75 years ago: “Ice skating on the sloughs in the Animas Valley is reported as having been fairly good, though weather conditions have not improved it.”

50 years ago: “It was snowing hard in Southwestern Colorado as another snowstorm unloaded white cover over most of Colorado’s mountain area and much of the western section.”

25 years ago: “While Purgatory skiers are waiting for the results of an Indian snow dance, skiers in other parts of the state couldn’t be happier. … Southern Ute Tribal members danced and sang songs as dozens of skis were thrown onto a fire. Purgatory’s Thanksgiving Day opening has been indefinitely postponed due to the lack of snow.”

Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.