Rocky Mountain Flycasters at Gateway Nature Area

Trailgate Parties at Gateway Natural Area

Working up the Black Powder Trail Early on the refreshingly cool morning of September 10, twelve RMF TU volunteers gathered at the Fort Collins Gateway Natural Area in the Poudre River Canyon. They were there for the second, and last for this year, Trailgate Party. To open the party, and with six deer appropriately romping in the meadow behind her, Catherine Dillon, Service Learning Educator at Fort Collins Natural Areas Group, presented an illustrated talk on wildlife recently observed in the Gateway Natural Area. Her talk, based on observations recorded by Ranger Steve, was applauded by the volunteers as the deer paraded off-stage toward the Poudre River.

Then Todd Juhasz, Trail Technician at Fort Collins Natural Areas Group, explained the tasks the volunteers were to undertake. One part of the work involved drainage improvements on the Overlook Trail. Widening of its corridor had been the object of volunteers’ attention during the first Trailgate Party in August. The major attention this day was on the Black Powder Trail. It involved clearing bushes obstructing the trail corridor and also making trail drainage improvements at strategic locations. The energetic volunteers completed all the work that Todd had set as the objective for the day within the planned three-hour time span. Todd supervised the volunteer team doing the drainage improvements, and Catherine lead the team doing the corridor widening.

The September TrailGate Crew To conclude the organized portion of the day, RMF Volunteer Coordinators Teri and Scott Gardner produced a luncheon of sandwiches with an assortment of condiments and supplemented with a delicious pecan pie. The entire event was well-planned by Catherine, Todd, Teri, and Scott and the volunteers appreciated those preparations that made the day go so smoothly. At the close of the Trailgate Party, those who had the time and inclination went flyfishing in the sparkling waters of the Poudre River, but avoided the North Fork because its waters are temporarily stained by repairs to the discharge gates on the Seaman Dam just upstream. (See the President’s Beat for additional information about Seaman.)

Those who worked on these two trails in 2011 recognize the need for additional loving care of these great trails next year. To facilitate that, RMF TU expects to continue the Adopt-a-Trail Agreement with the Fort Collins Natural Areas Program in 2012.

Dave Piske
Conservation Chair
Rocky Mountain Flycasters chapter, Trout Unlimited

Trailgate Parties at Gateway Natural Area

In the inaugural session of Trailgate Parties on August 6, fourteen RMF TU volunteers had a very productive and enjoyable morning on Saturday, August 6 at the Fort Collins Gateway Natural Area in the Poudre River Canyon.

Catherine Dillon,
Service Learning Educator To open the session, Catherine Dillon, Service Learning Educator at Fort Collins Natural Areas Group, presented an interesting introduction to the Overlook Trail by describing its history based on historical research she had conducted. Her talk was applauded by all the volunteers. Also, the snacks and other amenities Catherine provided for later consumption were appreciated by all.

Then Todd Juhasz, Trail Technician at Fort Collins Natural Areas Group, explained the tasks the volunteers were to undertake. The work involved widening the Overlook Trail corridor by clearing bushes obstructing the corridor and also making trail drainage improvements at strategic locations along the Overlook Trail. The energetic volunteers completed all the work that Todd had set as the objective for the day within the planned three-hour time span.

The August 6 Gateway Park Trail Crew missing Dave Piske down the trail (photo by gorillapod)

To conclude the organized portion of the day, RMF Volunteer Coordinators Teri and Scott Gardner produced a delectable luncheon they had procured from a local sandwich shop. After a breezy, sunny, but not-too-hot morning of trail improvements, the lunch was quickly consumed by all those present.

An unnamed fisher shows off a brown trout from
the Gateway Park area of the Poudre River To close the Trailgate Party, all those who had the time and inclination went flyfishing in the sparkling waters of the Poudre River, only recently transformed from its more challenging high flows during this year's extended snow-melt flows.

The entire event was well-planned by Catherine, Todd, Teri and Scott and all the volunteers appreciated those preparations that made the day go so smoothly.

The next Trailgate Party at Gateway is scheduled at 8 AM on Saturday, September 10. We will work on the longer Black Powder Trail on the other side of the Poudre River. So we hope the recent volunteers will return and, with Black Powder being a longer trail, more volunteers will be needed. So spread the word and sign up by sending an email to Teri and Scott Gardner, RMF's volunteer coordinators, or phone them at 805.551.3698. Tell them you want to volunteer for September 10.

Dave Piske
Conservation Chair
Rocky Mountain Flycasters chapter, Trout Unlimited

Join us at Two New TrailGate Parties

Article collaboratively contributed by Teri & Scott Gardner, Dave Piske, and Susan Schafer

The Poudre River at Gateway Natural Area

Interested in attending a TrailGate Party? It's a six hour fun event that combines giving first-aid to the environment along the Poudre, followed by a smackingly good picnic lunch, and then topping it off with some fly fishing, all in one day! How does that sound to you? Now that you know what a TrailGate Party is, can you believe that we will actually be having two of them this Summer! Now, would you like to attend? We are accepting Volunteers, we mean Attendees, right now. Sign-up now so you won't be left off the Attendee List. Let us know if you want to help out on August 6, or September 10, or attend both days at Gateway Natural Area in the Poudre Canyon.

Here is what we will do. At 8 AM each day we will renovate foot-trails that are sadly in need of our help. At eleven we will enjoy a picnic under the canopy of one of the new shelters in Gateway Natural Area. And after the picnic you may fish on the North Fork between its confluence with the Poudre and the Seaman Reservoir, or wherever you wish on public water in the main stem of the Poudre.

RMF TU has entered into an Adopt-A-Trail Volunteer Agreement with the Fort Collins Natural Areas Program. It pertains to the Gateway Natural Area. The heart of the Agreement provides for TU volunteers to assist in maintenance of the Overlook and the Black Powder trails under the professional supervision of Natural Areas employees. Both trails boast gorgeous views of the North Fork and the main stem of the Poudre River.

Long-time Poudre anglers may remember Gateway as the site of an enticing, but forbidden, horseshoe bend in the main stem of the Poudre. For many years it was closed to public access and fishing. It's now open to the public.

The public facilities at Gateway have been modernized and improved, with the exception of the two hiking trails. The trail corridors are densely overgrown with mountain mahogany and the trails' surfaces can benefit from erosion control techniques. By joining the TrailGate parties you can learn some tricks of the trade of trail maintenance and renovation.

The physical activity will be similar to the trail maintenance work that RMF volunteers have conducted during the past 6 years at Larimer County's Eagles Nest Open Space. So, Gateway will be an addition to what RMF volunteers are already doing to protect and maintain trails in our nearby public lands and natural areas.

Teri and Scott Gardner, new members to RMF, will serve as co-coordinators for volunteer signups. Those interested in volunteering for one or both of these dates should reach out to them via email or via the phone at 805-551-3698 (yes, they still have their California phone number). For each day, we are looking for up to twenty (20) adult volunteers given the type of terrain and trail lengths we will encounter.

Please be aware that the daily parking fee for entry to Gateway has been waived for RMF TU volunteers on August 6 and September 10 only.