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Events
Climate & Fire Ecology Educational Hike
North Fork Trail of Reynolds Park
Sunday, September 25
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wild Connections Climate Resilence 2022 Map
Join Wild Connections for a hike on the North Fork Trail of Reynolds Park in Jefferson County Open Space at 9:00 am on September 25. The hike will be led by Karl Ford, environmental scientist, author, and former WC board member.
It will be a leisurely walk of about 6 miles round-trip, but we will stop to take measurements of temperature and humidity at ground level in various locations to identify "cold air pools," locations that will remain cooler and wetter in the future. These areas are expected to harbor a climate environment for plants and animals to persist and migrate through as the landscape warms and dries. In addition, leaders will report on the several-year climate modeling project done by Alison Gallensky, Wild Connections Board member and GIS expert, to identify climate refugia that we can advocate for with the US Forest Service in its upcoming Forest Planning process. Learn more about the modeling Alison has done and why we need to protect these climate refugia areas. We will also discuss fire ecology concepts and the wildfire prospects for climate change.
Meet at 9:00 am at the south trailhead at the S Platte River. From Denver, drive Hwy 287 south past Conifer to the Foxton exit and go south on CR 97 8 miles to the river and turn left on CR 97 for approximately 8 miles on a paved but very pot-holed road to the trailhead. A map of the park can be found here.
From Colorado Springs, you can go north from Woodland Park to Deckers. From here you can either go north on CR 67 to Buffalo Creek and turn right on S. Platte River Rd about 8 miles to the trailhead or you can drive along the S. Platte from Deckers to the trailhead.
You may want to bring a lunch, jacket and 2 liters of water, and possibly a notebook to record measurements and notes. We hope to bring you more climate education hikes in the future. We will have handouts of the model.
Please take covid precautions and only carpool with people you are comfortable with. You may wear a mask if you prefer. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms. Read our full gear and safety list below.
To register, contact John Sztukowski at john@wildconnections.org or 817-939-4239.
Meet at 9:00 am at the south trailhead at the S Platte River. From Denver, drive Hwy 287 south past Conifer to the Foxton exit and go south on CR 97 8 miles to the river and turn left on CR 97 for approximately 8 miles on a paved but very pot-holed road to the trailhead. A map of the park can be found here.
From Colorado Springs, you can go north from Woodland Park to Deckers. From here you can either go north on CR 67 to Buffalo Creek and turn right on S. Platte River Rd about 8 miles to the trailhead or you can drive along the S. Platte from Deckers to the trailhead.
You may want to bring a lunch, jacket and 2 liters of water, and possibly a notebook to record measurements and notes. We hope to bring you more climate education hikes in the future. We will have handouts of the model.
Please take covid precautions and only carpool with people you are comfortable with. You may wear a mask if you prefer. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms. Read our full gear and safety list below.
To register, contact John Sztukowski at john@wildconnections.org or 817-939-4239.
National Public Lands Day
Shavano Campsite Cleanup
Saturday, September 24th
9am - 1 pm
Join GARNA and the Chaffee Rec Adopters on National Public Lands Day for a campsite cleanup on CR 250 (Shavano). Over 100 sites have been identified along the road, and we want to reduce and remove inappropriate fire rings as well as clean up the area after a busy summer! RSVP at https://bit.ly/shavanocleanup
Hikers, please read this!
Gear and Safety
- Participants should bring lunch, plenty of water and snacks, clothing suitable for the weather conditions, including rain gear, and good footwear.
- Keep your fellow hikers and yourself safe. Wild Connections practices coronavirus precautions, including wearing masks in traveling to the trailhead and maintaining social distance during the hike. We suggest that people use caution in carpooling with others who are not members of their household.
- Note any special instructions in the hike or camping anouncement.
Return to Cooper Mountain Wildlands Hike
Saturday, October 8, 2022
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
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Hikers at Cooper Mountain overlook. Photo Kate Spinelli
South of Victor and just west of Phantom Canyon stretches a long plateau of forests, meadows, and wilderness-quality lands known as Cooper Mountain. A favorite hiking locale of Wild Connections in past years, we look forward to revisiting its solitude and vistas.
This moderately strenuous trek on ancient trails will cover about five miles and 1,000 feet elevation gain. Learn about these BLM Lands with Wilderness Characteristics and their resource management plan currently nearing release.
Registration required. Participants can meet at the Colorado Springs Red Rocks Safeway parking lot (32nd St. and Colorado) by 7:00 AM to carpool or caravan to the trailhead.
For more information and to register contact John Stansfield, 303-660-5849 or e-mail jorcstan@juno.com no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, October 7, 2022. Include your cell phone number. For trip day communication, my cell number is 720-732-9511. PLease read the Gear and Safety list on this page.
Registration required. Participants can meet at the Colorado Springs Red Rocks Safeway parking lot (32nd St. and Colorado) by 7:00 AM to carpool or caravan to the trailhead.
For more information and to register contact John Stansfield, 303-660-5849 or e-mail jorcstan@juno.com no later than 5:00 PM, Friday, October 7, 2022. Include your cell phone number. For trip day communication, my cell number is 720-732-9511. PLease read the Gear and Safety list on this page.