Runner found after night outside
All’s well than ends well for a lost runner who failed to return from a run on Monday afternoon.

Marla Luckey, 31, who recently moved to Durango from Michigan, set out on a run up the Red Creek Trail, off Missionary Ridge, on Monday around 11 a.m. However, when she failed to return several hours later, La Plata County Search & Rescue was notified.

Crews began looking for the woman, whose car was still at the trailhead, and searched for her throughout the night. The search continued Tuesday, concentrated on four trails in the area where she was last seen.

At about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, a person walking their dog on a trail heard calls for help and contacted staff at the nearby Colvig Silver Camp. Luckey was located before 1 p.m. and accompanied down to her car.

Luckey, who was only wearing basic running clothes, said she stayed warm by bringing her knees to her chest and pulling her running shirt over them as temperatures dipped into the 30s. La Plata County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dan Bender said Luckey was smart to stop when it got dark.

“People who continue to move after nightfall when lost in the backcountry often sustain injuries as a result, compounding their problem.” Bender said.

Bender reminded anyone venturing off-road to carry basic survival items.

“Most of the people we have overnight or multi-day searches for were only planning to be gone for 1 to 4 hours and most fail to carry what they need for an overnight stay,” he said. “In the summer, temperatures in our area can drop by 40 degrees or more when rain or wind systems pass through. Anyone who heads out on foot, on bike, on ATV, or whatever should be prepared to face rapidly changing weather and temperatures.”

11 apply for District Court judge seat
Eleven local residents are vying for a shot at District Court judge. Seeking to fill the vacancy in the Sixth Judicial District (covering Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties) are Steven Boos of Ignacio; and Suzanne Carlson, James Casey, Joel Fry, William Herringer, Dolores Kanski, Benjamin Lammons, Susan “Leigh” Meigs, Hon. Martha Minot, Todd Norvell, and E. Michelle Sylvain, all of Durango.

Public comment on any of the applicants is being accepted now through June 8. A final decision will be made by the Sixth Judicial District Nominating Commission on June 12 at the La Plata County Courthouse.

Comments may be emailed to judicial.vacancies@judicial. state.co.us no later than June 8.

Fire season under way in Four Corners
Two fires continued to burn around the Four Corners this week, fueled by winds and dry conditions.

Near Pagosa Springs, the Little Sand Fire has been burning since May 13 in ponderosa pine forest west of the Peidra River. Started by lightning, the fire took a turn for the worse with last Friday’s 60 mph winds, blowing up by nearly 2.5 miles and threatening numerous residences, recreational areas and ranches.

Due to rugged terrain, firefighters have taken “confine and contain” strategy to the fire. So far, the blaze has burned more than 3,700 acres in the San Juan National Forest at a cost of $725,000.

Wednesday, 243 firefighters continued battling the blaze, with crews on the north end working near the Piedra Road, above the Bridge Campground, to take down snags, or hazard trees, and a dozer was being used to improve old logging roads for better access.

On the southern end of the fire, crews monitored the fireline and snuffed out any traveling embers. The west side of the fire was monitored by air. Engines also returned to help protect homes north and east of the burn, with helicopters assisting with water drops when needed.

Wednesday’s wwarmer temperatures and lighter winds shifted smoke west and southeast. Smoke from the fire, which is about 13 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, has been highly visible and firefighters predict the fire to linger and smoke to continue for some time.

On the other end of the region, the 6,000-plus acre Sunrise Mine Fire also continued to burn about 4 miles north of the town of Paradox. The fire started May 25 on Bureau of Land Management lands, and the cause is under investigation. Also fanned by last weekend’s high winds, the fire quickly spread to the north and west and burned onto lands managed by the Manti La Sal National Forest as well as a small area of private land. No structures have been burned and no immediate threats exist.

As of Wednesday, the fire was 48 percent contained with 552 firefighters on the scene at a cost of $1.2 million.   
 
– Missy Votel
 

In this week's issue...

January 25, 2024
Bagging it

State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies

January 26, 2024
Paper chase

The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.

January 11, 2024
High and dry

New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows