Vallecito Lake

Vallecito Lake Tour of Wood Carvings

Twenty-two miles northeast of Durango is one of the most pristine lakes in all of Colorado. Surrounding the lake lies a small, friendly community sheltered in the secluded mountain valley at 8000 feet in elevation. A place where outdoor enthusiasts can hike, boat, fish, ski or just relax while watching the painted sky at sunset. We began our weekend with a scenic drive around the lake which is populated with a community center, marinas, restaurants, a general store, lodges, cabins, R.V. parks, campgrounds and private homes in country-style settings. We were captivated by the intriguing display of the Tour of Carvings. The wood carvings depicts a comeback of the devastating forest fire which swept the heart of the San Juan National forest in the summer of 2002. From the ruins of the Missionary Fire which burned more than 70,000 acres of beautiful, towering two-hundred year old ponderosa pines an idea was born. Paul McGinnis, a former resident of the village proposed carving the damaged trees into works of art as a special tribute to the firefighters and animals impacted by the devastating fire. The close-knit community united to achieve their goal and have closure to the catastrophe. They chose a local artist, Chad Haspels to sculpture fifteen works of art, each eighteen feet tall and weighing three to four thousand pounds, some which are mounted on concrete piers and are displayed at visible and accessible areas around the lake. Included is a memorial to Alan Wyatt who lost his life. The memorial stands twenty feet tall and is still rooted in the ground, but snapped off at the vortex. It is carved to resemble him as he stands looking over the burned forest. There are some scaring from the fire still visible in some areas but rebirth is taking place through planting trees, shrubs and wild flowers. Vallecito Lake is still a place of beauty. I am anticipating my next visit when again I will hike the trails along the lake’s edge under the canopy of tall ponderosa pines, smell the cool mountain air and renew my spirit.