ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHANGRI-LA

A clear summer afternoon in the gold-rush town of Telluride, Colorado, is sheer delight. Nestled in a cozy valley of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride's a community of 1,400 souls. It's a town that's a mere 12 blocks long and five blocks deep; with the commerce on less than half of those blocks. This smallness coupled with the ornate architecture are what make Telluride such a special place to visit.

What makes it a Rocky Mountain Shangri-La are the mountains that fashionably jet up to the heavens, the periwinkle blue skies, the wildlife, the intriguing, active people and a calendar-of-events that is jam-packed with world-renowned festivals, activities and the like. Founded in 1888, Telluride has evolved from Indian hunting grounds to a mining intensive town, a ski resort and now, a four-season, five-star resort community with a huge personality. Bottom line is....Telluride is a happening place with a youthful mentality. It's a place that beckons one's adventuresome side and attracts those who seek a resort with a little western flair, a little funk and a lot of individuality. In Shangri-La in the summertime, our multi-toned emerald forests give way to rolling mountain meadows that are caressed with a rainbow of colors. The pigments of columbine, moss campion, Indian paintbrush, silvery lupine, marigolds, orchids, daisies and lilies may all be ingested while standing in one spot. (Ironically, summer isn't our most colorful season. Come fall, the colors really explode.)

As the sun gives way to the evening sky, a brilliant band of colors set the horizon ablaze. This nightly event is called an "alpenglow." During the alpenglow, a tidalwave of rich violets, purples, magentas and reds sweep the westerly sky for a few moments; as if to announce the eventide. Once the evening's presence is fully-known, the quaintness of this alpine village becomes more evident. The starry nights and antiquated storefronts create an aura of romance that isn't quickly forgotten. Nighttime activities such as dining, dancing, live theater are as unforgettable as the daytime's backdrops and activities. The grand variety of things-to-do, places-to-see, natural beauty and the endless list of resort amenities are what make Telluride a panacea of relaxation and enjoyment.

ON THE WILD SIDE
ELK are in abundance throughout the Rockies. Transplanted in the early 1920s from the huge elk refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, these incredible beasts stand approximately 54" to 60" high at the shoulder. The male elk's broad antler racks are used primarily for the protection and winning over of a harem. Famous for their bugling in the fall, the males challenge rivals for the position as crowned monarch. Maturity is marked by the number of points and broadness of the rack. Each year they shed their antlers. Muskrat, squirrel, chipmunk, and insect feed from them - gathering calcium and other nutrients. Females generally give birth to a new offspring once a year (in the spring) for about seven years. They stay with their young for nearly two years. Most harems are comprised of related females.

MULE TAIL DEER
This cud-chewing, hoofed animal is seen mostly in the spring and summer months. The males have antlers or bony outgrowth from the skull that are used as weapons during breeding season. If the antlers have been shed, the deer use their canine teeth in fighting situations. Deer are nocturnal, but may be active any time. They eat a wide range of plants and are excellent jumpers.

BOBCAT
The bobcat is an aggressive cat found throughout North America and northern Eurasia. They have small heads with tufted ears and heavy bodies with long legs and short tails. Their fur is somewhat striped with tones of yellow, brown and gray. They prey primarily on small animals and are nocturnal hunters. Weighing approximately 40 pounds and generally over 3 feet in length, the bobcat resides mostly in cliff-like dwellings near or below treeline in the San Juans. Like most cats they rest during the daylight hours.

YELLOW ALFALFA BUTTERFLY
Butterflies dance upon the floral blankets of the San Juans for several months a year. They make the flower fields come alive with their rhythmic motions and delightful cadences. By definition, a butterfly is a flying insect that with the moth comprises the order Lepidoptera. A butterfly's wings function as one, their mouths are coiled and the antennae have knobs on the tips. Most feed on nectar from the wild flowers during the day and are dormant at night. A spectacle of nature is when the butterfly has metamorphosed from a caterpillar to a chrysalis or butterfly. Butterflies live for a month.

BULL FROG
What is it about these slimy little creatures that conjure up whimsical images? Perhaps it's their smooth, wet skin; their deep croaking voices; their bulging eyes or out-of-proportion, boneless body parts. Whatever it is, these freshwater amphibians require ample water and plenty of insects to survive. Their sticky, forked tongues are used to capture food, while their strong, webbed feet are generally used in swimming to stop them from becoming food. Most frogs lay eggs in the early spring and metamorphosis to a four-legged adult by the end of the summer.

BIG HORN SHEEP
Johnnie Stevens photographed these little mountain goats above Sawpit, 10 minutes out of Telluride. Bighorn sheep have specialized hooves that are soft on the inside. The flexible texture of their hooves enable them to cling to the sharp rocks. In this species, both males and females have horns that are retained for life. It takes the rams (males) eight years to get their fully-curved horns. The females' horns remain straight and grow to a length of 8 to 10-inches long. Both genders are grayish-white and have a distinctive white patch in the hind quarters.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
The ignorant man marvels at the exceptional; the wise man marvels at the common; the greatest wonder of all is the regularity of nature. -George Dana Boardman From the heart of the San Juan Mountains, swift, cold waters converge at Bridal Veil Falls to form the headwaters of the San Miguel River. Considered to be one of Colorado's most ecologically intact rivers, the San Miguel is also one of the state's last freeflowing rivers. The San Miguel joins its southern branch, the South Fork, near Ilium Valley. Picking up momentum as numerous tributaries flow their waters into the river's ever-growing crescendos. The river swells wider, deeper and more powerfully as it spills into the Dolores River then, finally the Colorado River just north of Moab, Utah.

To the naked eye, the San Miguel River seems as pristine and inviting as most Rocky Mountain waterways. Unfortunately, like many rivers and streams in modern civilization, mankind has imparted alterations and heavy use demands of their waters. Diversion of water flow, tailing contaminants, hydroelectric, watershed protection and the increase of urban development are Telluride's most pressing water issues. Clean-up, growth and usage issues are currently being monitored by state and federal agencies. Whatever, political decisions are made in regard to the "water issues," maintaining a healthy ecology and good water sources for future generations most assuredly will be factored in ~ we owe that to this treasure. Through the millennia of time, the San Miguel has meandered through the mountains and meadows of the San Juans. Its mystic, magical qualities enliven all within her reach. This body of water has fed and continues to feed vegetation, deer, elk, eagles, bear, pumas, frogs, fish.....and humans with regularity; not exception. It has been a life source for the area; one well-worth protecting and defending. It's a marvel of nature and a gift from above.

A LIFESTYLE OF MOUNTAIN FOLKS
Charismatic Telluride. A charmer-of-a-town that is surrounded from all points of a compass with heartpalpitating natural wonders and beauty. What makes this place special, however, is its people and their mentality. Here the mind-set of the community seems to be at one with nature. As in the days of the mule-pulled wagons and steam-driven locomotives, Telluride's mountain folks are still beckoned by the riches and challenges her lofty peaks offer. These days, however, the riches are not gold and silver, but rather the quality of life a remote, high altitude town can offer - no stop lights, low crime and a neighborly attitude. Telluride folk find simple things in life are treasured like biking, horseback riding, fly fishing and shopping in a friendly little store where people know your name. In essence, it's the small town atmosphere that carries a motherlode of wealth to the locals.

Challenges are met not from a lack of conveniences, but by personal choice. Many of the local outdoor enthusiasts would rather push themselves up the hill, climb the tallest 14,000-foot peak or rush through a river's whitewater rapids than not. Ask them why and they'll say, "Why not."