Ear to the ground

“Is ‘Easiest Way Down’ in the Bible?”

– A local 7-year-old after noticing the Biblical connotations of many of the trails at Purgatory

Heavy air

Visitors to Durango Mountain Resort can now stick it to old man altitude. Altitude O2 Bar has opened two locations at the ski area and offers 92-95 percent oxygen-enriched air for those craving a little taste of sea level.

Owner Dave Luna, a certified paramedic and DMR ski patroller, brought the oxygen bars to Durango to help visitors and locals reduce the effects of altitude sickness.

“Oxygen is the best medicine for reducing the effects of high-altitude sickness,” Luna said. “Not to mention it reduces muscle soreness, headaches, stress and even hangovers. The effects leave our customers feeling alert, refreshed, full of energy, and with a general over-all good feeling.”

People looking for a hit of pure O2 can find the Altitude O2 Bar at the Plaza beneath Purgy’s and on-mountain at Dante’s. The facilities use state-of-the-art oxygen concentrators and delivery stations where the oxygen is humidified and infused with aromatherapy or flavor aromas.

“We’ve had a tremendous amount of positive feedback,” he said. “We get a lot of repeat local business including those with young families because it’s safe for everyone, and they recognize that just because they live here at a high altitude they can still suffer from the effects of high altitude.”

Altitude O2’s signature oxygen blends include: Muscle Tonic, an anti-inflammatory for sore muscles; Orange-Peppermint, “an all-natural uplifting and energizing blend;” and Chillaxin, a stress-reducing formula for those busy spring break days.

Barrels of beer

One of Durango’s favorite “microbreweries” is no more. Ska Brewing earned a new designation in 2010. After brewing more than 15,000 barrels of beer this year, Ska is no longer the nation’s largest “microbrewery” but has just become the nation’s smallest “regional craft brewery.”

The American Brewers Association designates breweries that produce less than 15,000 barrels a year as microbreweries, while regional craft breweries are those that produce between 15,000 and 2 million barrels annually. There are currently 534 microbreweries in the United Sates, and 71 regional craft breweries.  

“It’s amazing how much your life can change in the course of a day,” said Dave Thibodeau, Ska president and co-founder. “Just yesterday, we were king of the ‘micros’ at 14,957 barrels, ruling the land with an iron-clad brew glove, and now here we are 20 hours later, scraping the bottom of the regional barrel.”

The change in status caps a year of milestones for the “regional craft brewery” in which Ska celebrated its 15th anniversary and witnessed double-digit sales growth.