Western Slope, I See You

190702 Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News
Having never had my own backyard until now, having moved to Grand Junction, it feels like sweet witchcraft to see things growing in it.

The territory I cover, Colorado's Western Slope, is a big slice of the map. It's also my favorite expanse of the state. While Grand Junction is my cozy home base, I'm out exploring (and reporting) whenever I can. Craig? Yep. Montrose, Telluride, Durango? Let's go. I spend a lot of time talking to Coloradans from all walks of life, and seeing a lot too. Not all of that work finds its way to the website, which is why I like to use this space to show where I've been and what I've been up to.

(Between posts here, you can keep up with my Western Slope adventures on Instagram and on Twitter.)

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Spent a few days in the West End, as in the west end of Montrose County. “Town” is two hours from Nucla and Naturita, regardless of whether the town is Montrose, Cortez or Grand Junction.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Seriously, I could walk up and down Paonia’s cozy streets for hours. Meet Marshmallow.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Here's the mug club at Palisade Brewing Company. I live in Grand Junction with a cat, but I’m pretty sure there’s a me in another dimension who lives above this inviting town's Main Street and has a hand-made mug sitting on this shelf.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Every old pay phone feels like a novel to me, including this dead ghost of a phone in Nucla. Good thing western Colorado is the pay phone rain forest. I think @skyschaudt should come visit, and we should find them all together.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Fact 1: I have cried at every single Pride parade I've ever attended. Fact 2: Grand Junction's, on June 24, was huge.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Secret spot. That's all. Let's just say it's somewhere east of Utah.

Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

The Palisade Brewing Company is one of my favorite people-watching spots, because all kinds of folks saunter in, from hippies to boaters to bikers. The owner of this truck could be all three. Fun Grateful Dead trivia lyric: "I wish I was a headlight on a north-bound train. I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain."

190702 Western Slope Life
Stina Sieg/CPR News

Having never had my own backyard until now, here in Grand Junction, it feels like sweet witchcraft to see things growing in it. The secret, apparently, is water.