The Game Trail subdivision northwest of Buena Vista received official designation as a Firewise USA site. The homeowners’ association gained recognition in December, in partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service and Chaffee County Fire Protection District.

The Buena Vista Demons filled a half-dozen spots on the Class 1A All-State Football Team, according to the CHSAAnow website.

Buena Vista High School sophomore Abram Durbin of Nathrop caught a 24-inch rainbow trout in Salida’s frozen Frantz Lake on Dec. 27. Becky Berry captured the catch before the 17-year-old returned it through the ice hole. Durbin has been ice and fly fishing for a couple of years now, learning …

The Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office is accepting public comments through Jan. 31 on dispersed camping and travel management planning on BLM public lands in Chaffee County.

The Buena Vista grapplers head to Christmas break with a tournament victory in their final event of 2021.

Buena Vista resident and founder of Noah’s Ark Rafting & Adventure Co. Chuck Cichowitz received a National Wilderness Partnership Award from the USDA Forest Service for his collaborative stewardship work in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.

The Arkansas Valley’s river rafting guides have had a few days to consider Arkansas Valley Adventure and Colorado River Outfitters Association’s lawsuit against federal labor regulators, filed Dec. 7.

Most were agreed that wages should be increased across the raft guide industry.

The Lady Demons went 1-1 at their own home tournament. On Friday, they soundly defeated Gunnison 44-23, then fell to Grand Valley 47-22 Saturday afternoon.

After making a schedule adjustment when the season’s first winter storm stopped travel to the Western Slope Friday, the entire Buena Vista wrestling team headed south to Salida for the Rob Mickel tournament.

The host Demons lost one to weather and won one on the court when they hosted their home tournament Dec. 10-11.

The annual Polar Plunge was welcomed into its fourth year by a large crowd and 35 individuals jumping into the frigid Arkansas River.

The annual Polar Plunge was welcomed into its fourth year by a large crowd and 35 individuals jumping into the frigid Arkansas River.

New camping management at the Tunnel View dispersed camping area near Buena Vista cooperatively put in place by the Bureau of Land Management and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area has been deemed a success by agency staff. 

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is among 12 trail projects and a state trail program chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails as recipients of its 2021 Tom Petri Recreational Trails Program Achievement Awards.

A U.S. Forest Service news release has announced the availability of Christmas tree permits for sale through Recreation.gov.

Permits for the Salida and Leadville Ranger Districts are $10 per tree and are not limited by a quota, so will not sell out.

After 5 years, Central Colorado Conservancy closed on an easement of 598 acres of newly protected lands with the Arrowpoint Cattle Company, which is owned and operated by two sisters in Chaffee County.

Chaffee County Women Who Care selected Peak to Peak Pickleball Club to receive the group’s donation for this quarter.

Four teams entered the Class 1A football semifinals undefeated and only two would remain for the state championship the following weekend.

The Buena Vista Demons were one of the odd-teams-out as Centauri handed the Demons their only loss of the year, 42-6.

A chilly November morning and I was once again on the river. Stark cottonwoods, leafless willows and dry brown grass but the water was glass.

The Greater Arkansas River Nature Association and Antero Outdoors are partnering for the 7th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presented virtually beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 2

The Bureau of Land Management is preparing to conduct pile burns in nine locations this winter. 

Buena Vista defeated Meeker for the second time this season with a game-ending play Saturday, but the state quarterfinal playoff game needed extra time to resolve the 22-15 final.

The Buena Vista Singletrack Coalition is hosting BV’s second annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k. The race will start on South Main Square (Front Loop Road) at 9 a.m., Thanksgiving day.

Racers and volunteers will receive shirts, but should register by Nov. 14 to ensure they get one.

The eighth annual film screening benefit event for Buena Vista’s adaptive skiers and snowboarders will take place Nov. 12 at Surf Hotel’s Ivy Ballroom. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the showing will start at 7 p.m.

The Buena Vista Demons advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A state football playoffs via a 42-14 home victory over the Gunnison Cowboys.

Buena Vista hosts a rematch of Week 5’s thriller over Meeker.

Volunteers with Chaffee Recreation Adopters helped collect more than 2,200 campsite surveys this summer using a new mobile app created for stewardship work in Chaffee County.

The Buena Vista girls finished third at the 2A Colorado State cross country championships at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.

Buena Vista split four games last weekend in its home Girls Varsity Tournament, earning victories over Middle Park and Grand Valley.

Cottonwood Pass closed for the winter season on Nov. 1, 2021.

Local non-profit elevateHER is seeking 6th to 12th grade young women to enroll in their winter program. The 10-week empowerHER outdoor adventure program will provide all food, transportation and gear and no experience is necessary.

The Buena Vista track teams both qualified for the state meet for the fifth consecutive time Friday at Rocky Ford.

BV Racing saw 10 riders compete in the Colorado High School Racing League state championships at Durango Saturday.

The team finished 11th overall, led by Mitchek Colley’s 26th-place finish in the 101 racer varsity girls event.

Colorado’s Central Mountain Small Business Development Center will host an in-person outdoor industry summit from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 25 at the Salida SteamPlant and Event Center as well as online in live, virtual format.

Two dozen speakers are scheduled to present on topics such as growth and scale opportunities, public land stewardship, sustainable tourism education and funding resources.

Buena Vista lost a tough volleyball match Thursday in Manitou Springs. The 14-1 Lady Mustangs tripled kills over the Volley Demons en route to a 25-14, 25-17, 25-17 victory.

CPW promotes Bear Aware principles all year long, aiming to minimize interactions that put both humans and bears at risk.

BV Racing finished runner-up at Eagle and in its conference while securing a dozen riders at state in Durango later this month.

Leading Buena Vista’s entry in the Colorado High School Racing League state championship Oct. 23-24 are varsity riders Ace England and Mitchek Colley.

Thanks to a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Forest Service and the Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative, the threat of catastrophic wildfire is lessening around Monarch Pass.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $5.7 million in implementation of Chaffee County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which maps where to treat forested lands to reduce risk at the highest cost efficiency and community benefit.

Retired Times and Denver Post outdoor writer Bob Good of Buena Vista has recovered from his auto accident well enough to elk hunt again. Successfully, we see.

The Hill Gang turned out in numbers to cheer the Buena Vista High School cross country teams Saturday in Salida.

Zaila Smith won the girls 5k Salida Cross County Classic race at Hutchinson Ranch in 20 minutes, 8 seconds.