 Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Anybody familiar with the area? I used to live in the Denver area but I don't know the western slope.
For reasons that may or may not have to do with human beings the summers that were mild with low humidity and no mosquitoes when I moved here (Asheville, NC) 30 years ago are now hot, humid, and have more bugs than I'm willing to deal with.
We're thinking about somewhere in the Four Corners area and Durango looks pretty nice. Mountain biking and kayaking in the summer, skiing in the winter with low humidity and few mosquitoes.
If anybody has spent any time there I'd appreciate the input.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
|
|
Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I'm really getting the feeling you're prejudiced against mosquitoes. Why? They're very small, take small bites and only hunt you when you're outside. Poor lil things. Have a heart and let them have a little meal now and then. If you just can't warm up to them, do what I do. I stand or sit close to my wife, cause they LOVE her! 
Fidelis et Fortis
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Well Chet, not to start anything about the issue of "Climate Change" here, but I gotta say even since I WAS but a small tyke growing up close to the sands of the Los Angeles County beach area, EVERYBODY knew that IF you lived much east of the Rockies, you were pretty much assured of a hot AND STEAMY Summer, and most likely filled with those blood-sucking little critters known as "Skeeters" in many parts of this country. BUT, to answer your question here, coincidentally, we've just had a nice older couple from Durango move into our little slice of Heaven here in Sedona and right down the street. And, when I did the neighborly thing and welcomed them into our neighborhood, I asked them why they moved away from there, and Tom the husband replied while his wife Ilene shook her head up and down in agreement, that they were just sick and tired of all the snow they had to move off their driveway just to get their cars(one of which btw is a VERY cool newer top-of-the-line Nissan Z-car) onto the road during their rather long Winters on that otherwise nice little town situated on those western slopes of that mountain range. 'Cause ya see, here in this little slice of Heaven known as Sedona Arizona, WE usually only get about 10-12 inches total of the stuff during that time of year, though the contrast the stuff brings to the these beautiful red rock formations with all the Juniper pines and other greenery growing up the slopes of them which surround this little slice of Heaven known as Sedona Arizona is TRULY somethin' to behold! (...AND where those aforementioned little skeeter critters are few and far between during ANY time of the year, THOUGH I have to admit those little "noseeums", aka biting midges, DO drive me a little crazy every year from about Mother's Day to almost Father's Day around here, and so I suppose no place is "perfect", huh!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
|
|
Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
i just had one mosquito bite all year . im peeling tomatoes for salsa and its 2 am and i needed a break . i think they make some kind of dodge over there
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
|
|
Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Anybody familiar with the area?
There's a subway restaurant off of 160...
Blowing gravel off rural roads
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Love it in the Summer !!! cabin #14 @ the old KOA is right on the Animas river..... not a big snow fan though and as pointed out earlier..... the winters are a little long...
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
|
|
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Quote:
Quote:
Anybody familiar with the area?
There's a subway restaurant off of 160...
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Don't you love the sound of that last plunge as they begin their dive bombing attack while trying to get to sleep. NNNNNNEEEEEEEEOEOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWww and then the swinging starts. You ain't seen mossies until you've visited Northern Ontario. They think they own the lakelands  .....er...I guess they do!!!
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
"There's a skeeter on my peter, get it off
There's a skeeter on my peter, get it off
There a skeeter on my peter if ya catch er ya can eat er
There's a skeeter on my peter GET IT OFF!"
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3 |
A study has found that drinking just a single 12-ounce bottle of beer can make a person more attractive to insects. According to Smithsonian Magazine, mosquitos are capable of smelling lactic acid and other substances in sweat, and go for the higher temperature bodies. The insects also have an affinity for Type O blood twice as much as Type A and are also attracted to high levels of carbon dioxide and are capable of smelling the gas from 164 feet away. Takeaway? Stick with Whisky, Rum or Tequila. 
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,669 |
well being that I am type O guess that's two more reasons to drink whisky.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
Quote:
Mountain biking and kayaking in the summer, skiing in the winter with low humidity and few mosquitoes.
While living in Utah's red rock country we'd escape the desert summers by travelling 6-8,000 vertical feet and 140 horizontal miles to the San Juan mountains of Colorado. I remember a couple of high country campsites where the mid-summer mosquito swarms were incredible. These weren't the B2 bomber sized skeeters found elsewhere, but tiny buggers with 2, maybe 3 sets of mouthparts each 
jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
I haven't been bitten by a mosquito here in Western Washington in years. Occasional Deerfly bites, but no Skeeters.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322 |
I have a friend about 40 miles west in Cortez. She loves it but is planning on heading back to Florida in the next few years. It looks beautiful.
As for skeeters, when I live in Titusville, FL we had Asian Tiger Mosquitos, they'd leave a welt the size of a soft ball, and now we have them in the Panhandle. Im so happy to be home again...
"stupid's in the water these days, they're gonna drink it anyways, until they don't know right from wrong..."
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Being that Florida is the Shark Bite Capitol of the World, (and we ALL know SOMEONE who's been "Bit" by an alligator), I don't even notice the mosquitos!  (Oh, you DON'T have to worry about being bit by the Black Bears, they'll EAT YOU) 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Colorado? I don't like snow... 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
|
|
Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
When I was traveling through Minnisota, the locals told me that the Moskeeter is the "state bird". 
Fidelis et Fortis
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Being that Florida is the Shark Bite Capitol of the World, (and we ALL know SOMEONE who's been "Bit" by an alligator), I don't even notice the mosquitos!
(Oh, you DON'T have to worry about being bit by the Black Bears, they'll EAT YOU)
Had my first black bear in my yard a couple hours ago.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I should add that Ruthie and I met while working at the University of Colorado about 30 years ago, so the place isn't exactly foreign to us.
But, that's on the Front Range, as opposed to the Western Slope. It's about 75% sure we're gonna buy a place somewhere out west. We'll keep both places for a while until we're ready to commit, one way or another.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
Quote:
Being that Florida is the Shark Bite Capitol of the World, (and we ALL know SOMEONE who's been "Bit" by an alligator), I don't even notice the mosquitos!
(Oh, you DON'T have to worry about being bit by the Black Bears, they'll EAT YOU)
Had my first black bear in my yard a couple hours ago.
Wow! What a coincidence...hmmmmm...or IS it?!
Tell ya what Chet. Have erle mention somethin' about the new Jag F-type and see if THAT now appears in your yard!
(...I mean, ya never know...maybe erle has "The Gift" or somethin', EH?!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,425 |
Black Bears are all over Asheville area. getting pushed out of their habitats by over devlopment and the turns of the weather. Easier to eat someones garbage or small animal than find it in the forest. (Smokey can correct me if I am wrong)
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
|
|
Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
My sister lives in Dolores. Well, between Cortez and Dolores but actually closer to Cortez. They get some snow in the winter, sometimes more than some, but if you like winter sports that part of the country wonderful. Some nice roads for the summer riding too. Nice high country jeep/dual sport trails if you're into that. Maybe some of the Coloridians will offer some opinions as well.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
Black Bears are all over Asheville area. getting pushed out of their habitats by over devlopment and the turns of the weather. Easier to eat someones garbage or small animal than find it in the forest. (Smokey can correct me if I am wrong)
My mother lives just South of Asheville in a small quiet neighborhood of mostly retirees. The bears wander the streets at night. Their favorite treat seems to be the bird feeders. I've gone into the woods more than once to retrieve one of her neighbor's feeders. The HOA warns them, but whaddyado? 
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
... The bears wander the streets at night. Their favorite treat seems to be the bird feeders. I've gone into the woods more than once to retrieve one of her neighbor's feeders. The HOA warns them, but whaddyado?
We get lots of black bears in northern NJ and they destroyed a couple of ground-level bird feeders.
I thought I was smart when I hung a feeder with fishing line off a high limb on an oak tree. One day we watched a bear climb the tree in order to go out on the limb. He thought better of it and as he descended the tree, he brushed up against the fishing line, and he noticed the feeder move.
He yanked on the fishing line a coule of times and pulled the feeder over the limb and down to the ground where he made a feast of it! 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Black Bears are all over Asheville area. getting pushed out of their habitats by over devlopment and the turns of the weather. Easier to eat someones garbage or small animal than find it in the forest. (Smokey can correct me if I am wrong)
You are correct. I'd just never seen one in my yard before. The elementary school my kids attended once had a delay when a mama decided to nap in the bus dropoff area.
Asheville is still quite wooded throughout many areas of the city. Other than endangering the bears it isn't really a problem.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
My sister lives in Dolores. Well, between Cortez and Dolores but actually closer to Cortez. They get some snow in the winter, sometimes more than some, but if you like winter sports that part of the country wonderful. Some nice roads for the summer riding too. Nice high country jeep/dual sport trails if you're into that. Maybe some of the Coloridians will offer some opinions as well.
Delores looks pretty cool. With the river running through it and that big reservoir it seems pretty nice. Besides our Triumphs, Ruthie and I have a couple of KLRs. Those trails look pretty enticing.
I used to love the winters out there. It can be 20 degrees and, if the wind isn't blowing, you can be comfortable in a tee shirt because of the high altitude sunshine.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
|
|
Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
My mother lives just South of Asheville in a small quiet neighborhood of mostly retirees. The bears wander the streets at night. Their favorite treat seems to be the bird feeders. I've gone into the woods more than once to retrieve one of her neighbor's feeders. The HOA warns them, but whaddyado?
It's time for the HOA to stop with the warnings and start to fine those damn bears!!!
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Quote:
My mother lives just South of Asheville in a small quiet neighborhood of mostly retirees. The bears wander the streets at night. Their favorite treat seems to be the bird feeders. I've gone into the woods more than once to retrieve one of her neighbor's feeders. The HOA warns them, but whaddyado?
It's time for the HOA to stop with the warnings and start to fine those damn bears!!!
Don't even get me started on their parking.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Quote:
...Easier to eat someones garbage or small animal than find it in the forest.
Seems our bears are a bit more aggressive/ill tempered.
Must be the humidity / traffic.
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
|
|
New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
|
|
Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Bears do what they want in the woods. Whos gonna stop em?
Black bears arent so bad , brown bears are worse.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 362
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 362 |
Lived in Farmington, NM for a while in the 70's and rode up to Durango, Cortez and Mesa Verde area quite a bit. Also, lived in Albuquerque so rode the Sandias, Santa Fe, Jemez Mountains and Abq West Mesa. Beautiful country. It can get windy, dusty and cold at times but mostly is just great riding weather.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,937 |
Quote:
Bears do what they want in the woods. Whos gonna stop em?
Black bears arent so bad , brown bears are worse.
Black bears arent so bad...
Really?
Don't go and try to befriend one.
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Lived in Farmington, NM for a while in the 70's and rode up to Durango, Cortez and Mesa Verde area quite a bit. Also, lived in Albuquerque so rode the Sandias, Santa Fe, Jemez Mountains and Abq West Mesa. Beautiful country. It can get windy, dusty and cold at times but mostly is just great riding weather.
I've ridden all over but the ride from Taos, NM, to Moab, UT, past Mesa Verde was the most spectacular ride I've ever taken.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
|
|
OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Under contract. On Vallecito Creek (a river) and about 600 yards from the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest wilderness in Colorado. It's 29 spectacular miles to Durango.
|
|
|
Re: Durango, Colorado
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
