The Pole

Our friends at Ska are making headlines again. This week, their flagship Mexican Logger was at the top of the Denver Post’s “12 Colorado craft beers to keep stocked in your fridge” (or river cooler.)

Tired of the same old kibble? Pagosa Springs resident Holly Mazur has just what the “dogtor” ordered. Mazur recently published “Healthy Cooking for Your Dog: Wholesome Recipes for a Long, Happy Life.” Written in conjunction with a veterinarian, the 116-page, glossy hardback features recipes for everything from Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream and Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies to a Mexican Taco Bowl and Turkey and Vegetable Meatloaf.

Given Purg’s ski swap this weekend, the dubious fate of Hesperus Ski Area and that we hadn’t heard a peep from the Hesperus Ski Swap folks, we very erroneously assumed a few weeks back that the Hesperus Ski Swap – like Frito pie in the Quonset hut – was a thing of the past.

Colorado’s largest rural startup event returns to Durango on Oct. 6-10. Sponsored by Startup Colorado, the sixth annual West Slope Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders from across Colorado to town for a free, five-day celebration of rural entrepreneurship and innovation.

Diehard skiers and snowboarders will want to circle Sat., Nov. 22 on the calendar – that’s the day Purgatory will officially fire up the bullwheel on its 60th season.

It’s never too early to start thinking about ski season. And with the inferno that was August behind us, the good folks at Open Snow have gone out on their annual limb to bring us the 2025-26 winter season outlook. 

Summer in Colorado culminates with the glorious arrival of Palisade peach season. And if you happen to be among those who think the Palisade peach is far superior to the average mealy grocery store variety, it may be more than just a case of West Slope pride.

Think long-distance back-packing is tough? Consider this next time you’re slogging up a steep switchback: Minnesota’s Jamey Mossengren, aka “The Unicycling Unicorn,” just completed the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail (CDT) – and he did half of it on one wheel.