Baxter Black, Cowboy Poet and Humorist

For 21 years, the first week in October finds Durango home to The Cowboy Gathering. Forty or so cowboy poets, songsters and humorists, and all their gear, gather from far and near to entertain us with “songs, verse and rhyme”. Locals dust off old Stetsons, slip on old cowboy boots, loop heirloom lariats around their necks, don leather vests, buckle up gaudy belts and happily play along.

A far cry from the hard ridin’, shoot-em-up cowboy image romanticized in Hollywood westerns, Durango was a boring supply town. Its creation and growth were fostered by the railroad, not cattle drives and range wars. But, perception is reality, and if “cowboy” sells, Durango has always been ready to accommodate. Although the railroad still contributes mightily to the local economy today, it does so only as a tourist attraction. Today the railroad and Cowboy Gathering reflect how his opportunistic little town keeps re-inventing itself to cash in on America’s love affair with the old west.

Each fall the visiting balladeers/poets branch out into the community and entertain at various local venues, including schools, the senior center, Fort Lewis College, the Strater Hotel and—yes—even on the 19th century train we now call the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge RR! School kids listen intently in local schools, undoubtedly conjuring up thoughts of fireside friendships as guitar-strumming poets delight them with song, tall tales, and bunkhouse humor.

On Saturday morning, locals strut their stuff along Main Street and cheer friends and strangers alike participating in the “motor-less” parade. Entrants range from the all volunteer Colorado Rangers, a local search and rescue and auxiliary law enforcement group, to young 4-H kids riding their favorite paint or quarter-horse. A few antique buggies and wagons led by handsome teams always bring roars of approval from the appreciative spectators.

Evenings, the Henry Strater Theatre (aka The Hank), provides an appropriate venue for fun filled performances by the traveling cowboys. Substitute electric foot lights with oil lamps and you’d swear time stood still. Performances bring smiles, somber reflection, some tears, and lots of joy to young and old alike. Sunday morning features “A cowboy and his creator”, focusing on the cowboy’s love of God and country, a reminder that the spirit lies within us and not where we are.

Amidst the turmoil of modern society, emerging oneself in the spirit of The Cowboy Gathering is both therapeutic and sobering, a reminder of who we are and where we came from, sparking, perhaps, a yearning for to those days of old when a simple life and lofty values were the norm.

We have a dilemma here in Durango! On one hand, we have a wonderful, state-of-the-art hospital with the creation of the new Mercy Medical Center. A tour of this incredible 221,000 sq. ft., $76 million facility gives the impression that Durangoans have terrific healthcare. Well, yes and no!

Yes, it’s a great facility and well staffed, but, no, we have a shortage in Durango of general practitioners and a growing reluctance by physicians to accept Medicare patients. Why, because providers caring for Medicare patients are typically short-changed by the feds. Providers fare much better negotiating fees with private insurers. So, how are seniors going to get access to this hospital and the healthcare they paid for their entire working careers?

I don’t know of anyone here who favors Obama’s healthcare reform initiative. Virtually every senior I’ve talked to  fears they’ll be facing newer and bigger problems if Obama’s proposed $550 billion cuts to Medicare are passed. Even if that figure is off by double digits, a cut of this magnitude will surely have a negative impact on seniors here and elsewhere.

Add the growing demand for Medicare: Studies reveal that 77 million baby-boomers will be added to Medicare roles over the next three years. Let’s face it, the country is growing older, and the proponents of Obama’s plan know that full well. They claim that 90% of our healthcare costs are incurred in the last 10% of our lives. Proponents see that as fertile ground for cutting costs! So, we can only deduce that all of us will be paying more (a new tax), and seniors now and in the future will be getting less healthcare.

There are only a few ways to reduce Medicare costs by $550 billion. One is to eliminate fraud and administrative incompetence from the system we have today. Estimates place those costs somewhere between $80 to $120 billion per year. If we can’t fix the current system, how can we hope to eliminate fraud and incompetence in a system that is exponentially bigger?

A second cost saver would be tort reform. But, that’s not on the agenda of the lawmakers. There’s nothing in Obama’s plan addressing tort reform. Lawmakers, most of whom are also lawyers, and their pet special interest group, the American Trial Lawyers Association, make lots of money (usually one-third of litigation awards) when they win a lawsuit against a doctor or hospital.

Accordingly, the medical community practices “defensive medicine” and orders unnecessary tests and procedures just to protect themselves against the possibility of malpractice suits. This defensive strategy—and the huge cost of malpractice insurance—is responsible for a big chunk of our healthcare costs. Talented doctors are also avoiding medical specialties that are fraught with high risk. That creates an artificial shortage of physicians in critical specialties such as cardiology, thereby negatively impacting costs and access.

The third cost saver is the one that strikes the cruelest blow: Rationing! Where else can the feds get money to pay for the so-called uninsured? Obama will rob Peter (seniors) to pay Paul (the uninsured), providing subsidized coverage for illegals and young people who actually decline coverage available to them because they don’t think they need it.

How will rationing work? If you’re lucky enough to have doctors, they’ll be told what services they can provide and what drugs they can prescribe to you. You won’t have a say in the matter. Others—a national review board—will decide through rules and regulations whether you’ll live or die, and the quality of life you will lead. For example, if you’re 75 years old and have an aggressive cancer, pick out a coffin. That’s about the only choice you’ll have left. Obama wants the money they save on you to go towards those young voters in places like Chicago, LA and NYC.

Yes, we have a wonderful new hospital. Yes, Durango is a fabulous place to live and visit. But, caveat emptor, pay attention to how you’ll stay healthy enough to enjoy it. Many retirees and baby-boomers have gravitated to Durango. We all need to get active in defeating this legislation while we still have a chance…

 Durango’s Dave Spencer Ski Classic

Dave Spencer

 In November 1986, a courageous visionary named Dave Spencer succumbed to cancer at age 26. He put up a long and valiant battle, sacrificing a leg to ward off cancer’s deadly spread. Sadly, that procedure didn’t save his life, but it created a new one that lives on 25 years later, the Durango Adaptive Sports Association (ASA).

ASA continues to fulfill Dave’s vision of giving hope and joy to thousands of men, women and children, and their families, struggling with physical or cognitive disabilities. Over a quarter-century, ASA has developed into a well-managed organization with an impressive inventory of adaptive equipment, a skilled and compassionate training cadre, meticulous equipment mechanics, and more than a hundred part-time, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers.

But all this takes lots of money, even for a non-profit staffed largely by volunteers. So ASA conducts two major fundraisers annually. The first is the Dave Spencer Ski Classic, scheduled for March 6th and 7th at Durango Mountain Resort (aka Purgatory). The proceeds not only help ASA defray the cost of operations, they also fund tuition scholarships for needy students. ASA never turns anyone away!

“The Dave Spencer”, as locals call it, is part ski/snowboard race, part costume party, part libations and dining, part awards and recognition ceremonies, and all about having fun! The “races” are far from serious (ahem…with a few notable exceptions). The event involves getting teams of friends together, coming up with a (hopefully) hilarious costume theme, pulling it off, and raising some money in the process.

Anyone can participate. Teams of five members each—of all ages—come from near and far to join in the fun.

A team of youngsters--the Bees--show adults how it's done

In keeping with the spirit of the event, many ASA students or alumni are invited to join teams or form their own. The cost is $750 per team, or $150 per participant. Businesses or private citizens sponsor many of the participants. Entry fees include lift tickets for the two days and lunch and dinner vouchers for the wrap-up dinner, and a much-prized racer’s bid.

The financial goal is to raise much more than the minimum $750 team entry fees. Every participant seeks sponsorship from family, friends and anyone else they can recruit or blackmail. Not surprisingly, the event’s most coveted prizes are the awards to teams that raised the most money each category (e.g., businesses, private citizens, government groups).

The management of “Purg”, as locals refer to Durango Mountain Resort (DMR for short), a stalwart supporter of ASA, generously donates the lift tickets, racecourse, electronic timing system, ski-patrollers and starters. They also provide a generous number of season passes and lift tickets used by ASA volunteer instructors during the ski season.

The Dave Spencer opens on Friday. It’s a fun day with lots of socializing. Racers hit the slopes with their team, take some practice runs, and make last minute adjustments to prevent possible “costume malfunctions” during the race. This may be the trickiest part of the event because many of the creations are far from aerodynamic.

Then comes Saturday, the real deal, and, hopefully, Mother Nature hasn’t dumped 3-feet on new snow overnight on the racecourse, as she did a few years back. ASA can’t reschedule the event…the show must go on. 

Teams queue up for start of Dave Spencer Ski Classic

 The team goal is not to be the fastest, but to be the team with that finishes with the closest time to their prediction. The early risers will squeeze in a practice run or two, giving them a good idea of how long it will take he or she to complete the Nastar-type, dual giant slalom course. The party set, usually challenged just to make it to the starting gate on time, just has to wing it! As each duo approaches the starting gate, timekeepers record their predicted time and, assuming they finish, their actual time after crossing the finish line.

Two competitors wait their turn in starting gate

All this takes a couple of hours. ASA volunteers who aren’t racing offer morale support (lots of hootin’ and hollerin’) and assistance wherever it’s needed. On lookers braving the cold are rewarded with spectacular wipeouts, outrageous costumes and equally silly racing strategies (e.g., some hombre trying to ski the course backwards). Some of best outfits and spills will be caught on digital cameras and displayed in a non-stop slide show later that evening.

A thousand or so feet elevation below the racecourse, at ASA’s rustic log headquarters near the entrance to Durango Mountain Resort, a small army of volunteers work several barbecue grills, preparing burgers and dogs, and serving lunch to hungry racers returning from the course. Almost everything is donated by local businesses…

The event wraps up Saturday evening with a social hour and dinner at a downtown hotel restaurant. Results are announced, prizes awarded, and anecdotes and photos of the day shared with the crowd. The loudest cheer comes when Tim Kroes, ASA’s Executive Director, announces how much money was raised by the event.

It all began 25 years ago. Dave Spencer, a young guy who refused to surrender to adversity, taught himself and others how to live with it, and laugh and have fun in the process. Philosophers muse that things happen for a reason. In Dave’s case, there is no doubt about it. Dave’s vision created a legacy! His infectious, indomitable spirit lives on in today’s staff and volunteers.

There’s no end in sight. What a wonderful gift! Thank you, Dave!

There’s still time to enter a team in next month’s event. Pickup a package on-line. For more information on ASA and outdoor opportunities for people with disabilities, please contact Tim Kroes, ASA’s Executive Director. He’d love to hear from you!

Colorful Balloon glides over rooftops in Dalton Ranch

What do Durangoans do to amuse themselves in the midst of winter? Simple…we have a winter carnival! It’s been going strong  for 22 years and each has a unique theme to test the creativity (craziness?) of  local folks and businesses. The fun begins on the last Wednesday of January and runs (and stumbles) non-stop through Sunday.

This year’s theme, Snowdown In Da Nile, harkens back to the days of pryamids and pharaohs, a good reason to dress up as a mummy, camel jockey, or Cleopatra and strutt your stuff around town for a few days and nights.

The big crowd pleasers each year are:

• The Snowdown Follies.–an adults only, irrevant look at life and times in Durango Land. Politicians and common folk alike are fair game for these zany acts. It’s the hottest ticket in town.
• Snowdown Fashion Do’s and Don’ts.–Durango’s annual quest to retain the coveted title of “worst dressed town in the USA” . You gotta see it to believe it! Or, maybe you won’t…
• Snowdown Kids’ Follies.–Not to be left in the lurch, Durango’s 18 and under set put on their own show under the auspices of the Durango Performing Arts Company. This is family entertainment at its best, as opposed to the adult version. Kids work hard to create acts and audition. Judges select as many worthy acts as possible for the two evening event.
• Snowdown Balloon Rally.–Saturday morning finds colorful hot air balloons rising from the snow covered North Animas Valley. Morning downdrafts carry them (they hope) south towards downtown where they land amongst feeding horses & cattle, startled elk, much to the joy of rubber-necking motorists along Hwy 550.
• Snowdown Chili Cookoff.–If you want a quick course in chili appreciation, this is a good one to take in. Contestants from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona (where chili cooking is damn serious business) vie for honors in: Salsa, veggie chili, green chili, and the judges favorite, red chili. My wife and I had the pleasure of judging the last five cookoffs. The rules are tough and anything other than the fruits of purists is disqualified. Adding to the enjoyment, local micro-breweries offer their foamy favorites so attendees can properly digest their favorite chili offerings.
• The Snowdown Parade.–The entire area turns out in force Friday night for the annual parade. The official start begins with the firework display (that’s right, one firework)! A military-veteran color guard, local fire apparatus, and the Colorado Mounted Rangers, precede a creative and often comical collection of floats and entries. Costume-garbed revellers, including schools, clubs and civic groups, do their best to dazzle the crowd and impress the judges while hoping not to freeze to death in the night time January cold!

There’s lots of fun events throughout the festival. Draw a mental image of these: Canine Fashion Show, Outhouse Stuffing Constest, Polar Beer Plunge, Ski Softball, Mountain Bike Slalom (on the ski trails), and Bartenders’s Contest…you get the picture!

Check out the Snowdown website (http://snowdown.org/)! Mark your calendar for next year and start working on your costume for the 2010 theme: “Life’s a Beach” ! Should be fun at 0 to 5-degrees F!

Fundraiser for Adaptive Sports

Welcome to Durangoan! I give an insider’s view of Durango, Colorado!

We attract more than 250,000 visitors here each year, drawn by nearby Mesa Verde National Park, the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge RR, skiing at Purgatory, the Music in the Mountains Summer festival, the Snowdown Winter Carnival, fabulous kayaking/rafting/fishing and lots more!

I live here and, as do most locals, we know the area well and take great pride in sharing our love of the scenery, amenities, recreational pursuits, and life style available here. If you plan to visit, or need some encouragement to do so, or if you’re contemplating relocating or investing in a vacation home, I’ll give you the type of information you want. Durango is–thankfully–off the beaten path! As Wil Rogers once noted…’and that’s how the locals like it!” We think this is the gem of the Rockies, a four-season destination for those who love the west, cherish preservation of historic places, and enjoy stepping back in time while pursing today’s most interesting pursuits.