Ear to the ground:

“Those tourists probably have some really good vacation stories to tell.”

– Local woman remarking on the recent blow dart incident downtown in which two tourists were hit

Hot doggin

Now that Purg season pass holders can breathe a sigh of relief that their free days at Taos are still intact (as well as all the Sipapu and Pajarito their legs can handle) it’s time to party.

In honor of Purg’s 50th anniversary next season, the resort is asking local skiers to rummage through their drawers and attics in search of any vintage Purg memorabilia, specifically pictures and film from the neon heydays of the ’80s and ’90s. Items chosen will be lent to FLC’s Center of Southwest Studies for a special commemorative 50th birthday exhibit.

Ski bums willing to share embarrassing proof that they once skied in jeans with their gaiters on the outside are asked to contact Kim Oyler at koyler@purgatoryresort.com with a brief list of items and “50th memorabilia” in the subject line.

Squawk ’n’ roll

If it seems there’s more spandex-clad denizens on local roadways than usual this weekend, it’s not your imagination. Fort Lewis College Cycling’s annual Squawker Classic returns Saturday and Sunday with a full menu of road riding events for college and regular road warriors alike.

Cyclists from the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference will descend on Durango for the weekend, including Division 1 archrivals University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University as well as Division 2 powerhouse Colorado Mesa University. The  Squawker will offer up a team time trial, criterium and road circuit race in college and citizen divisions.

The rubber hits the road Saturday morning with the 13-mile Morehart Murphy Team Time Trial on La Posta Road. The citizens time trial follows at 10 a.m.

The action then moves up to the hill for the fast and furious Durango Performance Center Criterium, which has an all-new on-campus route. Starting at 11:30 a.m., racers will attack the .7-mile course, which loops around the campus.

Racers get back into the saddle Sunday morning for the Coca-Cola Road Race, which takes off at 8 a.m. The 5-mile route will travel clockwise around the rim, passing Hillcrest Golf Course before turning onto North College Drive, through the roundabout and down Goeglein Gulch. Once at the bottom, riders will make their way back up to the rim via 8th Avenue and the grueling front hill. Riders will complete anywhere from three to nine laps.

Non two-wheeled vehicles and Iron Horse trainees are advised to be on the lookout for road closures and minor delays.

For course maps and more info., go to cycling.fortlewis.edu.

You can also keep up with the action on the team Facebook page www.facebook.com/FLCCyclingTeam. Results and standings can be found at www.rmccc.org