trail workers getting down to business

A very large turnout of volunteers on Saturday morning made finishing the trail link between the railroad corridor across the front of Tenderfoot Hill a reality.

Completing this strategic trail, which will allow users of the Arkansas Hills Trail System to enter via singletrack from an intersection with the Sand Dunes Trail just east of the F Street Bridge, was an ambitious goal. The trail terminates at the kiosk at the parking lot at Spiral Drive, directly across the parking area from the Lil’ Rattler trailhead. Some very difficult trail building needed to be accomplished, crossing rock outcroppings and digging wide bench in rocky and dusty dirt, but the volunteers were up to the task!

Many thanks to our volunteers, and to core members of Salida Mountain Trails who put in many long hours, some working multiple days every week. The project was started in late May of this year. Thanks to the contributions of many hands and backs, it was completed in roughly 4 and one half months.

Take a walk or a bike ride, and check out this new trail. Clearly it is a strategic link, but it is also a beautifully built trail, and it offers some stunning views of Salida and our valley ringed with mountains.

Salida Mountain Trails members, with the support of the City of Salida, have been working hard in recent months to construct a number of new trails.  The trails are being constructed on City and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands as part of the recently completed BLM travel management plan.

A ribbon cutting will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the new trailhead kiosk near the gate on Tenderfoot Mountain.  This will be followed with a demonstration of the mini-excavator purchased by the City to facilitate the construction of new trails.  Volunteers from Salida Mountain Trails will then offer a guided hike along the recently constructed Lil’ Rattler Trail.

A trail run will depart from the F Street Bridge at 9:00 a.m. and a mountain bike ride will begin at the Tenderfoot gate at 3:00 p.m.  All three activities will be guided by volunteers from Salida Mountain Trails who can explain the routes, sustainable trail building techniques, volunteer opportunities and plans for future trail construction.

Attendees of the ribbon cutting and hike are encouraged to walk or carpool to the gate on Tenderfoot due to limited parking.

This event is a membership drive and fundraiser for the non-profit Salida Mountain Trails.  Volunteers will be on hand to sign up new members and sell raffle tickets in support of the trail-building efforts.  FIBArk, Absolute Bikes and Keen Footwear will offer prizes for the fundraiser.

If you can not make it to the on-trail activities, join Salida Mountain Trails at the Boathouse Cantina, 228 N F Street, at 4:00 p.m.  Beer available for participants brought to you by New Belgium Brewing while supplies last.  Raffle results will also be announced at the Boathouse Cantina.

The new trails will be featured during the New Belgium FIBArk festival as part of the Sunday 10K Trail Run and the new mountain bike event on June 21st.

Volunteers have been working since last fall on building new trails.  Absolute Bikes has provided tremendous support in these efforts by allowing staff to devote many paid hours to this project.  The City of Salida provided additional support through the use of voter-approved 2B occupational lodging tax funds.  Funds were used for the purchase of a mini-excavator trail building machine.  The City also employed youth through the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) for six weeks of trail building efforts.  The SCC completes their time on this project on May 14th.
Contact Dara MacDonald or Shawn Gillis for additional information

January 18th, February 8th, March 8th, April 5th, and May 10th
Noon-1:30pm
Meet at Absolute Bikes on Sackett St.

Have you heard the buzz about the trail building activity on Tenderfoot Mountain?  Are you interested or intrigued about the new riding options but want someone to show you the trails?  Join Salida Recreation and Absolute Bikes for some mountain bike fun.  We’ll tour the new trails and get you familiar with the trail system.  Maps will be provided to all participants.  Rides will be beginner to intermediate level; you must be able to ride to the top of Tenderfoot in order to participate.  Helmets are required (you can borrow one from Absolute Bikes if necessary); kids under 10 must be accompanied by a parent.  Waivers must be signed by all participants or guardians for those under 18.  Contact Shawn@absolutebikes.com or Absolute Bikes at 539-9295 with questions.  Rides will all be weather permitting.
Sled and Swim
Monday, January 19th
9:00am-3:00pm
Meet and pick up at the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
$8/person
Ages: 8+

School is out on Monday!  Join Salida Recreation and Boys and Girls Club for a fun day of sledding at Old Monarch Pass followed by a warm swim at the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center!  Bring you sled or tube if you want, water and a lunch.  Don’t forget to dress appropriately for snow activity and bring your swimsuit and towel for swim time!  Pre-registration is REQUIRED!!  Sign up today as spaces are limited!!!  Call or stop by the pool by Friday, January 16th – 539-6738.

Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Competition and Ski Bus Excursion
Sunday, January 25th
7:30am-5:30pm
Meet at the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center
All Ages Welcome!  (kids under 10 must be accompanied by an adult)
$15/person

The 29th Annual Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Competition will be wrapping up on Sunday the 25th of January and it’s a great time to check out all the entries!  Wander through downtown Breckenridge and see these amazing sculptures; OR this is a great opportunity to hit the slopes at Breckenridge Resort.  Lift tickets are NOT included and all activities are on your own, but we’re taking care of the transportation.  Pre-Registration by Thursday, January 22nd is required and a minimum of 15 participants is required for this trip to go, so sign up with your friends today!  Call or stop by the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center 539-6738 or call Anicka with Salida Recreation at 539-5703.

Beginning Snowshoe Tours
Sunday, January 25th and Thursday, March 26th
8:30am-1:00pm
Meet at the Wilderness Expeditions Base on Hwy 50 (across from Wal-Mart)
$30/person (includes snowshoes, poles, gaiters, and lunch)
Ages 8+, Adults and Seniors Welcome!
Min: 5/ Max: 20

If you have ever wanted to try snowshoeing, here’s your chance.  Almost everything will be provided for you; all you need to do is dress appropriately and bring some water!  We will be going on an easy to moderate walk in National Forest near Salida, allowing time for everyone to get accustomed to their equipment.  Lunch will be provided before we return.  Call or stop by the Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center to register (registration is required!) 539-6738.

For questions, please call Anicka at 539-5703, or visit our website at www.salidarec.com.

Volunteers get orientation from Andrew Mesesan

The morning was chilly, which probably made it difficult for volunteers to show up, but within minutes the extra clothing was not needed. The consensus was that the day’s temperature was perfect for trail-building.

Workers buffing out a nice section of trail

This addition to Salida’s local trail network will be usable right away since we were able to connect to an existing trail in two places. The trail we connected to is quite steep and this new section gives trail users a longer, more meandering option.

Another view of Salida and Ouray & Chipeta

This section of the Backbone Trail gives trail users a view of the Tenderfoot Trail, completed by Salida Mountain Trails with the help of volunteers in April of 2006. Also visible is the top of Tenderfoot Hill, much of Salida, and the Sawatch Range to the west.

We hope the community will get out and start enjoying the new trail section right away. Thanks again to our volunteers. We’ll be publishing the dates of our monthly volunteer days soon so that everyone who wants can be involved.

The mountain biking culture here has traditionally been a bit more underground than it is in many of the other mountain towns in Colorado. The riders here have tended to do what they do, not drawing attention to the places they ride, forming clubs, or putting on festivals. But times are changing.