a. Contact leaders with sufficient advanced notice.
b. Notify outings chair or CMC Council with particular activities and interests.
c. Take an active role in working with your outings chair to create outings and activities.

Conservation Corner
By Mary Mourar, PPG Conservation Chair

Whatever happened to…
With court cases, bureaucracy, and political delays, many national forest issues that first appeared a year or more ago are reappearing or still dragging on. The following is a synopsis of several of these issues, the latest available information (as of mid-June), and what actions CMC members can take.

Colorado Roadless Areas
Roadless areas were identified as part of wilderness area studies starting in the 1960s. They’ve been steadily shrinking ever since. Benefits of roadless areas include:
- providing buffers to current wilderness areas,
- protecting important wildlife habitat and travel
corridors,
- preserving watersheds,
- and encouraging quiet recreation opportunities (including mountain biking).

In 2001, after extensive public input, the Clinton Administration’s Roadless Area Conservation Rule provided roadless areas with protective measures limiting future development. In 2005, this rule was reversed by the Bush Administration and governors were asked how they wanted roadless areas in their states to be managed. Governor Owens set up a Roadless Areas Taskforce which carried out an extensive public review process. Several PPG members spoke at one of the public meetings in Pueblo in the winter of 2006.

A court recently overturned the 2005 rule except for two states: Colorado and Idaho. Colorado was exempted because of the extensive public review process. Unfortunately, the roadless area management request that Colorado’s governor submitted provides for less protections than the 2001 rule which will now be applied in other states. It includes several exemptions, including for mining, ski area and other industry interests.

What happens now? This summer, the U.S. Forest Service will be releasing a draft rule on how roadless areas will be managed in Colorado. A 30 or 60 day comment period will allow members of the public to express support or objections to the plan. It is expected that the draft rule will be weaker than the reinstated 2001 rule.

Watch for notification on release of the Colorado Roadless Area rule and evaluate the critiques related to the rule, prior to submitting your comments. Visit www.roadless.net for more information.

Resumption of Pike & San Isabel National Forest Management Plan
In the winter of 2006-07, the Pike-San Isabel announced that the process to write a new 15-20 year management plan would begin. Several PPG members attended the two public meetings that were held in the Colorado Springs area that winter. Soon after the meetings, a court case halted all Forest Service management planning.

It was recently announced that the planning process would be resuming under a new planning rule. The Forest Service said the differences between the original and the 2008 planning rule include:
- increased public collaboration to ensure local needs are heard; and
- increased flexibility in the plans for quicker response to
changing conditions.

Environmental groups say the new planning rule doesn’t address the reason the Forest Service was sued and lost in court: providing protection for wildlife species.

Why should you care? The management plan is important because it sets the stage for other forest planning. Future travel management, recreation, resource extraction and other plans will be written based on the direction provided in the management plan

Watch this newsletter and other CMC communications for updates and public participation opportunities. You can also visit the National Forest website for schedules, documents, and maps: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/projects/forest_revision/index.shtml

Pike & San Isabel Travel Management Plans and Maps
Last fall, I wrote about the Pike & San Isabel National Forest updating its Travel Management Plan including the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for each of the Forest Ranger Districts. The maps would show the official routes open to motor vehicles, ATVs and dirt bikes. All other routes and trails would be officially closed or for non-motorized use only. Drafts of these maps were to be released this winter and spring for public review.

The completion of the maps has been delayed by several months, with only the South Platte Ranger District maps released at this time. Next on the schedule is the San Carlos District which includes the Sangre de Cristo and the Wet Mountains. South Platte Ranger District and other MUVM maps as they are released can be reviewed at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/recreation/mvum.shtml

Why should you care? Review of these maps is important to ensure their accuracy. This will keep user-created motorized trails from becoming accepted routes and keep current non-motorized or closed routes closed to motorized use.
As these maps are released, I will contact the PPG members who have expressed an interest in helping to review these maps for accuracy. If you would like to help in the review process (which can be based on past experience or going to the forest with the draft in hand), please contact me at ppg_conservation@yahoo.com or 719.229.9743.

Browns Canyon wilderness area
Senator Ken Salazar introduced a bill to designate the Browns Canyon Wilderness Area between Buena Vista and Salida. This area is worth protecting because of spectacular rock formations and important mid-level habitat for many wildlife species. Most Colorado wilderness areas only protect high elevation forest and tundra.

Activities

CMC Published Activity Schedule - Below is an abridged version. To identify leaders and their phone numbers to register for trips, check the:

• PikesPique Newsletter mailed to each member
• The .pdf newsletter on the CMC site available to each member on the web
• Trail & Timberline Activity Schedule

Trip classification Key:
Expl = Exploratory, Mod = Moderate, OT = OffTrail, SESI = Singles Group, SCR = Scrambling, CP = Casual Pace

Saturday 07/19/2008
Full Moon Hike-Catamount Ranch Mod A SESI
We'll hike Catamount Ranch and hike up to the North Catamount Reservoir. Come out and join us for a cool evening hike. Flashlights and hiking boots required.

Sunday 07/20/2008
Sunday Night Dinner SESI
Sunday Night Dinner We'll dine at Zio's Italian Kitchen, 6650 S. Corporate Drive, come out and join your Mountain Club friends for some good food at reasonable prices.
Friday 07/25/2008 to Saturday 07/26/2008

Rocky Mountain National Park Hike SESI
We will car camp Friday night, then hike in Glacier Gorge to The Loch, then up to Timberline Falls then up to, Glass Lake and then up to Sky Pond. Have lunch and return. Trail mileage: 9 miles. Elevation gain: 1800 feet. Driving distance: 350 miles.

Friday 07/25/2008 to Saturday 07/26/2008
Wetterhorn Pk. 14,017' Diff D-E
Leave Friday p.m. Camp at North Matterhorn Creek Trailhead. Climb Saturday via standard route. Drive home Saturday afternoon. Trail mileage: 8 miles. Elevation gain: 3600 feet. Prerequisite: BMS-B. Driving distance: 500 miles

Saturday 07/26/2008
Mueller State Park Easy A Pace: Casual
Hike rolling trails through meadows and woodland with great views. Park entrance fee. Trail mileage: 7 miles. Elevation gain: 800 feet. Driving distance: 60 miles.

Saturday 08/02/2008
Sound of Music Tour (Alpine Ridge Walk) Mod B
From near Devils Playground we'll walk south along an open rolling tundra ridge, possibly stopping to admire the wildflowers or scramble on the granite outcrops. Who knows--maybe Julie Andrews will make an appearance. Pikes Peak Toll Road fee.
Trail mileage: 8 miles.

Thursday 08/07/2008 to Wednesday 08/13/2008
Wilsons Diff C-E
Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak via Navajo Basin and El Diente via Kilpacker Basin. Standard routes. ***This trip is now full and has a waitlist*** . Trail mileage: 40 miles. Elevation gain: 9800 feet. Prerequisite: BMS-D. Driving distance: 650 miles.

Saturday 08/09/2008
Lovell Gulch Easy A Pace: Casual Easy A
Hike at a casual pace on trail rolling hills through meadows and woodland with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Trail mileage: 6 miles. Elevation gain: 1000 feet. Driving distance: 40 miles.

New! - Dinners Out

Singles Activities (SESI) September Calendar

Activities are oriented for singles but are open to all CMC members. Known as the SESI group, SESI means Singles Enjoying Similar Interests, participants meet for events such as happy hours, potluck dinners, ski parties as well as the regular outdoor activities. SESI is always looking for new leaders. For more information call Rick Blount at 238-1429.

See activities above labeled SESI

For CMC members aged 20-30 something looking for activities with others of similar age. For further information and to register, please contact Greg Long at 488-0353. Please feel free to send trip requests/suggestions.

Ongoing
Wednesday Nights at the climbing gym - there is a regular group attending. Send e-mail for more information.

Many trips are developed at the last minute. Join the listserve for the latest developments. Send an e-mail message to PPG2030-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

In-State Outings
To be announced