The Marmot Messenger STAUNTON STATE PARK

VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5

Mark's impossible dream coming true Inaugural Mark Madsen Accessibility Celebration Day is successful beyond its founders' wildest dreams

Mark Madsen favored the song The Impossible Dream from the 1972 musical Man of La Mancha, which he performed during his storied career as a singer/performer. Madsen, who passed away in August 2015, was left a quadriplegic after a serious auto accident and was confined to a wheel chair for 14 years. Before his accident, Mark loved to recreate in what is now Staunton State Park. So it was difficult for him to realize that hiking or biking in the place he loved so much would now be impossible. That was before volunteer and friend Ted Hammon introduced him to the Action Trackchair, borrowed from Craig Hospital in Denver. This magnificent vehicle made what was once impossible for Mark, to “hike' in Staunton again, a dream come true. And, thanks to generous donors, that same dream will now come true for other disabled lovers of nature. The first annual Mark Madsen Accessibility Celebration Day, held at the GPA on August 13, was in the planning for six months and sponsored by Friends of Staunton State Park in cooperation with Mark's family. The purpose of the event was to raise funds to purchase a Trackchair for the park so that disabled visitors could access the trails and enjoy the beauty of nature. After the chair is purchased it will be donated to the park by the Friends organization to be used exclusively for Staunton disabled visitors, according to Susan Festag, secretary. President of Friends Wayne Parkinson said the organization has three goals: first, to purchase the initial Trackchair, which will cost about $13,000. Second, to purchase a transfer sling at a cost of about $2000 and finally to purchase a second Trackchair. Friends eventually would like to help other state parks get started with a similar endeavor by “expanding knowledge about the program,” said Festag. “The purpose of purchasing a second chair is so that other disabled friends or family of visitors can go together on the trails,” Parkinson said. The group will be researching which Trackchair will fit best for the park, and Friends hopes to purchase the vehicle and present it for use by summer 2017, according to Parkinson. It is hoped that a new volunteer program, the accessibility team, will be developed to help facilitate disabled visitors' use of the Trackchair in the park, according to park manager Zach Taylor. Friends sold $10 tickets for the barbecue to help raise funds to buy the Trackchair. According to Parkinson, the hope was to garner enough funds within a six-month period to purchase the

MARMOT MESSENGER 2 vehicle. So it was a pleasant surprise when several large donations came in along with good attendance for the event, and the goal of $15,000 was surpassed. Mark's son Orion Madsen, who is a professional videographer, was present to videotape the presentation, which he hopes can be used as a promotional to obtain grants and help the Friends organization raise funds for the memorial to his dad. He was pleased the group initiated the annual Celebration. “I think it is awesome,” he said and added, “My dad is memorialized and not forgotten, and other quads can also enjoy this park.” During the Celebration, visitors were allowed to take a test ride in one of two Trackchairs that were on display. In addition, a slide show featuring Mark was playing. Later, a program featured various speakers including Bob Felker, a paraplegic from Aspen Park who told the audience that early on after his accident he found the outdoors was not accessible to him. He said the Trackchair program “bridges the gap between non- accessibility and the need for the disabled to be in nature.” Zach Taylor said having accessibility on the Davis Ponds trail is a “first step in opening the parks up for disabled visitors' access and Tom Carr, director of Therapeutic Recreation and Adaptive Sports at Craig Hospital, who worked with Hammon to bring the Trackchair to Staunton, was pleased the park was opening up opportunities for those with serious injuries. Marie Hensick, Mark's sister, presented a poignant look into his life, drawing on his love of the park and adding, “making the impossible dream of accessibility would please Mark.” Allyson Finch, program director for Healthy Independent Leisure and Lifestyles (Hills), announced the group, whose goal is to create opportunities for disabled individuals to have positive experiences and meet others, is partnering with the Friends organization to bring people with disabilities to Staunton. Later, a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new wooden puncheon bridge on Davis Ponds trail took place. Alan Moutoux, Conifer High School student and boy scout, envisioned the bridge as an Eagle Scout project and built the structure with other scouts and volunteers. “I wanted to do something for the park, “said Moutoux, whose brother Brian also completed an Eagle Scout project by building the horseshoe pit behind the GPA. The new bridge, which replaces a rock bridge, will make it easier for wheelchairs and strollers to use the trail. So, the dream will soon become a possibility, just as Mark may have imagined. Ted, his friend whose appropriate moniker is the godfather of the program, took great joy in what has been accomplished so far. He mused, “How proud Mark would be of this. How many smiles we will be able to put on people.”

is currently publishing a weekly series by and about people living with disabilities.

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MANAGER’S MESSAGE event and each having different stories to bring to life. The Education team has some great ideas for Amazed but not stations/booths to set up, demonstrating the amazing

surprised lives the homesteaders lived. It was great to get these I met a family at the two teams back together again to plan out another Mason Creek parking event to be hosted at Staunton. lot on Monday August A member of our Rock Climbing team put his 8. They had just knowledge and skills into assisting Grand View returned from locating Landscaping with a troubling spot along Elk Falls Trail the Granite Mushroom on August 23. A section of the trail abruptly stopped Rock Earth cache east at a rock out-cropping. The crew could not chip the of Mason Creek. They rock enough to create stairs and the step was were not only excited treacherous. Our Rock Climbing team was called in to to find it, but were drill anchors into the rock which would hold a chain looking up more caches hand railing to aid in the descent and ascent of this in the park to search for. They were on their own section of trail. Good work. treasure hunt and loving every minute of it. I pointed them in the direction of Davis Ponds and the kids took On Wednesday August 24, a rugged group of five off before the parents knew what to do. tackled a project to place a bridge over the treacherous North Elk Creek. During a driving rain storm they Saturday August 13 might go down as the second accomplished this task which will provide much- best day in the history of Staunton (the opening of needed access via ATV for additional weed the park being the first). Our illustrious Friends group management and forestry control. Team USA might held a phenomenal event celebrating the life of Mark have the Final Five, but we certainly have our Fantastic Madsen. It was during this event that we all joined Five. together, not just as a park, but as a community. We came together to support a cause that will provide to Each day as I drive into work, I am reminded of how all visitors the same enjoyment of hiking the trails in lucky I am. Not only do I get to call Staunton my this beautiful park. place of work, but I get to call each of you my colleagues. Please continue expressing your passions I took the opportunity to join the weed warriors and your enthusiasm for Staunton as it is extremely along Staunton Ranch Trail in the climbers access area contagious. to remove musk thistle and mullen on Tuesday August 16. I knew the crew did amazing work, but I The mountains are calling and I must go.”--John Muir never realized how quickly and quietly they moved. Their stealth-like demeanor was incredible. Before I What’s Inside knew it, we had moved nearly ¾ mile from the De-evolution 5 starting point and I had only been there half an hour. Ask Frannie and Birdie 6 It took me almost 18 months before I joined in Friends 7 pulling weeds and now I am addicted. Not a day goes New Trails 9 by that at least one musk thistle gets beheaded. Thanks Team Work 11 a lot weed warriors. Birds of a Feather 15 On Friday August 19, I met with our intrepid Getting to Know You 16 Education and History teams in initial preparations for Team Coordinators and Staff 18 Living History Days September 17 and 18. Mark your calendars. The History team has reached out to numerous historical societies all excited to bring their knowledge of Staunton and Elk Creek Valley to our

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Your help is needed for Living History Days. Please sign up to help at the September volunteer meeting.

Visitors Center on hold The Visitors Center is temporarily on hold, according to park manager Zach Taylor. He told volunteers at the August meeting that all plans came back from the architects over budget. An additional $300,000 was needed but denied. GOCO extended the deadline for current monies allocated to December 2017 with an additional six months to June 2018 if necessary. Architects will have to redraw the plans to cut costs. According to Zach, the building size, including cutting the multi-purpose room, was shrunk but still did not come in under budget. “It was disheartening, but there is hope,” Taylor said. In other business it was noted that Living History Days is Sept. 17-18. Claudia Gunn, who is heading up the yearly celebration, has sent out an email asking volunteers to sign up to help. Other Phase II updates include: • The new campground will be staked out by late September or October and should be ready to open next June. It will include 26 back country sites. No camp fires will be allowed. Cook stoves can be used and bear proof containers will be placed at each site. • The Rock Pile parking lot will be developed with about 60 sites and a vault toilet and information kiosk will be placed at this location. • Forestry work on the Dines property was completed to removed harmful mistletoe, Thinning was also needed to ensure a healthy forest and hazard trees were removed. • An archery range (no firearms) will be constructed near the area where the maintenance facility is to be built. It will include eight targets and 3 D range. The Friends organization and local archery clubs will help fund it with donations. • The maintenance facility will be built close to the Boyd House and the maintenance road will be reconstructed.

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The visitor center and the theory of de-evolution Devolution, de-evolution, or backward evolution - to degenerate through a gradual change or backward evolution; the notion that any process of formation or growth can revert into more "primitive" forms over time.

Vestigial features - structures or attributes that have lost some or all of their ancestral function, but have been retained during the process of evolution. The loss of function of a feature that is no longer subject to positive selection pressures when it loses its value in a changing environment.

Innovative Needs to be smaller use of pre- owned trailers found on Craig’s List

Oops, can only afford one trailer

VISITOR CENTER

Oh just VISITOR use CENTER what Having an enclosed structure you determined to be an extravagant luxury have

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Ask Frannie and Birdie… Carol and husband Bob served as hosts, along with Deborah and Jack Darnell. Frannie: Birdie, I hear that the Shaffer Family had a big Frannie: I heard that Donna Long Beck, reunion in our park in late July. Betty Long, Carla Mink and Hank How many people came? Alderfer, representing the Conifer Historical Society, joined the reunion at Birdie: There were so many, it the GPA. Donna’s grandparents knew the was hard to count. I think I Shaffer children, and her family has heard them say there were around 120. People photographs of the Longs and Shaffers working came from far and near. Young children, together as neighbors on a logging project. parents and grandparents attended the three day-event. They were descendants of Samuel Birdie: Some of the family members toured a and Sarah Shaffer, who moved to the Elk Creek couple of remaining buildings at Shaffers Valley in 1902. Crossing and then visited the cemetery where Rollo and Lila Shaffer are buried. A reporter Frannie: So, what did this big family do in our from the High Timber Times wrote a nice park? I bet they were really impressed with article on their historic reunion. The family the beautiful scenery. I wonder if they got to had a wonderful time reconnecting. see Elk Falls. Frannie: Birdie, is it true that some of the Birdie: Well, several Shaffers spent an extra day and met at the Staunton State Park Scudder’s house next to the park? volunteers came over to help with Birdie: Deborah Darnell and Carol McAllister parking and serve as joined Bonnie as hosts. Of particular interest hosts. Ray Shaffer, was learning more about Samuel Shaffer’s who owns a ranch in mining endeavors. Ray and Dean Shaffer Thermopolis, WY, would like to visit again this fall to see the was the main stone house and mining sites on Carol’s property, after Dean researches mining claims organizer of the reunion. Dean Shaffer has spent years further. researching family history and had lots of Frannie: From what I hear, the reunion was information for his many cousins and their quite a success. I think the Shaffer family will children and grandchildren. Nancy Verthein remember this reunion for a long time, and I of Indiana brought a large, impressive suspect they’ll come to visit the park, too. scrapbook collection consisting of extensive genealogical records, photographs, and other memorabilia. Ray, Dean and Nancy are grandchildren of Charlie Shaffer and great- grandchildren of Samuel and Sarah Shaffer. Frannie: So what did our volunteers do? Did they take Shaffer descendants to see the old Shaffer stone house near Mason Creek? Birdie: Mary Beth Carpenter led the hike to the stone house, and Carol Phelps accompanied her with her camera. MARMOT MESSENGER 7

Friends of Staunton State Park Friends Fundraising in Action Upcoming HILLS Fishing Days at Davis Ponds Imagine, if you could, suddenly no longer enjoy hiking HILLS, Inc. is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that or even being in the park safely. That is a reality for helps developmentally disabled persons and those with people who become disabled. They may love the special health needs have opportunities to learn and grow. outdoors but never be able to safely enjoy a wilderness And spending a day outside in the sunshine fishing at opportunity. Davis Ponds is just the ticket. Friends of SSP is partnering with HILLS to sponsor three fishing clinics at Davis Ponds Track Chair Project – Priority for 2016-17 that will give 24 (three groups of eight) young and older Friends of Staunton State Park is actively raising funds to adults an opportunity to have fun practicing their fishing purchase a track chair (this goal has been accomplished), skills and enjoying a day the motorized wheelchair loaned by Craig Hospital that outdoors. Colorado Parks rides on ‘tank treads’ and is operated by hand controls. and Wildlife’s ‘Partners in This specialized chair offers safe mobility on most trails the Outdoors’ generously for people who are disabled or injured – true access to the provided a $2000 grant to outdoors not otherwise possible. The track chair showed fund the three events to its stuff first hand at Marmot Fest in June, where even the be held on August 21, most able bodied visitors had a chance to ‘hike’ a trail in September 18, and September 24 at the new wheelchair- comfort and safety. According to Wayne Parkinson, “If accessible picnic area and ramp at Davis Ponds. you can do a video game, you can drive this chair”. (OK, that leaves some of us out, but we could probably learn). Adopt-A-Marmot Friends still has a few of the furry little guys that need a home (OK, really cute stuffed toy marmots in case you were wondering). Ask any one of the Friends of SSP about how to adopt a Marmot. Eagle Scouts Busy on Davis Ponds Trail Davis Ponds trail is the perfect easy trail, right? You see families, kids, dogs and babies in strollers. Well, not everyone with a stroller or walking with a cane is Fishing at Elk Falls Pond – track chair makes it possible! comfortable crossing the ‘rock bridge’ below the main A top-priority goal for Friends in 2016-17 is to raise parking lot. So, the weekend of August 5-6, local Boy $15,000 to purchase a track chair with accessories and the Scout Troop 400 based out of Conifer Community sling lift that will be able to safely move the rider into the Church, constructed a wooden bridge over the current track chair. This entire system will be donated to rock work on Davis Ponds trail to allow a safer crossing Staunton, making SSP the first State Park in the system to for strollers, wheelchairs and folks who may be unsteady offer this kind of accessibility to disabled visitors or even on the rocks. The bridge was constructed from durable fractured trail-hosting volunteers. composite material provided by a donation from Friends of SSP and Moore Where will the money come from?  Fundraisers like the August 13 Mark Madsen Accessibility BBQ (see Lumber in Bailey. The story below) Boy Scouts, led by  Friends of SSP memberships – annual $30 for individuals and $50 scout Alan Moutoux for families (see Friends of SSP website ‘How to Help’ page) (the younger brother  From individual donations (also on the Friends of SSP website ‘How of a previous Eagle to Help’ page)  Partnering with interested organizations (think Wounded Warrior, Scout organizer at etc.) Staunton), practiced  Your ideas (send ideas or contacts to Friends via the website or to their carpentry skills Wayne Parkinson directly) and seemed to enjoy

MARMOT MESSENGER 8 the ‘hard labor, in spite of some typical Colorado August  PA System (2016) – The voice amplifier used at weather. Marmot Fest (and you thought those were real marmot chirps.). The Education Team also uses the PA This is not the first Eagle Scout Project at SSP – the system for school programs – talking over a bunch of horseshoe pit behind GPA was another Eagle Scout excited 4th graders is a challenge (especially if you add project completed by the Boy Scouts in 2015. If you get a in rain and hail from May/June storms). The PA is chance, make sure to thank the members of Troop 400 available for use within the park for any event that for their contributions to Staunton. We don’t take them requires a voice to be heard over a large crowd or long for granted. distance. And, this PA system is smart: it allows two What Does Friends Do With All Those Donations? people to speak via hand mic and/or lavalier. Good question. Did you know there is a ‘Park Want List’?  Ice Rescue Equipment (2015) – We have ponds . . . These are the things that may be a low priority for and visitors who don’t ‘get’ the concept of thin ice. Staunton in terms of actual budget allocation, but items Although nobody wants to think about ice at this time that would help SSP become a true ‘state of the art’ park of year, this equipment will allow rangers to respond to more quickly. If you have an idea for a park improvement emergencies or even initiate searches. Let’s all hope this project, work with Park Manager Zach Taylor. He may equipment gets dusty before it’s ever needed. have already scheduled the project. And, if not, maybe he  AED machine (2014) - AED stands for Automated will put the word out to the Friends of SSP. Like good External Defibrillator. It is state of the art First Aid friends, they are on the lookout for ways to benefit device used to revive a person with probable heart Staunton State Park. failure. AEDs are smart: they tell you what to do and Here are a few items donated to SSP from funds raised by guide you through the right sequence of steps to the Friends group over the past couple years: successfully resuscitate a person in need. Today, you see  E-bike (2016) – The electric motor them all over the place – gyms, grocery stores and powered (and whisper quiet) maybe even your work place. It’s OK to hope you bicycle that helps rangers patrol never have to use one, but know that if you are called steep trails and more quickly reach to help save a life, the AED can make it happen. areas of need (dogs off leash, And now there’s more. Take a look at the list of dehydrated people, etc.). So if you ‘Accomplishments’ under the ‘Who We Are’ page on think the rangers suddenly acquired the Friends web page friendsofstauntonstatepark.org. ‘superpowers’, listen for the quiet Mary Beth Carpenter has joined the staff of the hum of the motor – and see if they are pedaling at all. Messenger as Friends of Staunton State park contributor.

And now for the rest of the story… In the July – August SSP Newsletter I wrote an article about Locoweed in which I talked about the sometimes deadly effects of this beautiful native wildflower on cattle and horses. At the Shaffer Family Reunion, I learned from Dean Shaffer that when Samuel Shaffer and his family arrived at what was to be known as Shaffers Crossing in 1902, Samuel brought along with him 200 head of cattle and 500 horses. Dean felt that the cattle were probably shipped but he recounted how four Shaffer sons drove the horses down from Wyoming and most likely came up through Morrison and Conifer. He could only imagine what the locals thought of the sight of so many horses being driven through their area. Thoughts of rich Wyoming ranchers arriving to take over their peaceful part of Colorado must certainly have gone through their minds. They arrived with the horses in the fall and went to work preparing them for the winter. Unfortunately, they learned too late that the area was abundant with locoweed. They found dead cattle and horses the following spring and realized that their land and adjacent federally-owned land was not the ideal pasture land for their stock. They ended up selling off almost all of the animals. Dean Shaffer said that on the 1903 Jefferson County tax records for Samuel Shaffer, he owned only 10 cows and 30 horses. ~~Deborah Darnell

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New trails enhance beauty of park

Staunton Ranch, Chimney Rock and Elk and more challenge for bikers, closer access for climbers Falls Trails are gems added to the park's (with a climber's information kiosk in place) and a already precious features more aesthetic experience for hikers. Marmots also If Staunton State Park is considered the crown jewel inhabit the area near the trail. Eventually, the new of the Colorado State Parks and Wildlife system ( and it section re-joins the service road and continues to the is), then its trails are sparkling facets spectacularly junction with Marmot Passage and Bugling Elk Trails. arrayed for the enjoyment of its visitors. Chimney Rock This summer, due to the implementation of Phase II The new Chimney Rock projects, several new trails are in process of Trail, which is multi-use, construction, while old trails are being re-routed or can be accessed either at improved. By fall, much of the work will be completed the lower end or upper part and Staunton's reputation as a hiker's paradise close to of the Lions Back Trail. Denver will spread even more. Hikers/bikers who are only Staunton Ranch interested in hiking to Elk Falls should begin at the The newly constructed Staunton Ranch Trail now lower trail head, located winds through the Dines property and crosses the drive just beyond Elk Falls to the house which is also in the process of renovation. Cabin. Users who desire a Recently, this area went through a forestry loop hike should access the management process with mastication to eliminate upper trail head, about two thirds of the way up from dead and damaged trees and harmful mistletoe. The the Lions Back trail head and head down unless they are result is a healthier and more beautiful forest with more looking for a real challenge. Hikers/bikers who only open views for hikers to enjoy. want to access the Falls overlook should avoid the uphill switchbacking and lengthier east side of Chimney Rock Trail and head up Lions Back Trail. This trail has everything, including excellent close-up views of Lions Head, lovely, open-pine forests, spectacular views of the mountains to the south of the park, including Pikes Peak and the valley below and rocky overlooks that make great lunch spots. One biker on his first visit to the park was impressed with the rock work on this trail. Several areas required intricate and time-consuming placing of rocks to smooth the trail.

As of press time, a section of the new trail just above Black Mountain Creek was closed as a new bridge still needed to be constructed across the creek. The new section continues from Old Mill Trail and eventually switchbacks up close to the climbing walls, passing close to the Whistle Pig climbing area. The new upper Staunton Ranch section adds character

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The trail, appropriately named Chimney Rock, offers a close up view of the tower including its summit, although the landing place for aliens was not visible. Eventually, a hitching post for horses and bike lock- ups could be added at the junction to the new Elk Falls Trail, which can be accessed just at the lower end of a set of switchbacks on the eastern side of the ridge.

Reid Lewis, (Lew's son) who is working on the construction of trails this summer, is a member of a four-man crew who helped build this incredible trail. He noted the entire trail was built by hand without the aid of any machinery. Reid said crushed rock was utilized as a base underneath the dirt on parts of the trail. Also, trees had to be removed to construct the trail and come-alongs were employed to move huge

Elk Falls rocks. This trail, longed-for since the opening of the park, Lewis said one day while two members of the crew was to be completed with the ribbon-cutting set for were working the trail, a mountain lion ran between September 16. The 2,000 plus foot trail, which should them. Hikers will be advised to keep their eyes open for be rated as difficult and hiker-only, is steep and rocky sightings. with many switchbacks and deep rock steps considered Some improvements treacherous for horses and nearly impossible to • Davis Ponds re-routing including stepping stones navigate for all but the most adept (and crazy) across Black Mountain Creek at the upper pond mountain bikers. The trail ends at a rocky platform • trail clean-up on one of the climbing access trails affording hikers a spectacular view of Elk Falls. • construction of new upper climbing access trail • small gravel added to the eastern trail head of Marmot Passage Trail to eliminate muddy, rutty area

In addition, the trail to the summit of Lions Head re- opened August 1. It had been closed due to falcon nesting. Also, construction of the new East Cliffs Trail branching off Mason Creek Trail was to begin August 15.

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Team Work

BEFORE

Weed warriors in action

AFTER

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Trail crew Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these trail volunteers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

The bridge on the river Kwai does not service the park’s trail system. It’s believed to provide access to Mark Fisher’s secret vacation home in the back of the park.

You think they would look a tad more concerned when there’s a man down.

Who’s the Not only oddball did they wearing finish the blue? bridge, they

delivered Quote from Ron, “Mike H., Gary S. and I were swinging picks and a baby decided that three guys in their mid-seventies were holding their own. “ too.

Pond trail work I think it’s obvious who was really doing all the work.

MARMOT MESSENGER 13 Fun with Dick and Jane on the Cub Creek connector trail.

Peace baby. Indigent group of hippie vagabonds found living in the park near the Cub Creek connector trail.

Jr. Rangers

Of course they know where they are.

Deer dare Jr. rangers to take aim.

Yeah, we just told them to fire away. Checking out the new Chimney Rock and Elk Falls trails MARMOT MESSENGER 14

Marmots doing what marmots do best.

Never get into a bar fight with a marmot. You won’t come out looking pretty.

Marmot monitors doing what they do best. Why, I’m Whatever that is. pretty sure you can smoke this.

A peeping bear was reported looking in the

window of the A sneaky bear also got into the Elk Falls Chase cabin . cabin through a window. He was positively identified when he foolishly left his tell-tale bear print in the sour cream.

Lew’s had bear sightings reported to him, seen bears, followed bears, had bears follow him, had a bear eat a bear burger at his cabin etc. That’s a lot of time together. Sounds like true

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Williamson’s Sapsuckers - do they really suck sap? Sapsuckers are a specialized group of woodpeckers. They peck neat rows of tiny holes, called wells, in the trunks of trees. The oozing sugary phloem sap traps small insects. The sap and insects provides food for the sapsuckers. They don’t actually suck sap. Sapsuckers have tongues tipped with stiff hairs instead of the spear like tongue of other woodpeckers, and their tongues don't extend nearly as far out of their bills. If you’ve ever gotten tree sap on your fingers, you know how sticky it is. So why doesn’t a sapsucker’s beak get glued shut? Scientists surmise that the bird’s saliva contains a substance that prevents sap from solidifying. When a sapsucker drills holes in a tree’s bark, the sap flows freely. But when researchers do the same, they can’t get the sap to flow nearly as well. In most species of woodpecker the sexes differ in Mating pair – Staunton appearance only subtly, usually with the male having red Ranch trail somewhere the female doesn't. Williamson's Sapsucker is unusual in having the male and female looking drastically different. The two sexes look so unalike that they originally were described as different species.

Birds from Mason Creek

Williamson's Sapsuckers form monogamous pairs, often with their mate from a previous year. The male excavates a new nesting cavity each year, sometimes reusing the same tree. The same aspen in a grove in the Mason Creek drainage was home to a nesting pair this year and last year. They were likely the same birds. This year’s hole was excavated on the opposite Carnal knowledge pictures by Fred. side of the trunk at about the same height. MARMOT MESSENGER 16

Getting to Know You This former Midwesterner loves hiking the park Volunteer Densch is one half of the Dick and Jane hikes

Although he lived much of his life in Illinois, Dick Densch is passionate about living in Colorado and even more passionate about his duties as trail host and a co- leader of the always popular Dick and Jane hikes. “The best part about being a volunteer is helping others enjoy the park,” he said. Densch was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, where he graduated from East Aurora High School. He attended Waubonsee Community College and National College of Education where he earned a BA volunteers and I signed up.” Densch says the best part in Applied Behavioral Sciences. is “unlike working for a big corporation, everyone is Later, he married Jane (Not Nault) who he says “has here because they want to be, not because they have put up with me for 34 years.” The couple has a to be.” daughter Cyndee, son in law Jim and granddaughter Since joining the corps of volunteers, Dick has Hanna. involved himself in various projects and opportunities Before the Denschs moved to Colorado in 1984, Dick and has been able to utilize his passion for hiking. says he held some “weird” jobs. “Before volunteering, I really liked hiking the park,” “My first job was on a farm where we grew produce Dick noted, adding, “Some of the most fun has been that we sold to Campbell Soup and on a farm stand,” 'Exploring with Dick and Jane' hikes.” He gives credit he said. He also worked as a farm migrant, drove a to his partner Jane Nault, who has great “off the truck and sold produce at the stand. beaten path” ideas to check out. Eventually, Dick worked at Hansen Mattress Company where he built and sold custom mattresses before he was hired by Safeco Insurance (later Liberty Mutual) at the Chicago claims department. As part of the job, he held various positions in the Special Investigation Unit. “We investigated arson and fraud claims. I worked on auto and property theft, staged accidents, legal/medical fraud, organized crime and arson,” Densch said. The company transferred him from Chicago to Colorado in 1984 and he retired in 2013. Like many retirees, Dick was looking for something rewarding to do with his time. “I saw a notice in Pinecam about an open house (for Staunton State Park volunteers).” He said he attended and met “a great bunch of folks who were already MARMOT MESSENGER 17

“We take other people to those places. So far, we haven't gotten too terribly lost with the groups,” he said. Dick also enjoys raptor monitoring and has also participated in marmot monitoring. He credits leader Dick Prickett for teaching him a wealth of information about birds. “When I started with this (raptor monitoring) I only knew the difference between a Stellar Jay and crow,” he laughs. Dick and Jane (his wife) love to travel and have visited some interesting and faraway places, including Fiji, Easter Island, Norway, Chile, Argentina, Singapore, Thialand, Viet Nam, China, Columbia, Panama, Cayman Island, Costa Rica, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Germany, Italy and Mexico. When he is home in Colorado, there is no place he would rather be than trail hosting at the Staunton Ranch trailhead. Part of his job is to familiarize visitors to the park. “Every weekend that I trail host, a pretty high percentage of the visitors are first-timers who just heard about Staunton,” he noted. “With new trails and camping coming soon, Staunton could be the go-to place for locals and people from the metro area.” You can bet Dick will be at his post making sure these visitors know how best to recreate at the park.

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Volunteer Team Coordinators

Education: Claudia Gunn – [email protected] Annie Thran – [email protected] Fencing: Susan Festag – [email protected]

Wayne Parkinson – [email protected] Chainsaw: Scott Aaronson – [email protected] Ted Hammon - [email protected] Newsletter: Nancy Coburn – [email protected] Elaine Rideout – [email protected] Small Construction: Ed Samberg – [email protected]

Jack Gunn - [email protected] Trails: Gary Sims – [email protected] Plants: Jack Darnell – [email protected] Deborah Darnell – [email protected] Raptor Monitoring: Richard Prickett – [email protected] Wildlife: Ron LaLone - [email protected] Elaine Rideout – [email protected] Park History: Bonnie Scudder - [email protected] Deborah Darnell – [email protected] Rock Climbing: Dave Montgomery - [email protected] Entrance/Office: Susan Festag – [email protected] Trail Host: Jane Nault – [email protected] Sally Parkinson - [email protected] Wayne Parkinson – [email protected] Weed Warriors: Mark Fisher - [email protected] Patty Warnick - [email protected] Scouts/Eagle Scouts: Randie Boldra - [email protected] Mark Fisher - [email protected] Ron LaLone - [email protected] Gary Finley - [email protected] Geocache: Jack Darnell – [email protected] Parking: Mike Mladjan – [email protected] Newsletter Team: Nancy Coburn

Staunton State Park Staff Bonnie Scudder Elaine Rideout Zach Taylor Park Manager Marmot Mascot Designer: Dave Stigall Park Resource Technician Mark Lehman Park Ranger Meagan Webber Special Thanks to Zach Taylor