June 5, 2019 | In the recent article detailing the Forest Service and the chain saw exemption (“Forest Service sued over decision to use chain saws in wilderness areas,” May 22), retired Forest Service employee Anne Dal Vera is quoted stating that 10 people with cross-cut saws cut 3,000 trees.

While certainly possible, the time for this accomplishment was not mentioned, and it is likely that this was accomplished over an entire summer cutting season.

In 2018, the Pagosa Ranger District trail crews augmented with a Southwest Conservation Corps trail crew and other Forest service partners also cleared 3,000 trees with hand tools.

June 5, 2019 | This Sunday, the Rico Trails Alliance will hold the first of three summer trail work days from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Ryman Creek/Salt Creek Trailhead, about 5 miles south of Rico. Training and tools will be provided.

May 19, 2019 | The Forest Service’s recent decision to approve using chain saws to cut out downed trees in wilderness areas might strike some as no big deal.

But for longtime advocates for the wilderness concept generally, and supporters of the Weminuche and South San Juan wilderness areas specifically, it’s a troubling precedent both for its disregard of the law and the apparent disinterest in the fundamental reason behind wilderness areas.

May 17, 2019 | The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will celebrate the opening of several miles of non-motorized trails and a new trailhead in the Phil’s World Trail System at noon Saturday at the Cash Canyon Trailhead on County Road L.

To date, two new trailheads and eight miles of trails have been built. Working with partners, volunteers, and youth corps, the BLM plans to build about 12 more miles of non-motorized trails. Phil’s World Trail System is one of the BLM’s top 20 mountain biking trail systems in the U.S. and is part of the Cortez Special Recreation Management Area.

May 15, 2019 | Four new nonmotorized trails and a new parking lot have been built at the Phil’s World recreation area east of Cortez.

The Tres Rios District of the Bureau of Land Management will have an event to introduce the expanded trails at noon Saturday, May 18, at the new parking lot and Cash Canyon trailhead on Road L.

After the one-hour event, cyclists are invited to join the BLM, Southwest Conservation Corps and volunteers with the Southwest Colorado Cycling Association for a ride or hike on the new Highline and Canal trails.

March 1, 2019 | This year, the Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited is joining Colorado Trout Unlimited in celebrating 50 years of protecting Colorado’s cold-water fisheries.

Founded in 1969, Colorado Trout Unlimited is the state’s leading nonprofit, nonpartisan organization providing a voice for Colorado’s rivers. Founded in 1984, the Collegiate Peaks Chapter is the oldest conservation organization in the Upper Arkansas River Valley.

April 30, 2019 | The Central Colorado Conservancy, headquartered in Salida, has been honored with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region Partners in the Outdoors Award for 2019. The award was announced at the annual Partners in the Outdoors conference on April 25 in Breckenridge.

April 29, 2019 | Four local organizations were nominated for Forest Service awards: Colorado Mountain Club was awarded the Leadership Award, Southwest Conservation Corps in the Cultural Diversity category, the Colorado Trail Foundation in the Enduring Service category and Central Colorado Mountain Riders in the Citizen Stewardship & Partnerships category.

April 22, 2019 | Read about Skylar Begay and his journey from leading crews across Arizona to working as an Archaeology Intern with Dr. Aaron Wright.

"I began work on the Lower Gila River Ethnographic and Archaeological Project (LGREAP) with Dr. Aaron Wright on February 6, 2019, as part of the Arizona Conservation Corps’ Individual Placement program. This day would mark the first of my experience as part of an archaeological project. Prior to this, I had led AZCC crews all over Arizona, from Saguaro National Park all the way up to Grand Canyon National Park. In that time, my crew and I had done some work for Grand Canyon National Park’s Tusayan Ruins to protect and preserve a kiva and other architectural remnants there. Aside from that small project, I had little to no experience in anything archaeological."

April 18, 2019 | Throughout Saturday, there will be a number of free Earth Day events at Bushmaster Park, 3150 N. Alta Vista., including workshops, lectures and giveaways along with live music. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. and include Sambatuque, F-Town Sound, and FoxyKoshka. Kids can explore the PALS Mobile, Learn how to ride a Mountain Line and find Climate Solutions with a scavenger hunt.