Durango Living Spring Edition 2010

INSIDE:Who’s Got the Best Burgers in Durango? A Primer on Horse Ownership: What You Need to Know Ideas for Great Day Trips from DurangoFamily Matters: A Ranching Family with Community Spirit Since 1883Living Large in Small Spaces: A Mountain Cabin Goes Cozy & ChicPlan a Natural-Looking Waterscape For Your HomeRemodeling Your Nest? 6 Tips on Choosing a ContractorIn the Garden of Eatin’: Tips for Organic Gardening

March 28, 2010 - Durango Living Spring Edition 3

Advertising Department

The Durango Herald uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its

magazine publications. However, all general information comes from a variety of sources andmay change at any time for any reason. To verifyspecific information, refer to the organization orbusiness noted. To see the online version of thisguide, click the link at: www.durangoherald.com

On the Cover:Taking in a trail ride is a great way to enjoy

the equine experience.Photo by Hal Lott

PublisherRichard Ballantine

Marketing MManagerDennis Hanson

General MManagerSharon Hermes

Design MManagerBrady Sutherlin

Magazine EEditor/DesignerDave Ohman

Advertising DDesign/PrepressMitchell Carter, Brady Choate, Jennifer Dickens,

Terry Swarbrick, Michelle Uhl, Linda Vona, Tracy Willbanks

Account EExecutivesCyrilla Cass, Darryl Hunt, Karolann Latimer,Shawna Long, Debby Morgan, Susan Wright

Account AAssistantLarissa Lopez

4 March 28, 2010 - Durango Living Spring Edition

INSI

DEDL

6 The Best Burgers in Durango

12 A Visit to Sutcliffe Vineyards in Cortez

16 A Primer on Horse Ownership

22 Ideas for Great Day Trips from Durango

28 Family Matters: The Tyner FamilyServing their Community Since 1883

32 Living Large in Small Spaces: A Cozy & Chic Mountain Cabin

36 Landscape Design: Case Study 1Designing with Water: How to Plan for a Waterscape

40 Landscape Design: Case Study 2How Collaboration Between Designers and Clients Creates Successful Projects

44 Thinking About Remodeling Your Nest? One of our Leading Homebuilders Offers Six Tips on Choosing Your Contractor

48 Focus On the Arts: A Local Photographer Translates Native American Archeological Sites into Fine Art

50 In the Garden of Eatin’: Growing Your Own Food for Better Health and Fun

This water feature is part of the overall landscape design forDoug and Annie Simonson by landscape architect, Paul Wilbertand built by Azteca Landscape Inc. See page 40 for details on this project. Photo by Dave Ohman


While we continue to showcase examples of home & garden concepts, the magazine now features theessence of the Durango lifestyle, especially our Food& Wine section. For this topic, we chose two distinctlydisparate directions for each.

“The Best Burgers in Durango,” a not-so-scientific,readers’ survey came up with our top five vote-getters.Who would not enjoy researching that subject? Find out who won!

Then we visited The Sutcliffe Vineyards where John Sutcliffe and his teamproduce world-beating, premium wines in a surprisingly grape-friendly, remotecanyon west of Cortez, and all within an easy drive from Durango. Wine tasting,anyone?

Since we’re living in the heart of horse country, you may have a hankerin'for a horse of your own. In our primer on horse ownership, experts offer their sug-gestions on to get the most joy from your equine relationship, including how tobuy and care for your new family member.

A continuing popular subject over last year has been, Living Large in SmallSpaces. Excellence in design is not confined to large homes as you will see withthis log home tucked away in the mountains near Lake Purgatory. This home was built on time, and on budget to create a charming ambience in its mountainsetting.

Two landscaping stories tell us how to plan your waterscape project andhow to collaborate with the designer for a successful landscape project.

As homeowners opt out of trading up in the real estate market, remodelingwhat you have is becoming more popular. Troy Dyer, president of Classique BiltConstruction & Development, offers some great tips on how to find the right contractor to remodel your nest.

With the increasing popularity of day trips in Southwest Colorado and theFour Corners area, we offer some suggestions on how to spend your time withoutspending a fortune.

Family Matters continues our focus on people and families who’ve had apositive influence in the Durango area. In this edition, we feature the Tyner familywhose Durango roots date back to 1883. With their family traditions of working the land and giving back to the community, it seemed only natural to share theirhistory and family values with you.

The arts are celebrated with images from photographer, Dave Manley, whotranslates ancient Native American architecture and rock art into a powerful visualessay. A book of his images is due sometime in late 2010.

Organic gardening is gaining momentum across the country and we’re notabout to stand in the way. With “In the Garden of Eatin’, we take you further intothe realm of growing your own healthy food. It’s also good economics.

We hope you enjoy the transitions taking place in Durango Living and welook forward to your feedback.

WWeellccoommee ttoo tthhee SSpprriinngg EEddiittiioonnooff DDuurraannggoo LLiivviinngg

AND THE WINNER IS, OLDETYMER’SCAFE!

Story by Dave OhmanPhotography by Hal Lott

Master Chef Victor Longinottipresents the Olde Tymer’s 1/2 lb. Beef Burger

THE BEST BURGERS IN DURANGO?


Congratulations, Durango! Not one vote was cast for anything remotely referred to as “fast food.” Clearly,Durango is home to a lot of burger gourmets.

Other enthusiastic votes:

Rachel: ‘I’m casting my vote forCosmopolitan for having the best burgerin the world!

Kevin: The Sow’s Ear. I’m a big mushroom fan and they’re always verygenerous with the portions so sinking my teeth into the “Shroom Burger” as I call it, is a tasty treat indeed!

Fred: I vote for the “Lost Dog” for thebest burger. The buffalo is one of myfavorites also (with blue cheese).However, I also like the Bacon Swissburger on Friday. I like the quality ofmeat and the bun. The sides are freshand the fries are fresh and crisp.

Alisha: My friends and I make it a point to eat at Christina’s Grill & Barevery Tuesday night for their juicy, over-sized burgers for only $4.


In this edition of Durango Living,our Food & Wine section looks atone of the great inventions of gas-tronomy: the ubiquitous hamburg-er, which never seems to lose itspopularity in any economy. As any

college student will tell you, this is an essen-tial food group. Regardless of which genera-tion one claims as their own, there were, nodoubt, favorite burgers that went along withburger joints and drive-ins dominated by hotrods (think, “American Graffiti”). Thecombo du jour was usually a burger withfries and a malt or milkshake. And our sur-vey respondents told us in no uncertainterms, they were picky about the meat and,in most cases, where it came from. No mys-tery meats, thank you very much.

Well, speaking of ‘mystery meats,” theorigins of the original hamburger have arather convoluted “history” worth noting.And because of its sketchy past, I feel com-pelled to share a few very short storiesamong the many claimants to the inventionof this compact meal. If you “have no time

for instant gratification,” you may skipstraight to the survey results.

Anthropologists tell us that evenancient Egyptians ate ground meat and thatthe practice of chopping meat and clumpingit into a single serving was rather common inseveral parts of the world.

During the mid-1200s, Genghis Khanand his horde of happy warriors found littletime to dine whilst burning and pillaging. Sothey brought their own goats and sheepalong as a sort of “meals on heels” companybenefit. What they ate was a minced rawmeat (a sort of patty) made from the left-over scrapings from those condemned goatsand sheep. The pressed meat was then kept“warm” under the saddle (sort of portablewarming oven, I suppose) so they couldcontinue on their rampage without having tostop to eat. Who knew the infamous Khanhad such culinary and time-managementskills?

As immigrants from Europe were arriv-ing in America during the 1800s, they alsobrought along a tough, somewhat tasteless,


minced meat called Hamburg meat, anidea from, you guessed it, Hamburg,Germany.

By the 1870s, 15 year-old CharlieNagreen of Seymour, Wisconsin, was sell-ing meatballs from the back of his oxcart atthe local county fair. Young Charlienoticed that eating meatballs was a two-handed operation and, apparently, amessy inconvenience while walking abouta county fair. This must have been a largemeatball for a two-hander. At any rate, ina flash of brilliance, young Charliededuced that by flattening a meatball andinserting it between two slices of bread,one could eat it with one hand. Yearslater, Seymour grabbed the limelight anddeclared itself “The Home of the OriginalHamburger.” One would hope Charliereceived a Key to the City for his efforts.

Not to be outdone, the family ofFrank and Charles Menches from Akron,Ohio, claim that the two brothers inventedthe “sandwich between two slices of bread”while working the Erie County Fair in

Hamburg, New York during the 1880s.They were selling pork sausage until,because the heat of the day was turningtheir pork into a science project, the butch-er had to switch to beef as a substitute forthe event. The brothers ground the beef,pressed it into patties and, since they werein Hamburg, they called it a “hamburger.”

Today, this simple meal comes inseemingly infinite variations including beefburgers, buffalo burgers, lamb burgers,turkey burgers, salmon burgers, elk burg-ers, and veggie burgers. Depending onwhere you get your burger, it is either agrayish and warm food assigned the task ofsimply filling a void, or a compact gourmetmeal admired by the true cognoscenti offine dining. I should note right here andnow that, not one vote was cast for any-thing remotely referred to as “fast food,”leading one to deduce that Durango is

home to a significant number of qualifiedfood critics.

So wwhat mmakes aa ggreat hhamburger ggreat?To be fair in our completely unscien-

tific survey, “quality” was in the taste budsof the beholder, and respondents wereequally effusive about their buffalo burgersas well as the beef versions. Regardless ofbeef or buffalo, whether grilled, flame-charred, or broiled, there were key expec-tations most devotees demanded. You toldus that a great burger was off to a good startwhen the server asked, “How would youlike that cooked?” To paraphrase DaveJames of the James Ranch, “If a burger iscooked to the consistency of a hockeypuck, toppings of any sort will not save itby any stretch.” But, if prepared to your

I’ve only lived in Durango for fiveyears and during that time

I have tried almost every burger in town. By far the best burger

I have found is at Olde Tymer’sCafe. It’s always cooked fresh to

my order and served with a smile. Olde Tymer’s is the best.”

- Darryl


requested specifications, there was everyconfidence that the bun and toppings wouldbe equally as fresh for a great experience.

Everyone who cast a vote for theirfavorite restaurant’s burger extolled thevirtues of taste, juiciness, and the freshnessof the toppings and the bun. Value for theprice was also a big hit. Some diners’ choic-es were based on a specific preference forlocally grown, grass-fed beef from the JamesRanch. Reasons for preferring grass-fedmeat included better taste and knowing thatthe cattle were raised without hormones.

Not all restaurants serving up greatburgers use James Ranch meats, but manydo get their meat from the same processoras James Ranch: Sunnyside Meats. As

Sunnyside’s plant manager, ChrisFuller, explained to me during a recent tourof the facilities, that because James Ranchbeef is grass-fed and finished, their meat is

The Five Best Burgers in Durango are:Olde Tymer’s Café

CosmopolitanDiamond BelleThe Sow’s Ear

The Lost Dog Grill & Lounge

Honorable Mentions in alphabetical order:

Ben’s Best BurgersChristina Grill & Bar

Gazpacho New Mexican Cooking & CantinaJ. Bo Pizza & Rib Co.

Purple Haze Vallecito Country Market


leaner than grain-fed meat. That’s not aslam on grain-fed methods. It’s all aboutpreference. In fact, Fuller also noted thatthe family-owned company also processesgrain-fed-and-finished cattle and that theyare extremely selective about whose cattle,pigs and lambs go through their plant.“Sunnyside’s customers,” Fuller said,“expect the best and we deliver on thatpromise every day.”

Overall, with so many votes spreadaround so many dining establishments inDurango, and as far away as DMR andVallecito Lake, I felt compelled to indulgein some research myself. Each place hadits special burger and, I must confess, itwas difficult to choose only one favoriteburger. But some burgers definitely had anedge when the chef gave the taste of themeat a higher priority over the toppings.

Of course, a burger is not completeuntil you add the toppings. And readershad their favorite toppings, as well, such as,green chilis (especially jalapeno), bleucheese, bacon, salsa, or just the classics ofmustard, mushrooms, tomato, lettuce, andonion.

As we counted up the votes, we cameto the realization that marketing had asmuch to do with the vote count as the cus-tomer loyalty and the product quality itself.Some restaurants apparently trusted theircustomers to send in their votes withoutany urging, while others were implored onsite to cast a vote for the home team. It wasa bit like being true to your school. Thatdid not diminish the enthusiasm for eachreader’s vote and their comments.

Despite the high number of votes, wefinally narrowed the count to our Five BestBurgers in Durango. With passions andloyalty running high for each and everyvote, we have also included five“Honorable Mentions.” And frankly, thehigh quality of so many burgers suggestedthat it had more to do with individualtastes, rather than quality. But, hey! Otherthan counting votes, this was not scientificresearch. There was also an occasionalhint of the tongue-in-cheek election-dayadvice: “Vote early and vote often.”However, with a town hosting a ribaldevent called “Snowdown,” fun is the oper-ative word around here.

Now, we want to thank you for partic-ipating in our informal survey. Theresponse was nearly overwhelming and weare grateful for your input. We hope youhad fun doing the research while shoul-dering the “burden”of being food critics.The votes cast told us that there are greatburgers throughout Durango with reasonsfor loyalty nearly identical across theboard.

And so, with the success of our firstBest Burgers Survey, we are giving youadvance notice that the Fall Edition ofDurango Living will feature the results ofour next survey: Durango’s Best Pizzasand local beer. You now have severalmonths to do your research and we lookforward to your critical reviews from nowtill the end of summer.

Our special thanks to Olde Tymer’s Cafegeneral manager Ryan Danford and theentire OTC team for making the photoshoot fun and successful. You guys weregreat!


Sutcliffe VineyardsFOCUS ON WINE

Springtime means getting thevines prepared for the newseason. With all of that workahead, John and Nor Sutcliffetake a well-deserved break on the patio.

Story and photos by Dave Ohman


When it comes to fine wines, most afi-

cionados will speak volumes of thewines from Europe or California.The states of Washington and NewYork have their fine wines. Australiaand some countries such as Chile and

Argentina in South America have also entered the fray with somedecent wines of their own. Yet, ask a wine snob from Napa whattheir favorite Colorado wine is and you’ll likely get some quizzicalhead-scratching followed by a bewildered harrumph.

But tucked into an edge-of-the-wilderness road in McElmoCanyon west of Cortez, and literally a stone’s throw from theentrance to the Canyon of the Ancients, you will discover the epi-center of sublime winemaking: Sutcliffe Vineyards. This is nothyperbole. These wines are the real deal.

In less than two hours drive, depending on your startingpoint, John Sutcliffe's vineyards thrive in what would appear to bea most inhospitable area of extraordinary canyons, buttes androck formations. Amidst this sagebrush and reddish earth with itswinters of snow and ice, and hot summers, these vines are thriv-ing. And since 75% of a wine’s success is based on the quality ofthe grapes on the vines, Sutcliffe effusively credits much of thesuccess to his vineyard manager, Jesus Pancho Castillo for pro-ducing the extraordinary grapes that meet the stringent require-ments set by Sutcliffe and his winemaker, Joe Buckles.

The dining room in the house where the Sutcliffeshost guests throughout the year. The blue doors leadto the arbor covered patio.


I asked about the seemingly hostileterrain in which Sutcliffe has planted hisvines. After all, how could wine grapes sur-vive, let alone, thrive in this rugged out-post? I was told that, beneath the topsoillayer is a mineral-rich red soil into whichthe roots of the vines find exactly what isneeded to produce each and every winethey sell. If it were only just that easy.Sutcliffe and Castillo demonstrated thetask, and art, of pruning the vines. Thisallows a fresh start for what will be tons ofexcellent grapes ready for the big crush inthe fall.

When you meet Sutcliffe and chanceto chat with him for several hours, as I did,you realize he is, arguably, quite the renais-sance man, and that his wine business ismore of a calling than a career, and herevels in every minute and every labor ofit. Born in Leicestershire in England andraised in Wales, he attended the RoyalMilitary Academy Sandhurst, Britain'sequivalent of West Point, spending sevenyears in an elite regiment of the Queen'sarmed forces before arriving in the U.S. in1968.

After working on a large cattle ranchin Carbondale, Colorado, he attendedReed College in Portland, Oregon, (as did

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and many otherluminaries). Along with his summer cow-boy jobs in Elko, Nevada, and a restaurantjob, he found new friendships at Reed thatled him, in the 1970s, to assist in the open-ing of Tavern on the Green at the westernedge of Central Park in New York City.

The year was 1991 when Sutcliffepurchased Battlerock Ranch to farm hay,and to raise livestock. The house andoffices were designed and built to reflectthe rustic environment of the land. Thefirst vines were planted in 1995, and by2001, the 1999 vintage was released.

Sutcliffe has not only launched andsold numerous restaurants, he’s also beena world class polo player. His non-stopsuccess has allowed him to see the worldand, in his business and personal connec-tions, he can count among his manyfriends, an international who’s who of dig-nitaries, royalty and business leaders. Andit’s not uncommon for many of them tomake the trek to Colorado from Europe,South America, Canada and Australia toattend, say, a birthday party and variouswine tasting events.

When it comes to the sales side of thebusiness, Sutcliffe has a remarkable gift forcreating affinity links with everyone he

meets, wherever he goes. But you can’tclinch the sale at such high echelons of therestaurant business with mediocre prod-ucts. Which is why John Sutcliffe createsthe wines that he sells. Factor in the atten-tion to every minute detail in the wine-making process and it becomes obviouswhy Sutcliffe wines are the only Coloradolabel shipped to customers throughout theworld.

The consumer, after all, will deter-mine the success or failure of a wine, pur-chased at a restaurant or at retail.

When asked what drives his wines,Sutcliffe replied, “I create wines from therestaurant perspective, not the chemist’s.”He was referring to a process adopted bysome wineries that purchase marginalgrapes, or even a wine concentrate, andentrust the bottled end product to“chemists.”

With their 13 years of finely tunedcollaboration, Sutcliffe, Castillo andBuckles continue to produce great winescompeting successfully against other pre-mium brands anywhere in the world. Andwhat is astonishing is the reasonable pricepoint against the other premiums wines,domestic or foreign. What John Sutcliffeand his team have accomplished is to

Right: Since 75% of awine’s success is based on

the quality of the grapesfrom the vines, vineyardmanager Jesus Pancho

Castillo (left), and ownerJohn Sutcliffe (right) pre-cisely calculate where to

prune each vine to assure the best grapes

for harvesting.


bring an extraordinary selection of fine wines within reach. Now one would therefore assume, at first blush, that these

wines would easily sell themselves. Not necessarily. In my firstmeeting with Sutcliffe, he quoted the owner of an up-scale restau-rant in Albuquerque who had relocated from New York City.They noted that there is a definite “five-step response” for accept-ing Colorado wines. 1. Stark terror (at the prospect of buying a Colorado wine)2. Relief (that it is of such high quality)3. Surprise (when drinking it)4. Loving it (and wanting more)5. Disciple status

Very few wines from anywhere make their way to Step Threewith those who know their wines. Sutcliffe’s selections, on theother hand, have made a habit of creating disciples. And aftersampling these wines at the vineyard, I am happy to report that I,too, have reached disciple status.

Sutcliffe wines are available at many of our fine local restau-rant including Seasons, Ken & Sue’s, Cosmopolitan, The GlacierClub, Cyprus Café, East by Southwest, Guido’s, Lumiere Hotel (inTelluride), Dunton Hot Springs, The Peaks, La Marmotte,Hongas, and 221 South Oak Street (in Telluride). Locally, youcan also purchase Sutcliffe wines at The Wine Merchant (next toNature’s Oasis).

Visit www.sutcliffevineyards.com. for more information on theirwines, tasting room schedules, and directions.

Pruning the vines meanspruning shears and muddyboots for everyone. SoSutcliffe and Castillo toastto the season ahead.

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a primer on buying

and owning a horse

Story and photos by Dave Ohman

One of the joys of horse owner-ship is getting out on the trail withlike-minded souls. These riders ofvarying skill levels were among 66others at the Lost Canyon RanchCompetitive Trail Challenge tobenefit Cadence TherapeuticRiding and various horse rescuegroups. The event was one ofmany promoted around the coun-try by the American CompetitiveTrailhorse Association (ACTHA).


My grandmother, the youngest of six daughters, was born in1882 in the little town of Ellendale, Missouri, just west of St.Louis. Her father, a rather successful inventor, taught each of hisdaughters how to ride horses and handle firearms with the best ofthe boys in town. It wasn’t an option in those days. And havingtheir own horses meant they were responsible for the care andfeeding of them before going to school, and after school. It was agreat lesson in responsibility and growing up.

Then, as a century died and a new century was born, the first automobiles began to chug and chunk along dirt roads at the“perilous” speed of 10mph, they also sometimes sat lifelesslyalong that road with the driver standing to the side scratching hishead while someone on horseback would suggest, “Get a horse!”

A lot has changed over the past 100 plus years. What usedto be the default method of getting anywhere is now a baselinemeasurement for engine power.

Today, from trail rides to equine competition events, thehorse continues to prove its exceptional versatility including itsuse in physical therapy and emotional healing for physically andemotionally disabled children and adults. The men’s penitentiaryin Canon City, Colorado, teaches gentle horse training to inmatesas part of their rehabilitation program. And it’s been very suc-cessful, not only in preparing horses for adoption, it’s also beenextremely valuable in redirecting the inmates for a more mean-ingful life in society.

Owning a horse can be one of the greatest experiences onecould imagine. And according to Pamela Jones, owner of the J-Bar-J Ranch in Durango’s Animas Valley, who has trained hors-es and riders and currently provides horse boarding, “It’s likeadding a child to the family. So it’s incumbent upon anyone think-ing of owning a horse to do their homework.”

From my personal experience, I would suggest, as a first step,purchasing some informative DVDs from any of several top train-ers known for gentle horse training and horsemanship for theowner/rider. Some of my favorite training DVDs come from thehorse-whisperer, Monty Roberts, including his “Join-Up” tech-niques. I have spent a lot of time at his Flag Is Up Farm nearSolvang, California observing his “Join-Up” methods in theroundpen, trailer loading, water crossings and more.

You can also attend some excellent horsemanship seminarsand training clinics held at the fairgrounds in Ignacio, includingthe Horse Expo put on by the Four Corners BackcountryHorsemen. And, of course, subscriptions to the magazines catering to horse owners will provide invaluable information onriding skills, equine healthcare, and training your horse to meetyour expectations.

So here are some top tips from the experts to enhance your horseexperience.

living in Durango, I have had thepriviledge of being with, and work-ing with, horses and the people wholove them. It remains one of life’sgreat experiences. as an advocatefor horses, this story celebratesthe joy of horse ownership withimportant tips on how to make it adecision you will not regret.


Scotty Cox, the ranch foreman at Lost Canyon Ranchnear Dolores, truly enjoys being outside at his “office.”

The boys of summer, part of the Rapp Corral herd,seem to enjoy relaxing and grazing in a lush pastureunder warm summer skies.


How to Buy a HorseIf you have ever purchased a used car, you probably thought

about why the car was for sale. Are there any problems you can’tsee from the outside? Buying a horse requires the same scrutiny.According to Jones, “Anyone who has had little or no experiencearound horses needs to understand a wide range of issues beforewriting out that check.” And she is adamant about urging anyonecontemplating this decision, to do their research and lots of it. Asshe notes, “A horse is a herd animal looking to you for attention.You are his alpha leader and he looks to you for leadership andcare. He cannot be treated like an RV that sits in storage forweeks and months on end without being taken out for a spin, asit were.”

What will you pay for “the right horse?” Ifthe price is “too reasonable,” why?

“One way or the other, if you want a good trail horse, you willeither buy one that has been properly trained, or you will have totrain him yourself, or hire an expert trainer to do it for you,” saidJones. As life-long horse owner/trainer, Ron Tyner, notes, “Theydon’t have CarMax for horses.” Therefore, understand that prop-er training does not come cheaply. If you buy a horse that is trailready, someone spent a lot of time and/or money to train him. Sodon’t expect to get a great horse cheap. To revisit the metaphorabout cars, if it seems too good to be true, exit the deal and keeplooking.

Horse rescue groups such as, Spring Creek Horse Rescue inGem Village near Bayfield, can be a great place to find a horsebecause these people love horses and are very selective on whowill adopt one of their horses.

Is he the horse for you?The health of a horse may not always be apparent to the

novice. Hence, when you are interested in buying any horse,imagine you are buying a used car from a private party. Ofcourse, you would take along your favorite mechanic to look atthe car in question. Therefore, it is advised that you take twoimportant people with you when examining a horse to buy. First,you will need a “large animal” veterinarian to check his generalhealth. Blood tests should also be conducted for the existence ofrather ordinary equine diseases. Second, through word-of-mouthrecommendations, take along a qualified horse trainer with “gen-tle-training” credentials to review that horse's personality andbehaviorial condition. Maybe they like you, but don’t “play wellwith others” in the corral. Maybe they are hostile to the farrier.Just like children, it is important that the horse's socialization withpeople and other horses begin from the day they are born.Otherwise, it will be difficult, albeit very expensive, to train them.It's a lot like early childhood development.

Grazing and FeedingIf your horse does not have the luxury of a lush, grassy pas-

ture for grazing, you should plan on feeding him three times aday. A bale of hay can cost between $6-9 per bale. There are alsosupplements and specialized formulations of grain to promotebone, joint and muscle health, while reducing the chances ofworms and intestinal stones.

For performance horses, such as poloponies, a special grain mixture infusedwith molasses is offered to help the horseregain energy after a day of hard play.

Shelter:When it comes to providing shelter

for your horse, you either have the prop-erty to keep him at home, or you will needto board him at a reputable stable withindoor stalls, as well as outdoor facilities.Boarding your horse with the full-servicepackage will mean shelter, feeding, muck-ing the stall, replacing the bedding of strawor wood shavings, and turning him out forexercise. Your horse can get “cabin fever”just like the rest of us so he needs to beturned out to a pasture or large arenawhere he can run and romp for someexercise. All of this TLC comes at a price,too, with fees of $600 and more permonth. Indoor shelter is especiallyimportant. When the weather is clear andwarm, we all like being outdoors, andhorses are no exception. But when wintercomes, if they can't migrate to warmer pas-tures like wild horses, we have to either

move them to another site or provideextra measures for their comfort and safe-ty throughout the winter.

Veterinary CareEven though you will be needing the

services of a large-animal veterinarian, youwill want to familiarize yourself with basichorse health issues. Problems with thedigestive system can crop up includingworms, and intestinal stones. Hips andother joints require a proper diet for jointhealth, especially if they are ridden hard.Working and performance horses shouldbe examined now and then to make suretheir joints and cartilage remain healthy.Supplementary equine pharmaceuticalsfor de-worming and other potential mal-adies should be budgeted as a normalexpense.

A ferrier service (horse-shoeing)

Imagine what it’s like having a pebblein your shoe digging into that soft flesh ofthe arch. There is an old saying: “If yourfoot is sore, your whole body is sore.”

Hoof health is one morecomponent in your horse’soverall health.

We all know what it'slike to have a sore foot.Pretty soon we’re limpingresulting in some muscleshaving to take more loadthan normal resulting inpain to the musculo-skele-tal system. Since a horsehas four feet, you canimagine how they must feelif their feet hurt. Which iswhy your horse will needthe services of a highly rec-ommended farrier (horseshoer). Gwen Gold, a well-respected local farrier,advises that. hooves thatare cracking, flaking andsplitting can result in othercostly veterinary treatment.So keeping those hoovestrimmed and shaped isextremely important to therest of his body.

Along with trimmingthat hard outer hoof, thecenter of the hoof, calledthe “frog,” is the tender

part of the hoof that should be checkedoften to clear pebbles, stones and hard-ened mud and dirt. If ignored, the paincan alter his behavior.

TackTack, if you haven’t heard of it by

now, consists of saddles and blankets, hal-ters, lead ropes, lunge lines (for training),bridles and bits, and harness (if he is beingdriven for wagon and cart pulling).Though you may get excited about theprospects of a horse of your own, do notpurchase a saddle or bridle and bit untilafter you get your horse. Tack is not aone-size-fits-all purchase. The saddleneeds to fit you and your horse comfort-ably. A saddle that fits improperly cancause the hair from his withers to the hipsto wear away and cause horrific woundsrequiring expensive care and medication.You need a comfortable fit, as well, espe-cially for those longer rides.

Though bridle headstalls areadjustable, buy this to fit your horse. Bitscome in various sizes and configurationsfor specific reasons and are sold separate-ly. If you’re not sure what kind of bit tobuy, ask your trainer or veterinarian foradvice. Or, ask the former owner whatthey used. They may even sell their tackcollection with the horse.

Transporting your horse(s)If you intend to transport your

horse(s), you’ll not only need a goodhorse trailer, you’ll need an SUV or pick-up truck with the horsepower to pull theload. (Pick-ups are better for hauling hay.)If you already have a truck but it’s beenused primarily to haul groceries and kids,plan on hauling horses to get things a bitdirty. But this is part of the fun. So don’tget prissy over the dust and dirt. It comeswith the territory.

Building Trust Between Youand Your Horse

Finally, take the time to build up thetrust between you and your new horse.Remember, he’s been in someone else’scare until you came along. So he’ll have toget to know you from scratch. Becausehe’s not only a herd animal, he’s also aprey animal, which means he is lookingfor an alpha leader he can count on forprotection and solice. And that’s you. Heis also a flight animal preferring to run

Local farrier, GwenGold, trims andshapes the hoovesof this mare.



from perceived danger than wait around to see if the danger haspassed. And there is where all of that trust pays off.

After you and your horse have established trust in each otherin the corral or arena, you’ll probably want to take him out on atrail. As you and your horse get more familiar with varied terrain,you may eventually want to enter one of the many “competitivetrail challenges” promoted by the Texas-based non-profit,American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA).These events, usually set for 6-8 miles, are a great way to enjoyyour horse, meet other horse owners and, if you have children, toget out for a great day of family fun. Proceeds from those eventsgo toward promoting local non-profits and horse rescue groups.

And here are a couple of options if you don’t think you’llhave a lot of time to share with your horse. For people who can’tafford their own horse, you can offer to lease him to another riderby the month. Your horse will get some exercise while maintain-ing his “social skills.” Or, loan him to a local equine group suchas non-profit Cadence Therapeutic Riding where your horse canbecome part of the healing process for disabled children andadults. Returning veterans in need of physical and/or emotionalhealing will also benefit from your generosity with the CadenceHorses for Heroes program.

We hope this information has provided the basic tools you’llneed to make owning a horse one of the most rewarding deci-sions you have ever made.

Happy trails!

Horses have personalities andStevie is no exception. Thoughhe’s not the alpha leader, he isthe class clown, a pick-pocket,social director, peacemakerand roving ambassador of thecorral, welcoming new horsesto the herd. He’s also a greatride. Everyone loves Stevie.

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GREAT DAY TRIP IDEAS FROM DURANGO

TRAVEL & LEISURE

We all know

the feeling.There aretimes when“itchy feet”tell us to hit

the road, or a trail, or a lake for a day.Maybe it’s the winter-driven cabin fever,or work-related stress, or something akinto the “bucket list” of things to do beforewe get the “2-minute warning.” With theeconomy in the state that it is, and withseemingly less time and money for a full-scale vacation, a simple day trip in or outof town can be just the thing to rechargeour batteries.

When spring and summer arrive,the opportunities for fun multiply dra-matically. You can go it alone and letserendipity rule the day. Or consider anyof our local tour operators offering riverrafting, horseback rides into lush forests,Jeeping into remote and difficult-to-reachmountains and canyons, or hire a guideto lead you to where the fish are jumpin’.

Other factors on how and where tospend the day would have to include whatthe kids would love to do.

Budgeting for gas has also been afactor. Currently, the price of a gallon ofgas is around $2.80 per gallon, signifi-cantly lower than it was in the summer of2008 when a gallon of regular hoveredaround $4.50. But as we all know, thatcan change very quickly. Just how manymiles can you afford to drive? What willyou do when you get there? What will“there” mean?

Driving, more or less …Perhaps the destination itself is not

that far away allowing more time forsomething besides driving. Or, you may

see a side road or hiking trail just beggingfor your undivided attention. If the roadis calling you for a scenic tour, don't for-get your trusty digital camera. With vari-ous social networking web sites available,you can share your day's photos withfriends and family in the virtual world,hours before you return home. Simplystop at a WiFi-enabled coffee shop orpublic library to upload photos and shareyour experience.

When the journey trumps the desti-nation, it's hard to beat the San JuanScenic Skyway. Or head to a local lakeand campground for a day of hiking, fish-ing and campfire cooking, to get awayfrom the daily grind.

If relaxation means putting yourmind and body into absolute neutral,there are geothermal-heated pools atTrimble Hot Springs in Durango. Or, ifyou feel the need to get out of town, driveeast to Pagosa Springs. Either choice,thank Mother Earth for preserving a bitof her past.

Wine tasting tour, anyone? For adults looking for an unexpected

treat, driving to Cortez and heading west-ward toward the historic Hovenweepsites, you will not only discover exquisitered rock arroyos and cliffs, you will findwine vineyards “the middle of nowhere.”Visit the Sutcliffe Vineyards and GuyDrew Winery and you’ll know you’re inthe middle of somewhere very special.Surrounded by sagebrush, it seems awonder how anything will grow here, letalone grape vines. Be sure to call aheadfor wine tasting schedules. Drive time isabout 1.5 hours from DowntownDurango.

FishingOther than getting your fishing

license, Southwest Colorado is your oys-ter. Then, head out to the mountainlakes of the San Juan National Forest forsome fishing, or just to enjoy the ambi-ence of sky converging with water.Vallecito Lake is a relatively short drivefrom Durango which means that leavesyou with a lot of daylight to rent a boat atthe marina for a day of fishing, or justexplore the nooks and crannies thatmake this place a great family day trip.

The Cowboy Experience: TheQuintessential American West

If you and your family feel like let-ting a horse do the walking, you have lotsof options. In the Vallecito Lake area,

Guest ranches such as WildernessTrails Ranch have programs avail-able for a day visit with trail rideand,dinner. Make reservations inadvance.

Story and Photos by Dave Ohman

you'll find three guest ranches from whichto choose: Wit’s End Ranch at the northtip of the lake, Colorado Trails GuestRanch to the south (closer to LemonReservoir), and Wilderness Trails Ranchjust east of the lake. Accommodating theneeds of families seems to be a specialtyno matter which you choose. Most offeractivities such as, trail rides, clinics inhorsemanship, fishing excursions, and ahost of activities just for kids.

Famous for their week-long pack-ages, some ranches have created newactivities and packages to accommodatetighter budgets and schedules. Forinstance, Wilderness Trails Ranch notonly offers their usual 6-day/6-night pack-age, last summer they added a 3-day/3-night package and a 2-day bed & breakfastexperience. With the economy in such

uncertain times, this was a bold stroke cre-ating a very busy summer season. Thissummer WTR will include a sort of “rideand dine” package expressly for day-trip-pers, but you’ll still need reservations.

Guest ranches can also be found inMancos, and all the way to the Utah bor-der. The East Pines Ranch at Dove Creekis a great “city slickers”experience. This isa working cattle ranch and according tothe owner, Al Heaton, “As a guest wran-gler you're going to work for your supperand have a lot of fun in the process.”Guest ranches in and around Mancosinclude Echo Basin Ranch, Lake MancosDude Ranch, and Rustlers Roost Ranch.

Another horseback riding experiencecan be found by driving north out ofDurango on the 550 “Million DollarHighway.” At the intersection of the

Haviland Lake turnoff is the Rapp Corralwhere, with an experienced guide, youcan ride for an hour, or for hours on end into the backcountry of HavilandLake, Chris Park and beyond.

If combining a day at or nearDurango Mountain Resort, you caninclude a trail ride with Buck’s Liverylocated just north of the entrance toDMR.

Not all guest ranches have lodging.But many offer activities centered on whatkids and families love to do. One thingseems abundantly clear: a day trip to oneof these ranches will not only be a trip back to the old West, it will also bea tough act to follow. Just be sure to callahead before dropping in. Reservationsare usually required.



Spud Lake is easilyaccessible on footand a beautiful placeto spend the day.


Trail adventuresHiking is a favorite of families and individuals around

Southwest Colorado. And with countless choices on where tohike, I would suggest picking up a book that explains our trail sys-tems in informative and easy-to-understand detail, most notably,“Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado” by Paul Pixler andJohn Peel. If you enjoy a day on the trail, keep this invaluableresource in the car or on the coffee table. You can drive to manyaccessible trails in less than an hour, some within minutes ofdowntown Durango, thus leaving the bulk of your day to enjoythe hike, plant a tent, have a cookout and just relax.

A few favorite trails include Purgatory Flats near DMR. Thiseight mile (round trip) trail starts at a high elevation and takes youdown to the Animas River where you can stop for a picnic lunchbefore heading back. Or try the Spud Lake trail. Once parked atthe base of the trail, it’s a fairly easy mile up to the lake and agreat place to spend the day (see photo at left).

Native American History The Four Corners is rich in Native American history and

well worth the drive. Each of the following historic sites, MesaVerde, Hovenweep, Crow Canyon and Chaco Canyon, allow forplenty of walking and exploring. As sacred ground of the Anasazi,Ute and Navajo Nations, some of the exploration is strictly man-aged with a National Park Ranger as your guide. When visiting

Whether you drive to historic Silverton or takethe narrow gauge train, this is a great place tospend the day. Save Money.

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these sites, take your camera, berespectful and leave only your foot-prints when you depart.

Special Events Then, of course, each town in

Southwest Colorado has its slate offun events for the family. The eventseason usually runs from springthroughout the summer and intothe fall.

All of these hometown eventsmake for a great day trip. One fam-ily favorite is always the 4th of July.Unlike big city events, you’re upclose and personal where paradesfeature local groups (Scouts andsuch), antique cars, fire trucks andfarm equipment, local farmers, andfamilies on horseback with theirhorses decked out in red, white andblue. And then, there are the fire-works displays.

One cautionary note about the fire-works: babies and dogs may notenjoy the noise and bright flashes inthe sky.

These suggestions represent theproverbial “tip of the iceberg.” Infact, one could write a massive tomeon the subject of day tripping andstill not mention all of the great ideasand places to in the region.

But, remember that you don’thave to get in the car for a fun day.The Durango area has plenty of bik-ing and hiking trails, not to mentiona scenic river with multiple personal-ities of its own to satisfy your cravingsfor fun in the water, all within easyreach.

So pack up the kids and the fam-ily dog and spend a day exploring theregion's countless outdoor attrac-tions. And don't forget the sun blockand insect repellant.

The history of the Native Americans is rich in culture, architecture and art, as in thisphoto of Chaco Canyon. With National ParkRangers and tribal members sharing thestories, you and your kids will never bebored.

Other historic sites include, Mesa Verde(between Mancos and Cortez), CrowCanyon, Canyon of the Ancients and Hovenweep.


Floating on a quiet section ofthe Animas River is not onlya relaxing family activity, it’sright here in town.


FAMILY MATTERS:

THE TYNER FAMILY: Serving Their CommunitySince 1883

Mary Ellen Holly Tyner and George Henry Tyner,Sr. (1923)Ron TynerPhoto by Dave Ohman

Story by Dave Ohman


George Henry Tyner,Jr. and Lizzie Bank Tyler

with their son Robert (father of Ron Tyner)

The Tyner Familygathering at the wedding of George H. Tyner, Jr. andElizabeth BanksTyner.

Historic photos courtesy of Robert and Calla Mae Tyner.


Living on a portion of hisgrandparents’ ranch whereRon used to climb thetrees, ride horses, and helpchop the ice out of thehorses’ watering troughs,

Ron and Katie Tyner look at what theyhave built together, dedicating their lives togiving to others. Actually, the family’s senseof community spirit began in 1883.

It all started when George HenryTyner Sr., and his Irish-born wife Mary

Ellen Holly, whom he met in Leadvillewhile he was completing the rail line there.They arrived on the Florida Mesa in 1883where George worked as the section foreman for the Denver & RioGrande Railroad. They lived in what iscalled the “Section House,” which was builtfor the section foreman. Back then thenorthern edge of the Southern UteReservation was about 500 feet north of

that Section House. The railroad bridge isstill there but is now used for vehicle traffic.

After about three years with the rail-road, they bought a ranch about ½ milefrom the section station. As a consummatedisciplinarian, as well as a natural leader,their children learned about hard work andresponsibility at an early age.

In 1903, as a sign of his self-discipline,George rebuilt their home in 4-5 monthsafter it had burned to the ground. Thathouse still stands near the intersection of

County Roads 222 and 510.George’s early community spirit

was clearly evident when he volunteered tohelp build the Florida schoolhouse wherethe El Rancho subdivision is today.Refusing to help a neighbor in need simplywas not an option. In 1885, with the birth ofhis son, George Henry Tyner, Jr., the torchwas passed.

Upon adulthood, he married Elizabeth

Banks, a woman with a similar backgroundin family values. From that point forward,along with the day-to-day demands of theirdairy and Hereford cattle operation,George Jr. also organized and coachedbaseball teams, was a water commissionerfor 47 years, and an arbitrator for both theAnimas and Florida districts, covering theterritory on horseback until he acquired aMaxwell automobile in the early 1920s. Amember of the school board, he still foundtime to teach Sunday school.

Robert Henry Tyner, was born on theranch in 1915. After graduating fromDurango High School, he went to FortLewis College and Colorado StateUniversity.

Along the way, he married Calla MaeBaird. A native of Marvel and raised on theFlorida Mesa, Calla Mae, born of sturdystock, rode her horse to school and attend-ed Durango High School. Her community-

Many names fetch fond memories for localswhose families have a lengthy history in

Durango. Since homesteading here in 1883,the Tyner name has been synonymous with

ranching and community service.

Four years ago, PhillipCordova was hit withcancer, a stroke, andhip replacement andshoulder surgery, all inone year! As a life-long cowboy, Philliptold the doctors he had“had enough of thestationary bike.”He was sent to RonTyner and CadenceTherapeutic Ridingwhere he maderemarkable progress.Photo by Dave Ohman

Ron Tyner, an expertin gentle horse train-ing, offers assur-ances to Bob whowas born late lastMay. Photo by Dave Ohman


oriented activities have been a perfect fitfor the Tyner tradition of giving back tothe land and the people. Together, theycarried on the family tradition of helpinglocal ranchers and farmers. With bound-less energy and a desire to help others inneed, they founded the La Plata Eye andEar Foundation, a program to provideeyeglasses and hearing aides to those whocould not otherwise afford it. One canonly imagine the importance of this pro-gram in the classroom for students whoare vision and/or hearing impaired.Robert also volunteered with Big Brothersand Big Sisters, the Cub Scouts, BoyScouts, and was on a task force for theU.S. Forest Service. Calla Mae andRobert are still active in Kiwanis and theLa Plata Eye and Ear Foundation.

Their son, Ron Tyner, a life-long par-

icipant in the Durango area, soldiers onwith the community activism that has dri-ven the family before him. His wife, Katie,a registered nurse equally driven tohumanitarian endeavors, has been anideal partner in their various communityprojects.

Reflecting on all that they haveaccomplished and what remains ahead,Ron and Katie Tyner look at what theyhave built together, dedicating their livesto helping others. As Ron told me recent-ly, he knows his grandfather would beproud of how the family land has con-tributed as a hub for community, charity,and philanthropy.

Some traditions are worth preservingand the Tyner’s have kept the spirit alivewith children and grandchildren alreadysharing the baton.

Katie and Ron Tynerpose with two of theirprized paint horses.Photo by Kyla Jackson

Ron Tyner’s community activities include coaching

baseball, soccer and basketballteams; president of Cadence

Therapeutic Riding; as aCertified Horse Specialist;

president of TherEx, anotherorganization he started to

empower others using horses;working with special-needs

kids through Peaceful Spirits,Southern Ute Boys and GirlsClub, and La Plata County

Youth Services.

LIVING LARGE IN SMALL SPACES

COMPACT & CHIC ON A BUDGETStory and photos by Dave Ohman


A well-renown Pittsburg psychologist and her husband, a retired scoutfor the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, knew they wanted toretire to the mountains near Lake Purgatory. After purchasing the landsome years ago, they hired local contractor, Bob Rule, who had builtseveral homes in the area including some large “trophy homes.” Thisparticular log home design was chosen for its compact size, efficientuse of space, and for their concerns about keeping within their budget.


The living room and dining areacombine as a great room withplenty of light and space.


Above: This hand-painted ceramic sink and many other decor

items were purchased from La Bodega de Mexico in Durango.

Left: The stone fireplace is does a nice job of warming up theroom on a cold winter day or evening.

Above right: The dining area takes advantage of the naturallight streaming in from the deck.

Right: The loft master suite includes a full bath plus two reading areas with ample natural light flooding in.

With a tight deadline while the couple were stillhome in Pittsburgh, Mr. Rule ordered thelogs and all of the cabinetry, poured the foun-dation while the summer weather permitted,and built the house in time for his clients tomove in for the holidays, on time and on

budget. The couple has been overjoyed since they opened the frontdoor for the first time, and everyone agreed that, Mr. Rule’s experiencecombined with two-way trust and long-distance communications were keycomponents for the successful completion of this house.

The master suite is upstairs and designed as an open loft to open thespace while exploiting the view and the day-long natural light. Two guestbedrooms and a guest bathroom are located just off the hallway near thekitchen. With the kitchen and combined dining and living room areas,the interior still measured out to a cozy and efficient 1,800 sq.ft.

The generously-sized, wrap-around deck is accessed from slidingdoors on both sides of the fireplace. When the snow is gone, the deck iswhere most of the action takes place, especially with candlelight and acanopy of stars to warm the evening for the owners and their guests.

The decor is a combination of some furniture they shipped fromPittsburgh plus, to give the home a decidedly Southwest theme, new fur-niture, lighting, fixtures and home accessories were purchased locally atLa Bodega de Mexico.

The couple has already become active in the community and looksforward to making this cabin their ultimate retirement home.

For construction details about this cabin, or to inquire about building amountain home of your own, call Bob Rule at (970) 385-9118.


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DESIGN WITH WATER

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Whether it’s the trickle of mountain stream headwaters, the turbulent

roar of spring runoff eroding rock and cascading over falls, or the seren-

ity of lily pads in a pond, many of us are drawn to the sights and sounds

of water. Along the rocky riverbanks and muddy shores, most of us

have contemplated the ubiquitous nature of water, its cycle and our own

place within the flow. The presence of water in our environment can

offer meditative balance.

Story and photos (except as noted) by Chad White

CASESTUDY:1


This waterscape is just one of the water features at thishome overlooking ElectraLake. The cast bronze grizzlybear on the edge of the pondis one of several metal scup-tures accenting the landscapeincluding a couple of DaveClaussen’s giant metalpinecones.Photo by Dave Ohman


This pond on the edge of the stonepatio, is integrated into a trickling

waterfall along the steps to the patio.The combination of a quiet pond withthe sounds of falling water create an

inviting serenity.

Water, with itssounds, cap-tured reflec-tions andmoods, is adynamic ele-

ment and one that brings a richer depth oflife to any landscape. There are manyways to incorporate this element into yourown landscape, from fountains, smallreflective pools and Koi ponds, to largerponds, streams and waterfalls. Thesewaterscapes can aesthetically enhanceyour outdoor living area, while creatingmicro-environments, and even wildlifehabitat.

When planning to incorporate awater feature into a landscape, we shouldask ourselves what we wish to achieve withthe creation. Are we looking for a shadybench with a meditative fountain? Do wewant to commune with fish, turtles andother wildlife around a pond? Are we try-ing to buffer the sounds of the busy worldaround us with a waterfall?

We should also consider the waterbudget and maintenance associated with aparticular type of waterscape. Before youlet the cost of water deter you, a water fea-ture can be designed to use less water thanrequired for some landscapes of an equalarea.

With wise design, engineering andconstruction, a waterscape can be createdto meet any and all of these needs.However, the inverse is true as well. An

improperly designed and constructedwaterscape can constantly loose water andgrow excessive algae, with little or nochance of an easy fix. Managing runningwater in a technical and aesthetic way is achallenge to even the most experiencedlandscape designer. As with all crafts it isthe hard earned years of experience thathelps one avoid the many potential prob-lems. Thankfully there are a handful oflocal retailers and builders qualified tohelp with the creation of a successfulwaterscape.

The “pondless” water fountain isbecoming one of the more popular back-yard waterscapes. This is a fountain whichappears to spring from nowhere andreturn to the ground below. This systemoften having a rock fountain as its center-piece can be beautifully simple.

A rock can be bored to issue waterfrom the core. Rocks can be stacked or arranged to create a particular feeling.The fountain will set upon a bed of cleanstone covering the water well and all


mechanicals below. This type of waterscape is one with the lowestmaintenance. These fountains should be created to have as muchinterest as rock art with or without the water flow. This allows youto operate the fountain as desired and still have an interestinglandscape element when the pump is off.

The backyard pond, stream and waterfall is a desirable land-scape element for many. These are dynamic systems requiringproper design for optimal aesthetics and maintenance. When cre-ating small ponds and streams, it is beneficial to mimic natureboth for aesthetics and for water quality. Use native, geologicallyappropriate material. Build your own rock outcrop. If you wanta bend in a stream, provide the catalyst for that bend such as, alarge rock, shrub or tree along the bank. Avoid the well-defined,swimming pool-style perimeter, allowing river rock to find theirway onto land and plant material to migrate into the water.Creating the natural topography for a waterfall can be one of thebiggest challenges. Avoid the barren perched pool. Provide con-text with a backdrop of elevated trees, shrubs, rocks and berms.

When it comes to controlling water quality, these systemsrequire some special measures. Avoid pools that are too small ortoo shallow. Create more vertical walls and less shallow pondedges, doing so can lend itself to fish habitat and aquatic plantingpockets while minimizing a warm, shallow, algae breedingground. Avoid stagnant water areas by creating a good flow ofwater throughout the system. Most importantly, provide the prop-er filtration. One of the most successful ways of filtering water inthese water features is with a wetland or bog filtration system. Thistype of system allows you to filter the water while keeping thepump free of debris. This system utilizes both small rock as filtermedia and wetland plants as nutrient users. This combination canplay a pivotal role in water quality and low maintenance.

Waterscapes do not have to be an element to simply gaze at,but can be an additional way to interact with our environment.This can take place with the shady bench next to the fountain, apathway and bridge over a stream to pull us through the land-scape, a patio along waters edge or even raised stepping stonesthrough a pond. The interaction with our waterscapes can bemore utilitarian, as well. Often irrigation systems and ponds areinterconnected. Rainwater and drainage collection and storagesystems have the potential to be linked to waterscapes. For eachindividual situation there are advantageous and appropriate waysto interact with our waterscapes.

With smart design and creative construction, a water featurecan add value to your landscape and the home itself, as well as provide an aesthetic quality and the sense of natural har-mony to our lives.

Chad White owns Genesis Land & Waterscape, Inc. inDurango. For more information, call (970) 259-5557 or, visit www.genesislandandwater.com

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LANDSCAPE DESIGN

“The mind is like anumbrella. It only works

when it’s open.”- Anonymous

CASESTUDY::2


WHEN DESIGNERS AND CLIENTSCOLLABORATE WITH OPEN MINDS,THE RESULTS ARE SPECTACULAR.


When the owners, Doug and Annie Simonson, bought

this historic property in the heart of the Animas Valley, the

original farmhouse was still there. Rather than tearing it down,

they kept it as a theme and, through their company, Classique

Bilt Construction & Development, built the new house over

and around the original.

And since the property was no longer a farm, the

Simonsons wanted to create an inviting landscape design that

would provide an outdoor living space with privacy without

losing the sense of space and views. So I was hired, along

with Dave Schultz of Azteca Landscaping to convert the exist-

ing landscape into an experiential outdoor living environment

while preserving the views of the valley, the cliffs and distant

Engineer Peak.

Along with the creative energy from all involved, the

project’s success was also a result of the cross-pollination and

unfettered collaboration. Here are some point-by-point exam-

ples of why the project was such a big success. >

Story by Paul WilbertPhotos by Dave Ohman

When Doug and Annie Simonson boughtthis historic property in the Animas Valley, thepond was already there, but it neededmajorupdating. Creative energy and open minds

drove this project to its successful completion.

Above: I suggested building this streamconnecting the existing pond with otherwater features. The Simonsons easily

visualized the changes and eagerly agreedto the idea. All the water for irrigation is

pumped and filtered from the local ditchthat runs through the property.

Right: The existing pond was kept, withadditional sandstone and plantings used to

add color and soften the edges around it.One of the family’s two golden retrievers,

Rufus, offers a welcoming smile on the newpatio beside the redesigned pond. A dog’s

life can be very good indeed.

Opposite Page: The Simonsons agreedthat the original waterfall was “contrived and

dorky.” So it was demolished and rebuilt asshown here.


The existing waterfall was totally contrived anddorky, so it was demolished and rebuilt. Theexisting pond was kept, and additional sand-stone and plantings were used around it.Before the project, there wasn’t a place to hangout and enjoy the commanding view of

Engineer Mountain. So a good-sized patio was located a reason-able distance from the house to take advantage of that view, aswell as the pond and waterfall.

The new patio now provides a spectacular view from the liv-ing room window while emphasizing the design of a symmetricalpatio. The sitting wall was designed with a “double-bracket” con-figuration, allowing the view of Engineer Peak to slip between thetwo wall sections on the axis from the living room.

The outdoor fireplace was placed at the pivot point betweenthe pond and the axis view of Engineer, thus creating a good focalpoint without blocking the view.

The pond and patio are surrounded on three sides byapproximately two acres of irrigated turf creating a park-likeatmosphere. No berms were used because they look like “miceunder the carpet.” A mix of conifers was located to screen viewsof neighboring properties.

Deciduous trees were planted to provide interest with springflowering, fall color, and summer shade. Shrub beds wereplanned and planted so that views would be directed away fromneighboring properties. These trees and plantings integrated per-fectly into the waterscape and patio design so that one didn’t over-power the other.

The entire project was designed by landscape architect, PaulWilbert, in collaboration with the clients, and constructed byAzteca Landscaping, Inc. of Durango.


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TIME TO REMODEL YOUR NEST?

Today's economic climatehas presented you withthe best possible time toimprove your home andin doing so it most likelywill improve your life-style in these trying times.Americans are spending

more time at home now so improving your invest-ment while adding comfort to your life and pridein ownership just might make sense.

You’ve assessed your economic situation andweighed your options and thus determined thatbuilding your ultimate dream home from theground up is probably out of reach, despite the factthat, locally and nationally, we're experiencing thelowest building costs in over a decade.

Now that you’ve managed to budget what isappropriate and financially safe for upgrading yourcurrent home, where do you go from here?You’ve watched the HGTV network religiously forsix solid months and, reflecting on one of last sum-mer’s do-it-yourself projects, you've decided to leta professional turn your dreams into reality. Buthow do you start the process? There are two greatways to find the builder that’s right for you. Wordof mouth remains one of the most reliable meth-ods. Yet, with or without the referral, the internethas become a great tool for finding a local builderyou can trust. A good homebuilder has built their

6Basic Tips On Choosinga Contractor

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“brand” with consistent marketing anddelivering on their promises. Over-promising and under-delivering haskilled more businesses than an economicslowdown. Therefore, a builder's website should not only have nice photos ofnice homes, they should also include ref-erences you can contact. After all, yourhome is the single biggest investment youwill make in your lifetime.

This doesn’t have to be a dauntingexperience. Instead, it can, and should,be a positive one that can easily beachieved with proper planning, sharedcommunication, and collaboration withyour builder. With that in mind, here arefive fundamental tips that should never beoverlooked when committing to create abetter home for you and your family.

1. Gather and organize yourthoughts and ideas: Establish whatyou want to accomplish. Perhaps you’vebeen collecting magazine articles andphotos of what you like. Put those exam-ples in a three-ring and, depending on the

project, label those sections for MasterBedroom, Kitchen, Bath-room, FamilyRoom, Patio, etc. Add some sticky notesto tell your builder what you like aboutthose particular photos.

2. Establish your budget but allowfor wiggle room for the “unexpect-ed”: Whether it’s a patio deck, a newkitchen makeover, or expanding the sizeof your home for an expanding family,allow for unforeseen conditions.Flexibility is important. Depending onhow old your home is, the unexpectedmay arise such as a leaking roof, a crum-bling foundation, dry rot in floor or ceil-ing joists, the discovery of leaking pipesand faulty electrical. This may sounddaunting, but building safety codes havechanged over the years so you’ll want toinvest in those improvements, especiallyif you plan to sell your home someday.Allow for the unexpected. An experi-enced builder understands current build-ing codes and can accurately estimatethose costs as needed. So keep an open

mind and don’t let your expectationstrump the reality of budgets and timing.

3. Select the right builder beforedesigning: Your bank’s loan depart-ment, insurance companies, and localbuilding officials can all point you in theright direction in selecting safe and stableteams to interview. Another great sourceis, the “Ask the Builder” column underDear Hammer Head at the Home Build-ers Association of Southwest Coloradoweb site at: www.hbasc.com/dear-ham-mer-head/ask-a-builder-a-question.

4. A few important questions toask potential build teams: How dothey select and contract subcontractors?How do they protect your property whileon site? How do they bill their cus-tomers? Are they financially stable tocover the project’s costs without needinga check from you every week? Yourbuilder will advise you along the way onhow the project is working with the bud-get. Have they ever been taken to court?


This recently completed bedroom addition and largerear patio required a garage

roof to be surgically removedin just three weeks with fourmen with no weekend work

allowed. Though it’s not rock-et science, we just took the

six weeks ahead of the startday to have the roof trusses

and specialty custom beamsand windows ordered and sitting on the local loadingdocks ready for delivery tothe site. Before any of the

construction process beganon this fast-track project, cabinets, paint and other

finishes, and flooring materials, were selected and

ordered, while all approvalswith the County and design

review committees weresigned and ready to go.


And, ask for a “snap shot” of their business model and philoso-phy. Don't be afraid, or intimidated, to talk about fees and con-tract methods or preferences. These are not “secrets of the reef.”So, of course, check their resume and references.

Ultimately trust your decision and then trust your builder likeyou would your doctor or mechanic. His goal is to diligently shopfor you. After all, your positive word of mouth may mean anoth-er project for him in the future.

Whether you go with an architect, or choose a design-buildcontractor, bring your building contractor into the project at thebeginning. Architects and designers are generally up to speed oncurrent construction technology and costs. But, when it comes toeliminating unnecessary “surprises,” it’s all about collaborationand communication between the homeowners, designer andbuilder.

Choose your contractor wisely based on the recommenda-tions of several clients. They can tell you about their experiencewith him. Unfortunately, choices made solely on the lowest bidusually translate into unnecessary cost overruns, and you don’tneed those surprises, during, or at the end of the project.

5. Planning, Planning, Planning: When a great ideabecomes the approved idea, you don’t want to experience anycost overruns due to a lack of planning. The dynamics of plan-ning and building a successful project rely on the convergence ofexpectations and design coordinating with the budget and build-ing costs.

6. Be diligent and flexible with the finish selectionprocess: The right builder will have a detailed list specific toyour design that will outline all the owner selections that need tobe made. Depending on your terms with the builder, he may ormay not help with this process. Most firms are offering their ser-vices to minimize this sometimes daunting task. From stain andpaint colors to wood textures and species to flooring and doorknobs, the options are endless. Sometimes you may have a friendthat has offered their help here but understand the absolute keyto a successful project is having every detail and product selectedand ordered before you start the construction process. We aremost certainly disrupting your life if you live in the “constructionzone” of your home so help us help you. The right builder willtake you through the entire process, but if you take an active rollin the collaborative process, you are assured of a successful project.

Troy Dyer is President of Classique Bilt Development &Construction. For more information, call (970) 247.3333 or, visit www.classiquebilt.com

FOCUS ON ART THE OTHER SIDE OF DAVE MANLEY

Dave Manley is best knownfor his wizardry with stone-masonry. While acknowl-edged by his peers as one ofthe best in the business, hehas also been nurturing histalents as a photographer.

His photographs of his-toric Native America archeological sites have been get-ting a lot of attention over the past few years, or so. Andnow, a coffeetable book is in the works to be producedby the same printing company that has printed books,posters and calendars featuring the works of AnselAdams, Brett Weston, Dorothy Lange, and TheNational Geographic Society, to name a few. One wouldrightfully conclude, Mr. Manley is in good company.

His current collection for the book covers sites inthe Southwest and is on exhibit at the Dead Horse PointState Park Gallery in Utah. There was also a 10-monthexhibit at the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum.

The ancient rock art is basically divided among pet-roglyphs (images “pecked” into the rock face), and pic-tographs (images that have been painted on the rock sur-face). Often, those pictographs have incorporated colorswhich have resisted fading and damage from the ele-ments for thousands of years.

Many of Mr. Manley’s photographs are the result ofdeveloping working relationships with the tribal nationsand the National Parks Service which have granted himaccess to normally forbidden areas in the sacred sites.

Above: Pictographs at GrandCounty, Utah (circa 2000BC).

These images at Crow Foot Ledgewere actually painted onto the rockusing crushed hematite, a material

that has defied erosion for morethan 4,000 years.

Opposite page: A Montezumagrainary located high above the

valley floor.

Story by Dave OhmanPhotographs by Dave Manley



IN THEGARDEN

OF EATIN’

Story by Cody Reinheimer

HOME &GARDEN

How can we grow our own fresh food, provid-ing an abundance of delicious nourishment?How can we create a beautiful “Garden ofEatin’” and have fun in the process? Theseare questions that may run through yourmind if you are interested in growing your

own food. While farming and gardening is often perceived as asolitary function, it can also be a wonderful social activity with fam-ily and friends outside in the fresh air.

Lately, it seems like nearly every person I meet holds theideal of "getting back to the land" and growing food. As a family orother group activity, many hands make for light work. So with alittle cooperation we can be feasting on our homegrown salads inno time. That is why some friends and I have created a gardeningcooperative.

It all started with some neighbors coming together to say,“Hey, we all like gardening. Let’s share our energy and createmore abundance together.” Then, other friends came on boardand they, too, got excited about the possibility of learning aboutorganic land stewardship, and having the opportunity to experi-ment together with friends.

In the near future, we are also planning to host a SeedExchange Party, inviting any and all who have seeds to exchangewith one another, whether their seeds were purchased or collect-ed. (For information on how to attend, contact me through thenumber or email listed at the end of this article.) The group ismeeting weekly and very soon will be putting some of those seedsinto pots to grow indoors until the snow melts and the soil thaws.In the meantime, we will plant the remaining space in our green-houses and cold-frames. Much of that space has been growingcold-hearty greens. It is part of our goal to grow food year-round,



which means planting the greenhouses inlate summer and watering them throughthe fall and winter. Once spring warmsup, we will be planting “starts” and seedsoutside in established garden beds.

As active composters, we’ll be planti-ng in beds that we amended last fall withhorse manure and finished compost. Insome beds we added cardboard andwoodchips in a sheet-mulching method,aimed at inhibiting weed and grass growth.

Some weeds are actually amazingnutrient-rich food sources in themselves.We like to harvest and eat, or brew teaand juice with dandelion, mallow,

purslane, lamb’s quarter, thistle, andmore. Generally, we like to harvest thoseweeds and put them to use for ourselves,or feed our chickens with them. Our egg-layers have an insulated coop with a lighton a timer that has kept them warm andhappy, producing eggs for us all winter.

We also feed the chickens compostfrom our kitchens. They, in turn, help usproduce high quality, nutrient-rich, fin-ished compost soil that we use as anorganic fertilizer along with our own brewof compost tea in a project called,“GrassRoots Organic Lawn & Garden.”

The methods I’ve outlined have cre-

ated an efficient and healthy food sourcefor our families while adding to the fun ofbuilding our own “garden of eatin.’” Andyou can, too. We are committed to shar-ing our knowledge of organic gardeningwith you through education and imple-mentation of organic land stewardshippractices thus providing a world for“Healthy kids and Happy Honeybees.”

For any information or questions con-cerning anything in this article, pleasefeel free to contact Cody Reinheimer at(970) 247-1773 or [email protected].

A meal of organically-grown vegetables.Photo by Jerry McBride


In 2009, the Sustainable BuildingEducation Program of SW Colorado wascreated and managed by Greg and TaraMantell-Hecathorn, owners of Mantell-Hecathorn Builders, Inc., with the gener-ous support of local sponsors andadministrative assistance from the localHomebuilders Association and the FourCorners Office for Resource Efficiency(4CORE). The Governor's Energy Office(GEO) provided matching grant fundsthrough the Energy Star for New Homesprogram. The program featured over 29green building training events with over1400 attendees in 2009.

The goal of the program is to increasepublic understanding and demand forenergy efficient, durable, healthy resi-dential and commercial buildings.4CORE is administering the program in2010 and the first half of 2011 through amatching grant from the GEO EnergyStar program. Numerous local sponsorsare continuing their support for the pro-gram, and 4CORE has gained the sup-port of new sponsors to build upon thesuccess of last year. 4CORE is expand-ing the program to hold events inArchuleta, Montezuma, and La PlataCounties.

Continuing sponsors include Mantell-Hecathorn Builders Inc., First NationalBank of Durango, Alpine Bank, La PlataElectric Association, Home BuildersAssociation of Southwest Colorado, andAlpine Lumber. New sponsors includeTwin Buttes, Animas Drywall, EmpireElectric Association, La Plata County.

Mantell-Hecathorn Builders will host the 2010 SustainableBuilding Education Program

Of N

ote27 Alpine Lumber

19 Aspen Design Studio

46 Bank of Colorado

2 Bayfield Gardners

19 Budget Blinds

45 Buzztown.com

47 Closet Plus

15 Creative Heating Solutions

39 Custom Touch Builders

21 DirectoryPlus

24 Durango Door & Cabinet

13 Earthscapes

3 Economy Nissan

37 Endless Energy

25 For the Birds

25 4Core

37 Genesis Land & Waterscape

39 Green Acres Lawn & Landscape

53 Home & Ranch Show

47 La Plata Electric Association

51 La Plata County Business Report

51 Lewis TruValue Mercantile

10 Little Paradise Landscaping

24 Louisa’s Moviehouse & Electronics

55 Mantell-Hecathorn Builders

15 McCormick Tile & Stone

7 Pagosa Home Furnishings

35 Phantom Screens

13 Purple Haze

35 ReDeau Furnishings

17 Waste Management

19 Water Works

11 Skywalker Construction, LLP

43 Sleep ‘N’ Aire

17 Vivid Color Painting

ADVERTISING IINDEX


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Durango Living Spring Edition 2010

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Transcript of Durango Living Spring Edition 2010