I’ve been gone for 29 days; gone from my home in Colorado.  And though that may not seem a big deal it proved to be an internal reminder of who I am and what is important. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, it was wonderful to see friends I’d missed over the years and to hike the trails that were once my recreational playground where persimmons, hickory and the invasive kudzu were playmates.  And, spending time with family can’t be understated or lacking in reward as the little ones grow higher than my knees and just short of my shoulders.    But while I was away I realized how much Pagosa Springs had become my home and my place to play!

Viewable from town, the South San Juan Wilderness and Weminuche Wilderness forms the south edge of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.  During the summer the scenery exchanges from rocky peaks and open meadows with a dabbling of lakes, waterfalls and streams that rush to the lower elevations and a vast habitat for catchable fish.  In the winter the landscape is dictated by the length of shadows and one’s proximity to the treetops that draws one closer and closer with each snowfall.

This is a land to be respected, valued and cherished.  Tucked within these wilderness boundaries are the roaming habits of grazing elk, high perched mountain goats, mysterious mountain lions and squeaking marmots.  Their home is a place of waving meadows, liberating sunrises, starlit nights and hushed sunsets.   In the winter, the larger of the animals battle for life in search of veiled grasses and pristine solitude that can be followed by their footprints in the snow.

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.  A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the space, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.” ~ Edward Abbey

With quite possibly too much reading Edward Abbey coupled with the responsibility of being a training leader in the courses I was teaching while gone, I found leaving a faucet on while washing dishes grating and worrisome, the ease of falling into conversation regarding the backstrap of an elk (yet none understanding) comfortable and the 5K run for the mayor’s healthy town initiative encouraging with a couple hundred participants but not as purposeful in body and spirit as the Turkey Track Trail Marathon or Mountain Chili Cha Cha trail runs (www.joingecko.com).

Although we may not have restaurants open past nine (or maybe eight), what we do have is a winter paradise and adventure playground that Mother Nature shares.  Many end their recreational pursuits once the snow begins to fly but that doesn’t need to be the path of choice.  Pagosa’s play area requires a hat, gloves, layers of warm clothing and a desire to get out. Need some suggestions?  Here are a few … we can’t wait to see you in Pagosa!

Ski Areas:  Wolf Creek Ski Area (wolfcreekski.com)

Sledding/Tubing Hills:  Reservoir Hill in downtown Pagosa Springs

Cross-Country Nordic Ski Areas:  Refer to the Pagosa Nordic Club Website for current trail conditions (Pagosanordic.com) and Wolf Creek Ski Area (wolfcreekski.com) which has nearly 10 kilometers of cross country trails.

Snowmobile Tours:  Snow Country Adventures (snowmobilepagosa.com) and Wolf Creek Snowmobile Tours (970.731.4141)

Ice Skating:  At the pond behind Summit Ski & Sports – visit Summit for ice skate rentals

Need ski equipment – sales or rentals?  Visit Alpen Haus Ski Center (alpenhausonline.com), Pagosa Ski Rentals (skipagosa.com), Pedal & Powder (pedalandpowder.com), Ski & Bow Rack (skiandbowrack.com), or Summit Ski & Sports (summitski.org)

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