| How about that canyon?
It was 2010. I'd just taken a road trip with my mother, hitting a bucket list item — the Grand Canyon. When we got back to town, though, I took her up the road to our own "grand" canyon, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. And I'll always remember her reaction: she liked it better!
Not everyone will agree with Mom, but most will at least concede the Black Canyon is pretty spectacular. I've seen other Colorado canyons, like Royal Gorge, which is also beautiful and nothing to sneeze at. When I visited a few years ago, the man at the ticket booth was curious about the depths of the two. Royal Gorge is 1,250 feet deep and he wanted to know if the Black Canyon compared. Well. The Black Canyon is 2,700 feet or so at Warner Point, so I guess it does!
The canyon is timeless, with an incredible history of traditional uses, exploration, water rights, irrigation, even the East Portal community, long closed up, but still part of a tour for those willing to take the steep drive down when the road is open.
The Black Canyon — which feeds millions into the regional economy each year and draws sightseers along with hard core athletes of the sort who climb rocks — is protected because of the work people did years ago, which culminated in it being declared a national park on this very day (Oct. 21), 1999.
Staff Writer Kylea Henseler took a deep dive into how it all came to be, highlighting the efforts of many hands as well as having a chat with the park's first superintendent and the Friends of the Black Canyon. If you missed it, it came out in Saturday's Outdoors section. Give it a look!
Also: Happy Birthday, Black Canyon, you magnificent chasm, you!
— In gratitude, Katharhynn, from the Newsroom.
 (Kylea Henseler/MDP)
You can help!
If you're grateful for what you have, consider sharing a little — in terms of your time. Montrose Community Dinners is again planning to host the annual free Thanksgiving Day meal on Thanksgiving, which this year falls on Nov. 28. The nonprofit needs volunteers for the week leading up to Thanksgiving, and on the Big Day — everything from set up and tear-down to running the pie station and driving delivery meals. Check out montrosecommunitydinners.com for more info and opportunities, or call the volunteer line at 970-318-6724. Cash donations and sponsorships are always needed and welcomed: visit the site to use your card or PayPal, or mail a check to Montrose Community Dinners, P.O. Box 3540, Montrose, CO 81402-3540.
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