Photo of the Week 9.12.11

Swimming at sunset. Lake Marion, Ottawa National Forest.

Mark and Tara

Immoderate Love in the White River National Forest

Dateline: Vail, CO

The extended Labor Day weekend saw the Colorado Tour working the crowds at popular White River National Forest trailheads in the Vail vicinity. At Gore Creek and Booth Falls Trails, we encountered passels of holiday hikers, many of whom were accompanied by their faithful dogs. 

These are indeed beautiful places, but sadly, the oft-traveled trails are suffering the unfortunate impacts of intensive, immoderate love (social trails, erosion, illegal campsites and fire pits, dogs off-leash, etc.). Happily, we met many well-intentioned trail-lovers, and each day provided ample opportunity for friendly dialogue about trail etiquette, ethics, and stewardship.

More than 250 folks received Leave No Trace cards and stickers, including numerous bicyclers who stopped at our Gore Creek hospitality tent for a shady breather and Clif Bar energizer as they rode the popular Vail Pass Bike Path.

…along the Colorado Trail,

Peggy and Barrett

Small Craft Advisory! :

The e-tour has been camping around the watery, green Northwoods of Wisconsin and Michigan this past week where the lack of internet has undoubtedly saddened our faithful blog-o-philes:). The bounty of crisp, clean water around has afforded us some great swimming, frog watching, and the occasional evening serenade by a solitary Loon.

The e-tour Subaru, which we refer affectionately to as 'Big Blue', is packed to the gills with educational materials, camping gear, bike stuff and the rest of our household needs. What we're getting at is that we have been craving some sort of watercraft, and found a solution that takes up no extra space. Now, if you have no backup, or no patch kit, we don't recommend using your inflatable sleeping pad as a boat. However, we had a pretty fun time of it here on Perch Lake in the Chequamegon National Forest. Things you should Know Before You Go... have a backup sleeping arrangement or patch kit, wear a leash on your sunglasses, and have a waterproof camera.

Enjoy the advent of Fall!

Mark and Tara

The Colorado Tour Heads into the Rockies

Dateline: Eagle, CO

The Colorado Tour visited Sylvan Lake State Park on Friday and Saturday of the Labor Day Weekend. The park is located in a beautiful remote valley that reaches deep into the heart of the Rockies. It is especially popular as a fishing destination for both day-trippers and overnight campers.

A refreshing rainstorm on Friday night sweetened the dry Colorado air and Saturday dawned fresh and clear. Our outreach booth overlooking the idyllic mountain lake attracted a steady stream of curious hikers and fishermen.

We spent a full day playing the Leave No Trace Quiz for Clif Bar prizes, and swapping tales about outdoor experiences and the ones that got away...

...along the Colorado Trail,

Peggy and Barrett

The Colorado Tour hits the trail with Mountain Bikers in Lyons, Colorado

The Colorado Tour got rolling on August 30 with a program for the Lyons High School Mountain Biking Club. A cohort of 26 students and teachers braved a tempestuous Colorado rain shower to hear the Leave No Trace message and participate in the inaugural running of the Leave No Trace mountain bike relay.

Two teams competed on the ½ mile course which tested their skills for spotting and collecting trash on the trail, proper yielding to hikers and other mountain bikers, and cat hole techniques and practices. It was, of course, a memorable afternoon and a terrific way to begin the Colorado Tour. Many thanks to our host, Pat Bacalis, of Lyons Middle and High School.

...riding along the Colorado Trail,

Peggy and Barrett

Got Labor Day Plans?

The e-tour will be spending the Labor Day holiday with fellow campers at O'Connell's Jellystone Park and Camp Resort in Amboy, Illinois. We are excited for a weekend of entertainment, education, outreach, and all things Leave No Trace.

Always looking for an excuse to use our trusty America the Beautiful annual pass, the e-tour took in the sights at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial at the riverfront in St.Louis, MO.

Go play outside this weekend; safely and responsibly for yourself, and the environment.

Mark and Tara

A send-off for youth education

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is excited to send off the first-ever Leave No Trace Colorado Tour on September 2nd. The Colorado Tour program will reach a diverse group of young people to encourage outdoor recreation and, most importantly, teach them how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Over the next several weeks the Colorado Tour will run 20 educational events training for over 2,000 kids in Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics, leaving more than 100,000 impressions on the future stewards of our public lands.

We launched this tour in order to connect an age group with the great outdoors at a time when they need it most. Research indicates that a child who is exposed to outdoor activities and is taught to care for the outdoors at a young age will retain those values throughout their lifetime.

Our Colorado Tour Team happens to be two very experienced individuals. Barrett Kennedy and Peggy Reily are back for their second year with Leave No Trace. In 2010 Barrett and Peggy spent 4 months on the road as the e-tour team traveling through 21 states conducting over 50 workshops to more than 15,000 individuals.

This fall Barrett and Peggy will be running several types of educational sessions including:

· Kids Clinics to teach youth through discussion, activities, skits and slideshows

· Campfire Talks at state and national parks designed to get kids learning about environmental issues in a social setting

· Service projects such as clean ups in local parks, as well as working with youth at local nature centers, boys and girls clubs, and other after school youth programs

· “Train the Trainer” style workshops designed for teachers, guides, agency employees, youth serving organizations and a variety of other outdoor leaders and educators

Special thanks goes to Xcel Energy, New Belgium Brewing Company and Leave No Trace members for providing the support of this traveling tour.

Check out the 2011 Colorado Tour Schedule-