Dear Action Line: On July 8, right around sunset, I saw something odd over the Animas River. I pulled over and saw what looked almost like little miniature steam tornadoes over the Animas behind the mall. I contacted a meteorology professor and some locals, and eventually determined these were swarms of spawning mayflies, likely banding together because of the bats flying around. Some places online describe it as a “bugnado.” Looking back at the article a few years ago on the history of the name of the Animas made me wonder: At some point did settlers or explorers witness this phenomenon and interpret it as ghosts? I certainly wouldn’t blame them – it’s one of the most unusual sights I’ve seen in my life! – Soul Seer
Dear Seer: The Rio de las Animas Perdidas is, of course, is the River of Lost Souls, as named by the area’s Spanish explorers. Soul Seer also sent a short movie clip and Action Line can attest that it’s very eerie to see for the first time. In photos, such as the one accompanying this story, it’s a bit tricky to discern, because the clouds resemble tree trunks.
Action Line wanted to discount the bug theory and believe that spirits were indeed rising from the river, but alas, it’s apparently just not true. At least in this case.
“Those are definitely caddis flies,” confirmed John Livingston, Southwest Colorado spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. He conferred with agency aquatic biologists Jim White and John Alves on the matter.
“The Animas gets really good Brachycentrus caddis fly hatches that time of year.” He added that sometimes they’re so thick they splatter on your windshield from Wendy’s up along north Main.
“Caddis flies are known to form breeding swarms like this in the twilight,” he said. “We did observe some massive hatches on the Animas around that date and time this year.”
Caddis are moth-like insects that have hairy wings instead of scales, Livingston said. And to get impressively technical: Caddis flies are closely related to Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) and fall under the same superorder of insects, Amphiesmenoptera. Gosh, you could practically get an entomology degree by reading Action Line.
Anyone into fly-fishing or tying flies is familiar with caddis because they’re used to lure fish. Bats from the air, fish in the water – not easy being a caddis these days.
Dear Action Line: At south City Market there are several large vehicles parked with government plates. Here are some photos. Can you figure out what these are for and why they are here? – Kristen Mischker
Dear Kristen: At first, Action Line simply assumed these trucks were enjoying and contemplating the spectacular metal artwork on the side of the Holiday Inn Express. The view from Town Plaza is about as good as it gets.
(For those who aren’t regular Action Line readers, see the Aug. 6 column for reference.)
But, while going through the motions of actual reporting, it became apparent that something bigger was afoot. These vehicles were in the area around Aug. 10-12. After digging around, Action Line uncovered the truth, or at least part of it: On Aug. 10, a training exercise was held by the Colorado and New Mexico National Guard at the Old Fort at Hesperus, said Beth LaShell, director of the site for Fort Lewis College.
“At one time on that Wednesday there were about 80 of those trucks up around the barns and corrals,” she said.
So, that’s part of the truth. Exactly what the training was about was a little harder to get at. Other local contacts were apparently sworn to secrecy, and an attempt to contact the National Guard was unsuccessful.
There are some clues on the vehicles themselves. The G82 code on the license plate reveals that the trucks (or at least the one photographed) is a heavy diesel truck registered with the General Services Administration. Briefly, the GSA “manages federal property and provides contracting options for government agencies.” This likely won’t come up in a trivia contest, but just so you know, the GSA was founded in 1949 under President Harry Truman.
Gichner Shelter Systems of Dallastown, Pennsylvania, which manufactured the truck, is now part of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions. Gichner makes tactical shelters for military uses, including shelters for communications and electrical equipment. In other words, as you may have guessed, these are pretty high-tech trucks.
It’s national security, national defense kind of stuff. The NSA/CIA/FBI will likely ask how Action Line even knows this much, and if Action Line suddenly disappears, you will know why. If anyone in the know wants to risk telling Action Line more, please feel free.
Loyal reader Jerry Zink saw last week’s item about the distinction between creeks and rivers, the latter of which are supposedly bigger, and pointed out there’s a Fall River west of Denver – it starts near St. Mary’s Glacier – that flows into Clear Creek. And he offered up this catchy limerick that alludes to the state’s most famous brewery.
A creek at once large and Clear
A day’s drive northeast of here
Swallows a river
And so can deliver
Enough water to make beer.
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Action Line can still smell the hops and yeast from growing up downwind of the Coors plant.
