The Colorado Trail – “A Premier, Long Distance, High Mountain Trail”
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News for Friends of The Colorado Trail Fall 2006 The Colorado Trail – “a premier, long distance, high mountain trail” by Bill Manning The Colorado Trail has been described as one of the best trails anywhere, one of the most scenic and among the best main- tained. Volunteers of the Colorado Trail Foundation are committed to keeping it that way. Those of us who have experienced the Trail know how special it is. We have feasted our eyes on the vast, high moun- tain landscapes, been humbled by our smallness, struck by the solitude, and reminded how we fit into the world of nature. We have encountered dramatic changes in weather, come upon an assortment of wildlife, breathed the crisp air and smelled the forest. Thanks to The Colorado Trail, we have shared these wonderful experiences with family and friends and count them as cherished memories. Even though it is so special, in many ways the Trail is a fragile thing. A simple dirt path, it is highly impacted by Mother Nature every year. Trees come down across it with surprising frequency, water from rain and snow melt erodes deep cuts in the tread, and both tree and bush growth narrows the path. Without the continuous efforts of CTF volunteers, The Colorado Trail would soon disintegrate and disappear. Beginning more than 30 years ago, hundreds of volunteers teamed up to build and establish almost 500 miles of Trail from Denver to Durango. It crosses 8 ranges of the Rocky Mountains topping out at 13,334 feet elevation. It travels through 6 wildernesses and many diverse ecosystems. Ever Rerouting the Trail on Cataract Ridge To since the pieces of tread were linked together to form the long-distance Trail, Provide Spectacular Views by Jerry Brown volunteers have worked to maintain and improve it. In the summer of 2006 nearly 700 volunteers joined in this effort as members of Trail crews, adopters Rerouting the Trail above tree line on Cataract Ridge and workers behind the scenes. began this summer when three CTF volunteer trail The Colorado Trail Foundation is the crews started construction of the new tread near Stony organization of volunteers that continues Pass. The new 17-mile segment closely follows the crest this legacy of caring for the Trail. We are of the Continental Divide and will be shared by The the volunteers and contributors who work Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. and donate to sustain the Trail. We are The reroute moves the Trail closer to the CTF goal the volunteer leaders and program coordi- of making the Trail completely non-motorized. The nators. We are the Board Members seek- new alignment avoids motorized single tracks and Jeep ing to fulfill the Foundation’s mission. roads near Pole Creek and Beartown and eliminates the Once you experience The Colorado need to wade across the Rio Grande. Trail you know it is worthy of our stew- U.S. Forest Service approval for the new route was ardship. The Trail affords us a premier issued on June 22 and CTF crews began the work a few opportunity to escape our busy, urban days later. George Miller led a two-week crew of lives and experience nature at its best. young Landmark volunteers in July. In following weeks, Being involved with the Colorado Trail backpack crews led by Merle McDonald and Jerry Foundation is a great way to give back to Brown built switchbacks, tread, and cairns from this Trail that we so enjoy. Continued on page 2 Behind the Scenes . by Bill Manning, CTF Managing Director Tread Lines is the newsletter of The Colorado Many of you have con- and Databook which users found very helpful in trip Trail Foundation. It is pub- nected with the planning and route finding. CTF staff members and lished three times a year. The Colorado Trail® is a Colorado Trail volunteers provided information about Trail condi- 500-mile-long, high-mountain Foundation office this tions, access, services, shuttles, GPS . you name it. educational and recreational hiking, mountain biking, and summer and have Trail users have been appreciative. Just take a look at equestrian trail that meanders glimpsed the busy blur. the feedback from a troop of Oklahoma Boy Scouts through some of the most beau- tiful mountain landscapes in In addition to pro- on Page 3. the country. It stretches from Denver to Durango with many cessing all the crew, Office systems got a boost recently with the intermediate access points. adopter and donor arrival of two new computers and updated software. The Colorado Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non- information, the CTF They’re working much better than the old ones and profit corporation funded office has provided are an important cog in making the office more effi- almost entirely by private sector individuals and companies. Our assistance to count- cient. We are working toward a new database as well mission is to keep The Colorado less users of the Trail. as streamlined accounting and merchandise systems— Trail in good condition, main- taining and improving it with This season’s Trail work was very successful and, all to enhance CTF efficiency. These efforts are being the help of many volunteers. thanks to the hundreds of volunteers, we accom- coordinated between staff and the Board of Directors We recruit and train volunteers, provide leadership, organize plished both routine Trail maintenance and major through Board President Marilyn Eisele and the Colorado Trail (“CT”) work improvements. The office received a lot of upbeat Executive Committee. crews, supply and support the crews, and manage the Adopt- feedback from people who valued their involvement. We thank all of you Friends of The Colorado Trail A-Trail program to accomplish They said they had fun doing Trail work. who continue to support the Colorado Trail annual maintenance on the entire Trail. We also conduct Many Trail users communicated with the CTF Foundation through your volunteerism and contribu- week-long supported treks on office and sought information about the Trail. There tions. We need and appreciate all your help in sustain- the CT, offer educational classes at our mountain cabin facility, were positive reports about both the new Guidebook ing the Trail. and distribute information about Colorado Trail activities and Trail Crews. We work in co- operation with public agencies. Cataract Ridge Reroute Continued from page 1 Donations are appreciated and are tax deductible. Cataract Lake to a point two miles from Stony Pass. A few hikers already have navigated the route with such glowing reports as this one from Guy Mott, a Board of Directors: through-hiker who completed the Trail in August: Marilyn Eisele President “The summer of 2006 I realized an 18 year goal—I hiked The Colorado Trail from end to end. The best Gudy Gaskill Pres. Emeritus Carolyn Burtard Vice President decision I made, besides deciding to hike the Trail in the first place, was taking the new Cataract Ridge reroute. Tom Gramling Treasurer I had obtained the Trail map and GPS waypoints off the Bear Creek Survey webpage. It didn’t take me long Pat Nagorka Secretary Jack Berryhill to decide that, rather than follow ATV tracks and dodge cow pies for the privilege of wading Pole Creek, I would Jerry Brown rather stay up in the clear air along the Divide and keep my feet dry. Jon Greeneisen George Miller After diverging from the CT at Cataract Lake I was greeted by a climb up a pleasant valley with a pictur- Ernie Norris esque waterfall and, in a rock cleft by the trail, a half-dozen beautiful Colorado columbines (this was looking Suzanne Reed Steve Staley good already). Over the headwall and around by Half Peak, the Rocky Mountain weather began to dominate Ken Swierenga Ernie Werren and I trudged through a hail storm (so much for dry feet). Greg Warren, Ex Officio, USFS Sometimes marked by cairns, sometimes marked by trail tread or by flags where tread will go, and some- Staff: times not yet marked at all, this new route traverses headwalls above high valleys, circles around impressive Managing Director Bill Manning Canby Peak, crosses another valley or two and an absolutely lovely little drainage and then lets out onto a long, Volunteer Coordinators Laura Becker high, broad ridge (almost but not quite a mesa) on its way to re-join the regular Colorado Trail at the top of Elk Marian Phillips Creek Valley. Along the way are spectacular views of peaks above Lake City and Silverton, many high mountain Tread Lines: lakes, and if you’re lucky as I was, a herd of elk and an early morning rainbow.” Coordinator Suzanne Reed Graphics Valerie Z. Miller Dolomite Designs, LLC The Colorado contents Trail Foundation 1 The Colorado Trail—“a premier, long distance, high 5-6 Thank You Trail Crew Volunteers and Food Donors 710 10th St., Suite 210 mountain trail” Golden, CO 80401-5843 8 Merle McDonald Exemplifies the Dedication of CT Phone: 303-384-3729 Rerouting the Trail on Cataract Ridge to Provide Volunteers (24-hour voice mail) Spectacular Views Fax: 303-384-3743 Through-Hikers Help Keep the Trail Email: [email protected] 2 Behind the Scenes . Wanted: A CTF Ski Team Website: www.coloradotrail.org Office hours: Varied hours 3 Thanks from Oklahoma Boy Scouts 9 Trekking on The Colorado Trail This Summer M–F between 9 – 4, MST Good Marks for the CTF Hike and Climb Workshop 10 New Colorado Trail Databook Now Available 4 2006 Another Successful Year for Volunteer Trail Ski to the CTF Cabin Crews 2 www.coloradotrail.org printed on recycled paper Thanks from Oklahoma Boy Scouts The following message of appreciation was received in the CTF Office in July.