2008 Board Meeting Minutes

November 8, 2008

Attending: Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file.

Matt raised the issue of the restroom at the Barr Trailhead, and adding electricity so that it could remain open year round. The current charge for the port-a-potty is $175 per month, from about mid October to about mid May. Eric wondered about solar power for it. It might be connected to the hydro plant, which is also a clean source of energy. Adding a change might delay it. Eric B. moved that Friends of the Peak donate $3000 for running electricity to the restroom. It was seconded and passed.

Karl is retiring from the board. Michael expressed some interest in taking over the website and database. Karl gave to Steve the laptop for the website and database, the keys to the post office box, Friends of the Peak letterhead for thank you letters, a CD for the website, a CD with photos, a box of stored release forms. Eric said that he can use Access. Managing the website involves putting up the projects in the spring and setting up the online sign up. Once a month the minutes are posted. The database work takes more time. Every registration is entered into the database. The projects must be coordinated. After a project, the database needs who actually showed up, since some people show up and don’t register and some people register and don’t show up. The project numbers are the only link between the website and database. The renewals must also be entered, and address corrections made from the post office or individuals. The position also involves generating labels for invitations. The database person also sends out the info sheets for projects. Karl suggested updating the website. He currently uses straight text editing on the HTML. He suggested Cascading Style Sheets. Eric B. recommended recruiting a new board member. Eric B. has used Dream Weaver. Tools also can add extra code. It’s important that the website work with multiple browsers. Karl will help whoever takes over. Karl would like to change the credit card information on the website, since it currently is his. Everyone thanked Karl for his work for Friends of the Peak. The data entry takes about eight hours a month. Eric S. has a friend in Denver who might be willing to do it.

Eric B. had a proposal for the Pikes Peak Corps. He’s thinking eight to ten local high school students, for five weeks, in June and the first week of July. The program would also require an additional eight days for the workers to receive the $1000 scholarship from Americorps. They need 300 hours of community service. The first three weeks will be eight hours a day, 120 hours. Having the next two weeks overnight makes sense, which counts at ten hours a day. It would include one weekend. The Hill Climb is around July 20, so does not interfere. The students could work the additional eight days on other RMFI projects, or at other volunteer organizations. But the hours must go through RMFI, but could be with other organizations. Eric likes the additional hours because it keeps the students involved, and builds a sense of environmental stewardship and continues their training. The program will integrate education with service. Eric B. has not looked into students earning college credit. Compensation would be $8 per hour, or we could use minimum wage. For Americorps, they must be at least 17 years old. Steve wondered if they started at 16 and turned 17, if they qualified. 16 is the minimum age anyway. Steve asked about food on the overnights. The effective hourly rate would be $11.33. The program director would provide oversight. Program cost would include the director. For Friends of the Peak, cost would be 8909 for ten members. $2187 would cover the supervisor. Food estimate is $960, based on other RMFI projects. Friends of the Peak could rent equipment for the students for $300, for kitchen and camping equipment. An additional charge for the truck transportation would be $130. Eric B. assumed that the volunteers would use FOTP tools. RMFI plans to donate overhead costs, which would be 22% of the total normally. The total is $12486. Rocky Mountain Youth Corp is $6100 per week. The benefits include more control, and an extra day. Eric S. wondered about high school students, which we had last year. Eric plans to offer some lectures, and hopes Steve and possibly another will also. Classes will be in the field. The Earth Corps program recruits from around the country and works in the South Colony basin. They have lectures, discussions, and presentations as they work for thirty days. That’s the model for this new program. Steve asked who cooks. The students would cook. They could either each cook individually or two students could cook on a rotating basis. Eric B. is applying for an NFF grant for the Ski Creek work. He could adjust the grant application to include the concept of the Pikes Peak Corps. That would include Ski Creek and trail work. Then the grant could fund the entire program. Eric B. would like to start recruiting soon, and have all students in place by April. They can then start orientation. They could even work in Garden of the Gods in May to gain the needed additional eight days. The continuing education credits might be more of a problem since they’re high school students. Eric believes state trails would support the program. The UCCS program for the website should not have high ongoing costs. Steve expects something around $200 per year or less. If the restroom has electricity, the port-a-potty cost goes away.

Steve mentioned the group interested in improving the Saint Mary’s Falls trail. The Saturday Knights have existed for over a hundred years. It’s a hiking and social group. Eric S. has hiked with them a few times. Steve, Mary, and John plan to meet with the Forest Service about plans for the trail. One thing they would like to do is improve the parking lot. That all needs to be worked out.

The NFF grant is due in December. Eric would like a decision from Friends of the Peak. Eric suggested the Crags trail and the Elk Park Knoll trail as places to work. The Crags trail needs a reroute around where the water runs. Eric and Mark suggested adding stair steps and routing the water. Forest Service cannot provide money for an EIS. Eventually, the connection for the Ring will need an EA. Eric S. wondered about paying for that. The bighorn sheep in the southwest area of the peak, and lambing, is an issue. The trail from the Gillet portal reaches the South Slope. The Forest Service seems to be concerned about the higher elevations. The Forest Service plans to issue a statement about the southwest area of the peak. The road to the Cripple Creek reservoir has a left turn onto a dirt road that goes through private and public land and reaches Forest Service land. Colorado Division of Wildlife has data on bighorn sheep activity in the area. There’s a migration route and lambing area. Hikers can cause mothers to abandon their lambs. The area has many private parcels from old mining claims. A suggestion is following West Beaver Creek to reach South Slope. Going over McReynolds is another possibility, but goes through bighorn area. Seasonal closing is a possibility. The trail needs to go from Pancake Rocks to the water road. Mary and Jim scouted from Pancake Rocks to West Beaver Creek. Going down West Beaver Creek far enough eventually reaches Gold Camp Road. Eric S. believes it would be close to the upper end of the road. Eric B. wondered if there was another way around. Gold Camp Road wouldn’t be a bad hike. It wouldn’t be the only place for the Ring on roads, and not the worst road that the Ring uses. Eric and Eric pointed out that there is a trail in the Cascade area.

After examining possibilities around the southwest section of the Peak, the board resumed discussing the Pikes Peak Corps proposal. Eric estimates needing four years of two week sessions to improve the Crags trail. People are going off trail and producing braided social trails. Elk Park Knoll also needs much work. Steve proposed a bridge, as for Mount Cutler. Any bridge longer than 20 feet or over more than 3 feet above ground much be engineered by Forest Service. Barr Trail is another trail that needs work. Several people at the annual meeting mentioned bicycles on Barr Trail, and damage from that. Barr Trail is missing trail dogs and needs help. The website might help. Some rails are broken. Barr Trail might attract weekend volunteers. Eric S. suggested putting work day information into the CMC newsletter. Steve’s crew worked from No Name Creek to the rock arch. They did little things not necessarily noticed by most trail users. Eric B. noted that RMFI must turn away volunteers, so people are out there. Maybe RMFI could send some of those volunteers to FOTP. Crew leaders would be an issue. But they could probably be recruited. Contracting with RMFI might be a possibility. Eric B. proposed having RMFI suggest people check with FOTP when they have extra volunteers.

Steve needs to produce an operating plan by January. Mary will have alternate Thursdays on Saint Mary’s Falls. Steve suggested at least two days on Barr Trail. Elk Park Knoll needs work. Horsethief Park could use a floating boardwalk across the wet land by the beaver pond. It would need two adjacent work days. Mary guesses about $1000 for materials. Forest Service might have rules. If Forest Service approves, they might use ATVs to transport materials, perhaps a generator. Maybe Medicine Wheel would be interested in helping, either with money for materials or volunteers. The operating plan needs dates. Mary proposed July for Horsethief.

Projects for next year are:

• Saint Mary’s Falls – alternate Thursdays and a Saturday to kick it off

• Horsethief Park

• Barr Trail

• Cairns for the Crags trail

• Pikes Peak Corps

• Freshmen seminar camp and service

Elk Park Knoll needs to wait because it needs a bridge. But that requires talking with Forest Service, with Frank and Brent.

Friends of the Peak received a request for a letter for support for off road motorized use. The information was vague. Forest Service is asking for money from motorized state trail funds. Work would include education kiosks and signs. Mary will write the letter. She’ll try to find time to ask to see the actual plan.

The board returned to the Pikes Peak Corps proposal. Youth involvement and education are both positive aspects. Eric S. moved that we allocate funds to the Pikes Peak Corps initial season, then reexamine it next year. Steve seconded. Motion passed.

Steve will work on dates for the projects.

Steve mentioned putting together a spring newsletter. This newsletter should thank the volunteers in the fall and donors in the spring. Eric B. will write an article on Pikes Peak Corps. Steve will write a general article. Steve asked if Mary would like to write an article about Saint Mary’s Falls. Mary will write up the results of the red and green stickers from the annual meeting. Steve would like all articles for the newsletter by November 22. Steve has people at home to help fold and label.

Eric S. had sample pamphlets on the Ring segments. Steve mentioned including seasonal closures. Some portals and trails can close seasonally. Steve asked if Eric S. would like to write an article for the newsletter. Mountain Chalet might be willing to help with printing costs. Eric will check on prices and ask Mountain Chalet if they would have them available for people. The newsletter article could ask for suggestions. Eric B. suggested a trail profile for elevation gain.

Meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.

October 14, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file.

The restroom at Barr Trailhead closed for the season today. We need to arrange the port-a-potty. Spencer Johnston expressed willingness to tell the folks where to set it up.

Work has started on Barr Trail. One of the students inventoried the trail from Barr Camp to the bottom. He intends to do the top part. Another student is also working. The university drafted a memorandum of understanding, and asked for a contact person. Steve and Eric B. cannot be the contact person. Steve suggested Carol, since she’ll be writing the check.

Steve received e-mail from Frank Landis. A group of hikers are concerned about safety on Saint Mary’s Falls. They raised money for trail improvement. They’ve been talking with Dan Cleveland. Frank suggested Friends of the Peak to help. Frank suggested discussing ideas over the winter. They could be incorporated into the operating plan. The group has some ideas for the money, including signs and parking lot work. Steve, Dan, Frank, and this group plan to meet over the winter. City of Colorado Springs owns the parking area. The existing sign pointing to the top of falls misleads many hikers. The trail has many social trails that make finding the real trail difficult. Mountain bikers also use it. Steve will talk to Frank and will send the e-mail around to the board.

Steve received e-mail complaining about the Seven Bridges trail maintenance.

For the annual meeting, Steve has the caterer set up, for chicken. Mary arranged for a speaker. Mary would like to put up the yes-no-maybe list from the WAAG at the annual meeting. She’d like to give people stickers, one red, one green, to put next to items, probably mostly on the maybe list, for some guidance on what people would like. Eric suggested giving people three each.

Mary would like the WAAG to look at the policy and collaboratively discuss what the policy might look like. Utilities is accustomed to management making decisions. Utilities has been attempting to provide the education that some WAAG members asked for early on. An example was information on fens on South Slope, which have been mapped.

Mary and Steve responded to e-mail asking if there was a way to hike from Jones Park to the summit. There is no way that doesn’t trespass on Utility land.

Eric B. is trying to work on a Pikes Peak Corps idea. State trails grants probably require more public input. Elk Park Knoll, Crags, Devil’s Playground, and Barr trails are all items to include. The Barr Trail website will provide a method for public feedback. The website is just a start. Demonstrating feedback in some form is important. Making people aware of the website is an issue. Contacting the Gazette is a possibility. We could put a notice on the board at Barr Trail.

The idea for Pikes Peak Corps is to have high school students going into their senior year to have a chance to do environmental work on the Peak. Rocky Mountain Field Institute is working on that. Friends of the Peak could be included with one or two weeks. RMFI is currently thinking of a day program, with local students, to work out bugs this year. Eric B. is looking at minimum wage or educational stipend. An educational stipend might be around $1000. One possible way to administer the money is setting up an education fund. Americorps also provides education funds. Five weeks is not enough time to qualify for that. They’d need twelve more days to work. They need 300 hours. Youth Corps is $6100 per week. Providing a $1000 college stipend, with accounting for other costs, such as a van, comes to $3900 per week, and provides more control, allows more educational components, and benefits the community. It should work well for RMFI. Minimum wage is now $7.28. The cost would then be $4876 per week. The weekly costs are for a crew with ten students. A possible enticement would be some educational credit, for the educational component. Another possibility is working out high school credit. Some high school and college programs require some volunteer hours. A question is why to target high school students instead of college students. RMFI wants to make it distinct from the Earth Corps program. Another idea is to expand to high school students finishing junior year and senior year, for the first year, to expand the pool. College credits might be attractive to graduated seniors. The workers must be at least 16 years old. The operating plans need to include the Corps projects. Brent Botts is enthusiastic. The program seems cost effective, with more value for the workers and community. Publicity with the Gazette might help with recruitment.

Eric B. also mentioned that one of the natural gullies going into the wetland has some charcoal deposits. They dated them. They were 3500 and 9000 years old where they sampled.

Eric S. mentioned some items. He proposed a crossing over the stream in Horsethief Park by the beaver dam. The current trail is over wetland. Eric would like a boardwalk over the wetland. Steve will mention it with Frank. The Ring signs there have Forest Service numbers on them. Eric S. finds them confusing.

Eric S. had a motor vehicle use map. CMC is looking at it. The Pike ranger district had the map up for 2008. Three organizations sent a letter to Forest Service, asking why the red trails were on the motor vehicle use map. The 1984 management plan did not include them, and did not have NEPA, etc. The road engineer for the Forest Service said they would accept comments to November 1 for the 2009 map. Eric S. plans to look at things around Pikes Peak. He tried one area, and found many informal motorized trails. He found two things on the map in that area that he thought were inappropriate. One was the eastern trail from Mount Rosa. It wasn’t designed for motorized use. Even just a little motorized use is creating rutting and erosion. Another problem trail is 370i. It is badly eroded, and goes to a shooting range, which is illegal. The response to the letter said that the roads are ones that the Forest Service has designated. They have no record of NEPA. Taking the roads off the map as sanctioned roads should be a start. David Havlick, in the geography department in UCCS has done much work in motorized work. Michael Rogers is another possible resource. Eric is looking for help checking trails. A possibility is to have Friends of the Peak also look at this. This is an ongoing process, since the map is published every year. Michael B. offered to help.

Eric is also looking at wording on the website on signs. He received some comments via e-mail. The group made some suggestions. Michael suggested including policy.

We also need to look at producing a fall newsletter. Copy One gave a good price. Discussion was deferred to the November meeting.

We need to schedule the meeting for November. Steve proposed Saturday, November 8. Steve will check into using the Penrose House. We can start at 9:00 a.m. They have an approved list of caterers, including a couple of pizza places. We can have lunch and hope to finish by 1:00. The main focus would be crafting the operating plan. Steve will create an agenda. The November meeting will be Karl’s last.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

September 16, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report:  On file.

Steve reported on the Barr Trail GIS project. Steve asked the person who will work on it to write a proposal. He and two students can go out and check the trail.  Steve passed around the proposal. The proposal includes the scope of the work. The plan is to finish walking the trail by the end of October. Then he can work on the web part over the winter. It will be interactive. People will be able to add comments. Someone can click on the map to show where a problem is.

Eric B. would like to see this expand to other trails in our region. Doing one should help with funding for others. Eric B. wondered if other trail groups have anything similar.

Students will take a GPS unit and record coordinates of things that they encounter, ex., rails, steps.

Michael wondered if users would be able to print off information. Photos could be added fairly easily. FOTP has a license for TOPO for the Ring. That might be more appropriate for printing. Matt’s web site has a good description of Barr Trail already. FOTP would have different landmarks. The program would have layers. It needs to be interactive, almost like a blog, with reports tied into a location on the map. Eric B. can help, also, as can Steve. There will be some interaction with the developer, Paddington, as the system develops. The price in the proposal should be the set cost, and won’t depend on the time needed, for example. Asking for GPS locations, if available, for comments would be useful. FOTP should be able to request state trails money. Planning documents and public comments are important for that. With the interactive site, the plan would evolve as needs change. Public comment is crucial.

Eric S. asked about timing, listed as October through summer 2009. The work will all be done before he’s paid. Steve asked if the board wanted to approve the proposal. Mary suggested that assuming that the blog is interactive, the board should approve the cost. Eric S. seconded. Motion passed.

The annual meeting is Saturday, November 1. Steve will contact the caterer. WAAG had an interesting presentation from Department of Wildlife on the bighorn sheep. It also relates to development of Ring the Peak. Mary suggested the speaker from the Department of Wildlife as a speaker for the annual meeting. Mary will contact her. Steve asked about printing invitations. Stiffer paper could be mailed as postcards. Copy One might give us a discount as a nonprofit. Mary will work on the postcard. Mary will be out of town October 15 to 25. Ed wondered if the machine was remotely accessible for picking up RSVPs. Steve wondered if Copy One could put on postage. Steve reserved the space. He’ll call to confirm. Mary has tablecloths. Steve would like all the arrangements made by the end of next week. Sending out the invitations in the beginning of October would be good. People could RSVP electronically or by phone. We could send out e-mail invitations, also. Mary will send the text to Karl to e-mail. Eric S. volunteered to help label and stamp.

Steve received an e-mail complaining about how nice the Seven Bridges trail is, commenting that it is a wilderness. The writer said he would contact the city and the Forest Service.

Steve received a notice that Forest Service is seeking comment about relocating the Crags trailhead. Eric S. hiked it. The new trailhead should not have fees and should bypass the campground. It will hold 77 cars and have a pit toilet. The new spot will be across the road from the small lot on the road. Mary suggests writing a letter in support and offering expertise and labor to help. One negative comment was that the new trail will not be conducive to cross country skiing, but in winter skiers can go through on the road. The current parking lot holds 14 vehicles, and usually overflows.

Mary reported on the WAAG. Givens seemed to be changing. Mary would like to report at the annual FOTP meeting in November. Several people in the WAAG also were concerned. Mary shared the paper with the givens and schedule. More collaboration is needed. Utilities board had a resolution for Utilities to hold these meetings. Quantifying items on the list of givens would be problematic. The charter says to work collaboratively to create a balance of uses. Eric B. points out that we’re one year into a thirty year process. But the master plan was ten years ago, so one could say ten years into a thirty year process.

Thursday is the last Thursday on the Seven Bridges trail. The tools are at the junction with the Ring. The project will put in a few more steps. Then everyone will carry the tools to Bear Creek. Forest Service will bring in materials to build water crossings and also carry out tools.

Tool cleaning is Saturday at Mary’s. E-mail went out. FOTP will buy lunch for all the volunteers. Cleaning should take about an hour.

Mary would like to start work on Saint Mary’s Falls trail next year. The city and Friends of North Cheyenne Canyon approve.

Mary mentioned trail names being different from the labels on the signs, in particular Bear Creek.

Eric B. had no volunteers for the Elk Park Knoll rescheduled work day. The trail still needs work. It will require major design work. The gully is widening. The work done this year is holding up well and survived the August storms. Mountain bike use has skyrocketed. That’s a consideration for future work.

The Pikes Peak Corps is another item to consider. Americorps funding is available. The idea is for students going into the senior year in high school. Eric B. will put together more specifics for next meeting. UCCS can administer the stipend, which is federally funded. The conduit is UCCS to the student. Americorps credit goes to the university they attend.

Carol called port-a-potty providers for price comparisons. Waste Management would run about $230 a month. Best Way, according to the phone call, would be about $130 per month. Other providers were between those two. Best Way looks to be worth trying.

Eric S. and Bill Brown will do a signing run at Horsethief Park. That will include the reroute around the beaver dam. The social trails there were going through wet lands. Eric and Bill will look at the trail. Forest Service is happy with the amount of use of the Putney Gulch trail.

Eric S. mentioned the topic of signing. Ugly green stumps are sprouting along the trail. Eric has some ideas for letting people know where the Ring is. Robert Houdek will include the Ring on the next Pikes Peak Atlas. We could also print maps and sell or give them away, or print ten brochures, post signs at the portals, direct people to the web site, have boxes for maps at the portals, nail signs to trees, use blazes on trees.

Mary feels that signs are valuable. They reassure people that they are on the right spot. At some spots maps are not clear. Signs are easy to follow. Steve says that all three, maps, descriptions, and signs, are needed. Michael suggested education, perhaps on web sites, in the newspapers. Michael suggested posting a sign policy on the web site. Karl suggested putting it in the newsletter. Eric S. volunteered to write a policy to present next time. A topic for the retreat would be what options to pursue. Eric S. offered to mock up a brochure for a segment. FOTP could offer maps. The map would also explain why the signs are needed.

Eric S. reported small progress on the Gillett portal. The gate moved earlier. Cripple Creek did a survey around reservoir #2. The fishing club is in Pike National Forest. Hikers could use the road and trails. Eric S. hasn’t tried to resolve the right of way on the road that goes into reservoir #2. The deeds state there is a right of way, but not where and the purpose. The access is for Cripple Creek to their reservoirs over private property, and so Cripple Creek has a stake in it. Jim Strub is going to hike a trail over the west fork of west Beaver Creek. He believes there is a trail there, which would come out at Wilson reservoir. The Forest Service planned to write a letter to FOTP about the requirements for extending the Ring, in response to the e-mail that Mary sent to them. They’ll write down their expectations for the Ring.

Eric S. is still volunteering six to eight hours a week for Forest Service on the boundary survey. Eric S. looks for encroachments and trespassing and photographs corner monuments and takes GPS waypoints. So far the survey has been in limited areas. Eric S. has covered quite a bit of territory. He’ll see if more volunteers might be needed. If so, it could be included in volunteer opportunities for next year.

Jim would like the trail on the west fork of West Beaver Creek on the projects for next year. But it’s not a system trail.

Michael had the second printing of cards, to use next season.

Karl has a reminder on info sheets. They are supposed to go out two weeks before a project. So the sheets need to go to him three weeks before.

Eric B. has projects starting at 8:30 at Soda Springs Park on Thursday through Sunday.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

August 12, 2008

Attending: Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang.

Meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report:  On file.

Mary reported on the Legends and Legacies project. Twelve people were on the project. They did 750 feet of trail, some steps and some drains. Last year’s group, from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, did more work. The steps were great. The drains were good although they could be wider. This year’s group was less prepared, less experienced, and younger, high school instead of college. The guys from Zebulon Pike on the VOC project worked hard. The guys were close to graduating from the program. A possibility for the future would be checking into having a group from there work. The work remaining on the trail is about 500 feet of trail, needing a couple of drains and a staircase. Perhaps a future contract could include specific feet of trail, number of drains, etc. Devil’s Playground could use a day, but not a week. Steve can give feedback to Michelle. We’ll send a check out for the work.

Steve asked Eric B. about plans for next year. A possibility is to develop a Pikes Peak Corps, with Rocky Mountain Field Institute and Friends of the Peak. RMFI has used a similar approach in South Colony Lakes. CFI also uses a similar approach. Eric is very pleased with the Americorps workers, but they are not always available. FOTP and RMFI would hire the people, train them, and set expectations. Eric believes Pikes Peak would warrant grants, so FOTP could again apply for grants.

Steve had a crew of three on Barr Trail on August 9. Steve had talked to Matt about stairs being needed below the first mile, so the crew hiked down looking for the spot. They put in steps about eight tenths of a mile down. They worked for three hours when clouds started rolling in around noon. Steve had nine people signed up.

Eric B. moved the Elk Park Knoll project to Sunday, September 14 because of bad weather on the scheduled date. He sent e-mail to people signed up

Mary reported on Seven Bridges. The turnout was good three weeks ago, with new people. The group made it across the scree. The next time they made it to Jones Park. Three work days remain, which should be enough to finish. Next year the work days can be on the Saint Mary’s Falls trail, with basic repair, drainage, and stabilization. People mountain bike the Saint Mary’s Falls trail. The workers will keep bikers in mind for the maintenance. Including on the laminated signs that Mary puts up that the sign is authorized by the Forest Service might help keep the signs in place.

Entry into the Pikes Peak Highway has become an issue. Jack gave Friends of the Peak a set of passes. Work days aren’t a problem. Individual work needs a pass. These passes are also to use as a thank you for working. The new passes say to admit one, rather than one vehicle, and expire December 2008. Highway passes are a topic to discuss with the Highway folks for next year’s projects.

The Ascent and Marathon people asked for help staffing a water station at Bob’s Road. Steve recruited volunteers and found one.

Steve is taking the freshman seminar class up and plans to help Eric B. with a project transplanting plants, which should be a good project for the group. Steve needs thirty shovels. Mary has about thirty shovels for the project to use. Eric B. will help supervise. Eric believes shovels will suffice. He has buckets and such. Mary will give Steve some items to distribute as thank yous, sunscreen, pins, etc. The group will start at 9:00 and should finish by 11:30.

A possible project is building rock cairns for segments where the trail disappears going up to the summit from the west side. There’s a couple of other places that could use some work. These would be appropriate projects to propose for next year.

Planning for next year could start this fall.

Michael proposed that we buy trail dogs a season pass. Mary suggests asking that the Highway provide access because traditionally Pikes Peak Highway has supported the work. Identifying the trail dogs should help with the Highway people. Trail dogs can bring a group with them, but only the top groups need access to the Highway.

Eric S. sent out e-mail about signs and vandalism. Steve would like to discuss it with Eric present. Signs give reference points for hikers even if they aren’t hiking the Ring. It is good publicity for Friends of the Peak. The signs are lasting longer. Mary suggests recruiting more people for signing runs.

Mary has found that Pipeline trail is badly eroded. It’s a motorized trail, so not a trail that Friends of the Peak can work on. But Friends of the Peak could mention the problem to the Forest Service.

Steve has the key to the tube and can take the donations to Pikes Peak National to count and deposit.

Mary reported on the WAAG. They’re still meeting.

Steve reported on the Barr Trail inventory. He has some leads. He’s waiting until after the Ascent and Marathon. FOTP can use the server at the geology department. FOTP needs to identify the cost, transfer the money to the university, and then they will disburse it. Someone walking the trail can use a GPS to mark the needs on the trail. Focusing on Barr Trail to improve it would be good, although some people enjoy the obstacles.

Karl asked if the debit card information had been updated for payment for the web site. The rent on the post office box should be coming due. Karl will probably just pay it then request reimbursement.

In October it will be time to put in the port-a-potty for Barr Trail. We could check on prices and hand sanitizer.

The six month CD came due. The plan is to convert to a twelve month CD. Steve will do that, collect the money from the tube and deposit it, and check on the form that arrived in the mail from the bank.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

July 8, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file. 

Expenses are in the usual categories. The port-a-potty from Barr trailhead has been removed for the summer. The only new categories are food for work days, only $17 so far, and t-shirts.

Annual payment for the web site came due. Karl paid it because the debit card information was outdated. Carol then sent him a check.

Steve reported on the work day on Barr Trail. Ten volunteers worked on a quarter mile of trail by the rock arch, cleaning out drains, shoring up fence, and trying to stabilize the trail edge. The trail will need more work. They spent three hours. Fog rolled in so they left. Steve was pleased with the amount of work and the turn out. They were able to drive in on Longs Ranch Road.

Mary mentioned that Gail Allen gave her the tools and key. Steve can ask her about maintaining the lower part of the trail. Steve will check the tube.

Steve has run into roadblocks at UCCS for the inventory. The lawyer and IT person are checking things. Around the beginning of August, Steve plans to do the inventory, perhaps starting at the top and going down. He believes the issues with the university will resolve. Steve talked to Matt Carpenter, who suggested going a mile down from the top to repair some steps on the August work day. Steve will ask Karl about the count of volunteers. The problem is at a high step, at the bottom of the sixteen golden stairs.

The fact sheet for Eric B.’s work days have the wrong heading, Crags Devil’s Playground.

The state parks sent a request to attend meetings on planning for the acquisition for Cheyenne Mountain State Park. They have three meetings, all at Cheyenne Mountain Junior High. Eric S. plans to attend. They are July 15 to September 9.

Michael was at Crystal Reservoir and talked to a ranger there. The rangers said they didn’t know there was a trail there. Michael suggested marking the trailhead. Eric S. will investigate possible locations.

Eric updated the Ring web site about the private property portion on the Intemann trail. He put a clickable spot on Crystal Park Road that explains the trail. The sign there points down the road. The Intemann sign also explains that the trail ends.

The Barr Camp folks requested a copy of the newsletter. Steve will talk to Karl about sending a newsletter. Barr Camp has some tools. Trail Dogs can e-mail a request to use the tools in the area. Mary suggested offering to donate more tools to them if they’d like. Steve will talk to Bob about making the offer.

Michael printed Trail Dog cards. He needs a few addresses. The gatekeeper at the highway wanted to keep the highway pass that Mary gave to Michael. Michael can print one that looks official and ask Steve to sign it. The gatekeepers are accustomed to the one time passes. Michael introduced himself. Karl and Steve can provide addresses.

Ed had nothing to report.

Eric S. fixed the web site. He picked up the map for the mining claim near Little Pikes Peak, along with the surveyor’s notes. Eric hopes to find out who the current owner is. He was on Gold Camp Road north of the Section 16 trailhead. The GPS said that the marker he was looking for was inside a house. It is in the middle of the backyard. The city owns the property. Another was at the end of High Drive by the caretaker’s house. He encountered a bear and broke of the search. The markers are corners of the national forest.

Mary reported lending brewery blankets and buckets to Green Mountain Falls for a project. Mary talked to Amy at Americorps. They plan to meet July 14. The group will work July 22 to 26, Tuesday to Saturday.

The second work day on Seven Bridges had 13 volunteers, with 8 volunteers for the third. They are heading across the scree. That’s about halfway through the section and halfway through the summer.

Mary will contact Eric B. about t-shirts and snacks for the work day this Saturday.

The first signing run is tomorrow. The order for the signposts was placed about six weeks ago but is waiting for posts to come in. The folks at Rock Art expect posts to arrive this week. When we receive them depends on how long processing all the back orders takes. We have about twenty posts to carry through the Jones Park run, as many as we used on the previous run to replace vandalized signs, so we should have enough. But to ensure we have enough for the Jones Park run, Carol’s been waiting to replace any other missing signs until after that.

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

June 10, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file.

Expenses include the usual telephone, etc., and t-shirts. Carol called Waste Management to remove the port-a-potty at Barr Trail head.

Pikes Peak National charged $15 for the debit card. The board discussed whether to keep it and decided to see how useful it is.

Steve has talked to Amy at Legends and Legacies Youth Corps. Steve signed the agreement. Amy wants to scout the work area, and suggested the first week of July. Mary checked her schedule. June 30 worked for Mary. Mary will coordinate with Amy for a date and let Steve know. Amy wanted to have the crew leaders there, but that didn’t work out. The work will be the third week in July. They’ll camp at Glen Cove. Steve will contact Jack. It was in the plan. The work crews need to avoid the Hill Climb. Americorps will also be working and camping in the area. Steve will coordinate with Amy and Eric B.

Steve is working on the Barr Trail inventory, and with university folks. His e-mails haven’t received replies. Steve suggested that we not support overhead for universities. Universities typically add overhead charges, unless an organization has a policy against paying overhead charges. Charges at UCCS usually charge 30%. Eric B. moved that on grants to educational institutions we do not pay overhead. Eric S. seconded. It passed unanimously.

Steve received an e-mail from Bob H. about Sanborn Camp wanting to do some volunteer work. Steve talked to Sue Miller. They cannot work on the east side of the peak, but can work on the west side. Mary explained that they are a concessionaire and sell spots to their students. Mary got them extra permits to work on the west side of Pikes Peak. Steve asked about working on Elk Park Knoll, but Sue said no. Crags or Horsethief Park are possibilities. Eric B. worked with them last year and they worked well. June 24 and 25 and July 28 and 29 were dates that Ryan proposed. They’d like to go up, camp overnight, spend the next day, and go down. Ryan and Sue can negotiate.

Bob H. suggested that the trail dogs have cards to hand out with contact numbers. Steve is getting an idea of who’s active. Bob H. says people ask him what he’s doing when he’s working. Mary suggested the sunscreen packets. Mary had business cards and has used them all. The original cards were from Tri Lakes. Michael offered to make them. He’ll make up a possible card and e-mail it out for comments.

Steve called Matt Carpenter for ideas on where to work. He suggested by the rock arch, about three miles up the trail. There’s a road, Long’s Ranch Road, then Bob’s road, that’s gated. Steve is checking for a key. Matt suggested pulling out the pipe at No Name. Steve suggested meeting at the Waldo Canyon trailhead. The road requires four wheel drive. Steve will try to find out which volunteers have vehicles that can go up the road. The arch is below the Experimental Forest road. The area has a lot of gullies. Steve called John, and he’ll be there, with Colorado Running Company folks. Steve hasn’t been able to contact some people. Steve doesn’t know how to contact the Canadian volunteers from Norad. Michael will try to find a contact. The agreement was originally with the Forest Service. Steve still needs the key for the donation tube. The tube belongs to the Forest Service. They should have a key.

Someone called reporting trash or a homeless camp visible from Barr Trail. Manitou city police will respond to calls about that.

Steve would like to give Michael the segment three miles from the top, as a trail dog, the third section down. Michael asked how to recognize it. The A frame is at the bottom of the segment. The top has a sign saying two miles to the summit.

The GPS study will start this summer. Data capture and construction of the web site will be this summer. Steve sent e-mail to the university lawyer and director of IT about keeping the web site on the university computers. The web site requires specific software, that the university has. Other options might work.

Mary had the first project, with 17 volunteers. They laid rails and cut steps. Above the switchback they stabilized a cross slope. They left the tools up there. Eric B. talked to someone from University of Phoenix with 25 people who’d like to do something on June 26. Eric B. will send the information to Mary. Right now the work is rock work.

Mary went to Manitou city council and supported waiving the fees for the races. Friends of the Peak qualifies as a charity by the stringent definition that Manitou uses, relieving the government of a burden.

The next work day is in two days.

The next meeting, July 8, is the same date as the parade for the rodeo. We could move the meeting date or the location. Michael will try to get a room for July 8, at the southeast corner of Fountain and Academy. Michael will send directions.

Mary has t-shirts for everyone.

Mary walked the Putney Gulch segment with Sierra Club folks. They’re looking at possible wilderness.

Eric S. has a map, a donation from Robert Houdek.

Eric S. picked up the maps from Jeff. Eric S. is tracking volunteer time.

He checked with El Paso County on the mining claims. He’ll pick up info from BLM for her. Eric S. and Mary continue to go to the WAAG. They’ll take another tour of the South Slope. Eric S. is putting together a web site questionnaire for CMC. The WAAG has three lists of activities, definitely yes, definitely no, and maybe. WAAG has a list of presentations to the middle of November.

Carol’s working on finding dates for signing runs. They might find a date for the Jones Park run.

Michael went to Jasper and Banff and was impressed with the work there on trails and wildlife.

Karl asked about keeping waiver forms. The suggestion was to keep them forever.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

May 13, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang.

Meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file.

Expenses are the usual, plus printing and postage for the newsletter. We’re filed with the IRS for this year. Carol is working on ordering signs. She asked about continuing to use the segment decals. General feeling was to order more because they inform trail users and might help keep posts in the ground.

Steve has contacted some of the trail dogs and continues to try to contact the rest. He has two people interested in adopting segments, including Michael. Gail called Steve about the work on Barr Trail, and said she’d drop off t-shirts and the key to the collection box, but hasn’t yet.

We didn’t receive the grant. Steve asked about hiring someone to do the work anyway. We could conduct an inventory of the trail and set up a web site for it. Matt has GIS points for it. With the web site, trail users could report problems that they find. UCCS might host such a site. Maybe it could be a page off the Friends of the Peak site. The caretakers at Barr Camp could help inform people of the existence of the site to report problems. Trail users would select a segment of trail to report on. Including photos is another possibility. We’d contract through UCCS for the worker.

Steve called for a vote on hiring a worker for the items discussed. It was approved unanimously.

Karl said that registrations are going well. He reminded Steve about the need for a fact sheet for the Barr Trail projects. Many registrations come by paper mail.

Mary asked about t-shirts for this year, and wondered if something for Barr Trail, since we’re working on it, would be good. Steve suggested the FOTP logo because it is recognizable. Mary will order t-shirts with the FOTP logo and pick a good color. Green, red, or brown were all suggested as possibilities. Mary will also buy sodas and such for the year when she finds a good sale.

Four people signed up for the hike on the web site, with eight more signed up with Jim, the organizer.

Matt requested that someone from Friends of the Peak attend the Manitou Springs city council meeting. He is requesting a waiver of city fees for the races because the fees go to charitable organizations.

Forest Service sent some notices. They intend to resume the planning process. Notice of meetings will be on a web site, as well as in newspapers. They are considering granting a special use permit for five years for the Ascent and Marathon and requested comments.

Michael handled the FOTP booths at the two Earth Day events, at Lexis-Nexis and T. Rowe Price. People seemed unaware of the Ring the Peak trail system, but interested in web sites with maps. He put a few pages from the web sites on his laptop and took that along for the second one. He suggests taking the web sites on a laptop for future events. People at both events said that attendance was light, but some people seemed interested in volunteering. Someone from T. Rowe Price talked to Mary about bringing a dozen volunteers to a Seven Bridges work day.

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

April 8, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:50 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report: on file

Carol sent a letter to the IRS requesting a change in the fiscal year to the calendar year.

The board agreed to continue with the filing process.

Expenses were the usual port-a-potty at Barr Trail and the phone.

The port-a-potties at Helen Hunt Falls have hand sanitizer dispensers, and were from Speedy. We could check whether Waste Management can supply hand sanitizers for next year.

Everyone worked on folding, taping, labeling, and stamping the spring newsletters. The database had 338 members listed.

Steve has the operating plan signed, from all three agencies.

Steve has been contacted by two organizations. Lexis-Nexis has an Earth Day fair on Tuesday, April 29, from 11:00 to 1:00, recruiting volunteers. Steve was looking for volunteers to sit at a table. Eric S. will check his calendar. Michael can do it. Steve will call them to let them know Michael can go. The other was T. Rowe Price, Chapel Hills and Briargate Parkway, Thursday, May 8, 11:00 to 2:00, for the same type of event. Michael believed he could cover that one also. Mary said she would give Michael the posters, etc., for the display. Steve has not heard anything about the event at Palmer High School.

Steve plans to talk with Bob H. tomorrow about trail dogs. He’s the only trail dog to contact Steve. Steve will also contact Gail.

Steve has not heard anything about the grant proposal.

Steve gave the work day schedule to the Gazette and REI. Karl put it on voutdoors. Steve is checking into Sierra Club links. Eric S. gave the info to CMC for their newsletter. Eric S. will check into the CMC web site.

Steve has contacted Legends and Legacies about a project and will meet with them. That is moving well.

Mary assembled a check list for project leaders and will e-mail it around. It describes the registration and information distribution process. Waivers generally go out with fact sheets. Mary had extra copies of trail construction notebook. It’s free from the Forest Service. Mary gives them to crew leaders. Mary has the basic format for documents to give to project leaders.

Eric S. got sign posts from Ed, 9 posts and 3 anchors. He needs 15 anchors, preferably metal. Carol will order more posts, 40, plus enough anchors.

WAAG is ongoing.

Ed brought a signpost award. Mary has more for anyone who wants one.

Ed talked to someone from Manitou and they didn’t know about the Manitou water property on Eric S.’s map.

Steve went to a partners meeting, which had good information.

Eric B. went to the energy part of the state of the Rockies meeting at Colorado College.

Karl had thank you letters for donations.

Steve reserved the Division of Wildlife classroom for November 1, for the annual meeting.

The first project is in May.

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

March 11, 2008

Attending: Carol Beckman, Eric Billmeyer, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting had the wrong date, which should have been February 12, but were otherwise approved.

Financial report:  On file.

Karl has automated generating thank you notes.

Steve reported on the operating plan. He obtained signatures from Jack and Brent.

Steve talked to Frank about the shingles at the A-frame. They had arranged for the helicopter crew to take out the shingles. Eric S. will talk to the CMC folks.

Steve received e-mail from Rick Elsworth. FOTP can send a representative to the partnership meeting, in Golden, March 25. RSVP is by Wednesday next week. Steve believes he can go.

We need to determine dates for projects in the operating plan. Thursdays are set.

Elk Park Knoll can be July 12. Eric B. thinks it might need two days. We already put in not to camp. Eric suggested a second day in August. But the plan says one weekend in July. The freshmen seminar will be there around August 22, Thursday and Friday. August 9 is a second day for Elk Park Knoll. Eric B. will check his calendar for sure.

Another project is Americorps or Youth Corps.

Steve called Legends and Legacies. They are filling quickly. They are set up for car camping. For Barr Trail they could stay at Barr Camp if we arrange for Barr Camp for cooking. Barr Camp is busy that time of year. We need to determine the location for the work. We could have a volunteer day and a Youth Corps week. Having the volunteer day more accessible would be good. They might camp at Glen Cove and work the top part of Barr Trail. Cost is $5600 per week. American Hiking Society does one week vacations. They’re another option, and would probably enjoy working on Pikes Peak. American Hiking Society rates the difficulty of projects. We’d need to plan now to get on their schedule for next year. We could try to schedule Legends and Legacies for two weeks back to back to work on Barr Trail and Devil’s Playground. National Forest Foundation and State Trails will give matching grants to organizations. State Trail grants are for two and a half years. Eric B. suggested trying to use FOTP funds for matching grants to be able to get more work done. We also need to inventory the needs for Barr Trail. Devil’s Playground has needs that are better known. For grants, we need someone to write them. Steve has done it once. Eric B. offered to help. Eric B. suggested doing the inventory this summer and trying for grants based on the needs identified. For Devil’s Playground, we’d want to go for later in the season, August, to have less rain, but before September, which can have snow and when college students are back in school.

We need to schedule a work day on Barr Trail. Gail tried to schedule a day before Barr Trail Mountain Race. Steve will coordinate with Gail. June 28 is before the race. August 2 is another day for Barr Trail. The snow should be gone from Barr Camp down by June. August is fine. A good part of the inventory should be done by then.

Steve will e-mail the dates to Karl to put on the web site. Eric S. will put the work day information in the CMC newsletter for May.

Summary of dates is:

May 29 to Sept 18 Seven Bridges, alternate Thursdays.

July 12, August 9 Elk Park Knoll,

June 28, August 2 Barr Trail.

Steve will e-mail Karl when the dates are official so Karl can post the info on the web site.

Steve will contact Legends and Legacies to schedule Devil’s Playground. They bring their own tools, but FOTP can supply tools if they need any.

Newsletter:  We can put in project dates. Steve can write about the inventory on Barr Trail. We need Pondering the Peak. Karl wondered if we could include a Ring the Peak update or South Slope update or WAAG update. Horsethief Park with the Beaver Pond might warrant mention in the newsletter. Forest Service wants to wait on fixing the problem. There is some question as to whether it’s a beaver dam or natural blockage in the stream. Eric S. is watching it. The newsletter could include information that FOTP is aware of the problem and working with the Forest Service on the problem. Karl wondered about explaining the change in the project schedule because people will probably ask. The Ring doesn’t have any new trail easements. Volunteer numbers have declined. Eric S. volunteered to write something on Ring the Peak, especially the southwest section, that we’ve been working and exploring possibilities. Steve proposed having the newsletter done for next meeting, to fold and stamp. Due date for articles is Monday, March 24. Send submissions to Steve. The newsletter needs a print out of all contributors for 2007. Karl will send a list to Steve. Karl will bring labels to the next meeting. Eric B. mentioned that Copy One on West Colorado Blvd. gives a non-profit discount. They will bill. The date for the annual meeting sometimes goes into the newsletter, a save the date notice. November 1 is the proposed date. Steve will call the Department of Wildlife people.

Mary will put up a sign on Seven Bridges about the maintenance project and dates. The sign stayed better last year. Mary expects to finish Seven Bridges. She’s investigating moving maintenance projects to Saint Mary’s Falls trail. Colorado Springs Parks controls the trailhead and section over the tunnel.

Tool sharpening party will be September 20. Mary will write a note for the newsletter. Karl will put it on the web site. Mary will send Karl the description.

Steve mentioned the Pikes Peak ski area proposal. Mary was contacted. Discussion about what to say about it ensued. General discussion seemed to be to await developments.

Eric S. worked on a sign for trailheads and had a sample. He also wants suggestions for locations to put them. EdLowe Road, in Catamount Open Space, is one possibility. Flash Graphics does metal signs. Raspberry and Putney Gulch off Crags road are two more. Mary has had signs laminated and last for a year or two.

Eric S. is looking for the current owner of mining claims near Little Pikes Peak that cross the highway and trail. The Forest Service is also checking. Eric S. found the right person in the El Paso County Assessor’s office. She is checking on ownership of all mining claims in El Paso County. She has identified ten claims and owners of eight of the claims. One lives in Green Mountain Falls and one in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those two own eight of the ten. Mary Ann Davis is one owner. Mary proposes writing to the known owners. Steve suggested talking to Jeff H. We need to know which of the mining claims the trail crosses. Eric S. has survey maps from BLM. Sections are not square and are not digital. The highway might have moved from the wagon road. Barbara Wright is a Pikes Peak Highway historian and might have information. Eric S. will try to find her. Dianna has found corner stakes for some claims, and tried to plot them. Jeff H. is also interested in the information. Eric S. offered to pursue info on the two other claims, and, when the snow melts, to try to determine which claims the trail crosses.

Eric S. mentioned for the Gillett portal, with a road into Cripple Creek reservoirs 2 and 3. The Timberline Fishing Club is there, leasing the fishing rights. No one knows the boundaries. The lease expires at the end of 2008. Eric S. talked to the surveyor. Three or four property owners hold the land that the road crosses. Eric S. is checking for easements. He’s heard vague mention of twenty foot easements. There are two issues: getting across the private land, and, once onto Cripple Creek reservoir land, where to go from there. A portal at Gillett would require a NEPA. It would be included in the rest of the packet for the trail. A NEPA will be required for that. Eric B. raised the question of who would take the lead on that, FOTP or Forest Service. Eric S. has done volunteer searching for the Forest Service.

Steve talked to REI for dates. Karl will put the work dates on VOutdoors.

Carol asked Ed and Eric S. if they had gotten together on old sign posts.

Eric S. talked to the Outdoors newspaper people. They will put a link to the Ring on their web site. Eric will link to them. Mary suggested linking to the Gazette’s Happy Trails.

Steve will e-mail dates to Dave Philipps.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

February 12, 2008

Attending: Michael Bartmess, Carol Beckman, Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang, Eric Swab.

Meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Financial report:  On file

We’ll remove Karl Stang from all the Friends of the Peak accounts and CDs. Karl has no objections and the board agreed. We’ll add Steve and Carol to all accounts and CDs. The result should be that all Friends of the Peak accounts and CDs have three people: Mary Burger, Steve Jennings, and Carol Beckman.

Steve e-mailed out the proposed operating plan. Karl pointed out a correction on premiums to members. We discussed last month that we’re low on decals so will not send those out. Mary noted that the problem with Horsethief Park needs to move from opportunities to the introduction about things we’re doing. Eric wondered about adding investigations for connecting the Ring, but a statement on investigating new alignments is included. Mary and Steve met with the Forest Service. Jeff is interested in plants in the area, and mentioned mapping seed areas, identifying areas with problems with noxious weeds, pulling noxious weeds. Working in the Glen Cove area is another possibility. Steve believes that we already have enough projects. Perhaps seeds and weeds would be a possibility for next year. Jeff has maps on property lines and asked if people would be interested in walking the area to find the property line markers and landmarks. Eric S. mentioned that he does a lot of wandering around, and could look into that.

Most of the results of the meeting with the Forest Service are in the operating plan. The alternate Thursdays will begin on May 31. Those will go to the middle of September. The project schedule is different this year. The only projects to register for are Elk Park, Barr Trail, and alternate Thursdays. Steve asked Eric B. to head the Elk Park project, and is waiting for a response. Steve reached Bob Hostetler, of the Trail Dogs. We need to get paperwork in for Americorps and Youth Corps in February, or maybe March. Karl will put up dates on the web site when dates for projects are established. Eric S. proposed putting project information into the CMC newsletter, which is monthly.

CMC reroofed the A frame on Barr Trail and left the old shingles up there. Forest Service asked for help getting those out. Eric. S. will check on CMC’s plans for those.

Sue Miller said that they have two more trail head bulletin boards. She put one at the Crags. She thought about the spur on Barr Trail, from the hydro plant short cut. Possible locations are Bear Creek Trail off High Drive and Seven Bridges.

Steve asked about the WAAG. The WAAG endorses the Pikes Peak master plan. The plan calls for a 501c(3) organization for much of what Friends of the Peak does. It calls for the 501c(3) to control the permitting process for areas with limited access. Mary wonders if FOTP would want to handle this. It sounds like a concessionaire job. It would require coordination with Utilities and Forest Service. It sounds like a job for Park and Rec. A possibility is to have a class that people must take before obtaining a permit. Steve noted that being gatekeeper could be a detriment to goodwill. CMC has a series of basic mountaineering classes.

Eric S. reported on a piece of ground off the Pikes Peak Highway, that appears to be privately owned. Eric checked with Jeff H. There are six old mining claims in the area. Jeff has no indication on who the owners are. The Devil’s Playground route cannot be designated as a system trail because of questions of ownership.

Eric also looked at access to the Gillett portal. A Cripple Creek utilities road comes up there. Utilities moved the gate up the road. Eric is trying to determine if the properties have easements for the road. There are six property owners involved. The two largest properties have easements, but not for the road. The other four seem to have a dedicated road across the north sides.

Karl mentioned the e-mail addresses for FOTP. Project registrations and questions, etc., go to one address. We can have multiple e-mail addresses. Some people use the project sign up form to send comments or questions, without a registration. Mary and Steve will receive all the messages. Treasury and tax related items will be forwarded to Carol.

Steve will send out the operating plan to the Pikes Peak Highway, CS Utilities, and Forest Service for approval.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

January 15, 2008

Attending: Mary Burger, Carol Beckman, Steve Jennings, Ed Lynch, Karl Stang.

Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Mary had a list of duties and positions and distributed copies.

The board reviewed the list.

An item to add was coordinating the annual party. Mary proposed giving that to the president.

Mail pick up is done by the data master.

The account statements should go from the person who picks up the mail, then to the president, then to be passed around to the board members, then finally to the treasurer for more financial oversight.

Project coordinator should have a debit card to buy materials and such.

Project coordinator stores the tools. FOTP does have a shed for tools. The shed can move. The project coordinator stores project support materials such as ice chests.

Another role is marketing. That role will obtain premiums, such as t-shirts, and also handle advertising. Advertising would include any newspaper items, such as the helping hands column in the Gazette. Another task to handle is putting projects on voutdoors. The webmaster currently handles that. The president deals with questions for Friends of the Peak from the media.

Mary will update the list and e-mail it out.

Election of officers:

Steve was unanimously elected president.

Carol was unanimously elected treasurer and secretary.

Projects:

Steve reported on Barr Trail. Steve contacted trail dogs from e-mails off the web site. He received some responses. Steve is trying to coordinate with all the trail dogs to learn where they stand. Phoning is the next step. Steve won’t receive word on the grant proposal for a few months. The grant people have decided against hearing presentations on proposals.

Mary had a list of other projects for 2008, and would like to discuss them at the next meeting. Mary would lead projects for alternate Thursdays, be adviser for Devil’s Playground, and lead a Ring the Peak project for the beaver pond.

REI has sponsored projects in Red Rock and is receptive to grant proposals. Karl had a contact name that he gave to Steve.

Adding more trail information might draw people to the web site who then might also volunteer.

Mary mentioned work on the WAAG and trying to develop some sort of road map to provide direction.

Another project for 2008 is recruitment, specifically for the board.

The meeting with the Forest Service is Jan 24, 9:00 a.m., at the Forest Service office. Steve mentioned the seminar project he would like included.

Mary received a message about the reroute on Devil’s Playground and a call later, complaining about the design. Steve also received a call.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.