I’m sad. Our San Juan National Forest is closed because of the 416 Fire, the Burro Fire and extreme drought. Our local trails, reservoirs and BLM land, all closed. The access points to my favorite mountains are closed. The trees burn and the air is hazardous. I’m depressed by it, but I have no escape to the wilderness that has delivered me clarity in some of my toughest times. This is going to continue to hurt for months to come.

I moved to the Four Corners region from the Front Range as a 21-year-old in May 2010. A Colorado native, I quickly fell in love with Durango, the San Juan Mountains, and the abundant space and public lands. When I had a chance to move to Durango in 2014, I jumped at the opportunity to make this my home base. I haven’t left, largely because of our incredible access to so many places I love, places that are now closed.

I’m worried. The long term effects of these fires could last a long time. I’m worried for our trails, our ski resort and our town’s economy. Though nothing has been canceled yet, bike races and the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run – events that bring me so much professional joy each year – seem meaningless in the face of people being evacuated from their homes, businesses closing during peak season and downtown hurting because of the lack of tourism.

But, through all of these problems, I’m inspired. By the generosity of a town that never ceases to amaze with its ability to band together. By the firefighters risking it all to fight a complex foe on steep terrain. By the planes, helicopters and their pilots. By the hundreds of firefighters working on the ground who so expertly and effectively perform their jobs.

I’ve watched as athletes, coworkers and neighbors have volunteered to help evacuees. I’ve seen countless businesses offer free food or drink to firefighters and everyday citizens. I see people buying extra groceries to donate each time they go to the store, and downtown windows and cars painted in support of the fire fighters and first responders.

“We are a resilient, strong, supportive community,” said Kirk Rawles, Durango High School’s golf coach and the Purgatory Freestyle Ski Team head coach. “Although I am scared, somehow I feel this will strengthen our resolve. While the awesome firefighters are guarding us on the front lines, we need to support each other.”

I am also inspired by those making the best of a bad situation.

Durango is a mountain bike town. With trails closed, that community came together Thursday for the first Durango Dirt Derby, as Rotem Ishay and Fort Lewis College cycling provided a group ride event around the dirt track of the football field on the FLC campus. It’s the last open patch of dirt that can be ridden in Durango because of the trail closures.

“Let’s not just sit at home and do nothing. That’s not why most of us come to Durango,” said Ishay, a former FLC cyclist from Israel who now leads the college’s exercise science program. “We all came here for the outdoor opportunities. So, let’s get together, unite and do what we can. This track is the only piece of dirt we can play on. This is how Durango is. We’re not going to sit home feeling bad about it. Let’s get out, show our support to the firefighters and show the character of this community.”

I encourage you to get out on the Animas River or explore new water and trail systems around the Southwest. If you don’t have time to get away from town, take your bike to a shop and get a tune-up while you await the reopening of our trails, or get together with some pals at a local establishment and share some laughs. We all need something to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

I hope for rain and a winter full of snow. I hope these closures are soon a distant memory. I hope our cyclists can return to the trails that have helped shape them into champions, and that we can all get back to doing the activities we love.

I am grateful to live among these mountains, in this forest and surrounded by this inspiring community.

John Livingston is the regional sports editor of Ballantine Communications. He can be reached at jlivingston@durangoherald.com or on Twitter @jlivi2.