The 25th Headwaters Conference, The Working Wild, began Friday, Sept. 20 at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison. The auditorium was full in anticipation of the keynote speaker, Gary Snyder. One spectator mused, “It’s the gathering of the eagles,” with community leaders from all over the Headwaters region in attendance. After a poem by Art Goodtimes and a song by Alan Wartes, Conference Director John Hausdoerffer introduced Snyder. He revealed that Snyder, a beat generation poet, inspired Jack Kerouac’s famous character from the Dharma Bums, Japhy Ryder.
2014 October
The Fantastic Eureka Mine
By Duane Vandenbusche
It was the most fantastic mine in the history of the Gunnison Country. Located by William Mansfield in July of 1879 on the west flank of Treasury Mountain at 13,440 feet, the Eureka defied description. The mine was located above Yule Pass and near the top of the mountain. Even getting to the Eureka was difficult. One way in followed Yule Creek from Marble. The other route came from the headwaters of the Slate River and over terrifying Yule Pass. Silver ore from the mine was at first brought down by burro teams over Yule Pass and then down the Slate River to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad spur at Anthrocite, four miles north of Crested Butte. The burro trains made the round trip in two days, and it cost $3 per ton for haulage.
The Curecanti Needle
By Forrest Whitman
How many Colorado Central readers have seen the Curecanti Needle? It’s one of those well-known, but seldom visited iconic sites in the Central Colorado region. It’s located in the Curecanti National Recreation Area in the upper Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The access road off Colorado Hwy. 92 is short and well marked. The path to the three overlooks might be a little dicey for folks who are physically challenged, but it looks doable. We took it easy on the rain slick-rocks on our recent visit.
The Time of Reflection
By Hal Walter
Fall has always been a time of reflection. The leaves as they turn and fall to the ground are a beautiful reminder that the circle of life does have a beginning and an end. And that if you have things you need to get done, there’s no better time than right now.
I was rushing to town one September afternoon to pick up my son from school. On a big curve about six miles east of Westcliffe I saw a logging truck approaching in the oncoming lane. As it drew nearer, I suddenly realized it was trailing a big loop of heavy steel cable that was whipping from side to side. This loop was large enough to lasso a full-size pickup truck, and it reached nearly across the other lane. I did not have much time to react as I saw it swinging into the road in front of me. The options raced through my head – brake, swerve or do nothing?
A Farmer Far Afield – The Unimportant ‘Merican (TU‘M)
by John Mattingly Inner Old Man yields the page to The Unimportant ‘Merican, also known as TU‘M. As with IOM, the views of TU‘M should never be confused with those of the author. Here in Central Colorado we stand protected from war, fracking, heavy industry, rabid police, mis-speaking billionaires, racial tension, ebola, fat-old-white men against …
Quillen’s Corner – One Nation Indivisible With Liberty and Justice for Cockroaches
by Martha Quillen Republicans and Democrats seldom agree on anything, and Congress is determinedly divisive. But what about us? Do we still agree on America’s founding principles? Do we still believe in the proposition that all men are created equal? And that people have certain inalienable rights, among them Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of …
On the Ground – Down on the Ground with Democracy
by George Sibley We’re in the middle of an election season again, and again I find myself asking: Are we humans really ready for democracy? Have we evolved that far? That question rolls around in my mind as I watch the current political campaigns, where we are being asked to decide on our next governor …
The Crowded Acre – Pick a Good One
by Jennifer Welch “Hey stranger – going to that horse sale today?” This question popped up on my computer screen one early Friday morning in May. It was the same day as the auction for the Fairplay horses that were being held down in Salida. I had, in fact, considered going to the sale even …
Book Review – Individuals Create Value
Individuals Create Value By Kevin Barnes Self published, Booktango, Bloomington IN 58 pages Reviewed by Forrest Whitman In 58 pages, Salida author Kevin Barnes attempts to untangle one of the oldest questions about society: How does the individual create value within the sometimes oppressive rules of a society? Barnes gives credit to Thomas Jefferson for …
Book Review – The Road to Buckskin Joe
The Road to Buckskin Joe By Tom Knebel Self published, 2014 ISBN 978-0-692-22999-6 Reviewed by Laura Van Dusen Tom Knebel used the long-gone mining town Buckskin Joe for the setting of his historical novel. It was a few miles west of Alma and one of the richest gold rush towns in the Mosquito Range from …
Making a Difference on Earth: Conservation Easements
by Virginia McConnell Simmons Roughly 30 years ago, we began to notice the loss of open land, water, other natural resources, traditional ways of life and tranquility in our high mountain valleys. None too soon, we also noticed that something had to be done to prevent the continuing loss of the region’s natural resources, working …
Restaurant Review – Dorothy’s Homemade Tamales
By Central Staff Dorothy’s Homemade Tamales Fairplay, CO 80440 Dorothy (Montoya) Russell has been making tamales all of her life, and that’s saying something. Dorothy is 74 years old and learned to make the traditional Mesoamerican dish from her grandmother while growing up in Denver. In 1994, after preparing and selling the traditional delicacies out …
News from the San Luis Valley
By Gena Akers Rio Grande Basin Adds to State Water Plan Gov. Hickenlooper expects to see a statewide water plan by December 2015 that encompasses all nine river basins. Under the jurisdiction of the Rio Grande Roundtable, the Rio Grande Basin water plan draft outlines 14 goals, including: protecting and restoring sustainability, watershed health and …
REGIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP (and other items of interest)
A Mysterious Suicide in Turret A 92-year old Turret resident was found dead in the basement of his home by friends Sept. 12 after they had not heard from him in over a week. Edwin Bartheld, who hand-built his off-grid home on an abandoned mine site in the old ghost town, had lived alone since …
About the Cover Artist: Gail Brooks
Gail Brooks was born in Japan. Because her parents were stationed there during the Korean War, and because she decided to enter the world during a rare Tokyo snowstorm, she was born off base and enjoyed dual citizenship until her mid-20s. Her family returned to the U.S. when she was 3. She graduated high school …
What’s Bugging Colorado’s Forests?
by Mike Rosso Colorado’s diverse forests are renowned for their beauty, their sheer vastness and endless recreational opportunities. But Colorado’s forests are currently experiencing a nearly epidemic level of insect damage. From the Tiger moth to the Douglas fir beetle, few species of trees are immune to the ravaging of these insects, which will change …
From the Editor – Up at the Lake
by Mike Rosso One Saturday this past month found me sitting on the banks of Upper Waterdog Lake, on the north side of Monarch Pass. It’s a steep but short hike to the lake, which resides at about 11,500 feet, and it is one of my favorite spots to relax and enjoy nature. Earlier that …