the durango
elegraph
*According to a very unscientific and impromptu office poll
“Giving locals something to do on Thursdays since 2002”
Star power
Biting the dust
Coal’s precipitous decline hastened by market, law and public sentiment by Peter Gartrell / Writers on the Range
How a shift in the political universe can bring hope anew by Doug Gonzalez 8
Pot, pets, poo & you
That morning-after squat in the woods isn’t so innocuous after all by Solana Kline
Crowd control
National parks are overrun – unless you know where (and when) to look by Claire Carlson / Daily Yonder
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ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-
Ear to the ground:
“I once ate a hot dog on Wonder bread with Cheez Whiz there.”
– Highlights from a trip to Louisville, Ky., from someone who obviously needs to get out more
Hitting the turf
Tired of your water-guzzling lawn or spending half your Saturday mowing it? The City of Durango has a solution that will not only save you money and time, but help save water in the process.
From now until funds run dry (get it?), the City of Durango will be paying residents to rip out or replace their lawns with more waterwise turf or landscaping.
Rebates are capped at 1,000 square feet for residential properties and 3,000 square feet for commercial properties. The program provides rebates of $2.50 per square foot for replacing water-intensive grass with more water-efficient landscaping or $1.50 per square foot to replace turf with approved low-water turf.
"We are offering this in response to feedback from community members and participating local landscaping companies," City Sustainability Manager Marty Pool said.
Interested residents and businesses must work with an approved, participating local landscaping company (found on the City’s website). In addition, before beginning a project, participants must undergo a free consultation on their water consumption and potential turf-replacement options. Completion of the consultation will reserve a participant’s spot on the rebate funding list. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
On the cover Mountain biker Sabina Krashaaur takes in the well-earned view from the Engineer Mountain Trail last weekend./ Photo by Jennaye Derge
REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Unit 8 Durango, CO 81301
PHONE: 970-259-0133
This is a pilot year for the program, which has three primary goals:
• Provide education and advice on outdoor water consumption and the benefits of alternatives to water-intensive turf.
• Incentivize local businesses and organizations to replace turf with native and natural landscaping to conserve water and reduce maintenance.
• Support state-wide efforts to track and better understand the impact of turf replacement.
E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com MAIL
AND SUBSCRIPTIONS:
$150/year
tributed in the finest and most discerning
throughout the greater Durango area.
The program launched this past spring, with eligibility originally limited to schools, churches, nonprofits and low- to mediumincome multi-family residences. However, based on feedback from community members and remaining funds, the City decided to expand the program to all residents.
The program is funded by a $25,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, $15,000 from the City of Durango and $10,000 from Visit Durango.
For info., go to: www.DurangoCO.gov/ TurfGrassReplacement
LaVidaLocal
Written in the stars
When I was in middle school, I picked up my first astrology book from the Waldenbooks that once stood within the Farmington Mall. Titled, “The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need,” it lived up to its name. Through the various charts and passages, I felt the book offered crucial insight to aspects of my current and future self, while also shedding light on the possibilities that existed within potential relationships. Like the high one might get from the sound of swishing water before turning over their fortune-telling Magic 8 Ball, the sound of the pages turning became exhilarating. These pages provided safety for the many questions a queer child who was coming of age wanted to ask but couldn’t. I came to recognize Wednesday as my “lucky” day, that my first gay crush was a Scorpio, and that we could have good cosmic energy if we ever got together (I’m still keeping my fingers crossed on this one!) My days felt like they had some order to them – that I could expect certain periods to be better than others. However, this interest further separated me from some family members who thought less of astrology. But like my queerness, it was simply another thing to keep hidden toward some and open toward others.
from time to time and find myself appreciating the ones within this paper. It wasn’t until last fall that I wrote my first horoscope. It was for a class group project in Spanish that aimed at giving us practice time with verbs conjugated in the future tense. Applicable to any sign, I wrote this originally in Spanish with my group:
“Good morning, (insert any sign)! Now that the harvest season is over, what are you going to do? Will you stay at home, resting after a year of hard work? Will you go back to the countryside to see what extra work you can find? Or will you go searching for greener pastures? We advise you to rest and keep your ideas inside until spring arrives. We know that you have strong desires and ambitions to do as you please, but we hope that you keep these suggestions in your mind, and in your heart. Someday, you may need them.”
What I can’t recall is how much truth or how much doubt I placed in this book. In addition to being a safe space, I believe this was more about trying to have fun while also trying to make sense of a world that seemed to shift in response to two key moments: 911 and the Columbine High School shooting. Both happened at prime times during my childhood, and both happened during the school day.
In time, I moved away from astrology. I still enjoy reading my horoscope
“Slurry” the cat was rescued last Friday after spending five days inside the Front Range’s Quarry Fire. Other than being covered in red fire retardant, the cat was in good health and reunited with its family. We’re sure “Slurry the Wonder Cat’ memes and t-shirts are being made as we speak.
Scientists just made a huge discovery of 700,000-year-old teeth and arm bones from one of humankind’s oldest and tiniest relatives, Homo floresiensis, aka “hobbits.” The ancient people, believed to be less than 3.5 feet tall, lived in the area now known as Indonesia (not Middle Earth.)
The City of Durango offering cash to residents who rip out lawns and replace them with water-wise landscaping
Revisiting this, I realize now how much I was actually speaking to myself. Through offering advice to others, I was asking for some self-care. But since writing it, self-care has not been at the top of my list of priorities. But I feel differently now – a bit more optimistic as of the past week. With the potential of a Kamala Harris presidency, I realize now that I have been holding my breath for some time, as if I’ve been driving in white-out conditions for the past year – vision skewed, roads treacherous. But I can now ease into a sense of comfort. It’s been a long time since I last felt this, recalling a similar feeling when I outlined my fortune within the pages of an astrology book. I am aware that her nomination does not guarantee her win, nor does her presidency guarantee a resolution to the problems of the nation. However, I’m hopeful again for the future, and I’m excited to see how the stars align in November.
Way to go, Utah – you just made 13 books all the more intriguing to kids by banning them from schools for being “pornographic” or “indecent.” No word on whether or not they will censor the name of Gov. Spencer Cox for similar reasons…
How is it that the Olympics are almost over and we’ve only managed to catch part of the women’s steeplechase and synchronized diving?
The masterminds at Dolce & Gabbana have brought the world “Fefé,” a perfume for dogs with “warm” notes of ylang and “creamy undertones” of sandalwood. Vets advise against it, not just because it’s $109, but because it could get your dog’s creamy underside kicked at the dog park.
SignoftheDownfall:
– Doug Gonzalez Dreadmocks
Mexican rapper
Dan Sur became quasi famous back in 2021 for having hooks surgically implanted into his skull so he could replace his hair with interchangeable gold chains. Yes, he still has to shave between the hooks, and yes, he sometimes hangs hair extensions on the hooks to make it look like he has hair again, which makes no sense. Anyway, thanks to TikTok’s insidious nature, Sur has become all-the-way famous, so he posted recently that he doesn’t want anyone to copy his “goldilocks” style. I can’t afford that many gold chains, but I still want to copy Sur’s look, so if you hear a strange clanking coming from my pants, don’t ask questions.
WritersontheRange
A precipitous decline
Ban on new coal leases follows market, law and public opinion
by Peter Gartrell
The coal mining industry reacted with outrage when the Bureau of Land Management recently announced plans to stop issuing new coal leases on the eastern plains of Wyoming and Montana. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Mining Association predicted “a severe economic blow to mining states and communities,” while the industry’s political allies likened the move to declaring “war” on coal communities.
The truth is that coal has been steadily falling from its past dominance for nearly two decades. Domestic coal consumption dropped to 512 million tons in 2022, down 55 percent since its peak in 2007.
With the downward trajectory expected to continue, the Biden administration’s decision to end coal leasing in the Powder River Basin – the nation’s largest coal-producing region – reflects clear market trends. And far from killing coal, the administration’s plan allows mining to continue as the market transitions.
Billions of tons of previously leased federal coal remain available for mining from 270 tracts across the nation, which combined cover an area larger than Rocky Mountain National Park. One Montana mine has enough coal to keep operating until 2060. Taken together, economic effects related to ending new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin may not be felt until the 2040s and beyond.
Coal companies are well aware that U.S. energy markets have rapidly changed, a fact they soberly tell investors: “Over the last few years, customers have shifted to long-term supply agreements with shorter durations, driven by the reduced utilization of (coal) plants and plant retirements, fluidity of natural gas pricing and the increased use of re-
newable energy sources,” Wyoming’s largest coal producer, Peabody Energy, disclosed in its 2023 financial filing.
Even with declining markets, the Biden administration did not come to the decision on its own. Arguing that BLM’s past reviews of coal’s contributions to climate change were inadequate, a coalition of environmental groups sued the government and won. That forced the agency to revisit whether more coal leasing was warranted.
“For decades, mining has affected public health, our local land, air and water, and the global climate,” said Lynne Huskinson, a retired coal miner. She’s a member of the Powder River
Basin Resource Council, a Wyoming landowners’ group that was among the plaintiffs.
Now, she said, “we look forward to BLM working with state and local partners to ensure a just economic transition for the Powder River Basin as we move toward a clean energy future.”
Huskinson lives in Gillette, Wyo., where a dozen highly mechanized strip mines sprawl across the grasslands of the Powder River Basin. The Wyoming mines alone produce 40 percent of U.S. coal while employing less than 10 percent of the nation’s 44,000 coal workers.
The Basin’s mines have leased 8 billion tons of federal coal since the 1990s,
a cheap and plentiful supply for the industry. The leasing process allows companies to nominate desired tracts, and then bid with little or no competition. Winning bidders often pay less than $1 a ton for coal, plus a nominal annual rent and a royalty after final sale.
There is little question that leasing helped launch and sustain the region’s energy boom. But in his 2022 decision, Judge Brian Morris of the Federal District Court of Montana cast his eye toward the future. Morris wrote that federal law required BLM to consider “long-term needs of future generations” that included “recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, wildlife and fish, and natural scenic, scientific and historical values.”
The judge also gave the federal agency an out: “Coal mining represents a potentially allowable use of public lands, but BLM is not required to lease public lands.”
Morris’ words cleared the way for BLM to stop leasing, a decision that dovetails with a Colorado College poll that found most residents in eight Rocky Mountain states – including Wyoming and Montana – want Congress to prioritize conservation over energy development on public lands.
The legal wrangling will likely continue, with the BLM reviewing protests from the coal industry and its political allies that lay the groundwork for more lawsuits. For now, though, it seems the Biden administration’s decision to keep coal in the ground not only follows the market and the law, but public opinion, too.
Peter Gartrell is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a consultant in Washington, D.C., and covered coal leasing issues as a journalist and congressional staffer. ■
This week’s FREE music:
Thurs., Aug. 8, 6-9pm: Ian Lennox
Fri., Aug. 9, 7-10pm: Mineral Hill
Sat., Aug. 10, 12-3pm: Ian Lennox
Sat., Aug. 10, 7-10pm: Reviva
Sat., Aug. 10, 10pm-1am: DJ Spark Madden
Sun., Aug. 11, 1-3pm: Randy Crumbaugh
**FREE Trivia Every Tuesday @ 6 p.m.**
The BLM has banned new leases on coal mining in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, seen here. Despite cries that the Biden administration is “killing coal,” its decline has been due to a variety of factors, including demand, public opinion and environmental lawsuits. / Courtesy photo
(Editor’s note: The following letter is in regards to a private parking lot on the corner of Main Avenue and Fifth Street in downtown Durango. The lot, as well as another parking lot behind the Gaslight Theatre/Relove and many other commercial properties in “Rio Grande Land” are owned by Jackson & Jackson LLC. The Telegraph reached out to the Jacksons, a longtime local family, for comment. Their reply follows.)
A whole ‘lot’ of money
I paid $92 to Vanguard Parking for less than two hours parking at the lot at 528 Main Ave. after trying for days to resolve this issue and the anonymous person in the “fair adjudication department” threatened me with legal action.
On June 6, 2024, I parked there in the late afternoon/early evening, and for the first time, noticed a new sign with a QR code from Vanguard Parking. I used the code, registered my information and email, and paid to park for two hours. I received email confirmation and a paid receipt.
I met friends for dinner and the dinner went over. I’m used to not paying to park downtown after 6 p.m., so didn’t think about it. Four days later, on June 10, I left town for 2½ weeks. Before leaving town, I checked my P.O. box. I returned the evening of June 28 and picked up my mail on June 29.
I had a “notice of violation” from Vanguard Parking dated June 7 (the day after I parked) stating that I owed about $58 for the one hour and 38 minute over-
age. I called the number on the notice immediately, twice, and left a message. I never received a call back. I then emailed where indicated regarding disputes and stated that this is an error, and I’d like to correct this. Their first response stated, “THIS IS NOT AN ERROR.” I emailed back and gave all the pertinent information and was told that it’s not an error, that I overparked and there’s nothing they can do. I responded stating that I was not saying that I didn’t overpark, but that I was charged $58 for less than two hours and I had no notice of this since I was out of town, until June 29.
I asked repeatedly for help in resolving the matter in a mutually agreeable manner. I tried for five days through email to resolve this issue and in that time, the fee went to $92. When I asked how this is “fair” adjudication and said I was extremely frustrated, the anonymous person started accusing me of lying, harassment, etc. – gaslighting. I asked why, since they had my email information, that I wasn’t immediately notified by email. No response. I would have immediately paid if I’d received the notice by email, as I did the initial payment. Regretfully, I paid the $92. I also went online and found a CBS news piece from 2023 where the Colorado Attorney General sued and won against another company using identical tactics defrauded innocent people of thousands of dollars. I filed a fraud complaint. I told the anonymous person I was doing so, and they escalated their hostility, threatening me with legal action, accusing me of “revenge” tactics, harassment and lying and told me to never contact them again.
The communication from them was, imho, extremely childish and evasive.
I recently went back to the lot and saw that there is signage with off-white, very small lettering, on a black background, turned sideways, i.e., not obviously noticeable, with their “rules.” Most legitimate parking garages, etc. have large-lettered signs, including rates with an “all-day” cap – generally $10/day.
At the very least, these are deceptive practices. At worst, it is a scam, intended to defraud innocent people. This lot is across from the train, and so many tourists will be using this lot and getting ripped off. Not a good look for our town.
I went to the City of Durango and they knew immediately what I was talking about due to so many complaints. They suggested I write to you and to the Herald. I also tried to dispute the charges with my credit card company and ultimately was told there’s nothing they could do.
There is a thread happening now on NextDoor, where I’m learning that many have had this same experience in this same lot and have not received assistance after asking for help, as I did.
I don’t begrudge paying to park or the owner of the lot making a reasonable profit, but this is egregious.
Here’s the link to the CBS article: tinyurl.com/ 2hfy8emx. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office has a complaint: stopfraudcolorado.gov
has Sound Gear Rentals
– Julie Gentry, Durango
Still a few kinks, but challenges on all sides
Parking is always a challenge on every side. Our intention is to make sure there are enough parking spaces for our tenants’ customers and of course, our tenants. We are very sorry for the confusion about the billing and the penalties, and we are in the process of getting more signage so there is no confusion that these are not City-owned lots and that they are not prepaid train parking.
The reason we do not post the amounts is that we are still making adjustments so that pricing is competitive, and we also plan to provide free parking from time to time, for instance on Noel Night.
I have reached out to Vanguard directly and forwarded the email you received from Ms. Gentry asking them to look into the complaint. It can be difficult to find the particular incident without a plate number or a ticket number. I am deeply disappointed to hear that the customer service department may have been “hostile” and “childish.”
We really do understand the frustration of people but these have always been privately owned lots. The lot on the corner (of Main Avenue and Fifth Street) has been a paid lot since I can re-
member. Payments were made a block away at The General Palmer. I felt it was too much to ask people to walk so far, so I put a parking kiosk in place for people to pay as well as a large sign at the entrance. The parking lot behind Gaslight and Relove, which Jackson & Jackson also owns, has been a paid lot with signage and a parking kiosk for nearly a decade.
However, very few people actually paid in either lot. I cannot tell you how many people have complained saying, “I’ve been parking here free for 20 years” and one who said, “ I’ve been parking here for 45 years” and so on, essentially admitting to bypassing the kiosks altogether.
Signs have been up as long as the lots have been paid lots, and we have lost quite a bit of revenue due to people simply ignoring the signs. I myself have sat and watched as people park and take off up Main Avenue, often in apparent work clothes.
We have had attendants addressing people as they come in the lots on special occasions, such as during parades and Snowdown, and people have yelled at them and cursed at them. One driver ran over an attendant’s foot. Another parked, walked back to the attendant and pushed him threatening to “kick his a**!”
We are not going to allow our very fine employees to be accosted, berated and put in harm’s way because some people feel entitled or do not understand that times change. I have been here 50 years and remember seeing horses on main street. There were actually ties for horses. Times change, which can be difficult.
Parking lots are not free space. There is
a financial reality to keeping a parking lot. We did not want to go to the extreme action of towing cars or even booting them. It’s awful to come out to find your car gone or in a boot.
The businesses in which customers stay for extended periods of time such as the theatre and the restaurant behind the theatre can validate for their customers.
We are doing our best to work out the kinks, and as I said in the beginning, it is a challenge on every side.
I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to share our side of this.
– Amy Jackson, spokesperson, Jackson & Jackson LLC, Durango
“We’ll print damn near anything”
The Telegraph prides itself on a liberal letters policy. We have only three requests: limit letters to 500 words; letters must be signed by the writer; and thank-you lists and libelous, personal attacks are unwelcome. Send your profundities by Monday at noon to tele graph@durangotelegraph.com
Call of doodie
The inconvenient (and gross) truth about pot, pets, poop and you
by Solana Kline
The June sunset is throwing rays through the ponderosa, their boughs waving hello, their warm bark giving off that telltale vanilla-butterscotch aroma that always makes me feel home in summertime. This is one of those secret little camp spots where you see more deer and bear than people, where there’s no cell service, where you play and rest and remember what it means to be alive and connected to your dogpack and nature’s rhythms.
My dogs, Betty and Mickey, are on typical camp protocol: the occasional victimless pounce accompanied by vigorous tail wag followed by sunshiney horse naps in the dusty sand. I hear them rooting around the scrub oak next to the rig. I’ve got some delish dinner brewing, which usually perks the pups to attention quicker than anything. Micks barrels out of the bushes to see what’s cookin’. Betts, usually the snack queen, is slow to follow, stumbling out of the bushes, unable to catch her balance or her footing. I run to her, she is semi-paralyzed and appears not to be reactive or able to see. She is breathing
slowly and inconsistently; she has seizure tremors.
We load up quickly, all possible scenarios running through my head. I keep coming back to rattlesnake bite, what else could it be? I drive like a bat out of hell to the emergency vet an hour away, watching Betty slowly decline, no longer responding to prompts or verbal calls. The emergency vet rushes Betts in. Shortly after, the vet comes outside. “We think she has THC toxicity, do you know if she has been exposed to this?”
I was so certain it had been a snakebite that marijuana hadn’t even crossed my mind. I laughed it off thinking the vet was joking, picturing Betty sitting down and rolling a big spliff to share with Mickey in the bushes. But sure enough, Betty’s toxicology report came back, and she had extremely high levels of THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. And, thank goodness, she was going to be fine after IV fluids and a good night’s sleep (and maybe a munchie or two).
What the heck? Where would she have picked that up in the middle of the forest? We spend so much time out in public land, and this had never happened to either of the pups before. And then, I put two and
number two together: being an ex-street dog, Betty was a notorious human poo eater, to my constant disgust. My working theory was that Betts had eaten some human feces laden with THC in the woods.
I turned to internet sleuthing. Low and behold, pups have exponentially strong reactions to THC expelled via human feces. The reason for this is twofold: 1) We poo to rid our bodies of things too toxic for our systems to handle, such as THC, which is highly psychoactive and toxic, and 2) These expelled toxins are especially toxic to dogs due to their unique toxin processing and neurological setup. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, a network of 1,000 animal hospitals in the United State and Canada, dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains, which means the effects of cannabis are more dramatic and potentially more toxic when compared to humans.
So, theoretically, all it would take is one human getting too high in the forest, popping a squat and carelessly leaving their scat out in the open for any interested four-legger to munch on.
According to VCA, your pet’s age, health and body
Dogs Mickey, left, and Betty, in the San Juans. A recent camping went awry when Betty ingested THC-laden human excrement, resulting in a visit to the vet. Betty was OK, but such incidents are becoming increasingly more common in the great outdoors, highlighting the need for awareness and for folks to pack out their number two./Photo by Solana Kline
size can all play a role in how it is affected by TCH, so there is no official safe level of exposure – even a small amount can cause toxicity in dogs (and cats). Luckily, cannabis intoxication is seldom fatal – the lethal oral dose of THC in pets is fairly high.
However, while we all have varying perspectives on the human use of marijuana, I’d venture to guess most of us don’t want dogs or other animals getting THC toxicity. Symptoms are neurological and, as mentioned, can vary greatly from dog to dog, but include: tremors, seizures, loss of balance, slow or fast heart rate, drooling, sleepiness or hyper activity, dilated pupils, slow breathing, disorientation, urinary incontinence, vomiting and whining. (Sidenote: just as for humans, cannabis products may be helpful for particular canine medical conditions, especially cancers and the treatment of its side effects. But, working with a vet on safe cannabis protocols is key to avoiding toxicity.)
Unfortunately, there’s not much accountability for the disposal of human feces on public lands. Already unsettling to encounter as a human, it becomes dangerous for our pets and other animals when the person doing the poo-ing has ingested drugs, supplements or pharmaceuticals.
The biggest thing all of us can do is to be mindful of how we dispose of our number twos when we are out enjoying public lands. Using a W.A.G (“waste alleviating gel”) bag instead of burying the doodie keeps our pups and other animals from digging it up and eating it as an afternoon snack. But you don’t need a fancy W.A.G bag. You can make your own using biodegradable dog poop bags and kitty litter – just remember to pack it out instead of leaving it in camp. Even better, a lot of national
The author, Solana Kline, with her hiking companions on a past hike on Engineer Mountain. When Betty, a former street dog, started having seizures and was having trouble walking or seeing on a recent camp outing, Kline thought she had been bitten by a snake. Turns out she had THC toxicity from, uh, “dooing” what dogs do./Courtesy photo
recreation sites now have human waste bag dispensers at trailheads, just like doggie-poo bag dispensers at parks. Our pack learned the hard way that day that accidental consumption of THC in human excrement is
no joke. So, whether you are the proud pack leader of a four-legger, a cannabis consumer or a forest camper, pack it out, and make sure your four-leggers scoot around the scat. ■
by Claire Carlson
AThe people problem
Overcrowding is real, but solitude is possible off the beaten path
common complaint among my friends is that there are too many people who like to do the same outdoor activities that we do, and the places we visit are crowded.
This is true, in a way. Oregon, where I live, often feels like it’s crawling with Subaru-driving, mountain bike-toting, dusty modern-day hippies in Chacos (or nowadays, Bedrock sandals), who all flock to the same places: central Oregon’s Smith Rock State Park for rock climbing, the Columbia River Gorge for trail runs to breathtaking waterfalls, or the coast to park their second cars (a live-in van) at ocean view campsites for the weekend. Reservations for these places are filled months in advance and you can forget about parking if you arrive anywhere later than 8 a.m.
I experienced a new level of these crowds in Montana’s Glacier National Park last month. I spent four days on the west side of the park camped at the mouth of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and even that proximity wasn’t enough to beat the traffic that forms early in the morning at iconic locations like Avalanche Lake and Logan Pass.
This was the second time I’d visited the park, but the first time I was there when the entirety of Going-to-the-Sun Road was open (snow keeps parts of it closed until late June most years). And I wasn’t the only one who wanted to see all that it had to offer.
On our first full day, we drove toward
Logan Pass, one of the most crowded places in the park, thinking there’d be parking spots open mid-afternoon. Instead, the pullouts a mile below Logan Pass were filled, and the lot itself was completely packed. Cars idled in lanes waiting for parked cars to leave, and we quickly exited once we realized the stress of fighting for parking was not worth our sanity.
The National Park Service has implemented a vehicle permitting system for the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road from 6 a.m.-3 p.m., May 24-Sept. 8, to abate some of the traffic. But, this means you either purchase a permit six months in advance or log into recreation.gov at 7 p.m. the night before to purchase the thousandsome tickets they keep available for lastminute reservations, $2 per permit. This only works if you have data or an internet connection to get on the website, and once
you’re there, you have to refresh several times because of “heavy user traffic” before you can get one of the permits.
Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Zion national parks are just a few others that also permit sections of roads to mitigate the hell that is driving through a popular national park in the middle of summer.
Even Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge – not a national park but a national scenic area – requires timed use permits in the summer because of visitor volume.
You can take a shuttle in these areas, but the problem I discovered was convincing my travel companions to use them. These shuttles can be crowded and run late – no excuse not to use them, but I understand why people like their own vehicles.
It’s an objectively good thing that people want to spend time outside: one
2021 study showed time spent in nature leads to “increased perceived value for connectedness to nature and, subsequently, greater pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.”
To speak anecdotally, the time in my own life that I’ve spent outdoors absolutely influenced my concern for the environment and desire to protect it. The majority of my “Oh shit, this is why I’m alive” moments have happened outside, staring at a gurgling spring or spotting the Milky Way on a dark, clear night. Even the less obviously awesome moments – the time in a city park I watched a crow protect its nest by swooping at the head of every pedestrian who dared walk by, or the sunflowers I spotted in an otherwise barren alleyway – have been reminders of my love of the outdoors. The wonders of national parks take this awe a step further.
Claire Carlson
The Logan Pass parking lot at Glacier National Park, one of the most crowded places in the park. On most summer days, parking spots are scarce and pull outs along the Going-to-the-Sun-Road are full a mile below the lot. The Park Service recently implemented a vehicle permitting system to abate some of the traffic./ Photo Wikimedia Commons
The “grandeur of the American West” is what inspired artists and scientists to urge Congress to create a national park system to preserve these glorious places, according to National Park Service archives. The artist George Catlin, who is most famous for his portraits of Native Americans, was one of the first people to suggest the idea. In 1872, the first national park – Yellowstone –was established.
Since then, a total of 63 national parks have been designated, and with them has come lots of visitation.
In 2023, the National Park Service reported 325.5 million recreation visits, a 4% increase from 2022. Of those millions of visits, 28% were to national parks. This makes sense – national parks have name recognition, and they’re stunning. Of course people want to visit them.
As Ojibwe author David Treuer wrote for The Atlantic in 2021, “parks, as they’ve existed for 149 years, have done a decent job of preserving the past. But it’s not clear that today’s model of care and custodianship best meets the needs of the land, Native people or the general public. Nor is it clear that the current system will adequately ensure the parks’ future.”
The problem I’ve experienced in national parks is that while there are a lot of people, it’s the number of cars idling on narrow roads and the treatment of these places as items on a bucket list that make the whole experience feel icky and extractive. Treuer argues that giving national park land back to tribes would improve their management, while still guaranteeing access to all who want to visit. I’m not sure how this would fix the traffic problem, but maybe it’s a start.
Another possibility is encouraging dispersion. Glacier National Park is massive, consisting of about one million
mostly roadless acres. We hiked to Otokomi Lake on the east side of the park and saw probably 20 people total during the 10-mile hike. Even though not as popular, it was still beautiful: the trail followed Rose Creek across rocky mountain sides and wildflower-filled meadows. The trick to beat the crowds that day, it seemed, was to just keep walking.
Finding the places that are off the beaten path (and this might mean getting comfortable with an honest-to-god physical map) could be the solution for some. But I know that not everyone can hike 10 miles to find fewer people.
And, visiting a park’s most popular places is often worth it: Sunday morning, we woke up at 5:15 a.m. to make it to Logan Pass by 6 a.m., and it was one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited. A mountain goat with half its winter coat still hanging on walked no more than 15 feet away, gazing at us with what felt like all the knowledge in the universe inside its brown eyes.
I don’t think there’s such a thing as too many people because in the outdoors, it’s pretty easy to spread out. But I do think there’s such a thing as overcrowding in one particular place, and our cars make it really easy to do this. Parts of national parks have become overcrowded. Maybe we need to remember that those aren’t the only beautiful places to visit.
Just a few days before visiting Glacier, I was in Missoula, Mon., where I used to live. The best part of this town is its proximity to the outdoors, a reality that anyone who’s lived in a small city or town probably knows well.
One night after work, I drove just 15 minutes to a fairly popular hiking spot in Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. I walked about 1 mile before reaching a
A mountain goat on the Hidden Lake Trail. Sometimes, finding solitude in busy national parks is still possible with an early alpine start and going off the beaten path./
small beach where the creek’s water was clearer than I’ve ever seen it and swallows darted into nests built into a rocky overhang. This was the perfect place to be, and no one was there.
Claire Carlson is a reporting fellow at The Daily Yonder. She lives in Portland, Ore. ■
Photo by Claire Carlson
Thursday08
La Plata County Fair, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Ska-B-Q with music by The Originals., 5-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Trivia Night, 5-7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Live music by Jason Myers, 5:30 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Adam Swanson, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Bluegrass Jam, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Concerts in the Plaza with Andrew Schuhmann, 6-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.
Live music by Jeff Solon Jazz, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio
An Evening with Ray Wylie Hubbard, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Drag Trivia Night, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Friday09
La Plata County Fair, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Devo Days Bike Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Live music with Donnie Johnson, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino Del Rio
Live music by Kirk James Band, 5-8 p.m., Gazpacho Restaurant, 431 E. 2nd Ave.
Live music by Rob Webster, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Live music by Adam Swanson, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Friday Night at Fox Fire, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms Winery, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio
Live music by Dustin Burley, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Gary Watkins, 6-9 p.m., Cliffside Bar and Grill, 314 Tamarron Dr.
Treasure Hunt, 6:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Durango Dancing, 7-10 p.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
Friday at the Fair concert with live music by Suzy Boggus, 8 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Live music and DJ, 8 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
“Exploring the Milky Way,” 8-11 p.m., SJMA Durango Nature Center, 63 CR 310
Aria’s Pizza Party, 8:30-9:30 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.
Saturday10
Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, TBK Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St.
La Plata County Fair, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Devo Days Bike Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Purgatory Resort
La Plata County Fair 4-H Community BBQ, 12-4 p.m., Fairgrounds Baseball Field, 2500 Main Ave.
The Joy Cabin, discussion by historian Charles DiFerdinando, 1 p.m., Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave. or animasmuseum.org/events.html
Live music by Kirk James, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino Del Rio
Karaoke, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Live music by The Black Velvet Duo, with Nina Sasaki & Larry Carver, 6 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.
Live music by Matt Rupnow, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Adam Swanson, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Ian Lennox, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
“Mic Drop: Standup vs. Improv,” presented by Lower Left Improv, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center. Tickets and info at: lowerleftimprov.com
BrightSide Blue with Maria Joy, 8-10 p.m., The Indigo Room, 1315 Main Ave., #207
Devo Days Bike Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Live music by Alison Dance Duet, 12-2 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Board Game Sundays, 2 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Sunday Funday, 6 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Live music by Ben Gibson, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Live music with the Blue Moon Ramblers, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Monday12
Live music by The Black Velvet Duo, with Nina Sasaki & Larry Carver, 5 p.m., Balcony Bar & Grill, 600 Main Ave.
Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., in person at The Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E 3rd Ave. suite 109 or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Live music by Adam Swanson, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Leah Orlikowski, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Singo with Devin Scott, 6 p.m., Grassburger South, 360 S. Camino Del Rio
Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Tuesday13
Book Club: “Running With Sherman” by Christopher McDougall, 12 noon, Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Aisha O’Neil, founder of “Good Trouble” high school sustainability clubs presents to the Rotary Club of Durango, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Nina Sasaki & Dan Carlson, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Sunday11
La Plata County Fair, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Live music by Adam Swanson, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Sean O’Brien, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
AskRachel Pool pee, misguided ETAs, and remastering
Interesting fact: Olympic swimmers have gone public with what we’ve all suspected: they pee in the pool. I guess if any one of them is on performance enhancers, they all are.
Dear Rachel, Gotta love the personal interest Olympic stories, the heart-wrenching tales of triumph and the memes that emerge from the unlikeliest of heroes. Do you think you could make the Olympics? If so, what would be your headline-grabbing angle?
– World-Class Fan
Dear Misguided Fandom, My jam is much more the “didn’t make the team” style of meme. Follow me anywhere, and you’ll see. Feet slipping off the pedals when I try to start riding? Didn’t make the team. Starting to fold a basket of laundry then giving up until the following Thursday? Didn’t make the team. Peeing in the pool? Hey, maybe that’s where I have a shot.
– Your favorite warm spot, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I would think that speeding would get me places faster. Not that I advocate speeding. But let’s just say that my map app says it will take me 60 minutes to get to Pagosa Springs. I allegedly drive 70 miles an hour, and I get there in … 60 minutes. Does my phone take
Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday14
Local First Member Bash, 4-5:30 p.m., La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 S Camino Del Rio
True Western Roundup, 5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Community Concert featuring The San Juanderers, proceeds benefit La Plata County Youth Services, 5-7:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Writers & Scribblers meetup, 6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Live music by Adam Swanson, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Live music by Terry Rickard, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Chicken Sh*t Bingo w/Devin Scott, 6:30-8 p.m., Grassburger downtown, 726 1/2 Main Ave.
my speeding into account? Or am I bumping up against laws of physics?
– Speed Demon
Dear Mileage Monster, It’s simple math. I’m not going to do the simple math, because I went into journalism for that reason alone. But I am certain the math is simple. It probably involves things like windspeed resistance and algorithmic probabilities and that one Jeep driver with Texas plates going 35 looking for a county road turnoff and refusing to pull over to let everyone pass. I recommend you chill out, enjoy the drive and get there late like the rest of us.
– Happy trails, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I’m starting to question my sanity. As I’ve been listening to my Spotify retro/new-wave channel recently, the songs don’t sound right. When they play Love & Rockets’ “Ball of Confusion,” I hear subtle variations in the vocals that don’t match the original recording. Same thing with “Cities in Dust” by Siouxsie & the Banshees. There were odd beats and pitches mixed in that I swear I’ve never heard before. Am I suffering from early onset? Could it be that hit of acid I took back in ’89 coming back to haunt me? Or is this an example of AI digital “enhancement?” Please help me set my record straight.
– Messin’ with My Music
Open Mic, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Bottom Shelf Brewery, 118 Mill St., Bayfield
John R. Miller with Joe’s Truck Stop, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Summer Comedy Open Mic, 7-8 p.m., Fired Up Pizzeria, 735 Main Ave.
San Juan Basin Archaeological Society meeting and presentation by Robert Weiner, 7-8:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College Lyceum Room
Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“The Return of the Force,” art exhibit exploring the influence of “Star Wars” on Native artists, FLC’s Center for Southwest Studies. Thru August.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Dear Meddled & Muddled, I have to think this phenomenon is due to the revered tradition of “remastering” music. I see this all the time when I listen to anything older than 2017: the track will say [Remastered] which tells me someone, somewhere, took mastered music and mastered it again, likely to inspire rabid fans to pay for it a second or fourth time. I can only understand this process as a form of continued dominance, like Katie Ledecky or Simone Biles remastering their games again and again. Either that, or Spotify downgrades the quality of the music it streams. Nahhh. It’s probably the remastering.
– Turned to 11, Rachel
Upcoming
DHS Football Kick-Off Dinner and Silent Auction, Thurs., Aug 15, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Outdoor movie “The Super Mario Bros,” Fri., Aug. 16, 7 p.m., Sunnyside Elementary, 75 CR 218
Durango Adult Education Center’s 5K/10K Fun Run, Sat., Aug. 17, 8-11:30 a.m., Santa Rita Park
Deadline to submit items for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon.
Please include:
• Date and time of event
• Location of event
E-mail your stuff to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Legend tells us that the first person to drink tea was Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BCE. As he lounged outdoors, tree leaves fell into his cup of water and accidentally created an infusion. Good for him that he was willing to sample that accidental offering. It took many centuries, but eventually tea drinking spread throughout the world. And yet the first tea bag, an icon of convenience, didn’t become available until 1904. I don’t expect you will have to wait anywhere near that long to move from your promising new discoveries to the highly practical use of those discoveries. In fact, it could happen quickly. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to ripen your novel ideas, stellar insights and breakthrough innovations.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I hope that in the coming months, Taurus, you will be refining your skills with joy and vigor. I hope you will devote yourself to becoming even more masterful at activities you already do well. I hope you will attend lovingly to details and regard discipline as a high art – as if doing so is the most important gift you can give to life. To inspire you in these noble quests, I offer you a quote by stage magician Harry Blackstone Jr.: “Practice until it becomes boring, then practice until it becomes beautiful.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Wohlweh” is a German word that means “good pain” or “pleasurable pain.” It might refer to the feeling you have while scratching a mosquito bite or rubbing your eyes when they’re itchy from allergies. But my favorite use of the word occurs when describing a deep-tissue massage that may be a bit harrowing even as it soothes and provides healing. That’s a great metaphor for what I expect for you in coming days. Here’s a tip: The less you resist the strenuous “therapy,” the better you will feel.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): I earn my living as a writer now, but for many years I had to work at odd jobs to keep from starving. One of the most challenging was tapping the sap of Vermont maple trees during the frigid weather of February. Few trees produce more than 3 gallons of sap per day, and it takes 40 to 50 gallons to create a single gallon of maple syrup. It was hard work that required a great deal of patience. According to my analysis, you Cancerians are in a metaphorically comparable situation. To get the good results you want, you may have to generate a lot of raw mate-
rial – and that could take a while. In the end, you will think the strenuous effort has been well worth it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I love that Antarctica doesn’t belong to anyone. Thirty nations have research stations there, but none of them control what happens. Antarctica has no government! It has a few laws that almost everyone obeys, like a ban on the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals. But mostly, it’s untouched and untamed. Much of its geology is uncharted. Inspired by this land, I’d love for you to enjoy a phase of wild sovereignty and autonomy in coming weeks. What can you do to express yourself with freedom, answering primarily to the sacred laws of your own nature?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Babylonia was an ancient empire located in what’s now Syria, Iraq and Iran. Among its citizens, there was a common belief that insomnia was the result of intrusive visitations by ancestral spirits. Their urge to communicate made it hard for their descendants to sleep. One supposed cure was to take dead relatives’ skulls into bed, lick them and hold them close. I don’t recommend this practice. But I do advise you to consult with the spirits of deceased family members in coming weeks. I suspect they have a lot to tell you. At the very least, I hope you will explore how you might benefit from studying and pondering your ancestors’ lives.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran tennis player Naomi Osaka is one of the highestpaid women athletes ever. She is also a staunch political activist. That blend of qualities is uncommon. Why do I bring this to your attention? Because now is an excellent time to synergize your pragmatic devotion to financial success with idealistic work for noble causes. Doing both of these with extra intensity will place you in alignment with cosmic rhythms – even more so if you manage to coordinate them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio actor Sally Field told a story about an agent who worked for her early in her career. In those formative years, all her roles were on TV. But she aspired to expand her repertoire. “You aren’t good enough for movies,” the agent told her. She fired him, and soon she was starring in films. Let’s make this a teaching story for you. In coming months, you will be wise to surround yourself with influences that support and encourage you. If anyone persistently underestimates you, they should not play a prominent role in your life’s beautiful drama.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): One Sagittarius I know is building a sculpture of a humpback whale. Another is adding a woodshop onto her house so she can fulfill her dream of crafting and selling furniture. Of my other Sagittarius acquaintances, one is writing an epic narrative poem in Greek, another is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and another has embarked on a pilgrimage to Nigeria, the place of her ancestors’ origin. Yes, many Sagittarians I know are thinking expansively, daring spicy challenges and attempting fun feats. Are you contemplating comparable adventures? Now is an excellent time for them.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): When I opened my fortune cookie, it read, “If you would just shut up, you could hear God’s voice.” I ruminated on how I express myself a lot. I’m constantly and enthusiastically riffing on ideas that are exciting to me. So I took the fortune to heart. I stopped talking and writing for two days. I retreated into a quiescent stillness and listened to other humans, animals and the natural world. Forty-five hours into the experiment, I did indeed hear God’s voice. She said, “Thanks for making space to hear me. I love you and want you to thrive.” She expounded further, providing me with three clues that proved to be helpful in practical ways. I invite you to do what I did.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Scientists at the University of California devised a cheap and fast method for unboiling an egg. Their effort wasn’t frivolous. They were working with principles that could be valuable in treating certain cancers. Now I’m inviting you to experiment with metaphorical equivalents of unboiling eggs. You are in a phase when you will have extra power to undo results you’re bored or unsatisfied with. Your key words of power will be reversal, unfastening, unlocking and disentangling.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every week, I imbibe all the honey from an eight-ounce jar, mostly in hot tea. To create that treat, bees made a million visits to flowers, collecting nectar. I am very grateful. The work that I do has similarities to what bees do. I’m constantly gathering oracular ideas, meditating on the astrological signs and contemplating what inspirational messages my readers need to hear. This horoscope may not be the result of a million thoughts, but the number is large. What’s the equivalent in your life? What creative gathering do you do? Now is a good time to revise, refine and deepen your relationship with it.
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check.
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Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit
Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
HelpWanted
Nanny Needed
Three half days a week. Bayfield area. 970-317-3498
Fun Part-Time Job
Seeking mature part-time retail associate for one of the longest existing downtown merchants! Send questions/resumes to jeaninegae@gmail.com.
ForSale
Reruns Home Furnishings
Vintage patio sets, chaises, tray table. Also art, linens and housewares. Looking to consign smaller furniture. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
Archery Mathews Prima Compound
Prima FirstLite Specter 60# peak 80% let-off 25" draw length adjustable with modules. GAS string/cables OEM new zebra string/cables arrows available depending on length $700.00 970-764-5877
Mobile Home for Sale
Located in Hermosa, at Lone Pine Trailer Park. See website for details: sanjuanhighlands.com $85,000, lot rent per month $600
CommercialforRent
Beautiful Shared Massage Space
$200 per mo. Grow your healing practice (Weds only) 6 mo. lease with possible renewal 970-247-1233
Commercial Space for Rent
Commercial/light industrial space in Bodo Park! 1,873 sq ft. Lots of natural light and vaulted ceilings. Ample parking. The previous tenant has run a successful business for the last 30 years from this location. Call 970-317-0495 for more information.
BodyWork
Massage Therapy
Helping Durango feel better for 23+ years. Rachel McGehee 970-903-0388
Massage by Meg Bush
LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
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Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
Handyman
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Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
‘Wicked Little Letters’ It’s true. In nineteen twenty, you could be jailed for sending mean letters – Lainie Maxson
Lowest Prices on Storage! Inside/outside storage near Durango and Bayfield. 10-x-20, $130. Outside spots: $65, with discounts available. RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494.
