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Our mission
to promote trail stewardship and etiquette for all trail users in the Mancos Valley. Please consider making a donation to Mancos Trails Group via Paypal. Add Mancos Trails in the memo as it is a shared account managed by Mancos Valley Resources. Thank you!
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 Happy and satisfied volunteers, Oct. 2019 at Mancos State Park We want to send out a huge thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for making the 2019 Mancos Trail Group season so successful. Together, our volunteers put in over 1100 hours to support local trails in the Mancos Valley! Here's a quick summary of our accomplishments this year.
Although fall is almost over and winter is coming on fast, we hope you continue to get out there and enjoy your local trails. We look forward to volunteering with you again next year!
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Our next board meeting is on Tuesday October 29, 6:30-8pm at the Mancos Library. The board meeting is from 6:30-7:30, public comment/social from 7:30-8. Everyone is welcome for all or part of the meeting. We'll be reviewing our successful 2019 summer season and looking ahead towards projects for this winter and next summer. Now is a great time to get involved with a fun group of people and support your local trails!
 The comment period for the BLM's proposed trail system on the Aqueduct Parcel near Mancos closes tomorrow, Monday Oct. 21. Please look over the proposal and leave your comments online at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage¤tPageId=147919 One thing we learned when we went to the BLM open house a couple of weeks ago is that this Environmental Assessment (EA) covers a number of areas, from Cortez (Mud Springs) to Durango (Perins Peak and Animas City Mountain). And you're not required to either support or oppose the entire proposal. You can pick and choose which parts of the proposal you want to comment on. This includes the addition of e-bike access. So, for example, you can leave a comment in which you support the new trails at the Aqueduct and the additional parking at Chutes and Ladders, not even mention trails in Durango if that isn't of interest to you, and you can either support, oppose, or be neutral as to the inclusion of e-bike access. Thanks for participating in the public process!  Mancos Trails Group October 19 Trail Work Day at Mancos State Park.
The days activities include work for developing Chicken Creek Trailhead and a short trail reroute at the southwest end of Mancos Spur to the Colorado Trail. 8:30 AM meet at Mancos State Park Group Picnic Area at the entrance to the Park (and Jackson Reservoir). Free park admission for volunteers! Times are approximate for the following activities. 9:00 AM after orientation, carpool to north end of reservoir. Minor fence work; flagstone lifting and moving to trailhead; gravel placement; trail reroute if time allows. 12:30 PM finish up and head back to entrance. 1:00 PM Lunch provided by MTG and P&D Grocery, Mancos. What to bring: Work gloves, sunglasses/eye protection, sunscreen, water, snacks. Try to wear sturdy boots. Park Location: 42545 County Road N Mancos, CO, 81328 Directions from Highway 160 stop light at Mancos: Turn north onto CO-184 and go 0.4 mi; Turn right onto Co Rd 42 and go 3.2 mi; Turn left to stay on Co Rd 42 for 1.0 mi; Turn left onto County Rd N/Road N and go 1/2 mile; Destination will be on the right Questions: Contact us, or Scot Elder with Mancos State Park (970) 533-7065 or Mancos.Park@State.Co.Us Please note that the Park office is minimally staffed in this off-season so you may have to leave a message if you call. Typically, the office is staffed on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The BLM is seeking comments for new trails in Montezuma County and will host an informational open house. New trails include 12 miles on the Aqueduct parcel just outside of Mancos. If it seems like you've already heard about this and even had a chance to make a comment, you have. However, the proposal has been updated to include e-bike access (per a recent Department of the Interior policy change).
Dolores Public Lands Office 29211 Highway 184 Oct. 9, 2019 from 4—6:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE: Oct. 21, 2019 You can get more information and make your comments here. Our next business meeting is Tuesday 8/27 at 6:30pm in the Mancos Public Library. The meeting will be from 6:30-8 with public comment 8-8:30. All are invited to attend!
Our trailwork day/wildflower hike on Saturday was a HUGE success! We were able to put up another Mancos Spur Trail sign deep in Bear Creek Canyon plus we re-set another trail sign to boot. Great people, a gorgeous setting and satisfying work - a wonderful time was had by all! Not to mention the flowers were amazing. Thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers for a great day. Also thanks to P&D Grocery in Mancos for providing our volunteers with a delicious lunch of juicy burgers!
 Join us on Thursday August 8th for a quick evening hike to Point Lookout at Mesa Verde National Park. We'll be meeting at the Mesa Verde Visitors Center parking lot at 5:30PM and then carpooling to the trailhead together. The trail is a moderate 2.1 mile out and back hike up to Point Lookout with beautiful views of the Mancos Valley. We'll be hiking for about 1.5-2 hours and hikers of all skill levels are welcome.
 Join Mancos Trails Group for an epic hiking and volunteer adventure!
3 options!
Option 1: Just in time for peak wildflower season, it’s time to finish the signage project along the Mancos Spur Trail. On Saturday August 10, we will be setting the most remote trail sign along the whole Spur - at the east end of Bear Creek Trail where it intersects with the Sharkstooth Trail. This will be a 7 mile round trip hike taking 6-7 hours at elevations from 11-12,000’ with an elevation gain/loss of about 1800’. The more the merrier, as it’s all about enjoying the gorgeous La Plata mountains while we carry some tools, a 4x4 post and trail sign to the junction with the Bear Creek trail. We will trade off frequently so no one person is carrying anything heavy for too long. The return trip over the pass could be delayed if lightning is nearby, so come prepared with what you need to comfortably wait out a summer thunderstorm. Carpool back to Transfer for burgers & beverages! Option 2 is for those who may want a shorter hike or workday. Group 2 will re-set one “Fragile Tundra” sign along the Sharkstooth Trail. This will be a 3.5 mile, 3-4 hour round trip hike beginning at 11,000’ and hiking up to 12,000’ Sharkstooth Pass. We will relax at the pass before returning the way we came. We will be focusing on the wildflowers on this hike - flowers should be peaking along the Sharkstooth trail on Saturday, so bring your cameras! Carpool back to Transfer for burgers & beverages! Option 3 is a shorter, lower elevation option to work on the Transfer trail in the vicinity of the Transfer campground. It needs some brushing and drainage work. Burgers and beverages afterwards! Details: Meet at the Transfer Trailhead at the east side of Transfer Campground at 8am on Saturday August 10. We will arrange for carpooling there. Carpooling will be essential, as parking is extremely limited at the Sharkstooth Trailhead and the last 1.5 miles of the road requires high clearance. If you have a high clearance 4WD vehicle that can transport 4 or more people, please consider helping with the shuttle! Bring all of the gear you would generally take for an all-day hike. Especially include plenty of food and water, bug repellent, rain gear, and warm layers. We will be hiking in the middle of SW Colorado's monsoon season, so be prepared for wet and cold weather! The group in Bear Creek needs to be prepared to hunker down if lightning prevents us from crossing back over Sharkstooth Pass. We must be able to comfortably wait out a storm for up to several hours. Weather forecast for the Sharkstooth Pass area: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-108.08021139353512&lat=37.45700211832228 Link to trail description, map, elevation profile: https://www.mancostrails.org/sharkstooth-trail.html This will be an amazing and satisfying volunteer adventure and MTG looks forward to you joining us! |
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