This Saturday, as with every first Saturday in June, is National Trails Day. Established by the American Hiking Society — with partner federal agencies the National Park Service, U.S. Forest
Construction will be ramping up this summer on a new trail to the top of Pikes Peak.
That s how Jennifer Peterson describes plans for the third season of realigning the Devil s Playground route on the backside of the 14,115-foot mountain. We re anticipating 100 (work) days this year, said Peterson, executive director of project-coordinating Rocky Mountain Field Institute. And we re really getting back to some steady volunteer opportunities.
Those opportunities last year were cut back due to COVID-19, she said. This summer, the nonprofit institute s professional crews expect to team up with groups like Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Colorado Mountain Club, while also partnering again with Mile High Youth Corps.
Wildcat Canyon, Near Cheesman Reservoir On May 15, the conservation group Wild Connections was planning to hike eight miles to a remote section of the South Platte River, but rain, snow and dangerous trail conditions forced the group to push back its event. The area is upstream of Cheesman Reservoir, and is endangered by illegal motorized vehicles tearing the landscape apart. The eight-mile hike includes 1,200 feet of elevation gain, and the event will be limited to ten people. If you re interested in details and participating, contact Jim Lockhart at 719-385-0045 or jlock@datawest.net.
How are you celebrating Colorado Public Lands Day? Let us know at editorial@westword.com.
In June 2019, Britt Haley of our city Parks Department told me via email:
“Rocky Mountain Field Institute estimates annual maintenance to the section of Barr Trail impacted by Incline return traffic to be approximately $40,000.”
The city of Manitou Springs has been doing the $40,000 in repairs per year on the Barr Trail since 2013, but the condition of the trail is worsening. The visible erosion damage on the hillside is worsening also.
Why have the drainage problems not been fixed yet?
They are causing new damage to the trail every year.
Sources have told me for a long time that a professionally prepared study is needed before the drainage modifications can be done.
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