Ear to the ground

“First they turn into cats, because cats are smarter. But then they just become ordinary poodles.”

-Dr. Science responding to the question, “Will the Dog Park’s uranium mill tailings make our pets super dogs?” during last weekend’s Power House Gala

The big day

The countdown has begun. Only 78 more days stand between Durango and Opening Day of the ski season. As in past years, Durango Mountain Resort is looking for a worthy local cause to share in the first-day proceeds.

Purgatory is now accepting applications for its 15th annual Benefit Day. With Mother Nature crimping the last few Thanksgiving openers, the season starter has been pushed back to Dec. 1 this year. As in past years, a nonprofit organization will reap the proceeds of discounted lift tickets offered during the one-day event that starts the winter season. This year’s selected organization will receive $10 of each $15 ticket sold, an amount that always clocks in above five figures. The balance of sales will go to the Durango Winter Sports Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that supports youth participation in winter activities.

Previous recipients of Benefit Day include Trails 2000, Durango Discovery Museum, Durango Arts Center and San Juan Mountains Association. DMR has put more than $200,000 back into the community since the program’s inception.

Applications will be accepted through Oct. 1 and can be sent to: Annie Simonson, Director of Community Relations, #1 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301.

For those who can’t wait 78 days for the official beginning of winter, there’s good news. Ice season begins in just two weeks at Chapman Hill. The season kicks off Sept. 28 with public skate from 7-9 p.m. In addition, improvements were made to the rink over the summer, which should extend the ice season to late April

Black Iron in Telluride

For those with winter on the brain, Telluride is expanding into new territory. More backcountry lite is landing at the nearby ski resort this winter, with plans to open an area called Black Iron Bowl, in the resort’s relatively new Prospect Basin. The eight trails in the bowl will offer challenging terrain that is modestly challenging to access, requiring a hike of anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

Included in the new terrain will be the expansive Mountain Quail Couloir, with its steep chutes and exposed terrain. Mountain Quail was previously open only for paid tours.