest—and in shape. Studies have proven repeatedly that having a pet lowers blood pressure and releases those yummy neurochemicals connected to love and attachment. There are myriad benefits to taking a walk with your dog; here are some I try to remember: Health guru Andrew Weil has long touted the benefits of walking (which does include hiking) over other forms of exercise. A brisk walk tones the glutes, quads, calves—even the abdominal muscles: If you’re paying attention to your Pilates instructor, you’ve been told to engage the core when doing just about anything, including walking. Upon hearing of my osteopenia (early bone loss) diagnosis, I was told that daily walking ▶▶

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(I was heavy into spinning at the time) would protect my spine against future loss and even result in denser bone. It is now known that daily controlled, unprotected sun exposure is crucial to maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D bolsters immunity and is one of the most important molecules in our complex human systems. On blue-sky days, I will begin my outing with Violet sunscreen-free; approximately 15 minutes into the walk, I’ll stop to apply sunscreen on any exposed body parts. I spend a lot of time in front a computer screen, and on days when my brain starts to congeal like oatmeal, nothing feels better than going outside for fresh air. Violet, you see, innately understands this, which is why she is smarter than me—certainly smarter than your honor student.

Health guru Andrew Weil has long touted the benefits of walking (which does include hiking) over other forms of exercise. A brisk walk tones the glutes, quads, calves—even the abdominal muscles.

anji sawant

mountainhealth

And finally, let’s discuss civic pride: the health benefits we receive when we are connected to a place and involved in a community. What am I getting at? Pick up your dog’s poopies. Yes, it’s gross, but it’s worse to step in the mess when you’re meandering a mountain trail or dipping your toes into the San Miguel. Abandoned feces can host parasites, harbor disease, pollute watersheds—and no, it does not make good fertilizer. In short, dog poop makes dog owners look bad, so Violet and I ask that you kindly pick it up (and don’t forget to engage the core while doing so). —Michelle Kodis

[ Slow Food ]

Got to Make the Moment Last Slow down and appreciate food and its origin; be mindful about the treatment of farm animals and grateful to farmers; care about the quality of the water and the soil that nourishes our food: These are the tenets of a grassroots movement called “Slow Food” that has grown globally and is now making an impact locally. Slow Food is a way of living and eating that links the pleasure of food with a commit-

ment to the community and the environment. The movement strives to transform food policies, production practices and market forces to ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat. In this time of financial worries, Slow Food might seem a luxury, but it can stimulate local economies. From supporting local farmers to enhancing school lunch programs and offering garden-toplate education, these types of beneficial ventures have emanated from the movement. In 2003/04, Telluride chef Jake Linzinmeir worked in Torino, Italy, the country where the Slow Food movement debuted. Linzinmeir is now organizing a local Slow Food chapter here in Telluride. His intention is to raise the level of interest in Slow Food while pairing up with the sustainability efforts of Kris Holstrom and the Telluride New Community Coalition. Linzinmeir’s vision is to add another element to the movement: a culinary academy, where students would be taught and encouraged in the Slow Food consciousness. These pupils might stay in the region, adding to the fine dining offered in Telluride, or take Slow Food concepts home to be shared. Either way, the planet will benefit. As USA Today says, “Slow Food aims to be everything fast food is not.” To join in the movement, and get more enjoyment out of your food, visit www.slowfoodusa.org. —Lynn Mayer, MA, CNC

[ Quick Question ]

Double Dipping

How dedicated should we be to avoiding germs?

ccording to a 2008 study at Clemson University, “double-dipping”—the act of plunging a chip into a communal food bowl twice—transfers approximately 1,600 to 3,000 germs from the dipper to the dip each time. Some equate this party foul to kissing everyone in the room. The previous year, the same professor who authored the 2008 research, Paul L. Dawson, studied the “fivesecond rule,” the theory that food snatched quickly from the floor can’t gather germs. Turns out, the theory is false. So germs are transferred easily and quickly, but the New England Journal of Medicine published a manuscript in 2002

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

that argues exposure to dirt, dust and bacteria actually helps children develop better immune systems. So what does this tell us? Should we panic when we see dip at a picnic and avoid food that’s touched anything but our plate? Dr. Kent Gaylord, a general practitioner at the Telluride Medical Center, says, “Kids who live in a sterile environment do have more problems with asthma.” He recommends that we wash our hands and use clean utensils, but we shouldn’t clean the house with Clorox. He adds, “If something drops on the floor, that personally doesn’t bother me, but double-dipping is a little different—a party foul.” ■ —Lise Waring

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suggests that most of the weight should sit in the center. I lean toward the former but urge you to experiment. Once your pack is loaded, determine if it is sized properly. The waist belt should rest comfortably on your hip bones. Most modern large-load packs are designed with capabilities to adjust the length of the pack to fit your torso. At a minimum, you can change the length of the shoulder straps to center the waist belt on your pelvis. Proper clothing is the final consideration. I highly recommend narrow-profile hiking pants worn sans belt to minimize bulk between the pack and your body. If all else fails, I suggest purchasing a llama to help carry your overnight gear. Happy trails, Jock

[ is bigger better? ] [ leaky gortex ] Jock, Water no longer beads up on the outside of my old Gore-Tex raincoat, especially on the shoulders. Once the outer fabric is soaked, the water continues down to my skin. Can I resurrect this garment, or do I have to buy a new one? —Soggy-backed Hiker Dear Soggy, Although this will sound un-American, buying a new raincoat should be the last resort. First, take a close look inside your jacket to see if the white Gore-Tex membrane and the tape on the seams are intact. If either of these are compromised, you should contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement. If the membrane and seamsealing tape are intact, it’s likely that the pores of the Gore-Tex laminate are clogged with dirt, which would prevent sweat from escaping and create a rain-forest effect inside your jacket. To combat this, you need to treat the garment with a chemical agent specially designed to clean and rejuvenate Gore-Tex. There are many products on the market, but I prefer a company called Nikwax. (Jock usually avoids specific product endorsement, but the good folks at Nikwax are environmentally thoughtful, and their products work well.) My favorite Nikwax waterproofing restorative

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

is added to the washing machine. This full-immersion treatment has several advantages over a spray-on application: Not only does washing refresh the waterproofing, but the jacket also smells and looks better—at least for a little while. Stay dry, Jock

[ hydration & hops ] Jock, After a hike or a bike ride, I like to drink beer. My wife says beer dehydrates me and tells me to drink water instead. I contend that beer is mostly water, and I’m getting more hydrated every time I crack open a barley pop. Who’s right on this one? —Bud Man Hey Bud, You’re both right. Beer is mostly made of water, so your body gains a brief period of hydration immediately upon consumption. Alcohol, however, is a diuretic (meaning that it stimulates the production of urine). I won’t confuse us both by trying to explain the physiological intricacies of the human body as it absorbs and eliminates alcohol. Suffice it to say that drinking beer is a losing proposition if you are trying to hydrate after strenuous exercise. So the missus is correct when she suggests water for the post-workout beverage. Perhaps there is a compromise. Many experts recommend drinking

one beer per day to maintain a healthy heart. If you consume generous amounts of water immediately after a workout, you’d reap the combined benefits of both hydration and marital harmony. Later, you could enjoy a beer with a clean and hydrated conscience. Cheers, Jock

[ backpacker’s bane ] Jock, When I carry my big backpack on an overnight trip, it bruises my hips. After my first day on the trail, I’m too sore to enjoy the wilderness experience. In fact, I can barely walk. Any suggestions? —Bruised and Battered Dear B and B, First, you must delve into your pack and discard every item you don’t truly need. As inspiration, consider that some alpinists remove the plastic housing from their Swiss army knives to shave weight. Others cut their toothbrushes in half. And some don’t even bother with oral hygiene when traveling in the mountains. (Neither Jock nor the American Dental Association recommend this last course.) Once you’ve ruthlessly minimized the amount of gear you are carrying, the next trick is to position it in your pack. There are two schools of thought: One claims that heavy objects go at the bottom of your rucksack; the other

Jock, Lately, I’ve noticed some mountain bikes with larger-thanusual wheels. Someone told me they are called “29ers” because the wheels measure 29 inches instead of the traditional 26. Are these bigger wheels the future of mountain biking? —Just Curious Dear Curious, Your sharp eye has picked up a significant shift in mountain bike design. Gary Fisher came out with the 29er design three years ago, and a number of manufacturers have followed suit. Converts claim that the larger wheels, with more mass and, thus, more momentum, roll more smoothly over obstacles in the trail. Taller riders say these bikes offer a more comfortable fit than traditional sizes. The latest twist is to use a conventionally sized 26-inch rear wheel with a 29-inch wheel in the front. Proponents of this setup claim the dual benefits of superior rear traction with the smaller drive wheel and a dampened ride with the larger front-end rolling mass. Last summer, I borrowed a friend’s 29er to see what the fuss was about. After a test ride, I—an average-size human who abhors buying new gear—decided I didn’t need a 29er. But you should take your own test spin. Perhaps you’ll find that bigger really is better. Ride on, Jock

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Leslie Tomkins Artistic Director

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Running of the Tarps An Insider’s Slant on B luegrass b y r o b s t o ry · p h ot o g ra p h s b y br e tt s c h r e c k e n g o s t

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Thursday, 12:11 a.m. It’s hard to say when Bluegrass truly begins. But you could make a case for just past midnight, after Wednesday has morphed into Thursday. This is when festivalgoers by the score forsake the comfort of their own homes and sleep in Telluride’s dirt—specifically, the dirt along the river trail near the post office and the bridge over the San Miguel River, marking the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s west entrance. Sure, the river gurgles quite musically by the post office, but it’s not like anyone camps there the 361 days a year that aren’t eves of the four-day festival. It’s just that the nights before festival days, it’s important to hold down a place in line—to queue up for the great dash to place tarps in prime viewing locales of the Bluegrass stage. Pamplona has its Running of the Bulls; Telluride has a Running of the Tarps. Wardy and I unfurl our Therm-A-Rests and sleeping bags, determined not to repeat the mistake of 2007. That’s when we laid down with our tarp on the west side of the river trail instead of the east. Big no-no. Because the guy who comes around about dawn, bequeathing queue numbers to campers in the dirt, doesn’t recognize sleepers on the west side of the trail. Only the east. And if you, like Wardy and me, sleep in the weeds and miss out on the honor of those little blue plastic-laminated queue numbers—well, you feel sorta like a homeless bum.

Thursday, 8:08 a.m. The beauty of the little blue plastic-laminated queue numbers is that they let us campers get out of the dirt for a little while in the early morning. The Running of the Tarps proceeds according to the numbers, not first-come, firstserved chaos. Once we attain our number (29, in this case), we can go home and brush our teeth with water from our sinks, not the San Miguel. We take home our Therm-A-Rests and sleeping bags and return the River Trail to its rightful owners: Telluride’s dogs. The line murmurs with anticipation and groans from hangovers. Still, the tarp runners look as fresh and perky as they will for the next several days. Wardy and I do some light stretching and attempt to, as my old football coach used to say, “open up the hips.” When it comes for #29 to take flight, though, speed doesn’t really matter that much. There’s still plenty of room near the front, and we get our prized, traditional spot at “looker’s left.” www.TellurideMagazine.com

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Friday, 11:30 a.m. The art of Bluegrass Festival for some is the banjo picking. For us, the local spectators, it’s the bag packing. “Showpack” is the term we use for the messenger bag, or backpack, we lug to Bluegrass. The mini foldable chair and hula-hoop hang on the outside. Inside: sunscreen, cribbage board, crossword puzzle, clothes for when the temperature plummets 20 degrees between Paolo Nutini and Leftover Salmon (jeans, puffy, beanie), KOTO beer booth cup, plastic bottle of water, and plastic bottle that looks to contain water but is actually full of vodka. Don’t forget the shades, either. A good pair of sunglasses will shield your eyes from harmful UV rays and yada, yada, yada. But they really come in handy for scoping attractive members of the opposite sex without getting busted for leering. Which brings up another Bluegrass essential: jargon, a.k.a. the ability to speak in code. My buddy—let’s call him A.A.—likes to watch the scenery and point out any girls he believes were “born in the month of Jug-uary.” (I never said A.A. was politically correct.)

Locals, fried by four straight days of partying and sunshine, begin to reconsider their presence. It dawns upon them that they might have jobs and—even though it’s summer in Telluride—responsibilities.

Friday, 4:17 p.m. The KOTO beer booth has been jamming for hours already. As a consequence, the lines for the Port-a-Potties are significant— especially if you, like me, are milliseconds from crossing your legs and hopping up and down. Strategy becomes crucial. Do I head to a corner, where I am sort of in line for three units (one on the vertical axis, one on the horizontal, and the very corner unit on both)? Or do I congregate behind male-heavy lines, figuring to benefit from elimination efficiency? I choose the latter and—given my quick relief—the strategy seems to work.

Saturday, 6:44 p.m. They show up every year, but that doesn’t make them any easier to accept. I’m talking, of course, about the serial water sprayers—the jamokes who pack a Super Soaker squirt gun in their showpack and then proceed to firehose cold liquid about the festival for hours and hours at a time. In the white-hot blast furnace of noon, I can sorta kinda accept serial water sprayers. But not after cocktail hour. I want to ask the dork 44

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idly shooting ice water in a huge circle, “Are you a teenager? Or, more likely, a tourist? Because you don’t act like you live here. And if you do, you don’t have any friends. I mean, do you have any freaking idea how rare sunny 80-degree perfect days are at 8,750 feet above sea level? Well, nimrod, there’s about 24 or 25 of them all year. The promising ones in May get shut down by ferocious winds. In July and August, the monsoons ruin everything. So, dammit, let our June perfect days stay dry. We locals crave the hot, sunny dryness, alright? We want to roast our flesh the whole spectrum between brown and red. We get way fewer opportunities than you Arizonans or Texans for lizard-like sun worshipping. We sure as hell don’t need or want your Super Soaker effluvium, OK? This time of evening, keep your personal liquids to yourself.”

Sunday, 2:03 p.m. Telluride is always and forever a small town. The local politics and soap operas don’t go away just because Appalachian hillbillies and angelic Alison Krauss are performing. Take the couple, on a “break” right now, of M and J. My loyalties lie with my buddy J, so I spend most of Bluegrass on his tarp. But, like other friends caught in the middle of their problems, I can’t just ignore her—so I now wander back to talk to her, and the dorky temporary boyfriend she imported from Austin, who’s boring as hell. Still, respects must be paid. That—and every Bluegrass—M makes the most incredible frozen margarita pops. I really hope M and J get back together. They’re a great couple. And besides, those frozen margarita pops…

Sunday, 7:54 p.m. Locals, fried by four straight days of partying and sunshine, begin to reconsider their presence. It dawns upon them that they might have jobs and—even though it’s summer in Telluride—responsibilities. Still, there remain chances of magic, of encounters with new, perhaps compellingly attractive, people. Just such a girl walks into my Bluegrass orbit tonight. She’s all good. Can hold her New Belgium beer. Born in a month A.A. would approve of. And a runner, to boot (a veteran of the Imogene Pass Race)—which could come in handy next year, when it’s time to establish a tarp. ■ www.TellurideMagazine.com

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WHERE THE VIEWS ARE

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Telluride’s majestic mountains set the stage for over 30 world-class

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Ventu re Out

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circa

1896

1900

telluride historical museum

circa

1915

A mountainside clearcut In the two decades it took for Telluride to boom, the forests on the north-facing slope above town were razed for fuel and building materials. Aspen, a ÂŤpioneerÂť species that grows in full sun, quickly took over. In less than 20 years, a natural succession to spruce-fir woodlands transformed the mountainside into the forest seen today.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

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seeing

the Forest through its

trees

all photos by Mary Duffy unless otherwise noted

B y M a ry D u ff y

background image: John richter

he original prospectors in the San Juans lived off the land, and respectably so: Their survival depended upon the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast forests that provided fuel, construction materials and habitat for game. As mining boomed, more trees were harvested for mill buildings, railroad ties and mine timbers. The tall, straight ponderosa pine and Douglas fir were favored, but other conifers were also fed to the sawmills that sprang up near every mining camp. By the late 1800s, the entire north-facing slope (the present-day ski area) above Telluride was cleared. Despite the razing, the trees came back. And today their stock is dense and old, making them more susceptible to insect infestations, fungal cankers, heart rot, blowdown and fire. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obvious to even the casual observer that our trees are in trouble. Brown, dead and dying conifers dot the ski area and surrounding mountains. Come spring, some stands of aspen no longer leaf. Trees along roadways are gray and lifeless. The underlying problems seem to be the older age of trees, fire suppression and warmer springs and falls. www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 47

ead and dying trees have created a substantial amount of fuel D in much of the Rockies. Fire—which was

Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii) This conifer is the most common evergreen in our high-country forests and, with subalpine fir, it creates the largest undisturbed woodlands in Colorado. Engelmann grow to be tall trees with scaly bark (often reddish brown) and produce cones that propagate downward in heavy clusters at the crown of the tree. The foursided needles grow singularly from hairy twigs. A quick way to discern a spruce from a fir: If it’s got square, sticky needles, it’s a spruce; flat, flexible needles, it’s a fir.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) Voted by schoolchildren on Arbor Day in 1892 to be the state tree, Colorado blue spruce are not always blue. In fact, they can be difficult to tell from Engelmann spruce, which may also have a blue cast to its needles. Colorado blue's trunks are often cluttered with small, leafy twigs. Its cones are larger and needles sharper than Engelmann. Blue spruce also prefer to grow in lower and moister environments, including valleys and river corridors. 48

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historically a cleanser of the forest—is now heavily suppressed. The region’s dominant spruce-fir forests need infrequent—every 200 to 400 years—but intense fire to function naturally. If the effects of climate change continue to develop according to prevailing predictions, more frequent and longer-burning fires can be expected. In northern Colorado, aging lodgepole forests are under siege by mountain pine beetles that have decimated thousands of acres. As a result of warm and dry conditions, subalpine fir is succumbing to the balsam bark beetle and root fungi, and spruce beetle infestations continue to wreak havoc in Engelmann spruce stands statewide. Locally, we have recently seen the western spruce budworm attack the new needles of spruce and Douglas fir; spruce beetles kill conifers on the ski area; and western tent caterpillars denude large stands of aspen in Mountain Village. Even the porcupine— whose girdling seldom kills trees in the wild—is on the rampage in Mountain Village, chewing hundred of evergreens planted by landscapers. According to the Forest Service, there are approximately 3.6 million acres of aspen in Colorado, comprising roughly 17 percent of the state’s forested lands. Numerous areas in Southwest Colorado are experiencing major die-offs of aspen groves because of Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD). Aspen is a “pioneer” tree that colonizes areas where the conifers have been removed by fire, logging or other disturbances. The coniferous forests near historic mining towns such as Telluride, Durango and Crested Butte were clearcut over a century ago. The aspen that colonized those areas are over 100 years old now, which is the natural life span of these poplars. One contributor to SAD may be relatively even-aged stands of aspen that are actually dying of old age. Yet in many areas, even the root systems are dying. Because aspen reproduce by cloning (with sucker shoots), the death of a root system—which can normally live over 1,000 years—may leave entire stands dead. Centuries of fire exclusion, heavy livestock grazing and extensive elk browsing have left trees vulnerable to insects and diseases. Researchers have found that prolonged drought, bark beetles, wood-boring beetles and a canker fungus can all contribute to SAD.

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The 22 million acres of forest in Colorado are dynamic, having evolved to survive in a high and relatively dry environment. Trees are leveled by avalanches, blown down and consumed by fire. In due course, they age and die. With climate change, the makeup of our forests may morph, with some trees growing at higher elevations and other species declining. Whether fire could reestablish conditions more favorable to pioneer species, or climate change would create a new combination of species, is a subject of much speculation. Forests are considered saviors of climate change: They sequester carbon if healthy, but when mass die-offs occur, that same carbon is released back into the air and can actually exacerbate the planet’s warming. Our forests are struggling, and the scope of the problem may be bigger than can be managed. But Phil Kemp, retired forester for the U.S. Forest Service, is hopeful. He feels that “…protecting forests means hands-on management. We can help reduce the impacts of these large-scale mortality events by using timber harvests and prescribed fire to break up mature forest stands that favor certain tree species over others, lower wildfire hazard and limit the spread of insect outbreaks. Finally, we can aggressively reforest burned, cutover or otherwise cleared forest habitat.” While the current citizens of Telluride are not taking to the hills with axes, we still make a daily impact on our surrounding woodlands. Protecting our forests means reducing our carbon footprint and, in some respects, accepting nature’s course. By recognizing our native trees, perhaps we can be better caretakers of these forests that are crucial to wildlife habitat, watershed health, scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and clean air and water.

Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa var. bifolia) Of the three firs that grow in the region, the subalpine is the most common, distinguished by thin, silvery-gray bark and flat, smooth needles. A longitudinal crease runs the length of its needle, and its cones project upward from the topside of its branches. Firs also have hairless (smooth) twigs. Resin from this tree produces an aroma that is noticeable when walking past downfall or broken branches.

Krummholz Near timberline—where the wind is harsh, the winters long and the snow deep— stunted Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir struggle to survive. They grow contorted and dwarfed and are referred to as Krummholz—which is German for «crooked wood.» www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 49

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) This deciduous, broad-leafed member of the willow family does more to affect the landscape than any other tree, creating the region’s only monoculture forest. Aspen need full sunlight to survive and are also dependent upon frequent fires, not only to limit competition from conifers, but also to stimulate root sprouts to generate a new grove. Aspen have recently been found to be one of the largest living organisms on earth: Stands that bud and change color at the same time are one giant clone—all sharing the same root system and DNA. Although it is one of the most widely distributed trees in the world, only in the Rocky Mountains do aspen take on such vibrant fall color, and the biggest aspen in the world grow in our southern reach of the range.

Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) Another member of the willow family, the narrowleaf cottonwood is the purveyor of all the «cotton» (flowering catkins) that blow around town in early summer. In canyons, along river corridors and on the Valley Floor, the narrowleaf cottonwood dominates. This tree seldom gets bigger than 60 feet tall and two feet in diameter. Adding to the fall color fest, its leaves turn yellow, making the drive from Montrose or Cortez extra lovely.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

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Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menzietii) Contrary to popular belief, many Douglas fir inhabit this region, though not in the large stands that served early settlers. They can grow to over 300 feet, attain great girth and live for half a century. The distinctive cones have bracts that look as though the tail end of a tiny mouse is sticking out from each scale. Douglas-fir needles are flat like other firs, but the buds are pointed, rather than round. These species develop thick bark that may scorch during a fire, but it will not prove fatal. At mid to high elevations, they are one of three species of «hotties,» meaning that they will disappear from forests without the fire and bare ground that their seeds need in order to germinate. An ancient Douglas fir lives on the ski area that has dodged the ax and is about five feet in diameter.

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) The most striking pine in the area, ponderosas grow up to 9,500 feet in elevation. These trees don’t get much taller than other conifers, but their massive trunks—often three feet in diameter—make them giants of the region. The identifying needles are up to six inches long in clusters of two to three. Ponderosa prefer dry, sunny environments and flourish in frequentfire regimes. ■

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girls just wanna have fun

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

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by suzanne cheavens photography by ben knight

i am in a rock band. I have wanted to say that my entire life. As soon as The Beatles rocked my world, I put aside childish things and took up a guitar and let my dreams run wild. My fascination with rock and roll has been as present in my life as breathing. Music keeps my fires stoked and gives reason to a world that I find verges on insanity most of the time. It soothes, it incites, it rolls, it inspires, it lives. Through all the jobs, the kids, the marriage, the diversions, the busy-ness of life, the constant in me was the desire to play in a rock band.

am in a rock band. I would not be in a rock band if not for Mark Galbo. The teacher-musician’s wildly successful Rock and Roll Academy has ushered legions of local kids from first chord to playing live before adoring fans since 2004. I covered the Academy on a freelance assignment for this magazine early on and confessed my lifelong wish to him: “How ’bout adults?” He demurred until the fall of 2008. Unsurprisingly, in our little mountain town populated with adult Peter-Pan types, Mark was asked that question consistently through the years. He never rushes when it comes to Something Big. He watched and waited. “It wanted to happen. As a lifelong artist, I am accustomed to welcoming factors outside of my control and going with them, crafting them into things of beauty. When the Ladies Rock idea began to aggregate around me, I sat back and watched. I waited and watched some more. It became quickly apparent that it wanted to happen and that I would be fortunate to be in the position of guiding this moment. It was an easy decision.”

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e’re the Monday-night girls. That first Monday night in October, we gathered in the Academy’s soundproof studio within the Telluride Mountain School. We took in our surroundings, feasting our eyes on the array of guitars, the drum kit, the keyboard, the posters of Hendrix, Dylan and the Rolling Stones, and the concert flyers for the kids’ bands. The walls are painted a warm red, and little white lights are draped around the room. It’s cozy and dimly lit and reminds me of the various lairs of my youth, where I burned incense and taught myself songs on my cheap acoustic guitar and dreamed of escape. And we eyed each other. Some of the girls I knew already; some I’d never seen before in my life. Six women, each with her own aspirations for what Galbo calls his “experiment.” Allow me to introduce the band. Cindy Carver has always wanted to play bass. She’s a petite blond with a radiant smile and a fierce work ethic. Her determination and innate musicality rocketed her to bass competence in no time. In a song, if I find myself at sea, I listen for her bass line and can always find my way home. She does not suffer fools lightly and can be brutally honest. summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 53

I sing, too, but really I just want to learn to make my Strat sing. Ask Kathleen Erie is our rock. She’s a formidable woman whose modest the other girls, but I think I am easy to get along with, a smoother of goal was to be able to amuse herself on the guitar when all is said and ruffled feathers and a needed touch of irreverence. I mean, it’s only done. She plays the keys, too, and even bought instruments so she rock and roll, people. I want to play out and maybe one day sing for could practice at home. Her effort shows in every rehearsal, and her my supper. I want to be a rock star. energy reminds me of the reassuring pull of gravity. She has a calming effect on me, which is good, because I tend to overthink things. Bärbel Hacke is our front woman. She hails from Germany and e are called “MachSchau.” It’s a Beatles’ anecdote from their days gives our band a dose of Euro-cool. She is confident and loose onstage, of playing in seedy dives in Hamburg before they became The though you’d never know it from the intense preshow angst she Best Band Ever. Drunken bar patrons and Machiavellian club owners suffers backstage. She has actually sung in rock bands before, both in screamed at the young rockers to “Mach Schau!” Make show. Germany and here in her adopted home, but never on equal footing Most of us like the name, but some of us weren’t at practice the with the boys. She seeks redemption and creative freedom with us. night we decided on it. The poster deadline was fast approaching, and She digs deep in her soul when she sings and is game for sitting in on we had to pick something. I don’t know which I dislike more—picking drums when Molly plays guitar. Bärbel, too, is very direct. She likes to songs or picking band names. Trying to get six people with varying get right to the point—and in a band setting, tastes, abilities and backgrounds to decide this quality is important, though it can be on four songs and one band name is beyond unnerving if you are on the receiving end of difficult: It is a process rife with conflict, and We are called “MachSchau.” her exhortations. I abhor conflict. But the chasm between the It’s a Beatles’ anecdote from Theresa Imparato, “T,” is our youngest power ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and member and an aspiring singer. She loves Stones’ classic rocker “Tumbling Dice” is a their days of playing in seedy the dressing the part of rock star chick and pulls wide one. Somebody will end up disappointed. it off beautifully. From the beginning, Theresa longer I’m in this, the more I underdives in Hamburg before they standThewhy had a hard time finding her place in the band. bands break apart. Mainly it’s Perhaps it is her youth—she’s not even 30, because of the people. The music is just became The Best Band Ever. while the rest of us are 40 and up—but somewaiting to be played. times it’s as if she’s reading from a different book. T doesn’t want to play keys—she’d rather play guitar—but she live for the practices when we’re all connected: when the bass has a deft touch and a good sense of timing. We want her dream to throbs like a heartbeat, when the drums pound as consistently come true, too, but there’s a disconnect, and we struggle to work it out. as a super-charged metronome, and when the keyboard swells and Molly Papier is a tall, easy-going Midwesterner with a fondness for washes over everything. When the vocals are moving and heartfelt indie rock. I think she is just about the hippest cat I’ve ever known. and on key. And when the guitars wind together and push against She came in with a little guitar experience but was open to most one another, and when Bärbel whoops with joy as a lead crescendos. anything. The first time she sat at the drum kit, her playing stopped us The first time it happened, we were missing Theresa and Kathleen. all in our tracks. Mark muttered “genius” under his breath. I am not We were working on “Addicted to Love” when it clicked. Molly and kidding. She’s so damned good—already. She goes with the flow and is Cindy homed in on the rhythm, and my guitar part suddenly came open-minded but would love to play something written sometime in easily. Bärbel growled out the vocals like she owned the song. We the last decade, like by The Breeders or Ryan Adams. I love working grooved. I’ve never felt so high. with her. She makes me laugh. There is a singular oneness to being in a band. It’s like being in And me? As a guitarist, I went in thinking it would be cool to learn the coolest club on earth. There is a sense of accomplishment so drums or bass, but with Cindy and Molly so perfectly locked in those profound as to defy description. When a disparate group of people positions, I have stayed at guitar. I am immensely glad for that because, combines forces in the quest of a shared vision, magic happens. I’ve under Mark’s insightful guidance, I have soared to new heights. I have experienced it in the numerous theater productions I’ve been in, offered to play keys if need be, so Theresa could try her hand at guitar, and I’ve felt it in the course of casual living room jams. We become but Teach put the kibosh on that notion. I guess he likes what he hears. greater than the sum of our parts, if only for a while. Music is

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powerful stuff. When you’re making it, it’s like handling a holy writ. It’s righteous. It’s real. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I almost can’t believe this is happening.

The Rock & Roll Academy

was founded in 2003 by Mark Galbo and has served over 1,400 students in its in-school, after-school and summer programs. The objectives are as much about team building, self-expression and social responsibility as they are about learning to play music. As Galbo says, “Every conflict leads to a solution, and out of conflict grows the soulfulness of a band.” The sessions culminate in a multi-band concert, which is open to the entire community and draws hundreds of proud parents, music lovers and the simply curious to each show. The Ladies Rock program, in its nascent phase, is ready to embrace whatever the future holds. For a further look at RRA programs, go to www.rockandrollacademy.com.

with me on lead guitar and vocals. A friend held a flaming lighter aloft during my solo, but all I saw was the six strings beneath my fingers. Bärbel’s great rendition of the 4 Non Blondes’ song, “What’s Up?”, was next. We closed with “Addicted to Love.” I never wanted it to end. The appreciative crowd—loving, supportive and forgiving—went wild, as they had for Mark’s other band, Untracked. But I can’t watch the DVD. Not yet.

he DVD from our Ladies Night Out Concert in January is still sitting on the kitchen counter. I can’t watch it, though Cindy and Bärbel tell me it’s something I can live through. It was one of the most amazing nights of my life. The whole day was astounding, really. A mild n German slang, it’s crisis of not being able to called a schrotzen—a wash my jeans that morning clearing of the air, a bitch gave way to not caring what session. Bands have them I wore. That was intensely all the time. I—little Miss liberating. I settled on a comfortable and Peace, Love and Understanding—hate them. A friend held a flaming familiar outfit of jeans, boots, jacket and But I am learning that they are absolutely shirt. I was the only one who didn’t wear necessary in a band. Several sessions into our lighter aloft during my solo, black. We had a photo shoot scheduled for second semester, we had a powwow. Theresa just before sound check. We turned heads was wildly frustrated and unclear about her but all I saw was the six when we walked down main street. We role with the band. Several of us countered that strings beneath my fingers. looked damned good. The rock-star thing she had never worked as hard on the songs as was taking hold. we had and didn’t seem to click with the other At sound check, I reveled in the monitors, five. It was tense and emotional. I cradled my the big sound and—sweet glory be—a guitar tech. I laughed and told guitar and kneeled on the floor but said very little. Molly, “I could get used to this!” Cindy and I sat for a taping with By next practice, Mark informed us T had left the band. We all Plum TV, further adding to the dizzying sensation of actually being quietly considered this development. There was no rejoicing, even a big deal. We convened for a light supper and cocktails and talked though it felt right. It would be better for T to be in a different about the butterflies. Bärbel was close to going into her preshow, band and better for us to move forward at our own pace. We found sweaty-palm anxiety state and assured us that once she hit the stage, ourselves in the midst of a common band scenario: Peter Gabriel and she would be fine. I felt oddly loose and present and very, very ready. his former band, Genesis, comes to mind. Each enjoyed tremendous In the green room before Mark introduced us, we huddled. We could commercial and artistic success after Gabriel left to pursue his own have powered a city with the energy exuding from our pores. creative muse. I wish great things for us, too—all of us. At last our moment was upon us. Molly clacked out the time on At that night’s practice, it all came together. Five people. Five her sticks and we launched into “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” with different personalities. One vision. T on vocals. Next up, we played Tom Petty’s nugget, “Breakdown,” I am in a rock band. ■

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 55

Strangers

in a Strange Land �

�

Spanish Journeys i n to Y u ta C o u n t ry by Paul O’Rourke 56

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No one remembers

much about her, only that she was Yuta, from the territory north of New Mexico, and just one of many Natives visiting Abiquiú for the trade fair in May 1765. The local blacksmith hardly noticed her: She was there to retrieve a bridle repaired the day before.

“Teguayo,” the original When told the fee, she home of their people. extracted a small leather Located near a large lake pouch and placed it in the in what is now the Great forger’s outstretched hand. Basin of Utah near Provo, Distracted momentarily Teguayo, according to early by an agitated stallion in Spanish writings, was also a back stall, he didn’t see thought to be the birthplace the woman gather the bit of the Aztec civilization and and reins and slip into the home to a strange breed crowd. The blacksmith of Native men with beards opened the leather sack, and white skin. Cachupin hoping its contents were authorized Rivera’s second commensurate with his expedition to Yuta country services, and withdrew to locate Rio del Tizon, a sizeable piece of virgin learn more about Teguayo, silver. and discover the origin of The news raced through the elusive trove of virgin Abiquiú and made its way to silver in the Sierra de la Spanish colonial authorities Plata. The expedition was in Santa Fe. That the Yuta dispatched on the heels (later known by Americans of Rivera’s first, in late as “Ute”) possessed silver September 1765. may not have come as a Two weeks after leaving complete surprise, but Abiquiú and navigating after hearing the story of Drawn by Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco— decades-old Yuta pathways through and the woman and the blacksmith, Governor a cartographer who traveled with the around the region’s mountains and river Tomas Veléz Cachupin was excited to think canyons, Rivera’s party rode north from those long-told tales about a mythical Dominguez and Escalante expedition in the Big Bend of the Dolores, over the mountain of silver in Yuta country might 1776—this map shows the Great Salt Lake Dolores Plateau and into the Paradox be true. He began organizing an expedition Valley. After continuing northwest along to find out for certain, and he knew just the (upper left) and the San Juan Mountains Rio Dolores and nearing its confluman to lead it. and its drainages (center). ence with Rio del Tizon, Rivera elected Juan Maria Antonio Rivera was said to to change course and head east over have had a military background and expethe Uncompahgre Plateau. A few days later, looking across Rio San rience in the mines of Old Mexico, an apt resume for an expedition Xavier, he stood at a spot just below where that river joins with the leader in search of silver. Directed to chronicle his journey and keep Uncompahgre near present-day Delta. There, Rivera carved a cross a record of the flora and fauna, geography and natural resources he onto a cottonwood tree, adding his initials above and the year below, encountered along the way, Rivera was more than simply literate: He before turning back to Santa Fe. was intuitive, perceptive and well-equipped for the job. Rivera was Rivera failed to locate Rio del Tizon and Teguayo or anything charged with locating a Yuta man who went by the name of Cuero resembling a mountain of virgin silver, yet he did produce a remarkable de Lobo (“Wolfskin”), and who, according to Cachupin, knew the account of his 375-mile journey, paving the way, as it were, for others source of that now-famous piece of silver. to follow. For over a decade, and in spite of a Spanish ban on trade and Rivera finally tracked down Cuero de Lobo after a Yuta-led wildtravel in Yuta country, numerous parties—some involving veterans of goose chase through the rugged country near present-day Durango. Rivera’s expeditions, if not Rivera himself—conducted business with the De Lobo guided him to a mountain, where he was told the silver had Natives as far north as the Gunnison River. been mined. Rivera’s diary describes a two-day stay in a mountainous Rivera’s experience, not to mention the knowledge gained of those region he called the “Sierra de la Plata,” but despite the Yuta’s claims, the trade routes traveled during those 11 years after 1765, was not lost on ore samples taken back to Santa Fe met with an unenthusiastic review: Cachupin’s successor, Governor Pedro Fermin de Mendinueta. In 1776, Their content was more lead than silver. Though outwardly unsuche authorized an ambitious expedition to Yuta country, its breadth and cessful, Rivera’s expedition had traveled as far north as the Big Bend of scope dwarfing anything attempted by Rivera. Rio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (the Dolores River), over country Standing under the noonday sun in the Plaza de Santa Fe on July and across waterways that today bear those place-names—San Juan, los 29, 1776, Fray Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Fray Silvestre Veléz Pinos, los Piedra, las Animas and Florida—he gave them at that time. de Escalante distributed the holy eucharist among the members of Eager to return to Yuta country, Rivera told Cachupin he’d their expedition. Prayers followed, asking God to guide them to Rio heard about a great river, Rio del Tizon (the Colorado). Cachupin del Tizon and Teguayo, then on to the Pacific Ocean and the Catholic had learned, through talks with New Mexico’s Pueblo Indians, that missions in Monterey, California. the headwaters of this river were near what the Puebloans called www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 57

named Rio San Pedro, at a spot just northwest of present-day Naturita. Renaming the San Pedro to the now-familiar San Miguel would come later by way of Spanish or New Mexican traders, perhaps during a late-September excursion coincident with the feast of St. Michael. The explorers headed east along Rio San Pedro and followed a branch of Horsefly Creek over the Uncompahgre Plateau. Escalante observed that this high country “abounds in excellent pasturage, is very moist, and has good land for crops without irrigation.” They made their way to the Uncompahgre River, descending the plateau just south of what was to be Montrose, then paralleled that river north toward the Gunnison. Escalante referenced Rivera’s tree-carving episode in his own journal but failed to mention seeing the tree itself, perhaps indicating that they were no longer on Rivera’s route. Dominguez had learned of a large gathering of Yutas to the east and north of what is now Delta. Also at the camp were reported to be a contingent of Laguna Indians Mexican-born Dominguez, 37 years of age—and a Franciscan for (later called “Uintah Utes”), who had traveled from their home near 20 of those years—had been sent north to New Mexico during March the Great Salt Lake of Utah. In hopes of learning the best and safest of 1776, ostensibly to inspect the province’s missions. But he was also route to the Great Basin, Teguayo and California, Dominguez diverted instructed to investigate an overland route from Santa Fe to California. the expedition east along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Just For that mammoth task, it was recommended he call on Fray Escalante, beyond what is known today as Leroux Creek, the party turned north a Spaniard and a Franciscan 10 years his junior. Veléz de Escalante had and reached the confluence of Willow and Hubbard Creeks, where lived with the Pueblo Indians since 1774, having last been stationed in they met 80 Yuta warriors and a contingent of Lagunas. Dominguez’s Zuni before being summoned to Santa Fe intuition had paid off. In addition to by Dominguez in June 1776. Escalante had knowledge gained about the Great Basin, Dominguez and Escalante the padre recruited two Lagunas who established his reputation, with both secular and religious authorities, as an able observer were repeatedly warned not to cross agreed to guide him there. Northwest over of frontier conditions and an accomplished Grand Mesa, past present-day Collbran and Rio del Tizon, because murderous communicator. And it was Escalante, apparthen north over Battlement Mesa, the party ently convinced that a recently explored approached Rio del Tizon at a point just Comanche warriors and other southern route from California through above what is now Debeque. hostile Hopi territory was too dangerous, Dominguez and Escalante were lethal dangers would await them who ultimately convinced Governor repeatedly warned not to cross Rio del on the other side. Mendinueta that a northern route was the Tizon, because murderous Comanche better passage to Monterey. warriors and other lethal dangers would The two padres and their party—which included several veterans await them on the other side. Considering their small numbers and of Rivera’s second expedition—set out to the clanging of church bells dearth of weapons, it must have been a relief when, on September and a flock of waving white handkerchiefs on what would be a five23—after crossing Rio del Tizon and a two-week trek through month, 1,700-mile odyssey that, while falling short of its intended rugged and presumably dangerous country—Dominguez saw the destination, chronicled and mapped territory never before seen by Great Salt Lake, which he named Nuestra Señora de la Merced de los European explorers. Timpanagotzis. The expedition traveled as far as the Big Bend of the Dolores over Escalante didn’t refer to it as such, but the mysterious land of the well-blazed trail followed by Rivera—Dominguez carried Rivera’s Teguayo had been found, though what the padres discovered was no diary with him—but rather than take the path over the Dolores Tenochtitlan or anything remotely comparable to the great city of the Plateau as Rivera did, the explorers turned northwest, proceeding Aztecs. In describing the settlement’s hospitable inhabitants, Escalante along the often-treacherous Dolores River, past present-day Dove observed that the men resembled Spaniards more than Indians and Creek and Slickrock, and then spent three days wandering aimlessly “were so fully bearded they looked like Capuchin padres.” in the August heat before locating Rivera’s route out of the Gypsum Dominguez and Escalante had reason to be pleased with their Valley. Escalante noted in his journal that the task of finding Yutas—it accomplishments. After two months and over 800 miles, they had had been three weeks since they had last encountered any Natives— located Rio del Tizon and Teguayo, and, with encouragement from should be considered a priority. the Lagunas, they agreed to return and establish a mission in the On August 20, the party arrived in the valley that Escalante Great Basin. Yet when snow and cold marked their passage south of 58

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opposite:

Illustrators and cartographers were taken on expeditions to document findings. Shiprock, in northern New Mexico, was a prominent landmark for early explorers.

right: This

region is now part of a conservation area named for Dominguez and Escalante, who traversed the Uncompahgre Plateau to reach the Colorado (Grand) River.

Utah Lake during early October, they were forced to admit they had underestimated the vast expanse of territory that still lay between them and California. They decided to cast lots to determine whether to proceed to Monterey or return to Santa Fe—a democratic Epilogue gamble, considering both Escalante and Dominguez were keen on going back. Following the historic Dominguez and Escalante returned from their epic journey to “Crossing of the Fathers” on the Colorado River in early November, no hero’s welcome. Despite making what were viewed as significant the padres made their way back to Santa Fe, arriving to little fanfare contributions to the geographic and ethnographic understanding of on January 2, 1977. Dominguez and Escalante never returned to the Southwest, the trailblazers resumed their lives in relative obscurity. Yuta country nor the Great Basin. Dominguez was recalled by the church to Old Mexico in 1777 and spent Spanish traders continued doing business with the Yutas in the his remaining 25 years in service to God: Escalante, often afflicted with years after the Dominguez-Escalante expedition, and one wonders kidney-related ailments, died within two years of the expedition, just whether any of those excursions ever made after reaching his thirtieth birthday. it into San Miguel Park near Telluride. Official Spanish interest in Yuta country … in a region that would Unlicensed trading was illegal, severely was curtailed not long after the Dominguezpunished and not generally made public— Escalante expedition, when conflicts with become world renown for its unless, of course, one got caught. On March the Comanche, Navajo and Yuta escalated. reserves of precious minerals, 31, 1785, Vicente Serna and four associates If hostilities with the Natives weren’t enough were brought before the mayor of Abiquiú to occupy the attention of Spanish authorithe Spanish…apparently failed to and found guilty of trading with the Yutas ties, another challenge soon appeared on New locate any sizeable gold or silver. near the San Miguel River, though where on Mexico’s northern horizon: With its purchase of the river this alleged commerce took place is Louisiana in 1803, the United States entered the not known. game of imperial politics in the Southwest, but Rivera’s two explorations in Yuta country, not to mention those with more than just territorial expansion in mind. conducted without official sanction, were precipitated by the story of The American fascination with the West during the early decades the blacksmith and Yuta woman with the virgin silver. But in a region of the nineteenth century was spurred not so much by a desire to that would become world renown for its reserves of precious minerals, discover precious minerals or a practical route to California—that would the Spanish, who were skilled at mining, apparently failed to locate any come later—but by a shift in European fashion. The almost pandemic sizeable gold or silver. Nor is there any evidence, except perhaps in the popularity of beaver fur in the design of men’s hats and women’s outer imaginations of a few American pioneers, that the Spanish did much, if garments sent trappers and traders scurrying west from St. Louis and any, mining in the San Juan or Telluride areas. north from Taos in a search for high-priced pelts. The frenzy began in Martin Wegner, in Recollection of Telluride, Colorado, claims the Northwest Territories and then continued into the Rocky Mountains. founding father Charles Painter told him that miners in Marshall This obsession started a new chapter of exploration in Yuta country. Basin reported that they stumbled upon prospecting tools of a Historians continue to debate how to best interpret the Spanish vintage, they surmised, that could have only been Spanish. Another explorers’ journals (Rivera’s diary was discovered in Madrid as pioneer and self-proclaimed hermit, Linnard Remine, alleged, again recently as 1964) to determine the exact routes taken. For excellent according to Wegner, that he was told by a Ute chief (Remine had accounts of Spanish exploration, see Explorers, Traders, and Slavers: come to San Miguel Park when it was still part of Ute territory) that Forging the Old Spanish Trail, by Joseph P. Sanchez, and Pageant in a party of Spanish miners had been found placering for gold along the Wilderness, by Herbert E. Bolton. Look also for a soon-to-bethe San Miguel River and that the Utes had killed some of the prospublished comprehensive translation and trail study of the Rivera pectors and drove the rest out of the valley. journals by Steven G. Baker and Rick Hendricks. ■ www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 59

brett schreckengost

insideart

Duncan

Mackenzie By Shawna Hartley

uncan M acken z ie knows how to blur the lines between art, science and learning: His sculptures are beautiful on the surface and complex at the core. Working in multimedia, he provokes viewers into firsthand experiences that expand awareness of the physical world. The viewers’ perspective is a central theme in his work, and as an individual defines himself in relation to what’s nearby, this viewpoint becomes more complex with distance. Stimulating that awareness through unexpected art forms is his forte. In 2008, Mackenzie installed an interactive sundial in the pavestones of Mountain Village’s Heritage Plaza. Cast bronze instructions and color-coded granite direct people to stand so that their shadows become the gnomon that points to the correct time. “There’s nothing quite like your own shadow to show you how the earth is turning,” explains Mackenzie. “If you’ll just stand for a moment and pay attention, you can see how fast things are moving.”

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Mackenzie considers himself a conceptual artist, and he has a great range of tools in his arsenal. He studied at Rhode Island School of Design—starting in landscape architecture, then graduating with a BFA in glass/sculpture in 1988—and has worked in numerous glass studios, at Shidoni Bronze Foundry in Santa Fe, and for a wood production manufacturer in Santa Cruz. He also built a one-thousand-squarefoot glass blowing and sculpture studio—all while running a landscape contracting business. “I know how to physically make things happen,” he says, “because I’ve experienced firsthand not only how to build things in the real world, but how art materials work.” He adds with a laugh, “Or don’t work, which is just as important to know.” Mackenzie gleaned some of that information from the masters of fine art program at San Jose State University, where he studied from 2001 until he moved to Telluride in 2004. Much of Mackenzie’s inspiration stems from a single experience: “As an artist, my moment of epiphany happened on top of a peak at the equator in Africa, where I got to spend the night under a full moon. I was totally fascinated to witness the earth turning,” he says with infectious enthusiasm and swiveling hands, “to feel my

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overseeing large-scale flagstone projects. Mackenzie’s solo exhibition last year at the Ah Haa gallery was a cerebral approach to his quest for individual awareness in the bigger picture of the world. One room contained an elliptical band suspended overhead, illustrating the earth’s orbit around the sun for a full year. A calendar of 365 and one-quarter days was mapped out at table height. Each day was pinpointed from the calendar to the exact position of the earth with a string. The orbit calendar’s lofty presence and colorful strings compelled a closer look, and viewers crossed the boundary into a new awareness of the earth and how a calendar tracks time. The other Ah Haa exhibit room held a mock-up for what Mackenzie feels will be the culmination of this body of work: “The World View Project.” Photos were meticulously placed on a map of the world, and the viewer’s experience from the middle of the room is what it’s like all over the planet at one precise moment. You see snow falling in the mountains of Telluride at twilight while the sun beats Melbourne to a midday summer haze; dawn breaks over Afghanistan, and the moon shines on London. Mackenzie explains, “It’s a tough concept for an art gallery because this is really a prototype of my finished piece. Instead of an elliptical room created out of photos, I want to see real-time images.” “The World View Project” is a huge undertaking that has been in development for a number of years and will take more time to bring to fruition, but Mackenzie is patient. “Christo and Jeanne-Claude didn’t make The Gates in Central Park happen in a day—perhaps that’s part of the reason their work has such great long-lasting value.” Mackenzie foresees the day

jennifer koskinen

place on this planet as it turned between the sun and moon. On my right, the sun was setting, and on my left, the moon was rising. I watched the circuit until it changed with the rising of the sun, and for the first time I really got it. My art is to share that with others so they, too, get it.” In 2008, Mackenzie won a sculpture competition at the Wilkinson Library to commemorate the passing of its former director. “Robin Magee poured a lot of love into that library, and it’s still there. I gave everyone a way to see it and celebrate with rainbows of light that move across the space every day,” he says. “Her Spirit is Here in the Light” is a permanent installation of 16 optical glass prisms, varying from three to eight inches tall and mounted in Wilkinson Library’s clerestory windows. Mackenzie was selected from 23 entrants for the $15,000 award to complete the project. The physics and technical aspects of Mackenzie’s work can be traced to his youth and outings to the Ontario Science Centre in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. That interactive wonderland instilled a joy in cause and effect that he applies to the concept, design and implementation of his wide-ranging pursuits. “The math stuff isn’t easy for me,” he admits, “but I have the Internet. I turn to specialists.” Mackenzie points out that “the skills I use as a professional contractor are equally valuable when applied to the production of large-scale art. I don’t have to do every little thing myself, just bring it all together.” Mackenzie spends winters inside his Deep Creek studio creating art and furniture by hand, as well as conceptualizing and scheduling future undertakings. In the summer, he likes to be outside installing art works, such as commissioned sundials for residences in the region, or

when hundreds of webcams all over the world will feed his installation’s monitors in, perhaps, the Smithsonian and thousands of people will experience a moment in time and how that moment feels on a global level. ■ Mackenzie works out of his studio in Deep Creek when he’s not on location installing commissioned sundials or a garden flagstone patio. See his website for photos of past projects: www.duncantelluride.com. He welcomes queries on future projects, insightful comments and art patrons awed by the laws of nature.

opposite:

“Sundial,” 2008: interactive sculpture at Heritage Plaza in Mountain Village; Colorado flagstone, four types of granite and cast bronze instructional plaques. “Orbit Calendar,” 2008: Wood, laminates and string (a different color for each season) provide a visual experience of the earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun. The calendar is currently installed as a teaching tool in the second-grade classroom at Telluride Mountain School.

right: “The World View Project” on display at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in 2008: This is the prototype for Mackenzie’s visionary project that will eventually simulcast real-time images from around the planet.

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 61

telluride historical museum

tellurideplaces

telluride

transfer By Pam Pettee

he Telluride Transfer building has occupied the corner of South Fir Street and Pacific Avenue since 1906, its doors and windows now boarded shut. Tarpaulins top its roofless walls and serve to hinder the erosion of its limestone mortar from rain and ice. At 6,670 square feet, the two-story structure, by Telluride standards, is large, and it’s also unique because it’s built from regional Dakota sandstone. The building’s mass and unadorned architecture suited its purpose as a livery and warehouse. During the town’s booming mining days at the turn of the twentieth century, the Telluride Transfer Company served as the anchor for the region’s extensive transportation needs. Originally owned and operated by George Cline and Omar Davis, an advertisement for the Transfer Company in a January, 1897, Telluride Journal proclaimed: “Goods to any part of the City…. Hard and soft coal, coal oil, gasoline and lubricating oil; lime, brick and cement; packages, baggage and freight transferred to and from all points in Telluride and vicinity. Contractors for moving machinery. Road work of all kinds.”

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The Transfer Company’s property was fronted on the south side by present-day San Juan Avenue, where a spur of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad ran, which made rail deliveries convenient and efficient. A prime supplier of soft coal and the exclusive agent for hard coal in the county, the company even bought a coal mine in Mancos in 1905 to better guarantee supplies of the commodity. During the early years, Telluride Transfer’s services included piano moving; taking children to school on days when fresh snow “came up to the shoulders”; lumber storage; livery services, including trained horses that took miners back to the basins high above town and returned to the stable riderless; movement of heavy equipment to various mining properties; ambulance and mortuary runs; the sale of hay and grain and storage of produce and household goods; and even the preparation of a polo grounds on the old race track on Brown’s pasture west of town. On the field, mine manager Bulkeley Wells and friends would take their privately stabled horses from the Transfer property and play a few chukkers. “Telluride Suffers Most Destructive Fire For Years” was the headline in the Tuesday,

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opposite:

The Telluride Transfer building originally served as a livery stable and central station for the area’s extensive transportation needs (circa 1906).

November 21, 1906, Telluride Journal. The night before, an estimated $20,000 in losses were sustained when wind fanned the flames that destroyed the Red Men’s Opera House, the interior of the stone and iron warehouse (now Stronghouse Studios) and various outbuildings, stables and sheds on the block. The Transfer offices and other buildings on the north side of the property escaped damage. In the summer of 1905, it was on that northern section of the block that the company contracted with a local firm, Brown & Crain, to build a new, two-storied stone building with dimensions of 57 feet by 117 feet at the corner of Fir and Pacific. The Telluride Land and Lumber Company supplied the timber, and stone was hauled down from E.L. Davis’ sandstone quarry on Boomerang Hill. The September 13, 1906, Journal noted, “This is the largest and most substantial structure in the town; built to withstand a San Francisco earthquake, if necessary.” An elevator big enough to hold carriages and buggies ran from the basement to the second floor. The basement contained coal bins and a hot-air heating plant, hot water tank, winter sleds and general storage. The ground floor housed the office, livery and feed stable and accommodated 100 or more horses, a harness and saddle room, and a buggy wash with drainage directly into the city sewer.

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above:

When the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, the Transfer building was modernized to accommodate a mechanic’s garage, petrol pump and Goodyear tire store (circa 1926).

An article in the November 15, 1906, Journal describes that “On the second floor the buggies and carriages are kept in the front and in the rear is a hay and grain loft, there being room enough for a train load of hay and an oat bin which holds a car of oats and is connected with the lower floor by a spout.” Thirty electric lights and expansive plumbing, including a fire hydrant, made “…the barn one of the most convenient and sanitary livery barns in the state. …And besides all this there is a large corral, a blacksmith shop and a couple of hundred feet of sheds for horses.” Ownership of the successful enterprise did not change hands often; E.L. Loebnitz maintained his partnership from 1902 through 1946. According to notes by Bill “Senior” Mahoney, in 1926, C.J. “Babe” Schuler bought into the business and ran it until 1946, partnering with William Nardin, who bought out Loebnitz and was involved until 1952. During this time, the Transfer Company phased out horses and concentrated on automobiles, bus transit, a garage staffed with a mechanic and a Goodyear tire store. After World War II, Schuler bought four Toyota 4x4s and offered what were probably the first commercial jeep tours into the surrounding high country. In 1969, the Telluride Transfer business was purchased by Joseph Zoline, who sought,

says Mahoney, a site to store and maintain the fledgling ski company’s equipment. Twylla Mahoney, the Transfer Company’s bookkeeper and Bill’s wife, stayed to work for Zoline, becoming the first, local full-time employee of the ski development company. The rolling stock and transportation rights were sold to Tom Hedlund, formerly of the Idarado Mining Company, which may have supplied the bus that transferred skiers from the town of Telluride to the Meadows base area, in the days before the ski company had a lift up the north face of the mountain. The Transfer building was vacated in 1974, when all of its contents were sold or removed to the ski company’s maintenance building on Turkey Creek Mesa. Unaware that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised, the Zolines turned the heat off for the winter, and the weight of the resulting buildup of snow and ice collapsed the roof on April 6, 1979. Plans for the entire Transfer site—from Colorado Avenue to the old grain and hay storage

building

that

now

houses

the

Stronghouse Studios artist’s cooperative—are in the works and subject to the settlement of Joseph Zoline’s estate, says his daughter, Pamela Lifton-Zoline. ■ summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 63

telluridefaces

doug berry

f i l mm a k e r

ben Knight By Matthew Beaudin

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

e stood on the stage, head tucked beneath a beanie, wearing a thrift store t-shirt. And as the ovation washed over him—the local kid who made a movie so beautiful it shone like fine art—he tried not to cry. Tried hard and only marginally failed. His cheekbones cast shadows over his face under the hot lights, his hands stuffed securely in his pockets. People clapped—clapped until the sound that poured fourth was deafening. Thunderous applause for the kid who used to run the slide projectors for Mountainfilm, the kid who edited the festival’s best movie in his affordable-housing rental apartment; roaring salvos for a genius now recognized. There is some debate over “genius”—when it starts, how it’s cultivated, how it’s defined. If there was a moment of epiphany, one that set a course, Ben Knight’s involved a camera. To set the scene: Hometown—Chapel Hill, North Carolina—the 1980s, Knight, age eight, is playing with his aunt’s single-lens reflex Canon AE-1 camera. He is arranging the subjects—live frogs—upon toy cars because he needs something to photograph. It is safe to say that this experience was more formative for Knight than for the frogs. At 12, a shipping mistake by Sears blessed him with Canon’s first SLR auto-focus camera. Living in a trailer park with a ramp in the backyard, Knight started shooting skateboarding. His pictures would eventually land in magazines. It was the push he needed to make—arguably the best decision of his life: He dropped out of high school—but not before discovering the darkroom. “Seeing a photo appear in the darkroom out of [expletive deleted] thin air—I remember that just hooking me on it for good,” Knight says. “It gave me this crazy respect for photography as an art.” A friend suggested they move to Tahoe, California, in 1995. He spent that winter working as a lift operator at Soda Springs resort and living at the Chico State lift house for $100 a month. “Every weekend, that place was packed with college girls,” Knight says. “It was a good time to be 17.” In Tahoe, he learned to snowboard and photograph snow sports. Hooked on snowboarding, Knight went back to Chapel Hill the following spring to save money to move to Telluride, a place he’d only seen in a Visa commercial. “I had no job,” he says. “I didn’t know anyone here. I came by myself.” For the first year (1996), he worked odd jobs. One was at a photo lab, which is where he met Brett Shreckengost, the Telluride Daily Planet’s photographer at the time. Knight showed him a few shots and was soon hired. He started at $50 a day and worked his way up to be the paper’s photo editor. The Planet defined him, and he it, for the next 10 years. “The Planet was my college. I learned photojournalism; I learned how to write, how to work on deadline. I wouldn’t trade my time at the Planet for any college in the world.” Then, the itch to make movies got him. He took a heli-skiing trip to Valdez and patched

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together Mini Golf in the Chugach, a short film about big mountain skiing. It eked into Mountainfilm in Telluride, the festival where he ran the slide projectors and where his passion for film had ignited. In 2004, Knight partnered with then-local Travis Rummel—who he met through work at the Daily Planet—to create Felt Soul Media, a two-man production company that sought to forge fresh environmental films. Their first effort, The Hatch, chronicled the water rights of the Gunnison River through the story of the stonefly hatch in the Black Canyon. It played at Mountainfilm’s 2005 opening night and was followed in 2007 by Running Down the Man. These two films propelled them toward Red Gold, a documentary that ponders the impact of an open-pit gold mine at the headwaters of two of Alaska’s most prolific salmon rivers. The film is sweeping in both its scope and ambition: Red Gold examines the effects of mining on fishing, community and economy. It won both viewer’s and director’s choice awards at Mountainfilm and has continued the winning streak at nearly every festival it’s appeared in since. It is the paramount work of the precocious Felt Soul Media, and it came at a price. Behold, a snippet of Knight’s blog entry from Saturday, August 4, 2007: Day 62: Did you know that bug populations are so epic in Alaska that the severity of the insect swarm can dictate caribou migration? At one point on the upper Nushagak River, I was contemplating my own migration back to Colorado as the demonic white socks fly was crawling up my sleeves, behind my ears and under my waistline, leaving streaks and pools of my own blood behind. As you could imagine, it’s a little challenging to hold a camera still when this is happening. It’s also hard to resist the urge to flail around like a man on fire, ripping your clothes off and cursing God. PBS offered the Felt Soul boys a chance to adapt Red Gold for “Frontline,” the network’s public affair series, so they will spend the next year editing the 54-minute film, focusing less on culture and more on science. Only recently, Knight moved his editing studio from his bedroom to his first-ever rented office space. He is up for the task and hooked: “There is something addicting about creating something that people sit still for. …I love seeing how an audience reacts. That’s what it’s all about for me,” he says. “It’s probably one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever experienced.” So back to that genius question: Leading theory suggests it’s something one is born with, greatness apparent even when one is still young. “I’ve got this picture sitting here that he did of a sunset when he might have been eight, and it’s perfectly centered and it’s beautiful,” says his mom, Gloria Council. “I didn’t realize until even later how amazing it was. I just happened to frame it. It’s perfect.” ■

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telluridefaces

doug berry

e d u c at o r

robyn Wilson By martinique davis

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

f education is the food that nourishes a community, then Robyn Wilson is Telluride’s top chef. Wilson is the executive director at the University Centers of the San Miguel (UCSM), the region’s only accredited higher-education facility and the only locally supported rural higher-education access program in the state. At UCSM, Wilson whips up a robust menu of opportunities designed to keep the community’s hungriest minds well fed. “The people in this area have such a high regard for education of all kinds,” says Wilson, who took the helm at UCSM in June of 2008. That appreciation makes Wilson’s job significant. She is charged with providing programming that is both creative and relevant, ranging from classes in language, computers and early childhood education to sustainability and business. “The wealth of knowledge that exists within our community is where we draw so much of our strength,” she says, explaining that between Telluride’s other educational organizations and its well-educated citizens, it’s rarely difficult to find qualified teachers for UCSM’s wide range of classes. After acquiring an undergraduate degree in international business in 1988, Wilson, who grew up in Wisconsin, moved to Winter Park, Colorado, to be a “ski bum/raft guide.” She admits that while she enjoyed that life, it was ultimately unfulfilling. So in 2000, she embarked upon a two-year stint with the Peace Corps, working as a municipal development volunteer in El Salvador. It was in there that Wilson caught her first glimpse of her future in education. “I learned so much about community development and sustainable living, and the importance of education within all of that,” she says of her time in the Peace Corps. Close to half of the population Wilson worked with were illiterate, she says, explaining that educational opportunities are difficult to attain in rural settings there. While helping communities in El Salvador to thrive, Wilson determined that she would pursue a career in education. “It was, I realized, a place I could make a big impact,” she says. While she was still in El Salvador, an earthquake destroyed many homes and buildings in the region. She joined the board of directors for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a group she had volunteered with while pursuing her undergraduate studies at University of Wisconsin, which further instilled in her a desire to give back to her community through the pathways of education. When she returned Stateside in 2002, Wilson enrolled in the Masters of Education program at Northern Arizona University. While in school, she not only earned a master’s degree in bilingual and multicultural education, but also a bachelor of arts in sustainable communications. Bilingual and multicultural education became her focus, a consequence of the time she spent in El Salvador and another year spent abroad in Spain during high school. “Learning a second language

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helping you has been such a big accomplishment and has presented so many opportunities in my life,” she says. “Being bilingual and bicultural were opportunities I wanted to be able to encourage.” Wilson also wanted to get involved in her community politically, so she and her husband of eight years, Ryan—who is now a teacher at Ridgway High School—helped establish the New Day Peace Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. The group, which is still active today, brought events and speakers to the area in an effort to advance the education of peace. The New Day Peace Center received 501c3 nonprofit status, a process during which Wilson learned how to create and operate a nonprofit organization. Also during this time, she worked as the Northern Arizona recruiter for the Peace Corps, helping send nearly 110 volunteers overseas during her four years in the position. Following her graduation from NAU, Wilson worked at Camp Colton, an environmental education camp for sixth-grade students in Flagstaff. While camp was in session, she taught classes in environmental education. When there were no classes offered, Wilson remained on staff, writing grant applications and assisting the organization with fundraising efforts. Wilson was drawn to Telluride by a friend, and after applying for and receiving the job as executive director at UCSM, she and her husband moved to nearby Ridgway. They are avid hikers, mountain bikers and rafters, and they continue to travel both nationally and internationally when they can. Often tagging along in their outdoor adventures is their dog, Keeno, an adult female who they adopted from the pound last September. Now at the helm of UCSM, Wilson’s cumulative experience has helped prepare her for the task of heading up the region’s only higher-education facility. Established in 2005 to help fill the gap in educational and professional training for the residents of Telluride and the surrounding region, UCSM offers both for-credit (through partnerships with Mesa State College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, NAU and Prescott College) and continuing-education classes. Thanks to support from local government and foundations, the university is able to provide affordable courses for regional residents. “The idea is to offer education that fits what these communities need and want.” In addition to its year-round offerings in Telluride, UCSM also provides free college and career counseling and classes in San Miguel’s West End. Its new Sustainability Studies Program recently took flight, piloted by Wilson. “Our goal is to be of service to the community,” Wilson says. And what those communities have shown is that what they need and want from the regional educational carte du jour is a diverse blend of fodder. Fortunately, they have a seasoned chef whose specialty is crafting an appetizing menu that has a little something for everyone. ■

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telluridefaces

historian

rudy Davison By Katie Klingsporn

rod him a little, and Rudy Davison will uncork a fountain of mining knowledge, spouting dates, facts and tales of the region’s history: Remains of Madam Curie’s mill are perched above Slick Rock; Camp Bird was named after pesky gray jays; the San Juans were once home to the highest concentration of aerial trams anywhere in the mining West. Davison, a small and affable man of 62, has held a colorful sequence of occupations in his life: zookeeper, mine employee, newspaperman, guide and author. But through it all, he has been a historian—plunging from an early age into the past of Colorado’s rugged mountains and the hardy men who ventured into them in search of precious metals. Over his years in the San

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Juans—as he picked around mine dumps, led high-alpine hikes, gave talks for the museum and published a book called Rudy’s View, A Driving Guide from Telluride to the Top of Imogene Pass—he has emerged as an expert on the region. He’s taken by the romantic notion of it all. “It’s the thought of being in the mountains, I guess, and discovering great riches,” he says. “A lot of my friends tell me, ’You were born 100 years too late.’” Davison, who came into the world in 1946, grew up the oldest of four in Cherry Hills, a suburb of Denver, Colorado. His father was a prominent mining attorney for the firm Holland & Hart, a captain in the Army Reserve and a mayor of Cherry Hills. As a child, Davison sometimes traveled with his dad into mining country. Yet it wasn’t until his teens, when a book called Stampede to Timberline ended up in his hands, that his enchantment with boom-era mining flourished. The book, a history of Colorado’s mining camps, “was sort of my bible,” Davison says. As a teen, he would rumble off toward the hills in his CJ5 Jeep, exploring old camps, looking for artifacts and poking around mining ruins. “They attracted me like a magnet,” he says. “So I was always up in the hills.” After high school, Davison enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he studied geography and anthropology. Upon graduating, his path followed an unusual trajectory of jobs and places. Read carefully because it’s an assorted list: He got his first job in Silverton, hired at the Old Hundred Gold Mine as a sampler, and he worked there until he was drafted into the Vietnam War. After flunking his physical, he ended up becoming a zookeeper at the Denver Zoo, where he tended lions, tigers, giraffes and camels and became fascinated with pikas—small, rabbit-like rodents that reside in high-alpine talus fields. Davison set up the “pikery” at the zoo, studied different populations and may well have been the first person to breed captive pikas. He then became disheartened by the influx of Californians and fled to New Zealand, where he worked on brucellosis (a pathogen found in unpasteurized milk) eradication on the South Island, saw the hinterland and was charmed by the hospitable rural population. Back in the States, his father retired from his practice and purchased a weekly newspaper, The Telluride Times, in the San Juans. Davison agreed to return to help his parents run it. In 1975, he arrived in Telluride, a tiny town undergoing a big transformation. Only one paved road ran through the hamlet to the mine at the east end of the canyon. When the wind blew, tailings dust filled the air. With the ski resort on its feet, hippies and ski bums were pouring in. Davison lived on Gregory Street and skied the mountain when it was so empty

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you could have a picnic on the Plunge. He joined the local Elks Lodge (and soon rose to exhalted ruler), where he befriended miners and consumed their stories of yore. Davison admits he knew “diddly squat” about newspapers when he showed up. He learned fast, writing, bundling and delivering. “You were a jack of all trades. You had to know everything. The workload was tremendous.” During the time his family operated The Times, 1975 to 1981, there was no shortage of news. An infamous drug bust went down, and the Fourth of July Celebration was cancelled. Two men flew off Ajax in hang-gliders, and a tragic accident killed a couple driving over Black Bear Pass. Davison also met his wife, Andie, in Telluride, though they didn’t marry until several years later, after she had moved to Durango, gotten a divorce and returned. That was when, Davison says, he really discovered her. “The lights went on,” he says. They married on the front lawn of their house on a lovely September day in 1986. After the family sold the paper, Davison became an owner of Telluride Travel Connection, a company that organized exotic trips such as African safaris. In 1996, he became an owner of the San Sophia, a capacity in which, he says, it seemed pretty natural to take inn guests on 4-wheel-drive tours, so he started hauling groups up to Imogene Pass. With his love of history, his friendships with miners and his time at the paper, he had a lot of stories to share. With countless tours and tales under his belt, he decided to write a guidebook, which leads to his most recent position: that of an author. After 12 years of research and writing, last summer he published Rudy’s View, a history of the area’s mining through the milestones that tick by on Tomboy Road, from Oak Street to the top of Imogene Pass— unspooling stories of some of Telluride’s most profitable mines and the characters who worked them. A few years ago, he and Andie moved to Durango, though they still have a condo at the San Sophia. Despite relocating, he still leads hikes, gives talks and skis in Telluride. And he continues to expand his vast knowledge of the San Juans, the mountains he loves the best. When I reached Davison by phone in March, he had just returned from sitting in on a class by Fort Lewis professor Dwayne Williams, a preeminent Colorado mining history instructor. “It’s been wonderful. I know more trivia now than I knew before,” he says. This summer, Davison will lead two hikes for the Telluride Historical Museum: one in July in Marshall Basin and one in August to the Mayflower Mine in Grey’s Basin. These treks could be your chance to pick the brain of a regional history virtuoso. ■

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 69

telluridefaces Australia, 2008

where is he now?

chris “bunzy”

bunworth By Suzanne Cheavens

e was a fledgling actor back then, but he smoldered, thundered, wept and strutted. In performance after compelling performance, Telluride theater lovers never failed to walk away shaking their heads in wonder at the depth of talent that lived right in our their own backyard.

Christopher “Bunzy” Bunworth was, for many years, synonymous with live theater in Telluride. Bunworth has never forsaken the craft that Telluride audiences were fortunate to watch him perfect. From 1990 until he returned to Australia in 2002, Bunworth, Angela Cavins Watkins and his then-wife Suzan Beraza nurtured their baby, the Telluride Repertory Theatre Company, to maturity. The Rep revitalized theater in the mountains. Whether swinging a hammer building sets, starring in challenging lead roles as a tortured King Macbeth, or navigating the oft-prickly political and financial waters of the nonprofit arts world, Bunworth devoted his life to the stage.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

His story started as many “Telluride stories” do—but first, he discovered America. “I met a bunch of Yanks while traveling through Europe from 1984 to ’86. One of them got me a job landscaping with a mate of hers in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for the summer of 1986. This is where I met Suzan,” he explains. Shortly after came the dramatic, breathstealing drive into this valley. “[I was] stupefied by the jaw-dropping panorama—spiritually nourished, humbled and inspired that natural beauty like this could still exist. Here we were, having driven cross-country, blissfully ignorant of what we were getting ourselves into, and I remember looking across at Suzan as we were driving up Keystone Hill and saying something like, ’We’ve driven all this way with no jobs, nowhere to live, and it looks like it’s going to snow tonight! What if we don’t like it?’” That night, ensconced at the Last Dollar Saloon, chatting up the locals and learning of the evening’s KOTO Halloween Party, he knew he’d “found his tribe.” “In the winter of 1989/90, Suzan, Angela and I founded The Rep [while we were] at McHale’s in New York City. I think I still have a photo of us somewhere doing Statue of Liberty shots at the bar to seal the commitment. We were so green: We didn’t even know how to build a flat, let alone run a nonprofit theater company….” The trio did, in fact, pick up not only clues, but benefactors, legions of volunteers and tremendous community support. The Rep augmented its two jewels—summer Shakespeare and winter musicals—with numerous smaller productions, acting workshops and a traveling show for schoolchildren. For Bunworth, Telluride theater was a tremendous asset to his career. “I served a wonderful apprenticeship with The Rep. I was able to fail miserably and learn quickly from roles that I’d never have been offered elsewhere and gradually, as a consequence, dared myself to fly without a net onstage.” As with all things, the curtain must fall eventually. With his marriage to Suzan ending and The Rep’s founders suffering from burnout, Bunworth looked to his homeland for a new start. Born in 1961 in Cobden, Victoria—a small dairy farming community in Victoria’s Western District—his homecoming, on Australia Day in 2002, has proven to be a fruitful and creative chapter. Within months of his arrival, he was back at work. What was his first role? “A pedophilic swim coach on a long-running crime drama set in a fictitious country town.” According to Bunworth, the acting profession in Australia is regarded much differently than in the United States—or Telluride, in particular: “The arts here are still a cottage industry, and one has to be pretty versatile to survive. I’ve been able to eat by pursuing all the available options for professional employment: theater, film, TV, voice-over, theater-in-education, teaching.”

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In 2005, he and a colleague founded the Larrikin Theatre Ensemble. “We’ve currently got five productions either in the repertoire or development,” he says. I’m interested in abolishing the preconception that theater has to remain entertainment’s poor cousin, and we create works that, hopefully, have artistic integrity as well as ongoing commercial viability. I can’t abide the notion that a piece of work is disposable anymore.” Never once has he considered chucking it all, no matter how meager a living it has sometimes afforded him. He admits, “Believe me, I think of giving up acting every time I can’t afford the rent, but something in the universe always conspires to provide me with the encouragement to persist. …Upon reflection, I’d still rather be a ’poorfessional’ actor than a professional misanthrope.” Bunworth is looking to return to the States by the end of 2009. “I’m too old and crusty to…get discovered in LA, but I want to tour Trio [a solo show written by playwright Dina Ross that he’s performed to rave reviews] as far and wide as I can…,” he says. “Do some skiing, sit in the Buck and smell that sweet mountain air. I still think of the valley and all my friends there whenever I howl under a full moon.” He waxes nostalgic at the very thought of once again treading the boards at the Sheridan Opera House, where he made his local debut in 1990 as Stephano in The Tempest. The memories come flooding back as he recites a cavalcade of Rep shows that came to life on that hallowed stage during his tenure in the company: Hair, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof. “It’s still one of my favorite stages in the world,” he says. When not reading the boards, Bunworth is still moving—dancing, running, skiing and attending live performances. “I love the ballet, any dance really, as well as opera and other musical performances.” When he slows down a bit, it’s for dinner with friends “and a few glasses of red.” The Rep, Bunworth knows, would not likely have been possible if not for where it was born—Telluride. He reminisces, “The Rep was the grandest adventure of my life! Often it felt like walking a tightrope that we were stubbornly trying to keep suspended by ourselves, but its survival to this day is a testament to the spirit of Telluride itself. We certainly couldn’t have done it without the support of a community that also believed in our crazy dream.” ■

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greenbytes

“Cell phones #2, Atlanta 2005” by Chris Jordan

[ Shaving Costs ]

f shoppers would just embrace two interlacing mantras—

”quality over quantity” and “less is more”—it would reduce waste in the world. Minimizing the trash we send to landfills also has a pleasant by-product: It can shrink the demand for energy and raw materials to produce more goods. These suggestions will either save you money or reduce your contribution to the trash pile—or both. —Lise Waring

[ It’s an Easy Call ]

[ Sealing the Deal ]

Have you upgraded your cell phone or changed providers? If so, it’s likely you’ve got an old mobile lying around. These phones are made from plastic, copper and precious metals—all of which demand energy to manufacture and mine. Recycling cell phones conserves resources, prevents greenhouse gas emissions and reduces air and water pollution. The EPA also estimates that “if all of the 100 million cell phones… in the U.S. are recycled, we could save enough energy to power more than 18,500 American households with electricity for one year.” If you feel compelled to keep your outdated cell phone out of a landfill, search online with the keywords “how to recycle a cell phone.” You’ll find that it’s not only easy, but often the postage is free, and sometimes there’s a small financial reward.

Ever since root cellars, gourds and clay pots fell from favor, food storage has taken giant steps toward convenience—but at what cost? Modern refrigeration systems house gasses that damage the ozone, and many reusable containers employ various plastics that never decompose and are harmful to humans (by the way, avoid numbers 3, 6 and 7 for food and drinks). Ziploc bags have their place—and it should usually be in the freezer. For most everyday purposes, Ziplocs are overkill. Their manufacturing requires copious energy and polyethylene. Does a handful of nuts really need a hermetic enclosure? Enter the twist tie. Whether sealing a bag of toffee or transporting a goldfish home from the pet store, the twist tie is an American classic. Patented in 1942, it’s doubtful that inventor

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

The average cost for one twist tie is approximately half of a penny—yes, that’s 0.5 cents each… Walter Schindler was concerned with the environment. Yet his simple innovation—composed of a thin wire encased in paper—has withstood the test of time. Its appeal is intertwined with our pocketbooks and the environment. The average cost for one twist tie is approximately half of a penny—yes, that’s 0.5 cents each—or you can often find them included with the purchase of a box of trash bags. Granted, you’ve still got to supply the bag, but reusing most any plastic bag—especially the ones from the produce section of the grocery store—does the trick. And twist ties, like wine corks, can be used again and again and again…

Here’s some trivia you likely don’t know: Paul Winchell, the voice of Tigger—the animated Disney creature with the bouncy tail—invented the disposable razor in 1963. Winchell was quite the pioneer, holding 30 patents for innovations that ranged from an early artificial heart to an invisible garter belt. Needless to say, the throw-away razor was his most popular creation. Americans clamor for convenience, but we ignore the cost: The average disposable razor is purportedly good for six shaves, which means that, by some counts, there are approximately two billion disposable razors tossed into the trash every year. Investing in a quality razor, one with only disposable blades, will accomplish more than just improving your shave.

[ Perfect Pets ] Last year, Mountainfilm in Telluride Festival Director David Holbrooke urged attendees to make a “Mountainfilm Commitment,” an oath to change something that would lower our impact on the planet. Many festivalgoers swore off disposable coffee cups, promised to drive less or stopped running water continuously while washing dishes. I decided to finally try something I’ve been pondering for more than 10 years: composting worms. I ordered red worms online, along with a dwelling (you can make your own, if you’re so inclined), read the directions carefully and set them up in my pantry. Soon, they were consuming my vegetable and fruit scraps with such relish that I found myself watching them in action. Speaking of action, when the hermaphrodites began to reproduce, things got really interesting in the bin. In addition to produce, they eat my Sunday New York Times and the Telluride Daily Planet, as long as I’m careful not to give them the pages with colored ink. Aside from the entertainment value of these creatures, my weekly household garbage and paper recycling pile is now nearly half of what it once was. And the rich soil and juices the worms leave in their wake feed my garden and houseplants. ■

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Chile Cured Salmon with Cilantro Butter La Cocina de Luz Serves 8 to 10 people 1 side of fresh wild salmon (3 to 4 pounds), skinned and pin boned 4 cups brown sugar ½-cup kosher salt or 1/3 -cup regular salt 12 to 16 cloves garlic, pureed with skin on 2 large onions, sliced thinly 2 bunches cilantro, chopped roughly 1 to 2 teaspoons chipotle chile powder zest from 5 to 7 limes (approximately ¼ cup) ¾-cup butter

doug berry

Mix brown sugar, salt and garlic together in a bowl. Place half of the mixture in a non-reactive pan or tray large enough to hold the whole salmon. Set the other half of the brown sugar mixture aside. Place half of the sliced onions in the pan on top of the sugar mixture. Repeat with the cilantro, then chipotle chili powder and, finally, the lime zest. Make certain to use only half of each ingredient.

signature recipes T

ELLURIDE IS RENOWN for its festivals, dramatic scenery and sunny

weather, but that list is incomplete without mentioning its sumptuous bill of fare. Lucas Price at La Cocina de Luz offers a salmon cure that begs to be enjoyed in an outdoor setting. Cilantro, copious limes and chipotle chile powder are the special ingredients for this southwestern dish. And Poacher’s Pub in Mountain Village shares a seasonal favorite: a lemonade cocktail made with regionally distilled gin. This refreshing beverage is sure to take the heat out of any summer day.

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Place the salmon on this bed of ingredients, and then continue to layer, in reverse order, the remaining ingredients: lime zest, chipotle chili powder, cilantro, onion and brown sugar mixture. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid of some sort and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. (The dry ingredients will become wet during the curing process, so be careful removing the pan from the refrigerator.) Remove the butter from the refrigerator one hour before separating the salmon from the cure. Carefully scrape the curing mixture from the salmon, retaining a combined ½ cup of the onions, cilantro, brown sugar, etc., to make the compound butter. Puree these ingredients with the butter until smooth, then refrigerate the compound for at least one hour.

NEw AmEriCAN CuiSiNE An eclectic blend of flavors and styles served in an intimate atmosphere.

Slice the salmon on the bias (diagonally) into 2- to 3-inch pieces. Sauté to rare or medium rare and top with compound butter. Serve with rice, salad and fresh tortillas.

Enjoy patio dining just steps away from the Gondola Open 5:30pm to Close • Sunday Brunch 10am to 1pm 970-728-9507 • reservations@221southoak.com

Local Lemonade Poacher’s Pub

doug berry

Pour equal parts Jackalope gin (which is distilled regionally in Palisade, Colorado), fresh-squeezed lemon juice and Triple Sec over ice in a lowball glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon and/or a sprig of mint. ■

www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 75

Offering diners a taste of Colorado serving seasonal specialties, Bison, Venison, Prime Beef and fresh seafood. A selection of healthy menu items are also prepared daily inspired by our Golden Door Spa. Open to the public for dinner. Dining room is available for private events during the day. APPAlOOSA COlOrADO Grill The Peaks ResoRT, MounTain Village • 136 CounTRy Club DRiVe 970.728.6800 • www.ThePeaksResoRT.CoM

Live Music·Open Mic Night Karaoke·Pool Table appetizers, Salads, Burgers, Late Night pizza & Cupcakes Sunday Brunch 11am - 3pm Open 7 days a week 11 to 2am, happy hOur 3 to 6pm daily. 300 W. Colorado avenue

970-728-1801

a rEal dining ExpEriEncE

Enjoy stunning Mountain and Sunset Views • hearty soups • salads, lunch & Dinner entrees • great selection of wines, beer on tap & specialty cocktails

• lunch & Dinner daily 11am—10pm • bar open until midnight Friday and saturday

Visit Emilios in our downstairs location rEminiscEnt of tElluridE’s mining Era and thE flaVor of old mExico Emilio’s housE of thE flaming fajitas, molcajEtE and stEak ranchEro. wE prEparE your mEal with VEgEtablE oil and no msg. try our housE margarita madE with 100% bluE agaVE and frEash squEEzEd limE juicE. wE rEcommEnd on thE rocks.

Take Out Menu Available. Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials. Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pm Friday & Saturday 11am – 11pm

Best Margaritas In Town The Peaks ResoRT, MounTain Village • 136 CounTRy Club DRiVe 970.728.6800 • www.ThePeaksResoRT.CoM

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

(970) 369-1101 226 West Colorado Avenue

Visit our Cortez loCation

www.TellurideMagazine.com

localflavor

diningOUT 221 South Oak Situated near the Telluride Gondola Plaza in a restored 1800s residence, 221 South Oak serves cuisine characterized by fresh ingredients and rich flavors from New Orleans, France, the Caribbean coast and New England. Open for Sunday brunch or dinner nightly.

221 South Oak St., Telluride 970.728.9507

Appaloosa Located at the Peaks Resort in Mountain Village, this restaurant is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday evenings, offering a full spectrum that ranges from hearty Colorado bison, elk and venison to spa dishes and fresh seafood.

Peaks Resort, Mtn. Village 970.728.6800

Baked in Telluride A longtime establishment, known to the locals as “BIT”. Serving a world-wide cuisine from bagels to baguettes, calzones to cookies, pasta to pizza (by the slice and to order), salads to sandwiches. Adult and Kid’s portions, nightly specials.

Whole Foods-Style Mexican Restaurant & Catering Company

· Serving BreakfaSt, Lunch · many vegetarian and and dinner 7 dayS a week gLuten-free diSheS avaiLaBLe · freSh organic Juice Bar · featuring LocaL and · handmade tortiLLaS & SaLSa Bar organic ingredientS · take-out & catering avaiLaBLe · Beer, wine & margaritaS

123 E. Colorado · 728-9355

Visit lacocinatelluride.com to see our Restaurant and Catering menus

127 South Fir St., Telluride 970.728.4775

Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Tasting Cellar Chef Chad Scothorn turns comfort food into innovative cuisine, often featuring wild salmon, saffron and tomato fish stew; grilled pork tenderloin; grilled beef fillet and more. The Tasting Cellar also hosts private dinners paired with wines from the collection.

300 West San Juan Ave., Telluride 970.728.1292

Emilio’s Here’s Mexican fare that features the classics: fajitas, carne asada, pollo en mole, tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, etc. The full bar includes sangria, daiquiris, tequila kamikazes and blue Hawaiians. Emilio’s serves daily specials for both lunch and dinner.

226 West Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.369.1101

Fat Alley Where else can you get fried okra and southern BBQ? Fat Alley’s menu includes other favorites: the Carolina-smoked pork shoulder sandwich, beef ribs, sweet potato fries, and the ever-popular potato and black bean saute. Offering lunch and dinner, bourbon and beer.

122 South Oak St., Telluride 970.728.3985

www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 77

• • • • • • •

Pork & Beef Ribs Roasted Chicken Burgers & Sandwiches Vegetarian Dishes Best Fries in Town Peach Cobbler Large To-Go Parties & Catering

Fun for the whole family!

122 S. Oak · 728-3985 South of Elks Park Open 11am to 10pm

localflavor Floradora Saloon Executive Chef Roscoe Kane presents his take on comfort food: steak and potatoes, meatloaf, soups, salads and other American favorites. This family establishment is complete with genuine 1970s décor, a full bar and is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

103 West Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.728.8884

Great Room Enjoy mountain views and sunsets from the Great Room at the Peaks Resort. The lounge atmosphere provides a comfortable place to savor hearty soups, salads or appetizers and lunch or dinner entrees. The full bar offers specialty cocktails and a wide selection of wine and beer.

103 West Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.728.8884

La Cocina de Luz

BAKERY/EATERY DELIVERY AFTER 5 PM DAILY BY APPOINTMENT OTHER TIMES TELLURIDE: FREE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE ($5 per order) TO-GO ANYTIME AFTER 11:00 AM FREE WI-FI in the shop 33

Years

Baking

Telluride

Breakfast Bagels • Breakfast Burritos

Danish • Donuts • Croissants • Scones • Muffins • Mexican Pan Dulce Made to order birthday cakes • All made from scratch daily

Fresh Brewed Organic Fair Trade® Coffee TELLURIDE’S FAVORITE PIZZA

10” 10.95+ 14” 17.50+ 18” 21.95+ largest in town Anchovies, Artichoke, Avocado, Bacon, Fresh Basil, Bell Pepper, Black Olive, Broccoli, Canadian Bacon, Cheddar, Chicken, Feta, Garlic, Greek Olive, Green Chili, Ham, Jalapeño, Extra Mozzarella, Mushroom, Onion, Pepperoni, Pesto, Pineapple, Ricotta, Sausage, Fresh Spinach, Fresh Tomato, Slow Roasted Marinated Tomato, Zucchini

DINNER SPECIALS NIGHTLY LOCAL & MExICAN BEER, FINE IMPORTED WINES Telluride’s only freshly made pastas - Adult and Kid’s portions

970-728-4775 • 127 South Fir Street • Open 5:30am-10pm 78

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

“The kitchen of light” specializes in food prepared with love. It features handmade tortillas, a salsa bar and daily specials as it incorporates traditional cooking methods with organic and whole foods. La Cocina is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a small bar. Take-out is available. Casual dining indoor or out.

123 East Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.728.9355

Legends Located in the Peaks Resort in Mountain Village, Legends serves breakfast in a family friendly environment with a view of the San Juans. The cuisine is contemporary and features a selection of healthy specialties.

Peaks Resort & Spa, Mtn. Village 970.728.6800

New Sheridan Chop House This steak house and wine bar features executive chef Erich Owen’s new American cuisine. Menu favorites include dry-aged New York strip au poivre, julienne sea bass, French onion soup, a selection of fine cheeses and daily specials. Enjoy indoor dining or a bistro table on main street’s sidewalk.

223 West Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.728.9100

Siam This cozy restaurant serves up authentic recipes from Southeast Asia that are infused with influences from Thailand, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Viet Nam and China. Open for both lunch and dinner; domestic and Thai beer and wine are available.

200 South Davis St., Telluride 970.728.6886

www.TellurideMagazine.com

localflavor Smuggler’s Brewpub & Grille This brewpub serves a selection of handmade lager, ale and soda. Smuggler’s also offers gyros, ribs, sandwiches, salads and burgers for lunch and dinner and is a good place to bring the entire family.

225 South Pine St., Telluride 970.728.0919

Tommy’s A full bar that offers pub food: pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and more. Big-screen TVs, late-night menu and delivery make Tommy’s an option for both lunch and dinner. Dine on the sunny southfacing deck next to Elks Park or in the spacious dining room.

300 West Colorado Ave., Telluride 970.728.1801

[ C ater er s ] 221 South Oak Baked in Telluride

brewery

◆

bar

◆

reSTauranT

Best appetizers in Town, Great Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads, Steaks, Ribs, Seafood and more! Catering from 10 to 1,000 people!

Award-winning Smuggler’s Brews 225 South Pine Street, Telluride 970-728-0919

La Cocina de Luz As of press time, these listings were accurate.

Visit us in Montrose and our newest location in Grand Junction! 1571 Ogden Road, Montrose 970-249-0919 • 6 & 50 Road, Mesa Mall, Grand Junction 970-263-0919

SIAMTelluride

Native Thai Chefs, with years of professional experience, prepare authentic cuisine from Thailand. Free range poultry and locally raised organic beef available. Siam infuses the flavors of traditional Thai cuisine in traditional as well as delectable entrees. Gourmet specials offered in the evening.

Serving Lunch and Dinner

SIAM Telluride 970.728.6886 • 200 South Davis

SIAM Ridgway 970.626.ASIA • 565 Sherman

“Are you happy to have a Thai restaurant in Telluride?” Telluride? www.TellurideMagazine.com

TM07w_13s_SiamRest.indd 1

“Yes, Siam.”

9/20/07 2:22:52 PM summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 79

– a f u l l - s e r v i c e c o n v e n t i o n a l a n d n at u r a l f o o d s m a r k e t –

Featuring full service meats & seafood at “The Butcher Shop” Fresh Harvest Organic Produce - Gourmet cheeses from around the world Local Artisan Bakery Foods Goodsavailable - Full Service Deli featuring sliced meats cheeses. Natural & Organic for delivery and stocked before your&arrival.

NOW OPEN!

Phone or fax your order and we will shop for you.

– a

Liquor S Now O tore pen!

Spirits at Spirits at Village f u l Mountain l-service con ventional and

Mountain Village

pen Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. fine foods &Ocatering

n at

NOW OPEN! Located in the Mountain Village Town Hall Plaza.

Aemono’s Market Deli featuring fresh items daily. Open Monday - Saturday 11am-9pm Located in the Mountain Village Town Hall Plaza. Free parKInG aVaILaBLe In the GOnDOLa StatIOn parKInG LOt 970-728-6500 • FaX 1-800-691-4545 · Open 7am -9pm DaILY

Natural & Organic Foods available for delivery and stock

Also in Ridgway 490 Sherman Street • 970-6265811 • Open 7:00am-9:00pm DaILY

f r e e pa r k i n g ava i l a b l e i n t h e g o n d o l a s tat i o n pa r k i n g l o t

telluridemagazine

mountain homes&design

doug berry

s u m m e r / fa l l 2 0 0 9

www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 81

Color Me

Victorian

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

www.TellurideMagazine.com

T rick s o f t h e Paint T r a de �

By L a n c e Wa r i n g p h o t o s b y d o u g b e r ry

As a careerski bum

who’s lived in Telluride for 25 years without a trust fund, my resume is lengthy and diverse. Along with the usual retail and restaurant jobs, I’ve taught at the high school, worked in festival production, guided peak ascents, coached young athletes and served on town council. It may appear that I have a touch of occupational ADD, but I tend to downplay the one common thread in my working life. It isn’t glamorous—and I’m certainly squandering an expensive college education—but the truth is, I keep body and soul together by painting Telluride’s multicolored Victorian houses. www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 83

paint colors for this gingerbread at the top of north spruce were chosen to match a bouquet of wild columbine flowers.

Exterior Paint Versus Stain When considering an exterior finish on raw wood, stain has many advantages over paint, especially in Telluride’s intense sunny, alpine environment. When paint dries, it creates a thin, protective membrane on top of wood, and after a few years, that layer will crack and peel. Once paint has failed, it requires extensive sanding and careful priming before recoating. In other words, paint is labor intensive and short lived, Stain, on the other hand, penetrates into wood, thus preserving the timber. There are two types of stain, both of which are available in a water-base mix: solid body or semi-transparent (also called opaque). Solid-body stain can be mixed to any color, and the coverage is nearly indistinguishable from paint. Opaque stain has less pigment than paint, which allows the texture of the wood to show. Neither type requires an initial primer coat, so after the top layer of pigment fades and breaks down—a process that happens more slowly than with paint—stain doesn’t require as much work to recoat. Ultimately, stain lasts longer than paint and is quicker to reapply.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

Over the years, I’ve dipped a brush in every shade of the rainbow. I’ve painted a house to mirror the delicate colors of a high-country columbine blossom and another to match the russet shades of the valley’s sandstone walls. My favorite was when a homeowner selected the color “atrium white” for the entire house—both inside and out. Painting the place reminded me of winter, which is always a pleasant thought for a ski bum. Telluride’s designation as a National Historic Landmark District doesn’t mandate specific paint colors on the exteriors of Victorian structures, though there is a list of historic hues for those who are interested in adhering to the look of the 1800s. Instead—and rightly so, I believe— color choices are left to the aesthetic tastes of each homeowner. Some are decisive; others need time and a series of test patches to choose the proper shade. Color selection can be the most difficult phase of the entire painting process, and I try not to offer my opinion. Only when coerced will I step in as a reluctant color consultant. I say “reluctant” because there are two mantras for a painter: First, it all paints the same; and second, it will look great from my house. With that said, I confess that the finish I do see every day at my own residence is a mottled mess of intermittent opaque stain and exposed wood. The last time those weathered walls saw color Telluride’s was in the late ’70s, when the designation structure was expanded from the original miner’s cabin to its as a National current shape and size. A fullHistoric scale paint job on the ramshackle house would require two months Landmark of hard labor. To protect the District wood, I chose a simpler approach. By lightly sanding the cedar doesn’t mandate siding to remove loose flakes of specific paint old stain and then brushing on a moisture-and-UV-repellent clear colors on the stain, I sealed the entire house in only two days. exteriors I’ve learned other tricks of of Victorian the painting trade. Perhaps most importantly, I refuse to paint structures…. with oil-based products because I care about the environment and my health. Lead-based paint was outlawed in 1974 for home use, but only recently have paint manufacturers recognized that volatile organic compounds—VOCs—also cause cancer—and not just in the state of California where they were first outlawed in 2003. Five years ago, I resolved to work exclusively with VOC-free interior paints. They perform just as well as traditional formulas and are less toxic. And all major paint manufacturers now offer no-VOC options. Nevertheless, these formulas may still include toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, ammonia, ethylene glycol and crystalline silica. I look forward to the day when we use exclusively biologically inert products. Natural colorants were common in the past and give me hope for the future. No matter what product I’m using, the act of painting is Zen-like—a time for me to quiet my mind through repetitive, focused motion. First, there’s the critical prep phase: Grit and meticulous determination are the foundation of a fine finish. Then comes the ghostly primer coat;

www.TellurideMagazine.com

“Distinctive Home Care Service for Distinctive Home Owners in the Telluride Area” Sn

ow y P e a ks

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307 Society Drive Unit B • Telluride, CO 81435

970-728-1712 • 866-728-1712

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travel... stay... play Let San Miguel

green

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summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 85

A Dozen Paint Tips Many years ago, on my first day as an apprentice painter, I was assigned to paint a walk-in closet. I struggled mightily with the unfamiliar roller and brush in the cramped space. When I emerged, I’d learned the golden rule of painting: Paint the house, not yourself. Over time, I’ve learned a few other tricks: 1. Always carry a rag to keep hands and tools clean while working. 2. Purchase good-quality brushes. Clean them well at the end of the day, and they’ll cut sharp lines for years. 3. Keep a paint file on record to facilitate ordering touch-up paints. In addition, label the lids of stored paint cans with indelible ink. Include not only the name of the color, but also where the paint was applied (e.g. “exterior window trim” or “master bathroom”). 4. If the job lasts more than a day, wrap the rollers tightly in plastic bags and store them in a refrigerator overnight. 5. When pouring paint from can to bucket, use the brush to clean the lip of the can so that the lid will reseal tightly.

now all the flaws and imperfections stand out. Every dark gap needs a smooth bead of caulk, and each nail hole begs for a dab of spackle that requires a light sanding after it dries. Finally, when the wood is prepped and primed, it’s time to lay down the topcoats. A multi-colored paint job is nothing more than a series of carefully overlapping layers of paint. For the high-volume field coat, I prefer a stiff, blunt four-inch brush to work gallons of paint into the siding with long smooth finishing strokes. A nimble threeinch tapered brush works best when cutting in the trim around windows and doors. And sometimes I pull out a tiny half-inch brush to carefully follow the intricate curlicues of Victorian gingerbread with an accent color. When there’re multiple accent colors, I usually lay down the lightest color first and cut the finishing lines with the darkest shade. This saves time, as does cutting lines with only a brush, as opposed to using painter’s blue tape. Tape, admittedly, has its applications, When there’re but a good painter can cut a multiple accent straight line with only a welldipped brush. I save high-traffic colors, I usually spots like doors and handrails— lay down the places where paint is quickly marred by day-to-day use—for lightest color the end of the job. Even though I know it’s fleeting, I like to first and cut present the temporary illusion the finishing of perfection while I pack up my tools. lines with the That’s the flow of painting darkest shade. historic Victorian houses in Telluride, and most days at This saves time…. work are fairly predictable. At least they were until last summer, when a client asked me to distress her home’s exterior to match that “cute green shack on Pacific Street.” I assured her I knew the house well and was certain I could replicate the weathered finish. Who knew my own slapdash home could provide inspiration? Hiding my smile behind a dust mask, I picked up my orbital sander and got to work. ■

6. Avoid adding to the world’s vast supply of unused paint: Purchase paint locally and buy only the amount needed for the job. Underestimate your needs: A final quart or gallon is always available if necessary. 7. Roll first and then you’ll have a better feel for how much paint is required to edge. 8. High-quality paint covers better and lasts longer. This is also true of primer and stains. 9. Tinting the primer to a similar shade as the paint improves coverage and expedites the job. 10. When taking a break, cover the paint bucket with a plastic bag or damp rag and place it in a cool spot. 11. Use VOC-free paints indoors. Use water-based paints and stains outdoors. (The longevity of today’s waterbased products is usually equal to—and sometimes better than—oil-based finishes.) 12. Even with these tips, quality painting is harder than it looks. For a clean and efficient paint job, hire a professional.

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

The authentic time- and sun-worn look of the author’s home (Door Detail above) is sometimes replicated as a faux finish on newly built houses. www.TellurideMagazine.com

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here’s plenty of opportunity to go green in the world

of construction. Whether you’re simply enjoying a summer BBQ or building a new home, there’s a surprising number of environmental decisions to make. New green living modes and methods are constantly emerging, and it’s up to all of us to learn new tricks and take advantage of the ever-evolving options to make our place a greener space. —Kara Tatone

[ Grilling Green ] Most backyard decks are home to a BBQ grill. But which type— charcoal or gas—is the better environmental option? Charcoal is produced by distilling wood into carbon by cooking down timber pieces, sawdust and other wood scraps in a heated process that involves adding chemicals, such as binding agents, starches, fillers and lighter fluid, for ignition. When traditional charcoal is burned, the smoke releases carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Gas is not immune from negative side effects, either. Propane is a non-renewable resource, and when burned, it emits carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases. When compared to charcoal, however, its carbon emissions are roughly half. So what should you ignite under that organic, grass-fed, free-range, locally grown meat?

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

You can make briquettes from wood scraps and a lengthy process of carbonization. But who has the time to make dinner from scratch, beginning with the charcoal? Natural lump charcoal is available—chemicalfree, additive-free and created entirely from natural woods—but it often travels from thousands of miles away, which negates its benefits. So fire up the gas grill—it deserves the match.

[ Eco Forces Unite ] Regional green building info is out there; the resources are available and the materials stocked. What’s the next step? Getting your hands dirty with green building. The Telluride New Community Coalition is partnering with local EcoSpaces’ nonprofit educational branch to provide free do-ityourself workshops, demos, lectures and films. The mission: Change the green building

paradigm into the norm by way of easy step-by-step instruction. The educational initiative began last spring with a green film series and bookshelf-building workshop and continues through this summer with outreach, such as educational displays at the Telluride Farmers Market and a green building website where builders can post unused materials in an effort to swap goods. More carpentry workshops are also on tap. What’s new in sustainable ideas and renewable, recyclable and recycled nontoxic materials? Find out firsthand—and hands on.

[ Toilet Paper Debate ] A coworker once threatened to ration the toilet paper at the office in an effort—both frugal and environmental—to save paper. The attempt was unsuccessful, but had there been a bidet in the employee powder room, the discussion might have been different.

The bidet originated in France in the 1700s, back when full-body bathing was an occasional occurrence, and they are commonplace today through much of Europe, Latin American and Asia. But the bidet is relatively novel in the United States, where Americans are not as comfortable with this form of hygiene. Thus begins the debate: toilet paper versus bidet? The United States has the world’s largest market for paper consumption, according to a report by the New York Times, but recycled toilet paper makes up only approximately 2 percent of total toilet tissue home sales. According to Seventh Generation, a recycled paper product maker, 424,000 trees would be saved if every household replaced one 500-sheet roll of virgin fiber toilet paper with recycled toilet paper. Producing toilet tissue from recycled paper requires far less water than transforming tree pulp to virgin toilet paper, a process that often uses polluting chlorinebased bleach to whiten the paper. Recycled paper also eliminates waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. And the most obvious argument for recycled paper: Virgin toilet paper requires new tree pulp fiber and, thus, the harvesting of trees. Clearly, recycled is the way to—excuse the pun—go. But wait a minute: What about the French contraption? Bidets use little water, much less than the production of recycled paper; need little to no electricity; and, ideally, require no paper at all. Attachable bidet seats are available for standard toilets, so you don’t need to purchase a costly new unit. Biobidet, Brondell, Toto and Biffy Personal Rinse are a few of the leading bidet brands, and some high-tech bidets even sport heated air-drying jets, remote controls and water massage options. A simple bidet attachment costs around $100; one with heat and the works runs up toward $500. If the average cost of recycled toilet paper is approximately $1 per roll, it’s pretty easy to figure out that a bidet would soon pay for itself, which makes it the winner for your wallet and the environment. ■

www.TellurideMagazine.com

advertiserindex 221 South Oak................................... 75 www.221southoak.com

A Andrews Real Estate, Inc................. 29 www.ewandrews.com

Appaloosa Restaurant....................... 76 www.thepeaksresort.com

Atmosphere Spa................................ 39 www.telluridespa.com

b Baked in Telluride.............................. 78 www.bakedintelluride.com

Big Earth Publishing....................71, 87 www.bigearthpublishing.com

Brownlie, Pamela: Physical Therapy.... 39

C Cashmere Red.................................... 14 www.cashmerered.com

Catsman, Steven: TREC..............10, 92

Fat Alley.............................................. 78

New Sheridan Chop House & Bar.....75

Floradora Saloon................................ 79

G Gavin, Brian: Tell. Luxury RE........... 41 gavin@rosiecusack.com

Great Room, The................................ 76

www.thepeaksresort.com

J Jesse’s Salon....................................... 37

K KDC Inc. of Colorado...........................9 ron@kuruzcdevelopment.com

l La Cocina de Luz................................ 77

www.chateautelluride.com

www.tellurideproperties.com

Cieciuch, Stephen: Tell. Prop........ 2, 3

Lustre, An Artisan Gallery................ 13

www.telluriderealestate.net

Customs House.....................................6 www.customhouseonline.com

Prospect Realty.................................. 33 www.telluriderealestate.net

Ptak, Jeffrey J, MD FACS................ 19 www.doctorptak.com

Market at Mountain Village............. 80 Merritt Design + Photo.................... 69

www.merrittdesignphoto.com

Emilio’s Grill & Bar............................ 76

Moab Music Festival.......................... 45

www.moabmusicfest.org

Modern Log Homes........................... 22 www.modernloghomes.com

Telluride Magazine............................ 89

www.telluridemagazine.com

Telluride Medical Center.................. 37 www.tellmed.org

Telluride Music Company................. 45 www.telluridemusic.com

Telluride Photography...................... 16 www.telluridephotography.net

Telluride Plein Air.............................. 69 www.telluridepleinair.com

Telluride Properties.................. 2-5 , 69 www.tellurideproperties.com

Telluride Real Estate Corp. (TREC) .................................................10, 91, 92 www.telluriderealtors.com

Schilling Studio Gallery..................... 73

Telluride Ski & Golf Club.....................8

Shimkonis, Mike: Tell. Properties.....69

Telluride Tourism Board................... 45

Siam Restaurant................................. 79

Tommy’s Restaurant.......................... 76

www.tellurideproperties.com

www.tellurideareahomes.com

Snowy Peaks Management.............. 85

Telluride Hyperbarics........................ 39

Telluride Resort Lodging.................. 27

www.smpa.com

LuvLight Acupuncture....................... 39 www.luvlight.net

www.telluridegallery.com

San Miguel Power Association........ 85

www.lustregallery.com

Mihelich, Liz........................................ 39

www.eyecubed.net

www.peaksrealestate.com www.plumtv.com

Smuggler’s Restaurant...................... 79

E Eyecubed............................................. 16

p Peaks Real Estate, Sotheby’s Int......21

Chateau Mortgage............................ 65

Creel, Todd: Prospect Realty.......... 53

www.tellurideproperties.com

Golden Door Spa, Peaks Resort..... 41

Leach-Lychee, Polly: Tell. Prop..........4

www.cosmotelluride.com

O’Neill, Brian: Telluride Prop.............5

Pam Brownlie, PT............................... 39

www.lacocinatelluride.com

Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Bar...... 77

www.thepeaksresort.com

www.catsman.com

www.tellurideproperties.com

www.newsheridan.com

Telluride Gallery of Fine Art............ 23

www.snowypeaksmgmt.com

Sorina’s Head to Toe........................ 37 Spirits at Mountain Village, Liquor Store........................................ 80 Star, A Store for All........................... 14 Sucharski, Sandy................................ 35

sandy@sucharski.com

t Telluride Calendar............................. 69 www.telluridemagazine.com

www.tellurideskiresort.com

www.tellurideskiandgolfclub.com www.visittelluride.com

True North Designs........................... 67

truenorthdesignworks@gmail.com

Two Skirts............................................ 17 www.twoskirts.net

w Wells Fargo Bank............................... 67 www.wellsfargo.com

Wildcat Studios.................................. 65 www.wildcatstudios.com

WmOhs Showrooms.............................7 www.wmohs.com

Women’s Adventure Magazine....... 67 www.womensadventuremagazine.com

Bring Telluride Home www.TellurideMagazine.com Flip through the pages of Telluride Magazine on your computer screen— it’s green, paper free, searchable and saves to your desktop. Or subscribe online to have the print edition delivered to your door. www.TellurideMagazine.com

summer/fall 2009 telluride magazine 89

ben knight

inparting

what happened to

Nothing? By Lise Waring

hank you for not participating: That’s what it’s all about. Originated by onetime local Dennis Wrestler, Nothing Festival’s weekend in July has held a blank spot on Telluride’s busy festival calendar for the last 18 years. The fest’s early years held a semblance of organized apathy. Sometimes a band of devoted locals dragged lawn chairs to main street to watch nothing parade by or wore t-shirts printed with a slogan that read, “Leave me alone.” These loose efforts were usually all that marked an otherwise quiet weekend. But gradually, small events began to

telluride magazine summer/fall 2009

encroach upon Nothing’s sacred calendar window—a downhill bike race or theater show—and folks began to interpret the theme more literally by riding their bicycles down main street in the evening while wearing—you guessed it—nothing. This summer could be marked as the one when Nothing didn’t happen: No one filed with the Town of Telluride to hold the dates open officially for nothingness. Perhaps people will still sit in lawn chairs. Perhaps the pedaling exhibitionists will take a spin. Or, maybe, nothing at all will happen to commemorate nothing. ■

www.TellurideMagazine.com

Welcome to the Good Life...

resting at the base of the mount sneffels wilderness, and surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks of the distinguished wilson range, Gray Head quiets the mind and awakens the spirit. this 900-acre wilderness preserve, just minutes from downtown telluride, offers you a lifestyle uniquely rich in services, amenities, and privacy. 35 acre lots - only 4 left!, element 52 amenities, resident caretakers, dial-a-ride shuttle, 1880s Homeowners cabin, 16 miles of Hiking trails, ice skating rink.

L SO

7039 last dollar rd reclaimed oak barn wood and stone home. Private pond and water features. Five bedrooms, five full baths, nanny nooks within 8,362 sq ft. thirty feet of timber frame with vaulted ceilings, stone double sided wood burning fireplace. a separate caretaker unit off the garage.

Pa Gomo. Pa Gomo is a sculptural masterpiece designed to meld with its exquisite natural environment. stone forms are interconnected by glass bridges suspended over custom designed water features. the Great room, with its massive vanishing window walls allows the seamless flow from the interior living spaces to the exterior covered patios including an outdoor gourmet equipped kitchen.

canyon Point in a time when the headlines tell us the end is near, Gray Head lifestyle allures. one of tellurideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most magnificent homes, sold in February 2009.

steve catsman, tellurideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local source since 1972. 970.728.6629. www.catsman.com, steve@catsman.com

Now is the time There is only one Telluride. Despite fluctuations in the financial markets, the beauty of telluride is a constant in this unpredictable world. the experts at tReC have been sharing both our experience and this enviable lifestyle since 1981. we understand what it’s like to have a passion for this place—it’s why we live here. there’s never been a better time than now to purchase property. telluride—a priceless investment.

w ww.t e l luRiDe RealtoR s .C o m

Downtown telluriDe

Mountain Village