Weminuche Wilderness

Local News

Stories of adventure, awe mark Weminuche Wilderness anniversary celebration

than 100 gather to honor 50 years of Colorado’s largest wild space

October 28, 2025 • Jessica Bowman — Herald Staff Writer

Conservation

Celebrating 50 years of the Weminuche Wilderness

Colorado’s largest wilderness area faces new challenges in preservation and management

October 19, 2025 • Jessica Bowman — Herald Staff Writer

Forests and Wilderness

With no phone, wallet or car, he died in the Colorado wilderness, leaving $30,000 to the food bank

Scheppegrell, 79, spent 20 years living alone northeast of Durango. His body was found last month

September 9, 2024 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Injury

Injured hiker rescued by helicopter from Chicago Basin

64-year-old patient was transported to Mercy Hospital

August 29, 2024 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Forests and Wilderness

Columbine Ranger District has a new arrival in charge

Glidden was drawn to Southwest Colorado for its recreational amenities

December 22, 2022 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Climbing

Authorities identify Colorado man who fell to death in Chicago Basin

Plata County Search and Rescue spent parts of Monday and Tuesday recovering victim’s body

August 16, 2022 • Shane Benjamin — Herald Staff Writer

Durango

How citizen scientists are testing our streams and rivers for contamination

Mountain Studies Institute, Fort Lewis College partner to measure E. coli in San Juan National Forest’s waterways

July 6, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Animal

Citizen scientists play key role in tracking bighorn sheep

Mountain Studies Institute’s project supports work of public land and wildlife agencies

March 31, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Emergency incident

Man rescued from Weminuche Wilderness southeast of Silverton

Medical issue prompts Flight For Life transport to Mercy Regional Medical Center

June 1, 2021 • Patrick Armijo — Herald staff writer

Avalanche/landslide

Damaged Colorado Trail section expected to be clear of avalanche debris by fall

will help fund summer trail work

March 22, 2021 • Jonathan Romeo — Staff reporter

Environment

Mining claims in Weminuche Wilderness protected from development

Conservation group buys inholdings to preserve wilderness setting

February 5, 2021 • Jonathan Romeo — Staff reporter

Local News

Fire starts deep in Weminuche Wilderness

scorched about 38 acres as of Thursday

October 15, 2020 • Jonathan Romeo — Staff reporter

Hiking

Rockslide knocks out portion of Continental Divide Trail

Service advises hikers to avoid area west of Wolf Creek Pass

August 11, 2020 • Jonathan Romeo — Staff reporter