Jules Coleman and Jordan Schoen
Mountain Studies Institute
Durango, CO
October 15th, 2025
At the Hermosa Creek Trailhead outside Durango, Colorado, the Westies met with Jules Coleman and Jordan Schoen of the Mountain Studies Institute. MSI is a nonprofit focused on mountain research and developing science education programming for local environmental issues. Jules, the Director of Community Science, and Jordan, a Program Assistant, led us on a hike through the San Juan National Forest, where we learned about various bird species, forest fire resiliency, invasive species, tree rings, and elevation variation in forest ecosystems. Enthralled by the spits of rain, aspens, and warm autumn hues, the Westies were excited to be experiencing the Fall season within the Rocky Mountains. As we hiked, our conversation turned to the “416 Fire,” —the Columbine Ranger District’s 416th incident answered that year—which transformed the southwestern edge of Colorado’s San Juan National Forest in 2018. To avoid the approaching thunderstorms, we spent the afternoon in a park beside the rushing Animas River, still exhibiting the effects of recent flooding. There, we made native seed balls for planting in the 416 burn area, built various forest models to test fire resiliency, and learned about the Anamis and San Juan River and the species that inhabit them. Jules and Jordan explained how the Gold King Mine Spill—a 2015 mine water spill containing heavy metals—deeply affected the Animas River ecosystem by damaging the habitat of Caddis flies and Midges, which are an essential food source for trout and other fish. To end our day with MSI, we visited the Durango fish hatchery, where Rainbow Trout are raised to repopulate the Animas River. In typical Colorado fashion, our day was spent shedding layers and quickly relayering as storm clouds rolled in for a brief ten minutes of downpour followed by blaring sun. Jules and Jordan helped expand the Westies’ understanding of water within the Colorado Plateau, where water scarcity and drought threaten many vital ecosystems. Before returning to our camp, the Westies began an intense soccer game, ending in the unfortunate loss of our beloved ball, swept away by the force of a flooded river.
By Maea Fleming