Dirty work
When it comes to trails, Durangoans love a good challenge. So why not put your money where your tread is and donate to Trails 2000? For the month of June, Trails 2000 is holding its “Dirt Drive” crowd-funding campaign with a target of $5,000. If the target is reached, locals Wendy and Tom Barney (formerly of Osprey backpacks fame) will match the amount with another $5,000.
“I’ve been using the wonderful trails in and around Durango since moving here 16 years ago,” said Tom, a longtime Trails 2000 supporter and member of the Colorado 14ers Board of Directors. “This challenge grant is a great opportunity for Wendy and me to give back and to inspire others to donate to Trails 2000.”
From Horse Gulch, Twin Buttes, Skyline and Animas Mountain to Hermosa Creek and the Colorado Trail, Trails 2000 plans, builds and maintains more than 300 miles of trails within 30 minutes of town.
To donate, go to: www.trails2000.org and click on the “Dirt Drive” link. Then hop on the bike or lace up those shoes knowing your dirty work is done.
And when all that dirty work is done, you can take a rest on the brand-spanking new Gudy’s Rest bench atop the Junction Creek switchbacks on the Colorado Trail. Last week, Trails 2000, along with the help of several volunteers, built a bench to honor the “mother of the Colorado Trail” Gudy Gaskill, who passed away a year ago this July.
The new bench was a group effort, with Ed Zink hauling the supplies in via packhorse; Rush Linhart contributing the masonry work; and numerous volunteers, including some from the Colorado Trail Foundation, providing the blood and sweat.
Trails 2000 adopts the longest section of the Colorado Trail (19.1 miles) from Champion Ventures (atop Junction Creek) to the trailhead just outside of town. This year’s annual Colorado Trail work weekend will be held June 23-25.
Crews will camp for two nights and a kitchen, food, tools and instructions will be provided, as well as a shuttle (including bike shuttle for option to ride out Sunday). Sign up is required (limit 22 volunteers) via the T2000 website: www.trails 2000.org.
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