Chainsaws and Dog Poop!

The CBCC is back in action.

June 7, 2019

Finally, some semblance of summer.  And with it, more access where the CBCC can get deeper into our backcountry and help it back to life with some TLC.  What a contrast each year brings, and we’re so happy to be up and running for the 2019 season.  Crews started on May 20th with some orientation/training with our good friends at the Gunnison Ranger District.  It was an honor to be a part of their orientation for their seasonal crews, their trail crews, and always great to meet with the staff and crews that we don’t always get to work alongside.  We spent the next day working with our great partners at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) and Ann Colbert whom helped us work strategies and means to effectively communicate with our visitors and guests.

Since then, we’ve been getting at it with the trails and the drainages that have been brave enough to show dirt.  We’ve made contact with 62 people, collected 30 lbs of trash (lots of green bag dog poop…yay), and cut out 91 trees so far.  I expect the cut trees to spill into the 1000’s this year.  As for the trash, we’ve only come across one pallet fire ring so far.  But as the snow recedes, I’m sure we’ll see the joys of the ’trash in the woods’ that we see each spring.  More observations keep coming in and soon we’ll be a full time logging crew as more roads, access, and trails open.  Keep them observations coming!

Water and receding snow sure did a job on some trails and we’re going to see a lot more of that.  So far it’s been work in the front country, and getting in front of opening trails so that we can consolidate the damage, keep users ON trail, and divert water away.  Let alone, CBCC crews like to make things look pretty, and they are doing some great rock armoring, water diversion, and berm work taboot… so users can put their feet, hooves, and rubber on fun and functional features.

We’ve been from the Woods Walk/Lower/Lupines to Granite Basin.  From the Upper Loop network to Dr. Park and back to the Canal Trail.  We’ve been putting up kiosk signs as part of the Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) initiative, and working with RMBL to assist a wildlife study.  We’re so proud to work with those partners.

We’re honored to work with 1% for Open Space on a 5 year partnership where we’ll work our tails off to steward the amazing vistas, open space, and view sheds that they make happen.  We are, and will continue to work with the CB Land Trust to assist them in stewarding all that they have done to shape this Valley into a pristine preserve. We’ll be sure to help RMBL scientists and RMBL operations when numbers descend on the Gothic corridor.    I can’t say how honored we are to have returning support from the Town of Crested Butte, TAPP, the GOATs, Mountain Express, and so honored to be included in the annual budget of the Town of Mt. Crested Butte (Wind Beneath Our Wings).  We are at your service, and we will do whatever we can to assist you in your operations and needs to make sure our beloved backyard is intact.

Most of all, I’d like to point out something new, something special… that has become one of the amazing collaborations from our own Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) committee from Gunnison County and the National Forest Foundation(NFF).  There is a new County wide stewardship fund coming from the many stakeholders, permit holders, businesses and more from our great community (Met. Rec. amongst them).  Its called the Gunnison County Stewardship Fund (GCSF), working directly with the National Forest Foundation (NFF).  The CBCC is so honored to be chosen as one of the three projects they will be supporting in the inaugural year.  (They also put those toilets up at Schofield/West Maroon last year, and will continue work up there).  We’re so grateful for the experience and direction of our District Ranger, Matt McCombs, for spearheading this new entity, and we’re so excited to work with our federal partners at the USFS and the BLM to provide the best experiences we can this year and beyond. And more so, to protect as much as we can for the best possible future of our beloved public lands.

For our returning Founders and CBCC supporters… we thank thee!  For those who have supported us in the past… we thank thee!  For those will continue to support us in the future… we adore thee, we need you to keep doing what you are doing so we can keep doing what we are doing.  From the CBMBA board and staff – whom admin the CBCC – and the returning staff of the CBCC…. We salute thee!  Here’s to the season ahead, and THANK YOU!   – Dave

CBCC 2019 – Nick Catmur, Ryan Maddux, Alex Banas, Ryan Sullivan, Heather Bradford, Gus Bullock, and Holden Bradford. Give them high fives when you see them, and support the CBCC and CBMBA at the CBMBA Annual Fundraiser with The Wailers concert on Sunday, June 23rd, 2019.

Chainsaws and dog poop!