Just got back from vacationing in this area last week. There are so many things to do in this one area. We did in one day the Durango train to Silverton then rafted that afternoon on the Animas. The scenary and the waterfalls up in Ouray (WOW) too much to acurately descripe. Also the article down plays in my opinion the importance of the Durango narrow gauge railroad to that area as a whole. With out it the exposure rate to this area would be very limited.

So in a nutshell this area needs to be protected.

I spent a week hiking through the San Juan Mountains in the Weminuche Wilderness Area two years ago. We explored above the tree lines and alpine lakes while watching the many herds of elk in the myriad valleys. The Colorado River cutthroat are gorgeous, and the meadow streams are thriving with pure strands above natural waterfall barriers. The San Juan Mountains contain some of the most beautiful and rugged areas and should be forever protected from any mining, roads, and development!