Ear to the ground:

“Subarus are like belly buttons.”
– Observation on the local prevalence of the vehicles, and possibly their ability to hold lots of lint and dog hair


Got beard?

If you’re looking for your big break, or just want to skip work next Thursday, listen up. The Four Corners Film Office has put out a cattle call for local men – preferably of the facially hairy variety – as extras in a turn-of-century (as in 19th) documentary.

Filming takes place in town Thurs., July 28.

But there are a few catches. For starters, there is no pay (but there is a free lunch. Plus, think of the bragging rights at the bar!) Secondly, since the film is set in the late 1800s, which predate modern body art technology, participants are asked to cover up those tats, let down the mohawk and leave the nose rings at home.

“As this is a historical re-enactment, we cannot work with visible tattoos, piercings or eccentric modern hairstyles,” stated a press release. Additionally, Victorian-era wear (think  leftover Snowdown Steampunk costumes) and the aforementioned facial hair are a plus. Scenes will depict men in office/business settings.

The film is being shot in conjunction with local production company Inspirit Creative, which is working on a soon-to-be released PBS documentary “Pioneering Power.” The film explores electrical power’s unlikely start in the mountains of Colorado. (Fun fact: the Ames hydroelectric plant near Telluride was the first in the U.S. to generate AC for industrial purposes.)

Those of the male persuasion with tats below the neckline are encouraged to send a headshot (selfies OK) to christina@inspiritcre ative.com by Fri., July 22.

And if you don’t fit into the above criteria, don’t fret. Many more extras will be needed in October for a feature-length film. Stay tuned …


Ultra cool

Not only did local ultrarunner Jason Schlarb (Telegraph, March 31) co-win the fabled Hardrock Hundred hand-in-hand with threepeat champ, Spaniard Kilian Jornet, but the two laid down the second-fastest time in race history, finishing in 22 hours, 58 minutes, 28 seconds.

Co-winners in the race is unusual but not unheard of. It happened once before, in 1997, when Mark Hartell and Mark McDermott, both from Great Britain, finished first together  race director Dale Garland told National Geographic online. “I thought it was a class act by both of them,” he said. “This really represents the true spirit of what ultrarunning should be.”

Meanwhile, somewhat missing from the Silverton starting line was Durango runner Missy Gosney. That’s because Gosney, 49, was halfway around the world taking second place among the “dones” (women) in the 106-mile Andorra Ultratrail. (For the geographically inclined, Andorra is a small independent principality situated between France and Spain, in the Pyrenees Mountains. It’s well known for its ski resorts and as a tax-haven for the uber rich.)

The course is described as having “panoramic views, alternate zones of minerals, high mountain meadows, forests, glacial lakes … and some completely safe rocky ridge sections.”