Summer 2018: Via Ferrata hardware replacement and upgrades.
Spring 2018: Trail maintenance days, group hikes, trail inventory project, progress on Trails Sustainability Plan, coordination with private landowners for public access, rebuild of Society Turn climbing area access trail.
Fall 2018: Submittal of Via Ferrata engineering report.
Winter 2019-2019: PI Fund Backcountry Chats for free avalanche education in Telluride.
Spring 2017: Collaboration with the USFS, SMBA, San Miguel County and more to create long-term vision for the Alta Lakes recreation area.
Spring 2017: Initiation of an official engineering report for Telluride’s Via Ferrata to be submitted to the United States Forest Service.
Fall 2016: ISSW White Paper published on the use of radios in high-use backcountry ski zones. Paper written using Telluride’s backcountry radio program as the example.
Winter 2016-2017: With assistance from the Peter Inglis Avalanche Education Fund and Jagged Edge Mountain Gear, backcountry radios are now available for rent at Jagged Edge.
Summer 2016: Completed trail work on the Ilium Boulders recreation area in conjunction with the USFS and the Access Fund. Both trails have been restored to create a more sustainable trail system into the future.
Fall 2015: Adopted the Ilium Boulders recreation area. Worked with the USFS and the Access Fund to restore the main access trail, and develop a plan for future restoration efforts to take place in 2016.
Fall 2015: Worked with local entities to push improved signage as skiers/boarders leave the ski resort and enter backcountry skiing in Bear Creek.
Fall 2015: Launched the Telluride Regional Trails System Vision Survey to collect data on the future vision of Telluride’s trails.
Anchor & Protection Bolt replacements on Ophir Wall.
Collaborated with San Miguel County, SMBA, USFS and private landowners to research and develop a plan to protect and reroute the popular Alta Lakes multi-use non-motorized trail system.
Surveyed Via Ferrata access points and advised San Miguel County on a new trail re-route system, in an effort to avoid conflicts with private land owners.
Successfully re-opened access to the ski area’s Gold Hill backcountry access gates into Bear Creek. We worked with San Miguel County, USFS, the Town of Telluride and others to regain access to this popular backcountry skiing terrain. In 2010, the gates were closed by the ski area and USFS in reaction to a private mining claim owner’s request. This owner also requested closure of the Wasatch Trail through their property, one of Telluride’s most popular summer hikes and an official USFS trail. In spring of 2011, we persuaded the USFS to open an access gate on Palmyra Peak into upper Bear Creek, and in the spring of 2014 all other access gates into Bear Creek were officially reinstated. This process was very complicated and time-consuming.
Helped the Access Fund establish an easement and agreed to be the land steward for the Society Turn climbing area, a place where thousands of kids and adults rock climb for the very first time, developing their skills and a love of the worlds’ wild places.
Again with San Miguel County, helped preserve the Bilk Creek climbing area and plan the addition of parking, trails and safe anchors.
Collaborated with the Telluride R-I School District and the Telluride Academy to re-open and manage Telluride’s public indoor climbing wall. Located in the high school building, adult access was complicated by a change in management and policy that we helped solve.