USFS Seeking Public Input for Southern Shooting Partnership
The US Forest Service is a partner in the Southern Shooting Partnership (SSP), and is asking for public participation in an online survey and in a series of public meetings. The Partnership is asking for public input on the topic of target shooting (not hunting) on public lands.
If you are a recreational shooter or live adjacent to or recreate on public lands where recreation shooting occurs, consider completing the below survey or attending a meeting.
The online survey has been extended through March 31, 2019.
Southern Shooting Partnership Listening Tour Flyer
Meeting Dates and Locations: Friday, February 8, 2019 Colorado Springs, CO
Thursday, February 21, 2019 Fairplay, CO
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Divide, CO Pikes Peak Community Club Center 11122 US-24, Divide, CO 80814
Refrigerator Gulch
Climate Education Backpack, A Pike National Forest Wilderness Outing Tuesday, June 18 - Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Meeting 9:00 AM from Wigwam Trailhead
Join Wild Connections for our first ever climate backpack in Refrigerator Gulch in the Lost Creek Wilderness. This outing is located in the high elevation of Pike National Forest, southwest of Deckers, just over an hour from southwest Denver or Colorado Springs.
This moderately strenuous overnight backpack hike will cover approximately 15 miles, with 2000 feet of elevation gain. This hike begins at the Wigwam Creek trailhead and ascends Wigwam Creek and a tributary drainage, then descends 1000 feet to Refrigerator Gulch where we will camp for the night. Day 2 we will return the way we came. Prior backpacking experience is required. No heavy packs >30 lbs (not counting water) please as we will move at a moderate pace.
We will also enjoy great views of Wigwam Park and Peak and of the amazing jumbled topography of the Lost Creek Wilderness. As a special feature of this hike, we will study how the heavily dissected topography of this area lends itself to cold air pools that scientists are identifying as wildlife and native plant refugia and climate corridors. We will record microclimate temperature changes in differing topography locations and photograph the corresponding plant life on a citizen science app for smartphones. On day 2, we will return, taking additional measurements. Cold air pools serve not only as areas where plants and animals may persist in a warmer, drier climate, but also as climate corridors where they may migrate northerly or altitudinally.
Participants should bring 2 lunches, one dinner, one breakfast and snacks, the ten essentials including water treatment, lightweight camping gear and extra clothing, comfortable hiking footwear and raingear.
This hike is co-sponsored by Wild Connections and the Colorado Mountain Club. For more information or to sign up, contact Wild Connections' Board Member, Karl Ford at earthford@aol.com. Carpools will leave Denver and Colorado Springs or meet at the trailhead at 9:00 AM on June 18.
Lost Creek Wilderness. Pike National Forest. Photo USFS.
South Park Alpine Restoration Projects are Back!
Sheep Creek - Road Removal Saturday, July 20, 2019 - Sunday, July 21, 2019
For more information and to register for the Sheep Creek Restoration Project, visit WRV's pagehere.
Beaver Creek - Trail & Boardwalk Friday, Aug 16, 2019 - Sunday, Aug 18, 2019
For more information and to register for the Beaver Creek Trails Project, visit WRV's page here.
Registration is now open for two of our 2019 South Park Alpine Restoration Projects!
In the summer of 2018, Wild Connections, along with long-time partners, USFS South Park Ranger District, Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative (MRHI), and Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV), completed two large South Park Alpine restoration projects, in a series of South Park restoration projects that will continue into 2019.
Learn more about our 2018 South Park Alpine Restoration Projects here and other of our restoration projects here.
Volunteers spread beetle-kill wood straw over newly seeded track at our 2018 South Park Alpine Project at North Tarryall Creek. Photo Misi Ballard.
Wild Connections' mission is to identify, protect, and restore wildlands, native species,
and biological diversity in the Arkansas and South Platte watersheds
