Colorado Central Articles From — September 2001

Column by Hal Walter

Wildlife – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

I HAVEN’T SEEN A BEAR THIS SUMMER. This fact may not seem odd to most people, but to me it’s amazing. I spend large amounts of time outdoors on trails and backroads. What’s more, the area I live in is a hotbed of bear activity, and almost everybody I know who lives around here has a bear story this summer. Read the rest of this article

Essay by Ed Quillen

Geography – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

PLACE NAMES have always fascinated me. I admire the exuberance of “Oh Be Joyful Creek” and the rough honesty of “Son of a Bitch Hill” (a/k/a Cerro Summit between Gunnison and Montrose). “Fairplay” and “Tarryall” are charming names for towns, and it’s refreshing to know that we Salidans have been mispronouncing our town’s name since it was christened in 1880. Read the rest of this article

Letter from Slim Wolfe

Wildlife – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Texas Creek is welcome to take Villa Grove rodents

Editors:

A big ol’ howdy to your Texas Creek correspondent Charley Green! I imagine those prairie dogs will eventually catch up with the times and get rid of that archaic squealing, which sounds so much like bad bearings, and replace it with a cybervoice saying, “danger, you are too close.” Read the rest of this article

Letter from Steve Glazer

Water districts – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Election Congratulations

Editors:

As an elected board member of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, I applaud the voters of Chaffee County for their recent election of a member to the Upper Arkansas (River) Water Conservancy District Board. Water management is too important an issue to be left to officials who are not elected. Read the rest of this article

[amazon-product]1555914195[/amazon-product]Review by Columbine Quillen

Outdoor Recreation – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Colorado’s Thirteeners: 13,800 to 13,999 feet – From Hikes to Climbs
by Gerry Roach & Jennifer Roach
Published in 2001 by Fulcrom
ISBN 1-55591-419-5 Read the rest of this article

[amazon-product]1585741361[/amazon-product]Review by Clint Driscoll

Mountain Life – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Fool’s Gold: Lives, Loves and Misadventures in the Four Corners Country
by Rob Schultheis
Published in 2000 by the Lyons Press
ISBN: 1-58574-136-1 Read the rest of this article

[amazon-product]0878424334[/amazon-product]Review by Columbine Quillen

Nature – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Wild Berries of the West
By Betty B. Derig and Margaret C. Fuller
Illustrated by Mimi Osborne
Published in 2001 by Mountain Press Publishing Co.
ISBN 0-87842-433-4 Read the rest of this article

[amazon-product]0964437538[/amazon-product]Review by Martha Quillen

Mountain Life – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Extra ‘n’ Ordinary
by Peggy Godfrey
Published in 2001 by Media Chaos
ISBN 0964437538 Read the rest of this article

Article by Marcia Darnell

Local artists – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART WORKS of J.D. Marston have become iconic in this part of the West. The lushness of the Yampa Valley, the sensuality of water rushing over a river stone, and the stark beauty of Wheeler Geologic Area, all invite gazers to step into the picture, to savor the sight and feel of the images. Read the rest of this article

Article by Nancy Watzman

Public Lands – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

THERE IS NOBODY LESS POPULAR among Coloradans than a Texan. So if your brother and you happen to be Texans who get your Dodge Ram and Jeep Wrangler stuck on a steep mountain slope 12,500 feet high in Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains, you are not going to get much sympathy. Read the rest of this article

Column by George Sibley

Mountain Festivals – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

ON AUGUST 4TH I went to the Crested Butte Arts Festival, an annual event for which I can say, like Dean Acheson, I was “present at the creation.” Sort of.

I had a special reason for wanting to be there this year; I wanted to catch the afternoon show of the Commedia Del’Arte troupe my son has organized in the valley. I made it in time to do a pass down through the three blocks of display booths, and still be there for the Commedia show by Sam and his five fellow troupers. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Real estate – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

The real-estate industry has its own vocabulary. For instance, they always sell “homes,” rather than “houses,” and advertising phrases like “ski out your door” sometimes translate to “the county doesn’t plow the road in the winter.” Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Transportation – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Some friends in Saguache report that traffic through town, and thus their business, has been off considerably this summer.

Their theory is that much of the summer traffic on U.S. 285 that passes through Saguache starts in Denver and is bound for Durango. The usual route is over Wolf Creek Pass, but the pass isn’t always passable. It’s closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and even when it is open, there can be delays of up to 45 minutes. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Mining – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

The National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame in Leadville will recognize seven industry figures at a ceremony on Sept. 8.

The event will begin with an open house and reception at 5 p.m., followed by a banquet and program at 7 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Duane A. Smith of Durango, a mining historian who has written more than 30 books (and an occasional contributor to this magazine). Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Old Spanish Trail – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Yvonne Halburian, a Sa-guache artist and mapmaker, has been honored by the Old Spanish Trail Association for her volunteer work.

The Old Spanish Trail stretched from Santa Fé to Los Angeles in the first half of the 19th century. Although wagons used portions of it, it was primarily a route for pack trains and livestock. The north branch of the trail passed through the San Luis Valley en route to the Continental Divide at Cochetopa Pass. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Sand Dunes – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

It will soon be more or less official: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

All manner of dignitaries are expected to visit the Dunes on Sept. 8 for a celebration of the transformation from Great Sand Dunes National Monument to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Wildlife Refuge. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Politics – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

After every census, states learn how many representatives they will have in Congress, based on population. Colorado’s population has been growing, so it will go from six to seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

That decision is made in Washington. The decision about how the state will be divided into seven congressional districts will be made in Denver by the General Assembly — although those boundaries are often challenged in federal court after they’re adopted. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Wildlife – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

A boy scout camp near Poncha Springs was the site of two bear attacks in less than two weeks.

Vicki Mynhier, 44, a scout leader from Richardson, Texas was tucked into her sleeping bag in the early morning hours of July 24 when a bear bit into her hand and arm. Fellow campers scared the bear away, and Mynhier was taken to Salida Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Communications – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Citizens Communications Co. of Stamford, Conn., has terminated an agreement to buy rural telephone exchanges from Qwest Communications International of Denver.

The proposed transaction involved 45,000 lines in 17 exchanges in rural Colorado, among them Alamosa, Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Del Norte, Fairplay, Gunnison, Leadville, Meeker, Mesa Verde, Monte Vista, Oak Creek, Salida, South Fork, and Yampa. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Marcia Darnell

San Luis Valley – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

Rain Dance

For the first time in about an eon, the San Luis Valley is getting plenty of summer rain. That not only means happy farmers, but happy downstream neighbors, as Colorado should have no problem meeting its obligations to the Rio Grande Compact. Read the rest of this article

Brief by Central Staff

Water – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

When Congress goes back into session after the August recess, it may be making some big water decisions for Central Colorado.

House Bill 1714, introduced by three Colorado representatives, would instruct the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to study the expansion of two reservoirs: Turquoise, near Leadville; and Pueblo, along the Arkansas River between Cañon City and its namesake city. Read the rest of this article

Comic Strip written by Clint Driscoll and illustrated by Judie Moorhead

Mountain Life – September 2001 – Colorado Central Read the rest of this article

Essay by Lou Bendrick

Mountain Life – September 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine

1. Autumn is protean, with its wintry mornings and summery afternoons.

2. The wintry part will win.

3. So get outside as much as you can.

4. But remember that hunters are out there, too. Read the rest of this article

COLORADO RIVER INFLOWS

The unregulated inflow to Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green River for April through July was 35.6% of average. Combining last year’s figures with this add up to the driest 2 year period on record. Blue Mesa Reservoir inflows for April-July were 72% of average. 120% of average precipitation in the Gunnison Basin for July only produced 51% of average inflow. Navajo Reservoir inflows were 107% of average for April-July. The inflow to Lake Powell for April-July was 56% of average. Read the rest of this article