The Friends of Fourmile weathered the winter of 2006 and has already been busy in the spring and summer.
The HIGHLIGHTS

In early May the Chapter joined the Salida District of the San Isabel National Forest in hosting Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (www.voc.org) in the second phase of trail building to the Davis Meadow in the northern section of Fourmile.  Some 80 volunteers-15 locally “recruited” from the Chapter or other groups or as individuals-spent a tough but rewarding weekend completing another ¾ mile of hiking, bicycle and horseback trail at the old track’s western end.  Typical of “VOC” projects, months of collaboration and planning preceded actual workdays.  Even the decision to improve this trail was not taken lightly, coming as part of the 3-year long citizen-driven process of developing a Travel Management Plan for the whole 100,000ac area, completed in 2003.  In 2004 a similar VOC group helped with the first phase. 

For this continuation, the Forest Service, with help from Chapter member Lyn Berry and others, flagged a trail alignment that would avoid the existing steep, erosion-prone old jeep trail and provide a gentler as well as more scenic route.  VOC project leaders then planned yard-by-yard where switchbacks, waterbars, even steps and retaining walls would go. On the first day volunteers were divided into crews of 8 under trained leaders and assigned certain sections. Then they trooped off 2 miles to the site, carrying a goodly share of the rock bars, chain lifts, shovels, hoes, buckets and tarps which form the VOC’s tool arsenal.  In remarkably short order crews had their sections underway, and had developed proprietary attachments to their little piece of the action-see photos. 

Following a full day Saturday (including snow showers) the volunteers were served a great hot meal and entertained by a local musical group.  Sunday saw frantic activity again as groups finished off their sections and moved on to others. The result, combined with the 2004 work, is a fine, well-engineered trail, with spectacular views over the valley and the 14ers, which leads up to the ridge above the meadow.  From there to the historic buildings of the Davis Meadow itself the existing trail is well defined, and the local Friends will handle small improvements over the next year.  Cyclists and horseback riders are cautioned to walk through steep sections with steps.

The Friends of Fourmile inaugurated this new Davis Meadow trail section June 3 in a GARNA-sponsored hike which drew a remarkable 30 participants and 4 Friends leaders (see photos).

The Midland Bicycle Trail rehabilitation project has made good progress too, primarily in developing a large map and a brochure dedicated to the trail, its various options and a little history of the Midland Railroad which it follows in part (see sidebar).  The brochure has arrived and is being distributed to local bicycle and outdoor equipment stores and will be available at the trail’s four principle trailheads (Trout Creek, Shields Gulch, CR/FR 304 and the Whipple Trail in Buena Vista).  Large trailhead signboards have been installed at the first three sites next to similar Fourmile signs, and they will soon sport bike trail maps.  Thanks AGAIN to volunteer graphic designer Kathy McCoy for many hours of creating, tweaking and occasionally cursing the computer graphics software that is behind modern mapmaking! Next on the agenda is to complete a new set of signs and maps for the Whipple Trailhead in BV, since this area serves as the western entry/exit of the Midland Bike Trail.

On a down note, chapter members and our partners in the Forest Service and BLM have been disappointed at this spring’s increase in vandalism of signs and disrespect shown at several restoration sites (Spanish Mill and Seven Mile, both on the historic Lenhardy Cutoff-FR376).  A few motorcyclists in particular have been carelessly or deliberately riding outside designated tracks, climbing hills, running down signs and crossing restoration area barriers.  In other cases ATVs or larger 4WD vehicles have deliberately torn down large sections of buck and rail fence which volunteers and agency people spent many hours (and public funds) erecting. The BLM has contacted individuals allegedly responsible and would like to prosecute, but without direct evidence convictions are difficult.  Our partners the High Rocky Riders off-road club are equally concerned, and have offered a reward for information leading to prosecution.  Responsible off-highway riders know that bad behavior by a few leads to concern and even restriction on use by all. The good news is that both the Forest Service and BLM have found funds within their increasingly tight budgets to hire staff that will spend a certain portion of their time in Fourmile.  In the case of the Forest Service, they had been unable to replace a vacant Fourmile position for over a year, which may have contributed to problems in vandalism.  The Friends are trying to address these concerns by developing posters and other materials targeting the young, independent aggressive rider who is most likely to ignore the rules.

For the fourth year Friends joined Forest Service and BLM rangers for a concentrated Memorial Day patrol May 26-29.  More about increasing use issues in our next update, but the short version is that more recreational use, particularly by motorcycles, ATVs and camping with 5th wheels and large RVs, was observed this year than ever before, continuing a dramatic upward trend.  The fact that the Pike San Isabel Forest is in a Stage One Fire Ban added to the importance of contacting these many visitors.  The two agencies continue to express appreciation for the patrols and feedback (and litter collection) contributed by Friends volunteers on their 1000+ hours annually.

Coming up Saturday September 30 is a Driving Tour of the Fourmile Area led by Friends members as a part of GARNA’s Summer Seminar series. Contact Sheryl Archuleta at 395-8272 for information.

See you “here” on the Web for a late summer update!