Voices of Western Colorado: Glow

Glow

In Western Colorado, glow is more than light. It’s the warmth of a fire after a powder day; the shimmer of snow on the Grand Mesa under a full moon; the quiet radiance of communities that thrive together in winter. Glow is adventure met with joy, leisure laced with connection and the inner spark that keeps us moving through the coldest season.

We Asked These Western Slope Locals to Weigh in on This Topic

ANDREW PRICE

Executive Director of the Grand Junction Symphony

“To me, ‘glow’ is the spark that happens when people come together through music. It’s seeing our patrons light up during a concert, our musicians pouring their hearts into every note, and our community feeling that shared sense of joy and connection. Just like the rays of sunshine that warm winter up on the Western Slope, the Grand Junction Symphony brings light and energy to our region. Music has the power to move us, to lift us, and to bring us closer together. That sense of shared excitement and inspiration is what ‘glow’ truly means to me.”

AMI SCHIFFBAUER

Development Director of Mesa County Libraries

“As Mesa County Libraries celebrate 125 years of public libraries in Mesa County in 2026, I think of the radiant glow of pride young readers exude when they learn a tricky word, the quiet glow of happiness someone feels when a great book captures their imagination and the shared glow of connection people experience when they meet others who share their passions at library events. The library offers opportunities throughout the year for people of all ages to learn, discover, create and connect, and all of these moments make me glow with hope for the future of Western Colorado.”

TOM SOTTEK

Director of People and Culture at The Springs Resort

“At The Springs Resort, ‘glow’ is both literal and human. It’s the steam rising from the Mother Spring at dawn and the quiet conversation of neighbors sharing a soak beneath winter stars. I see glow in the kindness exchanged between guests and staff, in the way our waters renew body and spirit, and in the pride Pagosa takes in caring for one another. It’s an understanding — that our presence here is mutual and sacred, and to share the warmth and healing is to honor the divine in each other. Pagosa Peak glows, and together, we burn steadily as one.”

Originally published in the winter 2025-26 issue of Spoke+Blossom.