Wayfinder Issue #1

WAYFINDER

WEEKEND AT TERRY’S

WAYFINDER

Can you

People will literally look back on this in 100 years and talk about it … toilet paper and face masks will feature heavily.

Then they’ll talk about the spring of 2021 as the time when things began to get back to normal. They’ll talk about vaccinations and the end of mandatory mask orders, the return of live music, of the hustle and bustle of indoor dining, and of gathering with friends they hadn’t seen in person in months.

Not to sound like some kind of new age hippie (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but spring is traditionally about growth and rebirth, and spring 2021 is shaping up to be the beginning of the end for COVID-19 (we aren’t 100 percent out of the woods yet and COVID-19 will likely stay around in some fashion, but the worst of this IS over.) and Wayfinder magazine, like a baby conceived during lockdown, is here to help you transition into this brave new world.

Wayfinder magazine went through a few incarnations, but like one of those art pieces that are painted upside down and only become clear when they are spun around, Wayfinder became what it

is after a conversation that started with the idea of it being a guide for people to the area (thanks, Art). The idea is simple: to ensure that the people of the valley know what is going on in their own and neighboring towns and that people visiting from further afield know everything they need to know to have an awesome time when they visit.

The culmination of many hands and even more brains, William Woody and Dan Thwaits have been essential to the creation of this first issue, but there have been people who have chipped in ideas and thoughts from near and far and there are those who have supported the idea from the very beginning. Art played a fleeting but critical role in showing us the aesthetic way, Colleen has been a champion from the beginning, and Candace Miller weighed in with some fun-gi pics. And, there wouldn’t be a magazine without advertisers, so thanks to everyone who took a chance on this new

venture. I encourage you to visit their businesses, like and follow them on social media, and generally do what you can to support them as they support us and other initiatives in our communities.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer calls and emails and meet up for various stories.

A note about the cover image. That was shot by William Woody. It is an in-camera triple exposure not a Photoshop creation - not that we have anything against Photoshop.

And finally, the biggest supporter of Wayfinder (and literally everything else I do) comes from across the Atlantic in wet and windy Wales. My sister Lisa, the best friend I’ve ever had and ever will.

FAT OF THE LAND

A recurring series, Fat of the Land is all about things that are produced and consumed in our region. Local photographer Candace Miller visited Alpenglow Mushrooms (a part of South River Aquaponics) just outside Montrose to take some fun pics then we took their mushrooms to Taco Del Gnar in Ridgway.

PAGE 18

PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY

We spoke to the mayors of Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Ridgway, and Ouray about the last year, how they feel things have gone in their towns and what we can expect from spring and summer.

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ELECTRIFYING THE VALLEY

Electric vehicles are the future of transportation, and chargers are being installed up and down the valley with more come.

PAGE 6

COVID COUNTRY

Shot by local photojournalist William Woody throughout 2020, Covid Country takes a look back at 2020 in the area. A moody and somewhat morose collection of images that tell the story not only of 2020, it serves as a counterpoint to the rest of the inaugural issue of Wayfinder.

PAGE 56

MIXOLOGY 101

David Fishering at Storm King Distilling in Montrose produces award-winning spirits, and mixolo gist Nickolas Paullus turns them into delicious cocktails.

PAGE 28

believe you lived through a pandemic?

Electrifying the Valley

Electric vehicles are the future, and the infrastructure is being put in place throughout the valley to ensure they all have a place to fill up.

Colorado has a goal to see 1 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2030, and while it might take a little longer for the phenomenon to reach our valley in an everyday sense, the frequency with which you see them on the roads in the valley will likely increase when different options become available, especially the Ford F-150 Electric, the GMC Hummer EV SUT as well as trucks from Tesla, Rivian, and Bollinger. (If speed is your thing, there really is no comparison; electric vehicles make the combustion engine look like the centuries-old technology it is).

Planning Ahead

With this increase in the number of electric vehicles inevitable, the infrastructure to ensure these vehicles can stop in our valley (and spend money while they wait for their vehicles to charge) is already being put in place.

And while not all electric vehicles are Teslas, it is worth nothing that Teslas are luxury cars, and so it should come as no surprise that studies have found that the average household income of a Tesla Model X owner is over $140,000 per year.

Back in October last year, ground was broken for Montrose’s first DC fast charging station. On the corner of North First Street and North Uncompahgre Avenue, and a block from Main Street, the charging station has eight Tesla Superchargers and two ChargePoint Dual Platform fast chargers. There are also free-to-use electric vehicle charging stations at the public parking lot near Centennial Plaza at 501 S. First Street, at Montrose Memorial Hospital, and the Montrose Community Recreation Center. Thanks to the high-speed charging station in Montrose, the valley is now part of one of the Colorado Energy Office’s fast-charging electric vehicle corridors.

Elsewhere in the valley, there is a charging station at the City of Delta office on 111 West Third Street, one at Ridgway Town Hall at 201 North Railroad Street, and at KJW Distillers on Main Street in Ouray. There are planes for more in Ouray that will hopefully be up and running sometime this summer

Electric vehicles are not without their critics, of course, and the main criticism seems to be that they use electricity that is generated by burning fossil fuels. While this is undeniably true, it is worth noting that according to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, almost all U.S. electricity is produced from domestic sources, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewable sources which offers the United States a greater diversity of fuel choices and reduces the reliance on petroleum which makes the country vulnerable to price spikes and supply disruptions.

Also, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, in Colorado annual emissions for gasoline vehicles are more than double that of electric vehicles based on how we generate our electricity. Electric vehicles also don’t directly contribute to climate change and smog through emissions.

Park at a Park

More good news for lovers of electric vehicles and our public lands came recently when electric adventure vehicle company Rivian announced they had come to a partnership agreement with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to install at least two state-of-the-art 11.5 kW Level 2 chargers in up to 50 CPW locations.

“While we encourage people to connect with Colorado’s outdoors, we all have an obligation to our lands, waters and wildlife to recreate responsibly and monitor how our increased outdoor activities impact the places we play. The installation of EV charging stations at state parks aligns with our agency’s goal to expand park facilities based on the evolving needs of park users and our ongoing efforts to balance outdoor recreation opportunities with mindful conservation,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow of the partnership with Rivian.

Locate the charging station nearest you with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator.

Montrose Surf & Cycle

After a facelift and a slight expansion, Montrose’s only downtown outdoor gear and rental shop has emerged, butterfly-like, from its construction cocoon as Montrose Surf and Cycle.

While the shop on West Main Street has a new name, a snazzy new logo and that new shop smell (and lots of awesome metalwork by master craftsman Jerry Hauptmann), it is still operated and manned by the same knowledgeable team.

In addition to more space for more gear, the major difference is that the newold space now includes a bike repair section where

mechanic Tom Kavanaugh will be more than happy to fiddle with your crank.

A sister store to Telluride’s Jagged Edge, MSC has more of the stuff you need and plenty of stuff you didn’t know you wanted including all kinds of watersports gear, a good range of running shoes, clothes, climbing gear, and all kinds of outdoor knick knacks, trinkets, gels, and goos.

Literally one minute from both the West Main Trailhead of the city’s River Trail and Storm King Distilling Co. (for that post fun libation), MSC is also just a couple of minutes from Montrose Water Sports Park at River Bottom Park.

MSC also has a running club on Wednesday evenings. Check the shop’s Facebook page for more details.

@MontroseSurfandCycle

MontroseSurfandCycle.com

Manager Hollis Brake

STORY AND PHOTOS BY STAFF

WAYFINDER

F & B BRIEFS

Alpen Confections

Alpen Confections is the latest culinary addition to Montrose, and what an addition it is. The chocolates are nothing short of works of art that are almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

AlpenConfections.com

IG @alpenconfections

Double Barrel Taco Company

Montrose is fortunate to have plenty of authentic Mexican taco joints, but Double Barrel Taco Company on Main Street has found that locals and visitors also have an appetite for something a little more hipster - think brisket and blackened shrimp rather than cabeza and lengua.

DoubleBarrelTaco.com

IG @DoubleBarrelTaco

Country Girl Toffee

Also new in the confectionery world is Country Girl Toffee in Delta. Literally a few weeks old, the company was started by Sophia Harris because she couldn’t find the kind of toffee she wanted, so she just decided to make her own! Currently, they have milk chocolate almond toffee available but they will soon be adding dark chocolate, sea salt, and sugar-free versions.

Countrygirltoffee.com

IG @CountryGirlToffee

San Juan Brews

Another Montrose Main Street newcomer, San Juan Brews has settled into its Main Street location. The only place in town where the smell of malt and coffee come together, the guys there have done a great job creating a welcoming atmosphere.

SanJuanBrews.com

IG @SanJuanBrews

Storm King Distilling

Storm King Distilling in Montrose turns out great stuff, but you don’t have to take our word for it. They recently added to their medal haul by winning double gold at the Denver International Spirit Competition, bringing home the bacon for their Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey and their Side Gig Whiskey.

Stormkingdistilling.com

IG @StormKingDistillingCo

WAYFINDER TOOLS OF THE TRADE

At Straw Hat Farm Market & Kitchen Store in Montrose, owner Karen Byler has created an unassuming shop that both champions local produce, has arguably the best cinnamon rolls in the state, and has a thoughtfully curated collection of kitchen tools and gadgets that are all scrutinized by Byler - and she isn’t afraid to get rid of items that don’t meet her standards.

Black Cube by Frieling 8” frying pan

Claiming to be the world’s first hybrid cookware by bringing together stainless steel with a non-stick coating, Frieling are so confident in the pans they actually suggest using metal utensils on the label.

Mason Tops

Pickle Packer

This is embarrassing, but this is our first time ever seeing a pickle packer. Handmade from acacia wood, the pickle packer isn’t what you’d call an essential kitchen tool, but if you’re into packing jars to the brim and love having a tool for every occasion, this might be for you.

Mini Ceramic Butter Keeper from Norpro

Something else that isn’t technically an essential tool, the butter keeper, sometimes called a butter bell or butter crock, keeps butter fresh and spreadable by submerging it in water. The bell part is filled with butter and then placed upside down in the receptacle that has a small amount of water in it.

Rada Knife Set

This is the Rada Paring Knives Galore Gift Set and contains a peeling paring knife, a regular paring knife, and a heavy duty paring knife. Made from stainless steel with hand-sharpened blades, they are also made in the USA.

Cast Iron Teapot and Teacups from Ja-Unendlich

Handmade in Germany using a rare sand casting process and following a Japanese tradition, Ja-Unendlich products are incredibly sleek and functional.

Cookie cutters

The classic kitchen tool, these are very simple and affordable and allow you to make all kinds of fun shapes.

NutriMill Harvest Grain Mill

With a housing made from bamboo (which is eco-friendly and sustainable), the 450 watt heavy duty motor (with autoshutoff thermal protection no less) will allow you to mill a full range of textures, from cracked grain for hot cereal to pastry fine flour for baked goods! Straw hat is the only location in Western Colorado to carry NutriMill grain mills.

FAT OF THE LAND

Alpenglow Mushrooms

The Uncompahgre Valley is as variable as it is vast, from the corn fields of Olathe to the hot springs of Ouray. In between, vegetables are grown, cattle are raised, pigs and poultry and are bred, and hops and hemp are harvested.

STORY BY STAFF, PHOTOS BY ROB MCGOVERN AND CANDACE MILLER

FAT OF THE LAND

Just outside Montrose City limits, Alpenglow Mushrooms, a division of South River Aquaponics, is composting, spawning, casing, pinning, and cropping and producing masses of mushrooms in the process.

The facility was opened as South River Aquaponics in June 2014. Four years later, SRA was awarded a grant for innovations in energy and water saving technology from the Colorado Department of Economic Development and International Trade which was used to build the mushroom production laboratory and grow houses.

Currently there are two main varieties of mushroom grown at Alpenglow, with a third currently being cultivated. The fairly ubiquitous and globally popular oyster mushroom is a relatively safe bet. Loved by chefs, home cooks and natural remedy enthusiasts alike, oysters are low in calories and they contain lovastatin, a form of cholesterol lowering statin. (In fact, mushrooms in general are also lowcarb and have practically no fat and contrary to myth, they have more than a dozen vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, folate magnesium, zinc and potassium). Alpenglow currently produces a pink oyster in addition to the regular variety.

The other mushroom the team at Alpenglow produce is the frankly bizarre looking lion’s mane mushroom. The globe-esque mushroom looks as if it has spines or is vaguely hairy from a distance. It wouldn’t look out of place crawling along the seabed or nestled in a hedge like an albino hedgehog. Popular in Chinese traditional medicine, they are delicious to eat cooked or raw. Under the Alpenglow brand, lion’s mane, among other mushrooms, are turned into extracts that are said to help with all kinds of things including enhancing memory, brain function, and digestion.

And the latest addition to the family of sporebearing fungi is the shitake. Hopefully, we will see locally-grown shiitakes on menus soon.

Alpenglow mushrooms are available in Natural Grocer in Montrose among other places, and are used by several restaurants in the area.

While tinctures and extracts are a great way to utilize mushrooms, eating this is our favorite way to consume all of those vitamins and minerals, and so to close the loop on this locally-produced food, we took a box of Alpenglow’s finest to Ridgway and let Joe Ouellette from Taco Del Gnar have his way with them.

A pioneering concept when it first opened back in 2013, TDG quickly established itself as THE place to go for want of a better term hipster-style tacos in the region. Since then, a loyal fanbase has mushroomed with fans making the trip from Telluride, Ouray and Montrsoe regularly.

And if you’re new to the area or are considering visiting (or God forbid you live in the region and haven’t visited), we’ll let you find out what TDG is all about, but don’t expect Mexican food.

With Asian flavors and techniques making regular appearances on the TDG menu (and that fact he is a trained chef), Ouellette is very familiar with oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms. The oysters were treated with kid gloves, getting a quick pickle which adds a sour note and softens the texture a little, but the lion’s mane were treated a little less gently. Firm but with a structure that lends itself to being

pulled apart, à la pulled pork, they were sliced and pan fried and then brushed with a Korean-inspired bulgogi sauce before being finished on the grill which gave them a slightly charred flavor.

Placed on top of some salad leaves and topped with kimchi (a gift to Joe from his friend Dan who owns Steps Tavern beneath TDG), the pickled oyster mushrooms, fried carrot for crunch, and drizzled with a ginger miso vinaigrette, they were as good as they sound.

The Far East Fungi tacos (that’s what we are calling them anyway) were a one-off creation to showcase these mushrooms, but with a little prodding - and maybe a petition - maybe everyone the TDG team will share them with!

FAT OF THE LAND

From top left: David Gann working in the lab; lion’s mane extract; oyster mushrooms growing; mushrooms ready to be packaged; oyster mushrooms being pickled at Taco Del Gnar; lion’s mane mushrooms being seared at TDG; Joe Ouellette’s taco creation; Ouellette enjoying his own creation; cats Lion and Oyster.

Opinion

Pizza, Pizza

From Kevin McCalister and Joey Tribiani to Mel Brooks’ Pizza the Hut and the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles, pizza is one of the nation’s favorite foods. In fact, a survey from a few years ago put it top with 21 percent of respondents saying they would choose pizza if they could only eat one food for the rest of their lives.

But not all pizza is created equally. Not even close. You can splatter Prego on defrosted dough and scatter over preshredded mozzarella, but you still don’t have a pizza. Call it whatever you like, but it ain’t pizza.

And before we drill down into pizza in our valley, a quick note about the best pizza in the world: that’s Joe’s Pizza on East 14th Street in Manhattan. And while we’re at it, it’s worth mentioning that Wayfinder stands in solidarity with Jon Stewart and his now legendary rant about how deep dish pizza isn’t pizza: “It’s a casserole.”

“When I look at your deep dish f**kin’ pizza, I don’t know whether to eat it or throw a coin in it and make a wish. And if I made a wish, it would be that I’d

wish for some real f**kin’ pizza.” - Jon Stewart

And don’t even get us started on that disgusting fruit-cocktail-topped monstrosity, the Hawaiian pizza.

We have some good options for pizza in our valley, however, from Neopolitan- and Detroit-style to the more run of the mill kind. When it comes to toppings there is more room for debate (apart from fruit). You have your classics, like the simple Margherita, meat-driven pizzas with pepperoni and sausage (or salisica if you want to be fancy; and men, don’t feel as if you have to always order the “meat feast” or any variation thereof) and more Italian-sounding versions with olives, artichokes and the like.

“

Pushing the envelope, or perhaps just adding a touch of Americana, other pizzas that can be found on menus around the valley include buffalo and barbecue chicken as well as green chile. And on the other end of the scale to the classic pizzas you can find the likes of lasagna pizza, which is more odd than bad.

Then there is … this. There is a place … somewhere ... that will allow you to create, if you were deranged enough to do so, a pizza with Thousand Island dressing as the sauce and lettuce, sauerkraut, and tortilla chips as the toppings. To be clear, this unnamed eatery doesn’t offer this as a pizza as such, and it is likely that this particular combination has never been ordered,

but the fact it is possible to create this abomination should keep you up at night. Yes, I’d eat it but only if I were minutes from death and there were no putrid, rotting animal carcasses around.

Oh, and “pizza bones” are not a thing, eat the crusts like an adult. Dip them in something - ranch is good, hot honey is better - if you insist, but eat them you should.

When it comes to pizza in our valley, let’s just say we have plenty of places that out pizza the hut.

Have your own thoughts on pizza? Have a favorite place in the valley? Think you can find a worse combo of sauce and toppings than us? Tag us on Instagram and Facebook and let us know.

When I look at your deep dish f**kin’ pizza, I don’t know whether to eat it or throw a coin in it and make a wish. And if I made a wish, it would be that I’d wish for some real f**kin’ pizza.”

MIXOLOGY 101

STORY BY STAFF, PHOTOS BY WILLIAM WOODY

The Cocktail

The White Lady is a classic cocktail by any measure. One of the International Bartenders Association’s official cocktails (of which there are fewer than 100), the White Lady is known by some as a Delilah or Chelsea Side-car. A gin-based variation of the sidecar, the White lady is made with creme de menthe, cointreau or Triple Sec with an optional egg white.

There is, as there always is, some debate as to the origin of the cocktail. Some say it was developed at Ciro’s Club in London by Harry MacElhone in 1919, who originally used crème de menthe but replaced it with gin at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1929. Others say it was created by Harry Craddock at the Savoy Hotel in London. A recipe for the White Lady was published in Craddock’s “Savoy Cocktail Book” in 1930. It is said to have been one of Laurel and Hardy’s favorite drinks.

The Gin

A contemporary-style gin, where juniper isn’t the dominant flavor but still makes up the majority of the botanical recipe, Storm King’s small batch gin is floral on the nose and soft on the palate with a slight sweetness. Other botanicals include common gin additions such as coriander and angelica as well as citrus peel. Storm King routinely mixes things up (if you’ll forgive the pun), and their most recent batch used a combination of maceration for the heartier botanicals and vapor distillation for the more delicate ones.

It’s also award-winning, with the following accolades to its name. Silver from the Denver International Spirit Competition, Silver from the American Distilling Institute, Silver from the San Diego International Spirit Competition, and Bronze from the American Craft Spirit Association.

The Mixologist

Nickolas Paullus is a lover of flavor, both classic and cutting edge. He embraces the classic cocktail canon while working to make as many of the ingredients he uses in house with local and obscure ingredients alike. Outside of the spirit world, he is a family man, farmer and poet.

The Distillery

Developed out of a passion for all things whisk(e)y and a desire to add a unique experience to Montrose, the staff and owners work tirelessly to create the best spirits they can and at the same time provide a unique and elevated experience in their tasting room.

The White Lady The Lite Lady

Continued from Page 29

For those who don’t drink alcohol or just want a night off, any good mixologist will be able to make you something equally delicious without the hooch. At Storm King, Nickolas can whip up a version that he calls the Lite Lady. Ingredients

OVER THE HUMP?

PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY: THE MAYORS

During times of uncertainty, tough decisions have to be made, and the burden of making these decisions falls to our elected community leaders. To say the COVID-19 pandemic was a test of the leadership skills of the city councils of Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Ridgway, and Ouray, is somewhat of an understatement.

We spoke to the mayors who led their respective communities though the pandemic and asked them to both reflect on that time and to tell us what we can all expect moving forward into the spring and summer of 2021 and what will hopefully become known as the post-pandemic period in our recent history.

Like most of us, Mayor Nathan Clay said that 2020 was one of the most challenging years of his life, but he is optimistic that life will soon get back to normal.

“The City of Delta approached the pandemic in much the same way we deal with any challenge, by getting on with work,” Clay said. “We have respect for the deadly nature of the virus, but at the same time we kept our focus on living life as closely to normal as possible. We managed to keep our sanity, and now we are in green on the dial (the state-wide system that standardized different levels of “openness” at the county level) indicating we are moving forward.”

Speaking of moving forward, Clay said that the vaccination program in the city and the county is moving along nicely. “Most of our residents are enthusiastic about receiving the vaccine and are seeking it out. I don’t see that slowing down until anyone who wants it has it. I just got my first dose today.”

Looking forward, Clay is optimistic. “If things stay the course, Delta will move forward with a range of events throughout the spring, summer and beyond. The Crazy River Raft Race, Smith Mountain Ultra Marathon, a beer festival, and lots of other events are planned and more will take place, hopefully with just a few basic limitations,” he said. “We are hopeful and enthusiastic about opening back up responsibly and pressing the play button all the great things that we had paused last year.”

Olathe

For those who don’t know, the small community of Olathe is the de facto hub for agriculture in the area. Mayor Roland Hutson, who took office around a year ago and has therefore been mayor of Olathe for a large part of the pandemic, is ready to get back to life as we knew it.

“The town staff have done a terrific job following the guidelines and mandates put out by the State of Colorado Public Health Department and the Montrose Board of County Commissioners,” he said. Hutson also said that the town had given the people of Olathe leeway in interpreting and implementing these policies.”

Hutson says that Olathe continues to work with the County to make sure that anyone who wants to get the COVID-19 vaccine is able to do so. He goes on to say that “the town is ready to get back to living again.”

As for spring and summer, the big news is that the Olathe Town Board has started talking to the organizers of the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival to discuss relocating it back to Olathe. “We are VERY hopeful that the restrictions will allow the festival to take place in it’s hometown,” Hutson said. “I am also very hopeful that the Punkin’ Chunkin’ event for the Friends of the Olathe Fire Department will be able to take place this year as well.”

Like the other mayors, and most of us, one of the main things Hutson has realized over the course of this pandemic is the importance of family. “Time spent with family and friends truly is special, and should never be taken for granted.

Photos taken at Upstairs at Precedence in Montrose.

DELTA MAYOR NATHAN CLAY

OLATHE MAYOR ROLAND HUTSON

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM WOODY

Ridgway

If Mayor John Clark has learned one thing from the pandemic it is that we need to respect each other’s values and opinions and have an open mind. At a time when the country is perhaps as divided as it has ever been, Clark says we need to get back to listening to each other. “We all want our family and friends to be safe here, and so I think we should get back to being Ridgwayans no matter your politics.”

Ridgway is a small community, and while that can have pros and cons, Clark thinks it has worked in the town’s favor in terms of how the town has handled the pandemic, especially financially with sales tax receipts for 2020 being slightly up over 2019!

Like Montrose and Delta, Clark says that the Ouray County Health Department is doing a “bang up job” when it comes to vaccinations. And, he says, there seems to be no shortage of vaccines. “It’s a far cry from what I hear from friends who live in larger metropolitan areas, that’s for sure!”

As for what he hopes for spring and summer, Clark is, like everyone, also cautiously optimistic.

“While it is still a game of wait-and-see and assuming we can get above the 70-80 percent vaccinated threshold by mid-summer or so, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to return to having a version of our summer outdoor concerts and that our local restaurants and entertainment venues will be able to return as well. Time will, however, tell.”

Ouray

Mayor Greg Nelson is proud of the way the people of Ouray have come together during the pandemic to balance the needs, safety and interests of citizens, businesses, and visitors which he says has resulted in as good of a year as could be expected. “I learned a lot about the character of our community. I was truly impressed by the number of individuals and organizations that stepped up to help out our citizens and our city. I am proud of our community.”

Like all of the other towns, Nelson pays tribute to the efforts of the county health department. “We are making good progress with vaccinations thanks to the hard work of the Ouray County Health Department and our Emergency Management team, and I expect that progress will continue in the coming months.”

It is hoped that the success of the vaccination program will be aided by herd immunity, and better weather and push Ouray back towards normality. “We are confident that this spring and summer we will see some of our regular events return in some capacity including our famed concerts in the park and some version of our 4th of July events. The Ouray International Film Festival will also return this year with precautions in place, and we hope that our hot springs pool can return to normal or near normal capacity levels, too. Obviously, we will closely monitor the situation and adjust our plans accordingly.”

And while we are all looking forward, Nelson also wants to learn from this experience. “Recent events reinforced the need for advance planning, and to be able to adjust those plans quickly as circumstances change. That also applies to prudent financial management and reserves in order to be able to effectively care for our community no matter what we face in the future.

Montrose

By the time you read this Mayor Barbara Bynum will be former Mayor Bynum, and while she remains a member of the city council, it was on her watch, so to speak, that Montrose weathered the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was challenging, of course, but Bynum says it was also fulfilling to know she contributed to the community.

From a business perspective, Bynum is happy with the efforts the city put in during 2020. “The City worked hard to support local small businesses through the pandemic, with, among other things, weekly meetings connecting local leaders throughout the state to leverage grant and loan opportunities.

And of course, just because we were in the midst of a pandemic, regular work still needed to be done. We continued to invest in improvements of all kinds throughout the city as well as other projects such as affordable housing and more child care options.”

And while we seem to be through the worst of the pandemic, Bynum is justifiably cautious. “There is still a lot of work to be done, but the council and city management are working hard, and so I am confident that coming out of the pandemic, we will be as strong as ever.”

As for what residents and visitors can expect this spring and summer, there are grand plans in the works. “The city’s annual Func Fest will return this year following cancellation last year, and as we have some great things planned for the 4th of July. And as the weather warms up, the farmers’ market will move back outside from its winter indoor location. There are a few new shops and restaurants that will be opening in the next few months on and near Main Street, too.”

Bynum also emphasized the importance of coming together, both within our own community and with other communities in the region. “We know that working together always makes us stronger, but even more so during times of crisis. I would love to see the community spirit that was developed and strengthened during the pandemic become a permanent part of life in the city and the valley.”

RIDGWAY MAYOR JOHN CLARK

OURAY MAYOR GREG NELSON

FORMER MONTROSE MAYOR BARBARA BYNUM

HIT THE IRON ROAD

Ouray’s via ferrata has been a huge hit since it opened back in 2020. So much so in fact, that this summer a second route will open.

PHOTOS BY MARKUS VAN METER

Via ferratas, which translates to iron road in Italian, date back centuries, but it was their use in battles in northeastern Italy during World War I that made them widely known.

There are more than 1,500 via ferratas in the world, but only a fraction of them are in North America. The Ouray via ferrata was designed to meet or exceed all current ASTM (the American Society for Testing

and Materials) and CEN (the European Committee for Standardization - it’s French for Comité Européen de Normalization in case you’re interested) safety standards. The second route is expected to open some time in June.

Dreamed up by a group that eventually became the nonprofit Friends of the Ouray Via Ferrata (FOVF), the park is on city-owned land within

Uncompahgre Gorge just outside town. It follows the Ouray Ice Park model in that it is owned by the City of Ouray and is free to the public, although specific safety gear is required. That gear as well as guided trips can be found at outfitters in town.

Visit Ourayviaferrata.org for more info, to keep up to date on the details of the second route and to find guides and outfitters in town.

PEER INTO THE BLACK

The Uncompahgre Valley is surrounded by millions of acres of public land, but for sheer dramatic spectacle, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is hard to beat.

STORY AND PHOTO BY STAFF

On the smaller side when it comes to national parks at a modest 30,779 acres, it could fit into Rocky Mountain National Park more than 8.5 times, but size isn’t everything.

Essentially an enormous fissure in the earth, the dizzyingly steep cliffs the canyon is named for - or more accurately the darkness at the bottom thanks to the cliffs - were crafted over two million years by a combination of the Gunnison River and the weather.

As for what to do, there are hiking options for everyone, from the scenic and easy Oak Flat Loop trail to extremely difficult trails that will take you down into the depths of the canyon and can be as rewarding as they are treacherous. There are also options for road cyclists, birders, anglers, amateur herpetologists, and more.

There are campsites on both the north and south rims (the north rim is a slightly longer drive via the town of Crawford) as well as opportunities for rafting, kayaking, and rock climbing. But the Black Canyon is not for beginners, so if you have any doubts, you’re probably not experienced enough.

The Black Canyon is an incredible place that brings in visitors from around the world. It is ludicrously convenient for the people of Montrose and visitors to the city being just a 20-minute drive from downtown.

nps.gov/blca

Mosaic in Montrose

Opened by Leanna and Jordan Johnson, Mosaic is a boutique, creative studio, and gallery that is both a fun and important addition to downtown Montrose.

Boutique

Mosaic is home to dozens of local and regional crafters with everything from handmade clothing, all kinds of accessories, pottery, soaps and lotions, cool and funny stuff for the home and even food.

Creative Studio

For those who like to create, Mosaic has a jewelry bar where you can make your own necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. There are also options for kids. Mosaic also invites talented people from the community to teach creative workshops.

Gallery

The gallery element sees Mosaic host exhibitions of awesome artists from the area, and once a month, Mosaic brings all of these elements together, with some wine and cheese for good measure, for First Friday events.

Visit MosaicMontrose.com for details on classes, exhibitions and First Friday events

WAYFINDER

Cover Story

This summer, little Ouray will once again welcome people from around the world courtesy of the Ouray International Film Festival. Returning for its second year, OIFF will once again bring glamour to an otherwise vibrant and worldclass mosaic of events and things to do.

PHOTO BY MARKUS VAN METER

Founded by Jared LaCroix, Jacob Abell, and Terry Kiser, the latter of which you may know, OIFF will once again be both an in-person and a virtual event to accommodate both those who have been craving the return of events and those who may not yet feel comfortable gathering in public as well as festival fans want to attend from the comfort of their living rooms from around the world.

The de facto face of OIFF, Kiser is a distinguished actor who got “under the table” with Paul Newman in 1969’s “Rachel, Rachel.” A working actor with more than 140 credits, Kiser has also trodden the boards on Broadway. Kiser is, however, perhaps best known for his legendary performance as Bernie Lomax in the cult classic “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

Make it a literal weekend at Terry’s with a Patron Pass. Holders will have the opportunity to join Terry and the executive team for an exclusive engagement at Kiser Ranch in addition to full access to all film screenings.

As for the festival itself, it is going to be a prestigious affair with renowned and awardwinning filmmakers attending as well as giving talks and hosting panels.

Set to kick off with a bang courtesy of director Lissette Feliciano’s “Women is Losers.” Starring Lorenzzo Izzo (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and Simu Liu (lead actor in the upcoming Marvel film “ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), the film is set in San Francisco during the 1960s and follows Celina Guerrera (Izzo) who survives a difficult home life by following the rules.

There will also be a number of filmmakers that are making their festival debuts, at least in a physical sense. One of those debutants will be award-winning director Tiffany Hsiung who will be showing her film “Sing Me a Lullaby,” a documentary

about her investigation into her mother’s origin story and tells the story of how being separated from her family shaped her mother’s life. Among other accolades, “Sing Me a Lullaby” won the Shorts Grand Jury Prize at DOC NYC.

For something a little closer to home, “The Art of Rescue” is a short documentary that takes a look at what it’s like to be part of the Alpine Rescue Team, a

group of highly trained unpaid professional rescuers based in Evergreen, Colorado who help people who get lost or injured while exploring the vastness of the Colorado outdoors. Director Brian Chambliss will be in attendance this summer.

OIFF’s Director Spotlight Award ceremony will honor Dr Brian Foster and Ethan Payne for their collaboration on “We Travel,” a powerful essay written by Foster that explores the future of the South. The film will also be screened as part of the festival.

Finally, James V. Hart, the writer of legendary films such as “Hook,” “Contact,” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” will be hosting a storytelling masterclass for patron pass holders at Kiser Ranch.

OIFF takes place between June 2527, 2021. For program and ticket info visit OurayFilmFestival.com

PHOTO BY WILLIAM WOODY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OIFF

WAYFINDER EVENTS

AJ FULLERTON BAND & COUSIN CURTISS LIVE IN THE COURTYARD

Ridgway, May 27-28

STILLHOUSE JUNKIES AT THE WRIGHT SUMMER FAIRE

Ouray, May 28

The Wright Opera House in Ouray’s grand re-opening coincides with the Wright Summer Faire which will see artisans from around the region descend on the town. Durango’s Stillhouse Junkies will be providing the entertainment.

TheWrightOperaHouse.org

FUNC FEST

Montrose, June 12

The annual Fun on the Uncompahgre event returns to the Montrose Water Sports Park this summer. Admission is free and there will be live music, all kinds of fun activities as well as various options for food and drinks as well as all kinds of vendors from the area.

VisitMontrose.com

On Thursday, May 27, Montrose native AJ Fullerton will take the stage at the Sherbino Theater’s Courtyard with his brand of country, blues, and rock and roll, while the following night Cousin Curtiss will bring his energetic interpretation of bootstomp - a blend of folk, blues, and bluegrass - to the same stage. Curtiss will also play at Storm King Distilling in Montrose on May 13.

Sherbino.org

ELI COOK AT HEALTHY RHYTHM

Montrose, May 7-8

Virginia native Eli Cook will be bringing his eclectic combination of blues, rock, and grunge to Healthy Rhythm’s new space at 232 East Main Street in Montrose next month. If you don’t know Cook, familiarize yourself with him on Spotify, but be prepared not to believe the voice that comes out of his slender frame. The concert will be followed the next day by a “Roots of Blues Guitar workshop.”

HealthyRhythm.net

A lot has changed in the last year or so.

Some of us had a tough time navigating this brave new world as COVID-19 slowed life to a crawl across the region with mask mandates, rigorous disinfection, and social distancing altering daily life for everyone.

Divisions were created and friendships rekindled, often from behind a computer screen and from a distance. Businesses closed their doors, some never to reopen, and others sprang up as entrepreneurs saw new opportunities emerge.

As we look forward to getting back to concerts, bustling restaurants, and life as we knew it, we look back on 2020 through the lens of photojournalist William Woody who recorded the lockdown in the Uncompahgre Valley.

A man walks through the JC Penney parking lot following lockdown March 24, 2020. The store, and the company would eventually close for good.

Pastor James Conley of the First Baptist Church in Delta raises his hand in praise during prayer of an Easter sunrise service at the Tru Vu Drive In theater in Delta Sunday April 12, 2020.

A message is written in chalk on a walking path in Riverbottom Park in Montrose April 27, 2020.

Black Lives Matter protesters march in masks through downtown Montrose June 6, 2020.

A hospital worker checks people in for COVID testing at Montrose Memorial Hospital Oct. 13, 2020.

People meet in a parking lot to converse socially distant from one another in Montrose May 14, 2020.

Toilet paper shelves sit empty as shoppers rushed to stock up during the early days of COVID lockdown.

The 24-hour Denny’s restaurant sits empty during the early days of lockdown in Montrose March 19, 2020.

Arnie Chavez of Grace Community Church’s Mobile Food Relief food pantry takes groceries to a home in the Northbrook Villas community Wednesday June 17, 2020.

A sign hangs on a door on a business in downtown Montrose August 19, 2020.

The Fox Theater in downtown Montrose sits closed for lockdown March 21, 2020.

Looking Forward

The secret of getting ahead is getting started

So that’s it for the very first issue of Wayfinder magazine. We hope you liked it. If you did, feel free to email us or tell us on social media.

Issue #2 is already being worked on, and we’ll have a new cocktail for you in Mixology 101, another perfect pairing in Fat of the Land, and we’ll be looking at the past, present and future of our valley.

We’ll also be looking at what festivals and events we can

all expect to be attending in the next few months, and we’ll round-up of events that celebrate ridding this land of the damned British!

We’ll also take a look at the options for warm-weather fun on the Uncompahgre River as it flows between our communities, whether that’s surfing on it, wading in it, or biking alongside it.

There is so much going on between Delta and Ouray that it is hard to keep up,

so be sure to let us know of anything new and cool, and we’ll try and get it in the pages of a future issue.

Finally, we’d love to see photos of you enjoying Wayfinder. Post a photo of yourself on social media with a copy of the magazine using the hashtag #FindingWayfinder, and we’ll find something to give away to a few of the more creative posts!

See you next time!