MountainFest 2012

MountainFest 2012, a set on Flickr.

We celebrated a great 10th annual MountainFest this year. Thanks to everyone who came out, and a special thanks to Jim Peterson for snapping photos!

March Conservation Chronicles

Message from the Director

Welcome to the March edition of the Conservation Chronicles, the monthly e-newsletter of CMC Conservation. There is a lot happening that we are excited to share with you. Our upcoming outdoor stewardship season is packed with exciting volunteer opportunities. Senator Udall has begun a public dialogue about wilderness for the Central Mountains and Browns Canyon – and wants to hear from CMC members and the public. The Colorado legislature is in full swing, and there are several bills we are tracking that impact the interests of CMC members and hikers, climbers and other lovers of Colorado’s beautiful backcountry.

CMC Conservation is working to help build a culture of stewardship in Colorado. We believe that since we are recreational users of the land, we have an obligation to be stewards as well – to give back. Stewardship can take many forms, including practicing Leave No Trace when in the backcountry, volunteering for outdoor trail work and restoration projects, as well as advocacy work that holds policy makers accountable for decisions affecting management of our backcountry.

I challenge all of us to become involved in stewardship in Colorado. Working together, each in our own way, we can have a tremendous impact for good. Given that Colorado’s population is projected to continue to grow, the demands on our public lands will also increase; so the need for a strong ethic of stewardship is both timely and critical to meet the challenges of the coming decades.

For the Mountains,

Scott Braden

Director of Conservation & Education

Legislative Update

The Colorado General Assembly is in session until May 9, and we’ve been following a series of bills that directly impact recreation and our backcountry. Thank you to those who have already sent notes to your representatives!

HB 1066 – CMC Opposes – This bill would open about 40,000 miles of county roads and town streets across Colorado to off-highway vehicles (OHV), as well as create a system to register and title these vehicles. While there are legitimate connectivity problems for OHV users, CMC believes that this legislation goes too far, could harm natural resources, disrupt other recreational users, as well as strip counties and towns of their ability to regulate OHV use in their jurisdictions. HB 1066 is close to a vote in the House of Representatives. Right now, your state legislators need to hear from their constituents before the final votes.  Let’s try to stop this in its tracks before it passes to the State Senate!

For more information on HB 1066, please see our fact sheet and a map of impacts.

HB 1317 – CMC Opposes – This bill merges the governing commission of the newly merged Colorado Parks and Wildlife division. CMC believes that it is critical that state parks and recreation are fairly represented on the board.  HB 1317, as amended, would be composed of 3 hunting/angler seats, 3 agriculture seats, 1 non-consumptive wildlife organization, 1 outfitter and only 3 recreation seats, one of which is to have motorized trails experience. This arrangement gives an outsized voice to land owners and motorized recreation.

Colorado’s active recreation economy adds about $10 billion per year to our state’s economy, according to a report by the Outdoor Industry Association. Please tell your state legislators, especially in the State Senate, to make sure that the final bill fairly represents the interests of hikers, climbers, paddlers and other active recreation enthusiasts.

HB 1322 – CMC Opposes – This bill would require the federal government to sell off any public lands suitable for agricultural uses, which would include logging and grazing, and return a portion of the proceeds to Colorado to fund an education trust fund. Therefore, nearly all federally-managed public lands would be on the auction block, including designated wilderness. The bill is almost certainly unconstitutional, and if successful would be devastating to recreation and wildlife in Colorado. See our fact sheet for more info.

This is part of a wider assault on public lands that is happening at the federal level and in states around the west. The bill was supposed to be heard before the House Education Committee last Monday, but was pulled from the calendar. Ask your legislators to oppose this unwise legislation.

Find your legislators and contact information here.

Please copy us on your notes to representatives at conservation@cmc.org.

Wilderness Update

Did you know that Senator Mark Udall is leading a public listening process that will hopefully lead to a new national monument for Colorado?  We’ve already alerted members that Sen. Udall wants public comment on potential wilderness for the Central Mountains of Summit, Eagle and Pitkin counties, but he is also seeking input on a potential national monument and wilderness area for Browns Canyon of the Arkansas River.  Designation of lands surrounding this popular whitewater river stretch could help the economy of Chaffee County as well as protect this iconic and rugged area for future generations.  For maps and to comment on this proposal, see Sen. Udall’s website.  Also check out the Friends of Browns Canyon.

Death Hollow/Slickrock Wilderness Llama Trek

FEATURED ADVENTURE TRAVEL TRIP:

Death Hollow/Slickrock Wilderness Llama Trek in Utah

April 24-28, 2012  *  $1,035

For more info contact:    

Carol Kurt OR 970-925-6648

This llama supported trek takes you into the high desert area between the Escalante River and Boulder Mountain. You will make a base camp in a seldom used, or even seen, area that is a transition zone between mountain and desert vegetation. Expect to see verdant clumps of manzinita and some ponderosa pine stands, as well as abundant slick-rock paintbrush and twisted shaggy bark junipers. The numerous rock formations are sometimes twisted, making this a painter’s paradise!

From the base camp you will spend one day hiking into the narrow and famous Death Hollow Wilderness Area. Also, one day will be spent in remote Sand Creek. On several day excursions you will also come across Anasazi Indian ruins and abundant lithic sites. Expect to see plenty of interesting geologic formations, plunge pools, archeological sites and hopefully lots of wildflowers too. Check out our photos from previous trips.

The $1035 price of the trip includes llamas carrying all gear, camping equipment (including tents, sleeping bags and pads) and food. The price does not include transportation to Utah, motel and meals in Boulder, Utah, and outfitter tips.

You will carry your daypack with your usual 10 essentials and will be allowed to bring an extra 15 pounds of personal items which will be packed on the llamas. You need to be able to hike at a B level and will be expected to do an A or B level hike each day of the trip (approximately 6-8 miles each day). You must be able to navigate slickrock, climb with some exposure and do water crossings.

For more information please contact Carol Kurt or 970-925-6648. Or complete and send the form from the CMC website.

ACTION ALERT: Your Knowledge and Comments Needed

Map of the Colorado River Valley Field Office courtesy of the BLM The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has extended the comment period for the Colorado River Valley (formerly Glenwood Springs) Resource Management Plan (RMP) until February 29.  We have a little more time to get in some quality comments for this plan affecting over a half million acres of our public lands in central Colorado.  We are focusing comments on Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) – which is a bureaucratic way of saying our unprotected wild lands, many of which are already proposed for permanent wilderness designation.  The BLM has identified 47,000 acres in 6 different units that meet the technical requirements, and several are adjacent to already-protected lands or Forest Service Roadless lands.  Click here for more info on these wild lands. Shockingly, the BLM preferred alternative would protect zero of these LWC acres to protect their wild values.  We need to demonstrate to the BLM that we are paying attention and that there is a constituency for these wild places.  The best approach is to concentrate your comments on places where you have recreated and care about.  If you can say that you go to a place and that protection of its wild character is a benefit to your recreation.  Additionally, talking about how it would damage your enjoyment of these places if oil and gas, off-road vehicles or other disturbing activities were allowed - and that you would probably go elsewhere - is an effective argument.

Thompson Creek proposed wilderness. Photo Hidden Gems campaign. By next Wednesday, CMC members and others need to step up and tell the BLM to protect these last wild places to their fullest capability.  Special interests are putting lots of pressure on the BLM to roll back protections, so we must show that there is a strong constituency for wild lands. Please take a moment to write the BLM and tell them to protect these wild lands and your quiet recreational opportunities.  Remember, specific notes about specific places work best. Please send us a copy of your comments too, so we can keep track of what folks are saying. 1) Send comments to:  co_crvrmp@blm.gov 2) Send us a copy, please:  conservation@cmc.org The RMP is posted online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/land_use_planning/rmp/kfo-gsfo/crv.html

Lands with Wilderness Characteristics and links to maps and more information: Castle Creek Addition  -  lands contiguous with the existing Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area, proposed for wilderness and currently before Congress in Rep. Jared Polis’ Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act.                                         Deep Creek – A large roadless gorge draining the Flat Tops Wilderness, eventually into the Colorado River, a popular hiking destination.  Proposed for wilderness in Rep. Diana DeGette’s Colorado Wilderness Act of 2011.      Flat Tops Addition/Hack Lake – A large companion roadless area adjacent to the existing Falt Tops Wilderness, including popular Hack Lake. Proposed for wilderness in Rep. Diana DeGette’s Colorado Wilderness Act of 2011. Grand Hogback – Dramatic jagged mountains near Rifle Falls State Park that separate the Roan Plateau from the Flat Tops plateau.  Proposed for wilderness in Rep. Diana DeGette’s Colorado Wilderness Act of 2011.          Pisgah Mountain – Desolate mid-elevation cliffs along the Colorado River below Statebridge. Proposed for wilderness and currently being considered as a Special Management Area before Congress in Rep. Jared Polis’ Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act.    Thompson Creek – Popular hiking destination west of Carbondale, threatened by oil and gas development. Proposed for wilderness and currently before Congress in Rep. Jared Polis’ Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act.    Thank you for your help and commitment to Colorado's public lands!

Scott Braden Director of Conservation and Education Colorado Mountain Club

Guest Blog: Native Plant Program Offers Field Courses and Indoor Classes

 Become a native plant master (or at least be taught by one!) from our friends at the Colorado State University. Learn about Colorado's beautiful flora and fauna just in time for Spring!

Native Plant Program Offers Field Courses and Indoor Classes

Have you ever wondered about all those beautiful wildflowers you pass by on hikes in the mountains?  Take a Native Plant Master^® field course or indoor class and discover the fascinating world of Colorado plants that will enrich your future mountain explorations! 

In an outdoor Native Plant Master (NPM) course, you will learn plant identification and lots of fun facts about native and non-native plants along the trail.  Exciting new indoor classes taught by CSU faculty and other experts include native plant landscaping, native lawns, invasive weeds, poisonous plants, ecological restoration and basic botany.

Classes begin in March.  Register early as many of these popular offerings will have a waiting list later. See http://2012npm.eventbrite.com/ Jefferson County.  For other locations in Colorado, see www.conativeplantmaster.org.  

For a virtual wildflower tour, browse the Colorado Plant Database at http://coloradoplants.jeffco.us.  CPD includes research-based information on more than 1,000 Colorado plants. To contact NPM directly, email yhuang@jeffco.us or call (303) 271-6620.

Colorado State University Extension provides information and education and encourages the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state and national issues. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.  For information about Colorado State University Extension, visit http://www.ext.colostate.edu.

Contact:

Yinyan Huang

Colorado State University Extension

Native Plant Master Program

(303) 271-6620

yhuang@jeffco.us