Stewards of the Land - The Durango Herald

Forest Ambassadors end second successful season

In Durango, the shift from summer to autumn brings warmer layers out of the closet, plans for desert season and a rush to behold the aspens before their leaves fall. At the San Juan Mountain...

DATE: Oct 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Laying the groundwork to protect hidden gems in the West End

With Moab two hours to the northwest, Telluride an hour to the southeast and Durango several hours farther south, the West End is easily accessible to many recreationists seeking new terrain...

DATE: Sep 9, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Stewardship crews strive to improve your public lands experience

San Juan Mountains Association’s seasonal stewards have reached the final third of their summer stint. While I hear anecdotal updates from them throughout the season, it’s the time of year ...

DATE: Aug 12, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Volunteers make a difference in Chicago Basin

Those of us who cherish the San Juan Mountains are familiar with the term “loved to death.” We’ve seen photos and stories of beautiful places around the world being carelessly degraded by th...

DATE: Jul 8, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Volunteers vital in effort to protect public lands

Last weekend, I hiked from spring back to winter. While the corn lilies and monument plants were pushing their leaves upward at the trailhead, I was soon in snow several feet deep. I follow...

DATE: Jun 10, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Join the effort to make a positive impact on public lands

Carl Sagan once mused, “who are we, if not measured by our impact on others,” and as members of a thriving community and a dynamic ecosystem, we all have impacts on our surroundings and soci...

DATE: May 12, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Nature Center reopens to public this month

The spring wind rushes across a plateau of rabbitbrush and Gambel oak as the gently flowing Florida River chatters over shallow rocks below. To the north, the monumental, snowy 14,090-foot p...

DATE: Apr 8, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Stewardship of San Juans a priority through the seasons

It is another radiant, bluebird day in the San Juan Mountains, and 30 people are strapping on snowshoes in preparation for San Juan Mountains Association’s third interpretive ski and snowsho...

DATE: Mar 11, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

SJMA’s programs educate young people in the outdoors

A simple joy of life in Durango is to watch the sun pop up above Raider Ridge and douse the valley in golden light each morning. Lately, its emergence has been trending distinctly northward ...

DATE: Feb 11, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

San Juan Mountains a laboratory for the study of avalanches

San Juan Mountains Association works in cooperation with federal public lands partners to ensure visitors to the mountains enjoy the region’s grand views, beautiful hiking trails, world-clas...

DATE: Jan 7, 2022 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Celebrate Christmas and support San Juan Mountains Association by buying a tree

Here at San Juan Mountains Association, we have experienced a bustling, exciting and fulfilling summer and fall. Whether it be our educators running science-based summer camps for youths, o...

DATE: Nov 15, 2021 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land

Supporting wilderness and the immense value it provides

In his wildly popular 1968 book, Desert Solitaire, Ed Abbey claimed that “we need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to go there...

DATE: Oct 7, 2021 | CATEGORY: Stewards of the Land