Tom Adams PWV Chair 2018 - 2019
Our 2019 season saw significant changes and exciting new programs and events. We graduated forty-three new members into PWV at our new Spring Training facility, the Buckhorn Camp. For those of us who are getting a bit older and/or softer, the camp provides two lodges, cabins, dorms and indoor restrooms with showers.
We almost finished work on the Young Gulch trail which was seriously damaged by the flood in 2013. Hopefully the trail will be once again open to the public by the end of this year.
Among other accomplishments, a new stock committee was created, the weed management program was renewed, with the “Weed Wednesdays” initiative being implemented. The Kids in Nature program was expanded to include twenty hikes, more than ever before, and some in-classroom sessions. Several PWV policies were updated.
We also took a leadership role in co-sponsoring the first Central Rockies Wilderness Volunteer Workshop, which had 90 participants from 8 states. Many thanks to the PWV members who were instrumental in making the workshop a huge success.
New requirements for member recertification were implemented, requiring recertification every 7 years, rather than every 5. Kick Off Night was reorganized and Kick Off Morning was implemented, enabling recertification to be completed in just one day.
Our members were kept engaged with Affiliation gatherings, summer social events, a holiday party, and a Gear Fest and Gear Give-Away. Our menu of supplemental training opportunities was also expanded. Many of our committees did an outstanding job, some coming up with new and exciting events, and in several cases, recruiting energetic new members.
We upped our efforts to do trailhead hosting this year. On Labor Day weekend 21 PWV members volunteered. Many stayed at the Forest Service’ Stubb Creek bunkhouse and trail hosted at four different trails in the Rawah Wilderness area. We met a total of 635 forest visitors, providing information, directions, lip balm, and sometimes water to many hikers, riders and backpackers.
On a sad note, we lost a valuable and dedicated PWV member this year, Sandy Erskine. Sandy was a stock committee member and committee Chair, a Board member, and most recently, an Advisory Board member. Many of us met Sandy at Spring Training where she was one of the role players at the horse camp station. Sandy is gone much too soon, and will be greatly missed.
PWV members logged a total of 4,266 trail hours and contacted 12,421 trail users. We downsized or removed 205 fire rings, cleared 1,413 downed trees, installed or repaired 46 trail signs, and removed 520 pounds of trash from trails, campsites and trailhead parking lots. Members who were recognized for outstanding contributions to the organization can be found on the CLRD website. Go to “Summary Reports”, Year End Event – 2019”, and select a category from the menu.
At our Year End Event and Annual Meeting on October 27 we gave special recognition to a couple of very special and hard-working ladies, Pam Allen and Joan Kauth. Their efforts for the good of PWV have always gone above and beyond expectations.
We also celebrated, although a couple of months early, the retirement of Kevin Cannon, our PWV liaison for the past 18 years. Kevin has, and still does, an amazing job for PWV and the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. He’s even won two national awards for his outstanding service. We will certainly miss Kevin’s outstanding leadership, and it will take a “team approach” to replace him. Happy retirement Kevin.
2019 has been a good year for PWV, and we look forward to an even better 2020.
Tom Adams
Chair, PWV Board of Directors, 2018-2019