Ear to the ground:

“You need to give him the Big Book of British Smiles.”
– Friendly parenting tip on getting junior to spend more time brushing and less time in the dentist’s chair

Faceshot fever

With ski season a few short weeks away, the frothing is likely reaching feverish levels in mountain households across the West. If your latest issue of Powder has been read – and reread – to shreds, why not check out some ski porn on the big screen?

Next Fri., Oct. 23, Friends of the San Juans brings Teton Gravity Research’s latest, “Paradise Waits” to the Durango Arts Center. The film follows skiers in search of the steep and deep in the feast-and-famine winter that was 2014-15. “As the days turn into weeks and the weeks roll into months, it’s the moments when everything seems to come together in perfect harmony that resonate the loudest … this past year came with an unfamiliar set of struggles as these perfect moments became more and more elusive,” reads the movie’s promo. But for the TGR team, this only hardened their pursuit of winter’s rewards. Through the highs and lows of a curious season, they come to find that the moments found on the other side of adversity are the greatest of all.

The film, with showings at 6 and 9 p.m., is a fund-raiser for  FOSJ, the Joe Philpott/Peter Carver Avalanche Scholarship, and the Fort Lewis College Big Mountain Ski Team. Beer, beverages and food from Zia will be available, and attendees can enter a drawing to win a trip with San Juan Untracked or a new pair of skis.  Get your  tickets at Pine Needle or online at www.tetongravity.com.

And when folks emerge pumped up for the season, they can head on over to the Pine Needle Ski Swap (backcountry, AT, telemark and Nordic gear)  from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24, followed by FOSJ’s first avalanche awareness class  of the season from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 27, at the Powerhouse. The class will be led by Aaron Ball, Level 3 avalanche instructor with San Juan Mountain Guides and owner of Southwest Rescue.

FOSJ is also offering memberships for $20. Privileges include eligibility for avalanche scholarships; priority registration; discounts on AIARE Level 1 avalanche courses through FOSJ’s partners; complimentary Carvers beer at select FOSJ events (including the aforementioned Oct. 27 class); and exclusive hook-ups at Pine Needle.

To learn more, go to www.thesan juans.org or check out FOSJ on Facebook.

Beaver sighting

Thanks to our anonymous caller last week, who saw the “Ask the Diver” question about Little Beaver and called in with an update. Seems the Beav is safe and sound, residing at Tamarin Square Apartments, where he is reportedly doing fine. And presumably fighting crime, although unable to make his regular downtown sleuthing rounds.