All of us at San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) are starting out the new year with stewardship solidly in the forefront of our minds. Our feet are sore and hands are pruned from all the snow dancing and car washing we’ve been doing in hopes of ushering in the snow we’re all eager to have arrive.
All kidding aside, we are poignantly aware of what this unusually dry start to winter really means for the San Juan mountain region. Our region is highly dependent on snowpack to provide water for our communities, our agriculture, local wildlife, and recreation. We know the serious implications of dry forests and the increased wildfire risk that accompanies aridification. Winter snowpack is a significant economic force not only for our local communities but also for the entire western region.
We also are poignantly aware that there’s not much we can do to change weather, and many of us – whether we are residents or visitors – have a remarkable ability to pivot activities to match current conditions. While many of us long to carve turns in powder, we’re also content to add miles on our bikes, hike lower elevation destinations, or even head to local rivers to continue paddling or catch a fish or two.
Those who simply must embark on snow sports need to be mindful that activities are currently concentrated in high-elevation areas where snow is actually accumulating, making the collective impact on those areas even greater than normal. Places like Molas and Red Mountain Passes are more popular than ever this winter, with a heavy mix of winter recreation veterans and novices.
All of this means that we need to be active stewards of the land, pledging to leave no trace and to recreate responsibly. Where permissible, there will likely be a mix of motorized and non-motorized recreationists that need to balance access. Make the ethical decision to leave muddy locations to dry when choosing your trails for winter mountain biking. Parking areas may be full and overflowing and it’s critical to keep highways clear for through traffic. Trailhead amenities like vault toilets are closed for the season so everyone should be prepared to pack out all trash and waste, including yours and your dog’s.
We are fortunate that we have so many options to enjoy our splendid landscape. At SJMA, for the fifth consecutive year, we have our basecamp at the Andrew’s Lake winter lot, with Colin Courtney returning for his third tour of duty to assist with any questions you may have about recreation conditions and options in the area. In addition, thanks to the support of many of you, we have partnered with Bob’s Johns to have a portable toilet on site.
If you’re eager to learn more about winter in the San Juans, we have some new offerings as well as our tried and true interpretive events. If you want to learn more about our winter wonderland, come join us at the Durango Nordic Center for full moon howlers in February and March, or plan to join us and our partners at Mountain Studies Institute for our popular monthly Snow Science & Socials at the Andrew’s Lake winter lot. Farther north, we are partnering with Ouray to host “Nature in Four Seasons,” with a winter event on February 14th. All SJMA events can be found at sjma.org.
We hope you join us in resolving to be an exemplary steward of our irreplaceable lands in 2026 – they depend on us all.
