Field Operations Center a success, fires close the trail(s), map maker Jerry Brown, hikers’ testimonies

A little more than two years ago, the idea of a permanent facility to house the vast array of equipment used to maintain and improve The Colorado Trail was just a dream…

It’s not much to look at – yet.  Just a couple of concrete slabs and some red steel framework.  But soon – perhaps as early as the end of November – the two buildings going up on the industrial lot in Poncha Springs will transform the way The Colorado Trail Foundation continues its work to maintain and improve The Colorado Trail…

Benson Family Foundation donates $40,000, board changes, fundraising success, crews list, sale of cabin, Brett Beasley

Newspapers from one end of The Colorado Trail to the other paid tribute to Gudy Gaskill after her passing in July.  Here are exerpts from the Denver Post and Durango Herald. ““Hikers along the 567-mile Colorado Trail cross the South Platte River a few miles from metro Denver…

As hikers, bikers and riders gear up for summer adventures on The Colorado Trail, the Foundation itself is making great strides toward the construction of a planned Field Operations Center in Poncha Springs, including a fund-raising effort unlike anything…

The Colorado Trail Foundation has taken some big steps to ensure the Trail will be well taken care of far into the future. The first was the hiring this spring of the CTF’s first full-time field operations manager…

A multitude of volunteers have helped build and maintain The Colorado Trail over its first 40 years, but very few have dedicated more time and effort than George Miller, who is “retiring” this years as operations manager…

The year was 1974. Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in the wake of the Watergate Scandal; Congress reduces the highway speed limit to 55 mph in response to a Middle East oil embargo. Hank Aaron beat Babe Ruth’s longstanding…

The Colorado Trail’s new “High 23” beckons hikers, backpackers and horse riders this summer not only with its breath-taking vistas and superb tread, but also with the opportunity of being among the first to walk its path…

To paraphrase an old saying, if you’re lucky enough to be on The Colorado Trail, then you’re lucky enough. A lot of trail maintenance volunteers feel that way, too. Each summer, an army of people generously donate their time…

Nearly every thru-hiker or segment-bagger carries one. Even some Colorado Trail day-hikers won’t leave home without it. A dog-eared, notated copy is a mark of pride to many…

A major expansion of The Colorado Trail is underway: 80 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in the Collegiate Peaks area, previously built and maintained by the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and affiliates, have been officially added to the CT…

What do you call a 50 pound empty pack, 300 pounds of granola, 20 wool blankets, a gallon of bug spray 140 protein bars, eight leather “handcuffs,” nine extra shoes, a set of hammer and nails, and two adult diapers…

I first heard about the mother of all ultra-endurance mountain bike races, the Colorado Trail Race (CTR) in 2009. My initial impression … that’s NUTS. But then the wheels started turning. And I’m not talking about the 29 inchers on my Black Sheep singlespeed…

Even for Colorado’s outdoor enthusiasts, the phrase, “I’m going for a hike,” probably means, at most, a several hour trip out and back in a single day. When Brian Jackson goes out for a hike, he’ll see you in two months…

The eagerly awaited Eighth Edition of The Colorado Trail Guidebook – the first full revision of the guide in five years – is set for release early next year in time for the 2011 trekking season…

Spring is underway and bits of warm weather have gotten us all excited about summer activities. Trail season is right around the corner. We’ve begun to hear that some of The Colorado Trail segments near Denver are melted off and there are portions already passable…

It was another successful season of Trail building and repair, thanks to the hard work of our crew leaders and volunteers. Fourteen weeklong crews and two weekend crews, a total of 275 different volunteers from 27 states and 4 countries, worked to improve 25.9 miles of Trail between June 13 and Sept. 19…

2008 was a good year for the CT. Our volunteer Adopters worked hard at their annual maintenance, clearing the entire Trail corridor and reporting their findings. Trail crew volunteers worked to improve sections where there were major problems….

With The Colorado Trail almost entirely on Federal lands and most administered by the U.S. Forest Service, it’s natural that the CTF and USFS should work together. We’ve been partners for more than 30 years…

The Forest Service has proposed a new policy for managing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, the Congressionally mandated trail that runs from Canada to Mexico through the Rocky Mountains…

This summer a number of our trail crews will work in the beautiful Clear Creek Valley surrounded by magnificent scenery with many 14,000-foot peaks. We’ll be camped beside the sparkling waters of Clear Creek in a nice flat meadow…

Rerouting the Trail above tree line on Cataract Ridge began this summer when three CTF volunteer trail crews started construction of the new tread near Stony Pass. The new 17-mile segment closely follows the crest…

The new Official Guidebook of The Colorado Trail Foundation has been delivered from the printer and is available for purchase from a number of places. About 100 were mailed out from the CTF office in mid-May…

Bill Manning, formerly of Durango, has been named to fill the new position of Managing Director of the Colorado Trail Foundation. Beginning February 1, Bill is responsible for overall management…

This has been a busy summer for the Colorado Trail Foundation. On July 8 we signed a new, updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Forest Service that we had been working with Greg Warren on for more than a year…

A front-page story in the April 19, 2005, Rocky Mountain News reported the U.S. Forest Service expects drastic reductions in agency budgets for trails and recreation…

I went snowshoeing recently and the weather was so great that it made me think of summer and The Colorado Trail. The CT Foundation had its annual Board of Directors meeting in January where we elected new board members…

Mocassins in a Tree, Thank You to donors

Bill Lucas recalls “How the Trail Began”, party in Buena Vista celebrates 30th anniversary of CT, crew reports, Gudy’s Rest bench built.

30th anniversary of CT, Irene Cazer, Roundup Riders of the Rockies makes tool caches available, smokejumpers work on Cochetopa Creek bridge.

Pole Creek Reroute study, 30th anniversary of the CT, crew work schedule, outdoor classrooms, 2003 trail crew reports, and a poem – “Morning in Camp”

“All For a Vanilla Coke”, Thank You

Successful summer projects, crew reports

Adopters keep the trail in shape for all users, adopter reports, new watercolor notecards, Roundup Riders of the Rockies, Remembering Bob Ballou

Behind the Lens: Video on The CT, Outdoor Recreation Information Center, Women Riders, Horse Sweat, and Shared Dreams on The Colorado Trail

letter to CTF friends by Merle McDonald, president; Gudy story about hiker’s miraculous survival with help from some goats.

Fire and flood; new books from CTF; group ski tour; Colorado Outdoor Recreation
Search and Rescue Cards: Where does the money go?; 2002 Educational Classes; Summary of 2002 Trail Crew Surveys; crew reports; A Walk across Old Colorado 2002: The Year of the Fire; volunteer stories; Tribute to Tom Gamrath

Trail Host program; education center deck extended; board retreat; about the printer of our newsletters, Barnum Publishing Company; tribute to Ellen Kolovos; Ron Hansen obit, map corrections

• Gudy inducted into Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame
• CTF plans pancake breakfast at Waterton Canyon on National Trails Day
• slide show for garden club, crews and volunteers
• “Colorado Trail Crews the Way They Used to Be” by Irene Cazer
• “My Summer Doing Trail Work” by Bill Manning
• “180 Cougar Run Elementary Students Run the Entire Length of The Colorado Trail without Missing a Day of School!” by Paula Scirati
• “My Trek through the Rocky Mountains” by Diana Liles

• Thank you from Merle McDonald, President CTF
• Lucy and the CTF
• Thank You’s

• “Colorado Trail Reroutes”
• “Angels among Us” by Julie Mesdag
• “Bicyclists from Georgia Did It!”
• “State Parks/Great Outdoors Colorado Trail Grants Total $14,400 for CT” by Merle McDonald
• “CTF Awarded National Trails Endowment Grant”
• “An Inspiration to Us All” Christina Graham
• “Wildflower Delight at the CTF Education Center” by Brenda Porter, Education Director of The Colorado Mountain Club
• “2001 Educational Workshops” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Food Packing 2001, Record Beat Again” by Pat Nagorka, Food Committee Chair

• New Releases!
• “The Colorado Trail GIS Project”
• “A Quick Primer on GPS”
• “Cookies Anyone?” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Trail Crew 0100 Report South Platte Reroute” by Ted La May, Crew Leader
• “Brisket Brilliance on The Colorado Trail” by Ken Stagner
• “Building Bridges in the Wilderness: Trail Crew 1000 Report, Bear Lake July 15­22, 2000” by Jon Greeneisen, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew 1600 Report Spanish King Mine, August 5 ­ 12, 2000” by Ted La May, Crew Leader
• “Summary of Trail Crew Volunteer Surveys for 2000” by Marilyn Eisele
• “Host Program 2000” by Julie Mesdag
• “The Colorado Trail, A Treasured Gift” by Terri Rowan
• “Attention All Colorado Trail Completers” by Paul Berteau
• “Tennessee Walking The Colorado Trail” – Excerpt from manuscript by Garrett Roark
• “The Colorado Trail GIS Reference Map CD­ROM” by Richard Nolde

• Thank you from Merle McDonald, President of The CTF
• “A letter from Gudy”
• Thank You’s

• “Join the Festivities!”
• “Join a Communications Team And Tell the World about the Trail” by Tom Brooksher
• “History of The Colorado Trail” by Peggy Bond
• “Autumn Magic” October 17, 2000 by Gudy Gaskill
• “Crew Leader Training on the South Platte” June 11, 2000 by Tom Brooksher
• “Grey Poupon?” by Ottie Otterstein, of Four Corners Back Country Horsemen, and Chairman, Back Country Horsemen of Colorado
• “CTF Education Center Update” by Gudy Gaskill

• “Gudy Will Lead a Crew!”
• “Meet Old Friends on Trail Crews This Summer” by Jon and Marylin Greeneisen, Crew Registrars
• “Fun While Learning” by Gudy Gaskill
• “CTF Education Center” by George Miller
• “Trekking in 2000” by Lila Miller
• Thank You’s to Adopters
• “Year 2000 Host Program” by Ted La May
• “Exciting News on the Food Front” by Pat Nagorka
• “Gudy Two Boot Shuffle” by Janet Sample
• “Horses and The Colorado Trail/Horses Are Prey Animals” by Ottie Otterstein and Marian Phillips
• “Colorado Trail GIS Project Status Update” by Richard Nolde
• “Conservation Fund Purchase of Cache Creek Property” by Christine Quinlan, The Conservation Fund, with Merle McDonald
• “Fond Memories of Elderhostel Trail Crew” by Mary Ann Newell
• “Fourth of July on The Colorado Trail” by Kelly Heaney

• Trail Crews
• “CT Office Winter Update”
• “The Gudy Gaskill Endowment Fund”
• “Trail Users Are All Ages, Almost Half from Out of State”
• “Sections Available for Adoption; Other Adopt-A-Trail Notes” by Glenn W. Kepler, Sr.
• “Trail Crew #7 Report Cascade Creek” from Bill Weber’s Personal Journal
• “Trail Crew #10 Report Bear Lake” by Jill Ozaki
• “Trail Crew #11 Report Guller Gulch, August 14–21, 1999” by Paul Berteau
• “The Wish Trek” by Sissy Kelly

• “An Event to Be Remembered!” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Gunnison Spur Celebration a Smash!” by Darla S. DeRuiter
• “Thanks from Gudy!”
• “A Huge Thank You to Our 25th Anniversary Sponsors!”
• “The Dreamers and the Doers” A Ballad of The Colorado Trail by Lois Cochran
• “Durango Celebration” by Ken Marshall
• “Anticipation” by Jim McIntosh
• “Thank You to Forest Service Personnel” from Phil and Mae Smith
• “Trail Crew #1 Report June 19–26, 1999” by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #2 Report July 3–10, 1999” by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Crew Leaders Honored” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Trail Crew #12 Report July 31–August 7, 1999” by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #4 Report Indian Trail Ridge July 17–24, 1999” by Suzanne Reed
• “Trail Crew #6 Report” by Tom Brooksher
• “Escape the Heat! (Work on The Colorado Trail)” by LaQuita Cannon, Sally Stone, Virginia and Dwight Buras, Mike and Betty Brown, and Joe (1⁄2 Arkansan) Barrett
• “Reflections on Crew #6”
• “Trail Crew #9 Report: “The Body Crew” Porcupine Gulch, July 24–31, 1999” by Alison Boyer
• ““Building Cairns to Point the Way Trail Crew #8 Report Jarosa Mesa” by Jon Greeneisen, Crew Leader
• “Food Packing Sets a Record” by Pat Nagorka
• “1999 Reunion and Potluck Supper” by Lois Cochran
• “Menu Talk” by Pat Nagorka
• CTF Education Center
• “Treks, Summer 1999” by Lila Miller
• “LISTEN TO THE RAIN” by Lois Cochran
• “Report on Summer 1999 Classes” by Gudy Gaskill
• “A Mutual Admiration Story” by Julie Mesdag
• “Benefit Concert” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Tributes to Our CT Friends, Ted Berri and Jim Ray” by Gudy Gaskill
• “A HUGE Thank You to Office Volunteers!” by Suzanne Reed
• “Notes from the Webmaster” by Richard Nolde
• “Colorado Trail GIS Project” by Richard Nolde
• “Introducing The Colorado Trail Data Book” by Michael Hibbard
• “A Hiker on Horseback—Ow!” by Lois Cochran
• “Sawyer Certification Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator Update” by Glenn W. Kepler, Sr.
• “Spring Creek Pass Host Program and the CT” by Jim Miller
• “The Wanderers” by Kelly Heaney
• “Report on The Colorado Trail Run, and Thank You from the Runners” by Peter Bakwin

• “The Social Event of the Year! The 25th Anniversary Celebration”
• “South Platte Bridge Dedication Ceremony” June 6, 1999, 2-4 p.m.
• Corporate Sponsors Underwriting the 25th Anniversary Celebration
• Gunnison Spur Celebration of the CTF’s 25th Anniversary
• Durango Celebration of the CTF’s 25th Anniversary
• “Spring Office Update” by Denise Wright
• “Spring Creek Pass Host Program” by Ted La May
• “Volunteer Crews Ready for Summer Trail Work” by Jon and Marylin Greeneisen, Trail Crew Registrars
• “1999 Treks Update”
• “Adopt-A-Trail Section 37” by Bill Weber
• “Adopt-A-Trail Section 33 San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass” by Ken Stagner
• “Adopt-A-Trail Program” by Glenn W. Kepler, Sr., and Denise Wright
• “Sharing the Trail: The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail” by Nancy Stephenson, Director of Volunteer Programs, Continental Divide Trail Alliance
• “The Gudy Gaskill Endowment Fund” by Stan Ward
• “The Colorado Trail Run” by Buzz Burrell
• “Reflections of The Colorado Trail” by Carole S. Zinn
• “To You Horse Lovers: The Horse’s Prayer” by Anonymous
• Mountain Biking The Colorado Trail
• 25th Anniversary Commemorative Poster: “Volunteers Make It Happen”
• “NEW! The Colorado Trail Commemorative Plaque” by Paul Berteau and Denise Wright
• The Colorado Trail Cookbook, Recipes from the homes and trails of CT Friends

• “Our 25th Anniversary—Closing an Era, Continuing Our Mission, Enhancing Our Vision”
• “View from The Colorado Trail Office” by Denise Wright
• “Trek Helpers: Past and Current Needs” by Lila Miller
• “Bridges” by Clare Foote, Volunteer Worker and Hiker on the CT
• “More about Merle” by Dick Hackman
• “A Geographic Information System for The Colorado Trail” by Richard Nolde, Webmaster for The Colorado Trail Foundation
• “The Colorado Trail Foundation Website” by Richard Nolde and David Sears
• “Trail Crew #2 Report” Miners Creek, June 20–27, 1998 by Suzanne Reed
• “Trail Crew #10 Report” August 8–15, 1998 by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Fixing a Boggy Area: Trail Crew #11 Report” Cascade Creek by Jon Greeneisen, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #13 Report” August 22–29, 1998 by Phil Smith, Crew Leader

• “Memories”
• “Christmas Giving”
• “Preview of 1999”
• “A True Colorado Christmas Gift”
• “And A Precious Gift Was Given”

• “What? The South Platte Bridge Is Gone? Big Deal! Let’s Just Replace It!” by Stan Ward
• “President’s Corner” by Gudy Gaskill
• Mt. Kilimanjaro and Wildlife Safari
• “The Colorado Trail,” A Medley of Sight & Sound
• Silent Auction Donators List—1998
• Reaching Out at the People’s Fair–National Trails Day
• Diane Has Done It Again!
• “What’s Going On in the New Office?” by Denise Wright
• “The Mighty Nine Food Packers” by Pat Nagorka
• “Adopt-A-Trail Program” by Glenn W. Kepler, Sr.
• Adopters of Sections of The Colorado Trail
• “Golden Moments with Merle McDonald” by Larry C. White
• “Merle McDonald (Who’s He?)” by Denise Wright
• “Taking a Chance on a ‘Retired Military Man'” by Kathy Howard
• “Sawing Logs—in a Snowstorm?” by Barbara Wasser
• “Setting an Enduring Example” by Sam Junkin
• “Memories of My Father and The Colorado Trail” by Anne McDonald
• “Trail Crew #3 Report June 26–July 4, 1998” by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #4 Report East Fork Trail, Powderhorn Wilderness July 4–11, 1998” by Gudy Gaskill, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #5 Report July 11–18, 1998” by Phil Smith, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #6 Report, Swan River Crew, July 11–18, 1998” by Ernie Werren, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #7 Report, South Platte Crossing 2, July 18–25, 1998” by Glenn W. Kepler, Sr., Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #9 Report, Molas Pass—Elderhostel Crew August 1–8, 1998” by Gudy Gaskill, Crew Leader
• “Trail Crew #12 Report, South Platte River Bridge Project August 22–29, 1998, Gene Cash, Crew Leader” by SallyJo
• McFarland, Crew Member
• “Watercolor Class Production” by Gudy Gaskill
• The Colorado Trail Completion Awards

• “John Fielder/Julie Davis Medley”
• “President’s Corner” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Michael Martin Murphey and Other CT Angels” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Benefit Trail Ride” by Gudy Gaskill
• Glenn Kepler: Our New Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator

• “Don’t Miss the Opportunity!!!”
• News Briefs
• “The Gudy Gaskill Endowment Fund: Maintaining The Colorado Trail Forever!” by Stan Ward
• NEW!! CTF Hires Full-Time Staff Person
• “South Platte River Bridge: Watch for a Grand Opening Announcement!” by Stan Ward
• Three Courses Offered for Summer 1998
• “Education Classes Keep Budget Down”
• “What Is a Colorado Trail Trek?
• “The Trek Upward” by Betty Goding, July 1997
• “Evening Paradox” by Betty Goding, July 7, 1996, Section One, Colorado Trail Trek
• Summer 1998 Trail Crew Update
• “Cascade Creek 1 Trail Crew Report” August 9-16, 1997 by Merle McDonald
• “It Rained, and Rained, and Rained” Cumberland Basin 2, July 26-August 2, 1997, by Merle McDonald
• “Cancer for Christmas” by Merle McDonald
• “Trail Crew #12 Report” by Jon Greeneisen, Leader
• “Gunnison Spur Trail Crew #6 Report” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Winter Yurt Trips a Big Success” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Education Center Receives Winter Visitors” by Gudy Gaskill
• “Better Weather, Super Crew, Record Time” by Pat Nagorka, Food Committee Chair
• Thank You to Companies for Food Donation
• “CTF Board Holds Annual Retreat” by Gudy Gaskill
• “CTF Service Awards”
• “All Along The Colorado Trail” by Ken Stagner
• “Experiencing the Trail” by Nancy Martinets
• “The Second Time Around” by Scott Freeman, Summer 1997
• “Four Women in the Backcountry” by Barbara Wasser
• Hearty Dinners for Four – Beef Stroganoff Recipe