The Last Pincushion Show

The last flush of cactus blooms are showing beautifully in our yard right now... but after these, no more until next year. All of the following species are native to the Four Corners area.

Hedgehog Cactus

or

Coryphantha vivipara

Ball Cactus

or

Echinocereus fendleri

Pincushion Cactus

or Escobaria sneedii

Midweek MultiModal Madness

Wednesday, June 23rd was a fairly momentous day for Durango's bicycle commuters. First, it was the focal point of Clean Commute Week as our "official" Bike to Work Day. Thanks to Amber Blake - Durango's MultiModal Director - who has expanded the celebration to include transit, walking and carpooling, in addition to biking. For more information, check out the Clean Commute Week website. And as a bonus, today marked the opening of a new bike-ped bridge across the Animas River, which adds more continuous mileage to Durango's much-acclaimed Animas River Trail.

Local commuters stop by the Bike to Work Day pit stop at Buckley Park this morning to pick up a free t-shirt, enter to win prizes, drink fresh coffee, eat cookies and enjoy clever conversation. It was all good fun and there were 2 other pit stop locations - at The Transit Center and Diggs in Three Springs. Early estimates put the participation level at almost 500 participants.

This brand new bridge along the Animas River Trail opened today in celebration of Bike to Work Day. The full story from the Durango Herald can be read HERE.

Shriver Sighting

Durango's Matt Shriver, the head coach of the Fort Lewis College Cycling Team and a former pro cyclist, is currently spending the early summer traveling Europe as coach of the USA Cycling Junior National Team. Additionally, Durango's own Alicia Pastore was selected to compete in a Series of European Junior MTB events. She placed 9th in the first two races - in Switzerland and Germany - and was the top U.S. rider in each event. Go Team!

Living the life in Kirchzarten, Germany. This is a pick from Freiburg coffee stand. Good times!

Matt Shriver

FLC Cycling Interim Director/Head Coach

RAAM Riders

Former Durangoan Robin Phelps comfortably passes through the Durango Time Station yesterday afternoon (Monday, June 14th), while competing in the RAAM 4-Person Mixed (50-59) Category on Team JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Some hours and 80-miles later the team paused atop Wolf Creek Pass (at an elevation of 10,863-feet, the highest point in RAAM) to enjoy the sunset.

Robin Phelps in the stoker seat, with teammate Carl Moler.

Carl Moler, Robin Phelps, Brenda Barnell & Joe Peterson

Horn Tooting

Really, what more could a parent want?

Now Showing: Going Native

A sampling of native plants currently abloom in the xeriscape front yard of the LBBG.

Evening Primrose

Oenothera caespitosa

Blue Flag Iris

Iris missouriensis

Bitterroot, the State Flower of Montaña

Lewisia rediviva

Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja chromosa

American Bistort

Bistorta bistortioides

Sugarbowl Clematis

Clematis hirsutissima

Golden Banner

Thermopsis montana

Shooting Star

Dodecatheon medea

All Photos by Lisa Bourey

Bill... Manning or Myth

The Telegraph Trail has been ridden for decades by Durango Mountain Bikers and has been a news story in Durango lately. For the latest information on the various recreational and development possibilities for this popular recreation area, we turn to Durango Trail Advocate Adam Howell and his Horse Gulch Blog, "Watchdogging for the Greater Grandview Ridge Area". Here you'll find the most comprehensive review of the presented plans and public meetings for this popular trail system. The latest Horse Gulch Blog posting (starting below) was based on a recent interview with Trails 2000's Founding Director (and Living Legend according to MBS's John Glover) Bill Manning - now the Managing Director of the Colorado Trail Foundation.

The History of the Telegraph Trail

Alleged telegraph line was really a telephone line!!!

Don’t let the name of the Telegraph Trail or the associated local weekly newspaper in Durango fool you as to what actually runs up Horse Gulch and over the hill past Grandview: an old telephone line.

Yes, this monumental, earth-trembling revelation is true, as was confirmed this week by the few local long-timers who worked on the lines, were served by the lines, are still alive and are still living in La Plata County.

Click HERE to read the entire story of the Telegraph Trail and the man who built the modern trail, Bill Manning...

Now Showing: Cactus Attactus

At long last... warm weather and sunny days have arrived in Durango! All the native cacti in our yard say, "Hallelujah!"

Claret Cup or Hedgehog Cactus

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Plain’s Pincushion Cactus

Escobaria missouriensis

Green Flowered Hedgehog

Echinocereus viridiflorus

And Opening Soon!

Ball Cactus

Echinocereus fendleri