Durango Warnings and Dangers

Parked my car. Walked up and down the block trying to find this place in my guidebook. Right side, wrong side, right side of the street. Nothing but a chain link fence and a construction site. The trailer with the adress tells it all - the Durango Hostel at 543 E. 2nd Ave. is no more. It's still in some guidebooks but the place has gone the way of the bin of history via rising real estate values in this town. Cheap digs now entail a tent.

Despite what you may have heard, the Missionary Ridge/Valley fires never made it to the town of Durango. The greatest impact on the cities of Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio are engineering and logistical concerns over the water supplies for those towns, because subsequent monsoon rains have begun to wash ash and debris into the rivers that supply them. The fires did however sweep through the Lemon and Vallecito Reservoir areas burning some homes and businesses if you are coming to the Durango area, try to take some extra time to visit these areas and support those who are most affected by this disaster.

However, if you do choose to visit the areas in and around the fires, keep an eye on the sky! Summer monsoon rains can be sudden and heavy, and the damage coused by the burn made that area extremely susceptable to flash flooding, which can happen even if it's not rain on you at the time. No one has been killed by the floods so far, and property damage has been relatively insignificant, but flooded roadway can leave you stranded until road crews can clear them. Being aware of the weather will certainly prevent any inconveniences.