The NEW Eider to Mill Creek Connector Trail

Help Telluride Mountain Club Build the New Eider to Mill Creek Connector

UPDATE: April 26, 2022

Telluride Mountain Club Successfully Fundraises for New Trail
Alpine Bank’s donation helps the project cross the finish line 

Telluride, Colorado – The Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) is beyond grateful to the Telluride community for a successful fundraising campaign for the new Eider to Mill Creek Connector Trail. Nearly 70 donors contributed to the campaign to make it a success. Most recently, Alpine Bank dedicated $10,000 to ensure the fundraising goal would be achieved and the project could start this spring.

“TMtC’s work to provide recreational opportunities in the Telluride community has been instrumental and this new connector trail will be a great addition to the current trail inventory in Telluride. Alpine Bank’s donation is made possible thanks to our customers that use their Alpine Bank Environmental Loyalty Debit Card. Every time one of our customers uses this card, it allows Alpine Bank to donate to environmental and recreation organizations like the Telluride Mountain Club,” says Danny Craft, President of Alpine Bank in Telluride. “I know how much this community loves outdoor recreation and I look forward to seeing everyone on this new trail when it opens.”

TMtC would like to dedicate a huge thank you to Alpine Bank, and all the donors and anonymous benefactors who contributed to make this new trail project a reality in 2022. The fundraising goal of $45,000 will be matched by another $45,000 TMtC has already received from membership donations, private donors, and Opt in for Trails contributors. With the $90,000 trail cost fully fundraised, TMtC is excited to get started on the project in May of 2022. Corridor clearing will kick off the project, followed by construction, machine operation, and finishing work. If Mother Nature and weather cooperate, TMtC hopes to have the entire project completed and opened to the public sometime in the fall of this year.

The new Eider to Mill Creek Connector will be built to accommodate beginners through advanced user groups for multi-use hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. This new segment of trail has been professionally scouted and flagged to meet USFS trail standards and requirements. An additional connector on the sunny side will allow for more connectivity options and early season recreation opportunities (while other trails are still closed), thus creating less damage on other trails that are not yet rideable or hike-able early in the season.  This area is very popular among trail users and spreading out use is a proactive approach to future overcrowding.

“TMtC is excited to embark on this new trail project with huge community support. It truly takes a village, and we are so thankful to Alpine Bank, everyone who donated to this fundraising campaign, our TMtC members and donors, and the United States Forest Service,” says Heidi Lauterbach, TMtC Director.

TMtC looks forward to keeping the community up to date on the project throughout the summer season. Stay tuned for volunteer trail workdays being planned for June and July!

Thank you to everyone who donated to make this trail a reality!

• Anonymous – 1
• Alpine Bank
• Martin Owens
• Travis Mohrman
• Denise Jackson & Trevor King
• Dolores & Thomas Gahan
• Mark & Lindsey Hana
• Donald Smith JR
• Mike Slattery
• William McManemin
• Bob Posey
• Susan Williams
• Tracie Renfroe
• David Moon
• Charles Tyler
• Suzanne Nikolaus
• Kevin Martin
• Elizabeth Farrar
• Lauren Woodward
• Hilaree Nelson
• Sarah Lavender Smith
• Eric & Rosemerry Trommer
• Anonymous – 2
• Tor Anderson
• Joanne Steinback
• Gordon & Kristin Davenport
• Lucy Lerner
• Peter Hathaway
• Heidi Lauterbach
• Thalia & John Pryor
• Katie Lintner
• Dave & Nan Hachigian
• Linda & Irwin Borof
• Anonymous – 3
• Anonymous – 4
• Jonn Vise
• Christopher Harkin
• Kurt Friederich
• Clark Matheney
• Ken Wimberly
• Easy Rider
• Drufur Williamson
• Maureen Miller
• Diane Heasley
• Valerie Warburton
• Anonymous – 5
• Laura & Bertrand Marchal
• Michael Rothschild
• Roger Box
• Cary Savage
• Joe Dillsworth
• Robert Beardsley
• David Callicott
• Sherab Kloppenburg
• Ryan McGovern
• Anonymous – 6
• Lindsay Remigio
• Chris Jaquet
• Nicole Pieterse
• Michael “Hawkeye” Johnson
• Tim & Susan Kunda
• Mariza Brimhall
• Audrey von Poelnitz
• John Haggerty
• Dave-O Whitelaw
• Naani Sheva
• Glenn Steckler
• Stephen Wise
• Anonymous – 7
• Mary Kenez

March 2022

Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) is excited to have recently signed a Non-Funded Challenge Cost Share Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Forest (USFS) Uncompahgre National Forest, Norwood Ranger District in Norwood, Colorado. The MOU allows TMtC to take on the funding for the approved Eider to Mill Creek Connector Trail. TMtC originally submitted this trail to the USFS in 2017 as part of a larger trails proposal. In 2019, TMtC hired a third-party contractor to flag an appropriate alignment. In 2020, the Norwood Ranger District initiated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis on the trail. In 2021, the trail was deemed feasible by the NEPA and was thus approved by the USFS. With proper funding, TMtC hopes to build this new trail and open it to the public in 2022.

The new Eider to Mill Creek Connector Trail will take recreation off the Mill Creek Road and create more trail opportunities, loops, and connections for users on the sunny side of the valley. This area is very popular among trail users and spreading out use is a proactive approach to future overcrowding.

This project will cost TMtC over $90,000. The estimate includes corridor clearing, trail construction, finishing work, signage, staff, and more. TMtC needs to fundraise $45,000 by July 8th, to make this trail a reality in 2022. The $45,000 will be matched by another $45,000 that TMtC has already received from private donors and membership donations. The plan is to break ground on the trail this spring as soon as the snow melts. TMtC hopes to have this trail cleared, built, and open to the public during the summer or fall of 2022! Join our efforts and donate here.

The Eider to Mill Creek Connector will allow for, and be built to accommodate, multi-use hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. The design accommodates beginners through advanced users for all user groups. This new segment of trail has been professionally scouted and flagged to meet USFS trail standards and requirements. An additional connector on the sunny side will allow for more connectivity options and early season recreation opportunities (while other trails are still closed), thus creating less damage on other trails that are not yet rideable or hike-able early in the season.

Fundraising for the new trail has started and will run until the $45,000 goal is met, or July 8^th, whichever comes first. You can learn more and donate HERE. No donation is too small and every dollar helps.

If you are considering a donation, check out these fun facts:

• $25 donation = 3 feet of trail
• $100 donation = 12 feet of trail
• $250 donation = 29 feet of trail
• $500 donation = 59 feet of trail
• $1,000 donation = 118 feet of trail
• $5,000 donation = 588 feet or .11 miles
• $10,000 donation = 1,176 feet or .22 miles
• $11,220 donation = 1/4 mile of trail
• $22,440 donation = 1/2 miles of trail
• $44,880 donation = 1 mile of trail

If you prefer making a donation by check, you can send it to: Telluride Mountain Club, PO Box 1201, Telluride, CO, 81435. Please send telluridemountainclub@gmail.com so we can credit your donation on the backend. Thank you for your support.