The Colorado Trail Foundation Fall Newsletter 1998 What? The South Platte Bridge Is Gone? President's Big Deal! Let's Just Replace It! by Stan Ward Corner As the old saying goes, there’s good news and bad news. But first by Gudy Gaskill you’ve got to hear this story! In early 1996, a devastating forest fire occurred in the Our last Tread Lines was a Buffalo Creek area of the South Platte River basin just short eight pages long but west of the Denver metro area. The Colorado Trail was packed with interesting upcom- burned in places. That was bad enough, but then torrential rains ing events. The problem with a followed, and the water poured off the denuded ground into the North summer Tread Lines is that we and South Forks of the River. who write the articles are all Continued on page 5 out “In the Field.” Our volun- teer editor, Susan Junkin, is self-employed, and because her contracts have time deadlines, she needs to set her priorities. The rest of us need to plan a bit ahead so as not to be out in camp without an electrical plug to recharge the batteries in our laptops. Fat chance! We’re out there to get away from all of the toys. Of course, George Miller and I found that the work and mail just accumulate and await our return. Tonight, as the full moon is rising over Don't forget to get your tickets for the John Fielder/Julie the city lights, the desktop Davis medley, which will be held on Saturday, October 24, at looks clean, thanks to a bulging 7:30 p.m. at the American Mountaineering Center, in Golden, CO. See page 4 for further details. Continued on page 2 Tread Lines Fall 1998 1 Tread Lines Continued from page 1 and deserved R & R so missed trash can. What paper masses is the internal newsletter of The Colorado the “Great Placement.” Lori, Trail Foundation. It is published quarterly we accumulate! you are indispensable. Read all and distributed to the Friends of The about the bridge in Stan’s Colorado Trail.® The Bridge Is in Place! The Colorado Trail is a 500-mile- article, which begins on page 1. long, high-mountain educational and Trail adopters Bill Lewis and recreational hiking trail that meanders I pulled together all the Carey Jones from LaFayette through some of the most beautiful terrain updates that board of direc- in the state. It stretches from Denver to built and welded the horse Durango with many intermediate access tors member Stan Ward and barriers. (They also rebuilt the points. volunteer engineer Morris utility trailer that George The Colorado Trail Foundation, a Borene sent out to keep the nonprofit corporation, is governed by Miller uses on the supported public agencies and private-sector board abreast of the progress treks.) Paul Newendorp will representatives. The Foundation recruits on the bridge, and the file be building and routing the and trains volunteers for trail construction soon became over an inch crews, coordinates the Adopt-A-Trail signs in time for our dedication maintenance program, and distributes thick. Kudos to Morris and on National Trails Day, June 6, information on The Colorado Trail Stan for a thankless job well 1999. We still need to raise activities, trail crews, and publications. done. The bridge placement Donations to the CTF are tax deductible. nearly $100,000 to pay off the Serving on the Board of Directors was within a quarter of an bridge. The proceeds from the are Darla S. DeRuiter, Gudy Gaskill, Steve inch of being perfect. Some- Michael Martin Murphey Gladbach, Jon Greeneisen, Sam Guyton, one told me that Morris and Sarah J. Knight, Ted LaMay, Stuart concert that was held in early Macdonald, Ken Marshall, George Miller, Stan are looking for another July will help reduce part of the Pat Nagorka, Tom L. Thompson, Stan bridge to replace since they outstanding debt. The John Ward, Ernie G. Werren, and Paul Wilbert. have all of the data and have Fielder/Julie Davis medley The business address is worked through all of the benefit will also nibble away at agencies and their require- The Colorado Trail Foundation ments, put together all of the Contents page 710 10th St., Suite 210 bidding contracts, and over- Golden, CO 80401-1022 saw each minute detail. With Fielder/Davis medley 4 (303) 384-3729 ext. 113 Bridge story 5 (24-hour voice mail) two such good men, the job Fax: (303) 384-3743 was flawless. We need to Trail ride/Concert/Auction 8 E-mail: [email protected] mention Lori Malcomb of Auction donators 9 Website: www.coloradotrail.org the South Platte Ranger New office report 10 Office hours M–F, District. She wrote all of the Diane Parker’s gifts 11 People’s Fair/Trails Day 11 9–5, Mountain Standard Time contracts between the various Food Committee report 12 Pres.: Gudy Gaskill agencies, smoothed out Adopt-A-Trail report 14 (303) 526-0809 ruffled feathers, and met with Moments with Merle 16 V.P.: George Miller the homeowner’s association, Crew 3 report 21 (719) 685-1278 Denver Water Board, Corps Crew 4 report 22 Sec.: Stan Ward of Engineers, Jefferson Crew 5 report 23 (303) 770-4382 Crew 6 report 24 Treas.: Sarah J. Knight County planners, Douglas Crew 7 report 26 (303) 733-1502 County inspectors, Jefferson Staff: Denise Wright, County Sheriff’s officers, Crew 9 report 27 Administrator, Volunteer Coordinator Department of Natural Re- Crew 12 report 28 sources, Division of Wildlife, Watercolor class 29 This edition of Tread Lines was Treks 29 as well as the engineers from compiled and edited by Susan Junkin, Completion awards 30 George and Lila Miller, the Regional Office. Lori took EMS Club Day 30 and Denise Wright. off for some much-needed Store Page 31 2 Tread Lines Fall 1998 our balance due. It was our the merchandise that she has in biggest financial undertaking her home and lets me know Volunteers Needed ever, one that we have no plans when it’s time to reorder T- to do a repeat on. Don’t forget, shirts or pins or books before We are in need of several June 6 is also the date for our we run out and then have to volunteers to help us make 25th anniversary celebration. back order. Peggy makes life displays for the 25th anniver- That’s bound to be extremely much simpler for us—because sary celebration. We need a exciting with all our dedicated of her up-to-date recording of couple of chiefs with great volunteers of 25 years. the inventory, there is no more imaginations and others who ordering and delivering at the are willing to put the ideas into CTF Volunteers at Work last minute. a visual image. Be part of the For those of you who innovative team! We will try to Lois and Tracy Cochran are have asked, Merle McDonald meet in a central location for our newest volunteers to do the is in the peak of health again. the hands-on projects; in mailings, including sorting out He joined two trail crews at the addition, there are projects that the zip codes. Glenn Kepler tail-end of summer and has can be done in your own home. passed the roll of stamps to agreed to edit Tread Lines This is the time to bloom and Lois and Tracy after the in- again. Our fortunes are looking polish up your hidden talents. struction session. I’m sure that up. Your good news is good We also need volunteers to they could use help anytime. news to all of us. plan food, entertainment, and Pat Nagorka did a And Charlotte Briber programs. Call Gudy Gaskill bang-up job again with her is out hiking again after her (303) 526-2721 or Charlotte food committee. The menus, second hip replacement. She Briber (303) 526-0809. the inventory of food in the attended the 10-year celebra- boxes, the shopping list of fresh tion reunion, hiking on Sunday, items to buy, and the list of as well as taking part in the quantities of staples to use for historic hike, and hiking the six each meal takes all the chal- miles to Camp Hale. My three- Mt. Kilimanjaro lenge out of cooking for the year-old grandson even made and Wildlife Safari hungry crews. It’s a great way the hike. (It took us three hours to know that the crew is well longer than the slowest of the fed if the directions are fol- group.) Nora Jacquez had tasty Stan Ward is organizing a lowed. Even the dumbest of us food waiting for us when we group of Friends of the CT for can put out a bountiful meal arrived at Camp Hale. It was a a professionally guided climb with Pat’s customized direc- beautiful day for hiking. With of Mt. Kilimanjaro followed by tions and instructions. The all of the rain lately, there were a safari in the Ngorongoro happy volunteer camping crew thousands of mushrooms to crater—the proverbial Garden members thank you. admire and pick. Two thru- of Eden. The trip is scheduled Have I mentioned hikers joined us for a while. for January 18–30, 1999. Peggy Brackett? She does all They hope to get off the trail in Please contact him promptly at of the filling of merchandise mid-October. With any luck, (303) 770-4382 for more orders and mails them at the the weather will hold up for information.