This trip is getting closer and closer! This is the weekend that the majority of the area starts to open up for tourism. I want to share a little here with my take on current events, taking place that directly affects this meet. I have been monitoring the Covid-19 state of affairs, between the 3 major counties in & around the San Juan trails we use there. I have been open minded and have talked to many people from all sides of this. I asked questions, and got different responses. This post is not aimed at any one individual, town, or place of business. it is a view from an outsider, looking at an area to vacation in. Locals will of course will have a different perspective, and rightfully so.
There is a lot of chatter happening with visiting this area this season. There are many sides, and many mixed feelings. We have agendas from supporters of the area, who want us there to stimulate their economy, and help these towns survive, from tourists with pockets of vacation funds. Then there are the tourists who have worked themselves to the bone, and sacrificed over the year in many ways, that want the best time they can afford.... on all fronts.
There is good and bad happening. They are in a slow re-opening phase currently, with many restrictions being imposed. This alone is causing confusion, and some frustration for all parties.
It seems there are three different mindsets, with opinions, and feelings concerning outside tourism. 1) Government 2) Places of Business 3) Local residents. It's still a mixed bag of emotions between all of them concerning tourist's visiting them, and how to conduct themselves.
1) The State, County, and city officials are all clashing among themselves with different opinions on how to move forward right now. Some good, some not so good. State tourism asked not to visit this year, causing a major backlash with CO residents. Some local authorities have decided to make their towns locals only, but have eased up on enforcing that rule somewhat. If you have any infraction for whatever reason, they will add an extra citation for breaking this local only ordinance.
2) Most Places of Business are wanting to see the return of tourists, as they are mostly all small Bizz, and hurting financially over the shut downs. There is some inner fighting between some of them too. Some want others to fail, to take over their share of income, and some only want to cater to locals. It's hit or miss for each town right now. The daunting imposed rules of operation list for all was recently released, and all I can say is wow. I feel for them.
3) I have heard some good stories, and some really bad stories concerning the local residents and outsiders. Outsiders means anybody not currently living within town. Commuting for work, shopping, or anything isn't sitting right with them, and they do not want you there. The other side to this coin is some residents are welcoming you in with open arms, and happily doing so. They have family with business's, they want their town to survive this, and want it to prosper. They do not neccasarily want it to grow, as they are content how it has been, they just don't want it to turn into another CO mining ghost town.
This is of course all in the last couple of months, and I am hoping that as the areas go through the re-opening phases set forth by the state,, counties, & cities, the tensions will ease up and/or disappear altogether. Please do your own research and decide if & or how you would like to proceed with this trip or not. I am personally waiting until the 4th of July to make a decision. Things seem to be changing weekly there. They might take 2 steps forward, and 1 step back, and 2 more steps forward again. I want to give this a fair shake, and give it some time to see how the area progresses or digresses.
