The Pole

Looking for a good winter’s night read? The independent National Outdoor Book Awards just announced its 15 2024 winners, covering topics from finding one’s way in the depths of the Grand Canyon to working with researchers as they unlock the secrets of plants.

At a loss for words right now? Well, you’re in luck. This Sat., Nov. 9, dozens of local poets will be filling the intellectual and literary void as they face off (as much as poets can) in Durango’s first Poetry Contest at 7 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center.

Here’s a little bit of good news in a week where it seems like the world is going to, well, garbage. An iconic headwaters in the San Juan Mountains has been saved from getting trashed in perpetuity.

We’ve all heard of “Who let the dogs out?” But what about the kangaroo?

And speaking of biking, there’s good news for those who are, shall we say, vertically averse. The City of Durango announced this week it is adding a new connector trail in the Twin Buttes system.  The new trail, roughly a half mile long, will provide a more user-friendly connection between the Cliffrock Loop downhill and the Upper Twin Buttes uphill, aka “switchbacks of death.” 

With snow in the forecast – several feet by some predictions – locals’ minds are no doubt shifting somewhat abruptly from bikes to skis. But if the trip to the gear closet or garage found your winter kit somewhat lacking, perhaps it’s time for a little bargain-hunting road trip.

Something last visible to the Neanderthals will be visible in the night skies over the U.S. this week. No, we’re not talking woolly mammoths – but almost as good. Last visible to earthlings 80,000 years ago, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, aka C/2023 A3 will once again come in for an extremely rare  up-close, naked eye viewing.

If it seems like a season of anniversaries, you’re not mistaken. Several longtime local institutions celebrated birthdays recently, including Durango Natural Foods, Ska Brewing, Maria’s Bookshop and yours truly. And now those flexible, grounded, soothing (and amazingly strong!) folks at YogaDurango are celebrating 18 years in the practice of making us all feel better.