The Pole

Anyone who has visited the Blue Lakes between Ouray and Telluride knows: it’s crowded. But that’s about to change. The U.S. Forest Service, which oversees the 16,200-acre area, which includes Dallas Peak and Mount Sneffels, officially announced it will be going to a permit system for day hikers and campers from June-September.

Fresh on the buzz of the exciting news of Mexi Logger being available year-round, Ska has announced another new addition to its lineup: Swing Easy Peach Hard Tea.

The Denver Post just came out with its “10 picturesque (and less visited) Colorado mountain towns” list. Don’t worry, Durango’s not on it. Well, not exactly.

The list, which names 10 places that won’t “break the bank for a mountain town experience” and are “away from the ski lifts and condos … where the mountain-town spirit lives in a (relatively) affordable way” does include Durango’s friendly neighbor to the west, Mancos.

September is not only prime riding season in Durango, but it’s also the time when most riders, after a summer in the saddle, reach tip-top condition. If you’re looking to gauge just how much (or little) time you spent on the singletrack, why not test yourself at the second annual Durango Derby mtb race on Sun., Sept. 1?

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.

Whether you’re a budding or established artist, the Durango Open Studio Tour is seeking applicants interested in opening their studio doors during the two-day event, Oct. 5-6.

No, it’s not you or your smudgy sunglasses. There has been a definite haze over the Four Corners – and most of the Western U.S. – the last few days. And lest you have PTSD from our last local wildfires, you can breathe a sigh of relief, at least metaphorically. The current smoke blanketing our region is from wildfires burning in Oregon, Washington and Canada and is expected to keep skies hazy for the news few days, according to meteorologists and public health officials.

If you’re planning a late-summer mushroom hunt or Hermosa Creek ride, be forewarned. The Hermosa Park Road, aka FR 578 – the one that parallels Purgatory’s backside – will be closed Aug. 19 – Sept. 13 so crews can replace culverts to accommodate reintroduced native Colorado River Cutthroat trout.