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

Guests: Bob Bunch, John Murphy.

Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.  Steve introduced the guests.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Board Discussion:

It was noted that fees for parking at the trailhead for Barr Trail should begin around the end of June.  

Mary reported on Saint Mary’s Falls.  The Saturday workday was cancelled for rain.  The group worked on Thursday and finished about half a mile of trail.  16 volunteers turned out.  We’re not working on the tunnel trail.  Forest Service says that it is open to motorcycles, so Friends of the Peak, with volunteers and hand tools, cannot maintain it to the standard needed for motorized use.  Mary plans to call the city, since it is city property, to check on their stance on motorized use of that trail.  Motorized use seems to have increased on that trail.  Eric S. will look on the motorized use map.  The city allowed motorized use on the Penrose trail.  The volunteers started at the sign that says no motorized use.  Michael wondered about the city and Forest Service opening trails to motorized use when someone is willing to maintain it.  The city is responsible for the maintenance.  FOTP is helping out.  The city originally said it was non-motorized. 

More work days are scheduled for alternate Thursdays. 

Mary met with two Forest Service employees at Horsethief Park .  The trail currently has 200 feet of wetland crossing, about half of that under a couple inches of water.  It is possible to go around the wetland, which would require two rustic stream crossings and extending trail.  A social trail goes along the side of a “valley” on dry land.  The social trail is lost in large rocks.  The water crossing would be about 12 feet.  The trail would move about 250 feet downstream of the current trail.  Forest Service is considering it.  This would be more work than expected for one Saturday.  Mary proposed widening the social trail and using the material from that to raise the level of the land in the wetland, confining the material with dead logs.  It would last the summer.  A problem with the new alignment is some existing pipeline, a cultural artifact.  Someone would need to look at it and approve the trail.  Volunteers can fortify the current crossing while Forest Service considers a more long-term solution.  Mary is thinking of using dead trees that are available and material from widening the social trail.  The stream crossing is before the wet area.  Mary drew a map to illustrate the situation.  The Forest Service put in a rock stream crossing.  Long term, Mary would like to extend the trail farther downstream on the “left” side, then cross the stream to an existing trail.  The proposed trail farther downstream would be below where the beaver would build a dam.  Another possibility is to make a temporary stream crossing, for the downstream trail.  Building the new trail would require two to three workdays.  The pipe crosses the existing social trail.  Another alternative is to try for two workdays, one this summer and one next, both working on the downstream trail, trying to do enough to direct people to the downstream trail and make it usable.  The pipe is iron and collapsed, about 10 feet from the stream.  Mary will contact the Forest Service again.

Carol reported on Ring signs.  She and Eric S. went on the first signing run of the year.  Eric drove his jeep along all the sections reachable by jeep.  On those sections, only two signs needed to be replaced.  They installed three other signs for clarity.  Two were at the new access to the Ute Pass Trail.  The only other area with missing signs that she knows of now are Horsethief Park and Bear Creek.  If anyone notices missing signs, please let Carol know.

John came to report on Saint Mary’s Falls.  John distributed a handout with a list of expenses he has paid.  They’re working on 6000 square feet, for the sixth week, for perhaps 600 man hours.  They’ve installed 5 bridges and 80 steps.  The grade is around 20%.  The pond is at the bottom of the main waterfall and is holding up well.  They’ve installed all signs but one, at the top of the tunnel.  It will direct people to Saint Mary’s Falls and Mount Rosa and Frosty Park , with mileage, 5 miles for the last two, and 1.6 for the falls.  They could not find the old Forest Service sign.  Three people are working through contract.  They have the picnic table ready to move up into place.  They have two and a half weeks left, but would need the the full balance of their donations to work on the spur trail, from the Buffalo Creek trail to the falls.  It’s about 1000 feet of trail.  John requests payment for the expenses so far.  He also asks about trail 624, which is on the map, by the stream.  Dave Philipps was up looking at the trails with John.  They’d like to re-establish the trail 624, about 2000 feet.  Eric S. asked about the location.  It comes in below the spur to the bottom of the falls.  The area is steep.  Eric S. would like to see the proposed trail.  The Manitou Springs quad shows it.  Eric S. will check.  The friends of Eddie Murphy want to make the effort ongoing.  Steve moved that we authorize John to spend the full balance of the St. Mary's Falls account.  Eric S. seconded.  Motion passed.  Eric S. will scout out the trail.  Mary noted that we cannot get permission for a new trail this year, but can try for next year.  Michael B. would also like to go see the area.  Michael C. suggested sending out a notice.  John recommended going in from the top down.  John leaves on June 28, so it should be before then.  The board authorized payment for work so far.  John has photos for the work. 

Bob reported on Barr Trail work.  They’re up about 500 feet.  Spencer is bowing out.  2000 feet remain of what they originally scoped out.  Bob thinks three places especially warrant work.  One is the uppermost switchback.  Another is a spot where a boulder took out the edge of the trail.  Another place is a huge step, from a wooden step that was badly undercut.  Michael B. can publicize work days on the website.  Bob is concerned about the number of steps.  The trail is steep, so keeping them six feet apart and making the step flat doesn’t work.  A possible fix is running the switchbacks out longer.  That requires approval from the property owners.  Steve offered to help in July.  Bob will be gone August and September.  The work days would be advertised.  Two workdays are already scheduled for the summer.  One is July 18.  The youth corps started today.  They had to work around the snow.  They had planned to work below Glen Cove , but it is still covered with snow, with more expected.  They moved the Barr Trail days to this week.  July 18 could be working on the lower part.  The volunteers for that day meet at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs.  Steve and Bob can work on additional dates.  Those could go on the website and on KRCC.  Michael B. asked if Bob wanted to have his name listed as trail dog for the lower part.  Bob agreed.  Bob will give dates to Michael B. who will give them to Michael C.

Eric B. talked with Matt and Bob about work to be done.  Matt proposed work below the stone arch.  Working an area used by the runners seemed good.  The youth corps is working on that area.  Matt suggested focusing on one area and doing it well.  Michael C. noted that many areas need work.  Eric B. would like to see grant money help with the work on Barr Trail.  Working in a remote spot makes sense with the youth corps.  Mark and Jen plan to meet Bob H. about his section.  The youth corps will probably work on that section.  Eric B. intends to seek corporate and community support for the youth corps.  Steve will meet them Monday.  They have photos of their work. 

Eric noted that RMFI needs a check.  The March CD was cashed to cover the expense.  If they are0 is paid in September, the cash flow should work out.  The CD that comes due in August might need to be cashed, but that can be evaluated then.

Brent talked with Pikes Peak youth corps.  Eric B. talked to him about the Incline.  City utilities owns the right of way for the water pipe.  So Forest Service isn’t involved in maintaining the trail.  Park and Rec will do the public process for opening the Incline.  Barr Trail maintenance is another issue that goes with it.  Mary will let people know when the public meeting is scheduled. 

Eric S. has been working on brochures for maps for the Ring.  Dan Foster is willing to put up funds for them.  The rest would be a free donation.  Eric plans to use Copy One.  They have worked making samples on tear-resistant paper.  They must order paper, which takes a week.  Eric suggested half the amount.  Eric S. asked for a check for Copy One.  Mary moved.  Eric B. seconded.  The motion passed.  Obtaining the paper takes a week.  Dan suggested raising money with them.  The price is $1.  But they are already donating the funds for the brochures.  The map is not from National Geographic, so is free to use, public domain, USGS.  Mountain Chalet should be on the list of donors for spring.  Eric S. also proposed putting Mountain Chalet on the sign boards by the trailheads on the Crags road.  Eric asked Forest Service about putting a sign on the signboard by Frosty Park .  Steve will write a thank you note.  Eric has approval from Steve to put Mountain Chalet on the boards.

Eric will attend the Forest Service meetings on motorized use.

Wednesday, Eric is taking two archaeologists to Fremont , and on Thursday a botanist and arborist.  Eric S. is working on a history for the Fremont experimental forest.  It will be on display August 18 to the end of October.  September 18 Eric S. will give a talk.

Michael C. asked about brewery blankets.  Mary received a donation of brewery blankets.  Coors uses them.  Michael C. would like to explore fund raising and grant writing at the next meeting.  Michael will prepare some materials for the next meeting.

Michael B. asked about posting planned workdays.  He added a form just for comments.  He received an e-mail from that already.  The next day for Barr Trail is Thursday this week.  The days are already included in the operational plan because of the trail dogs.  One volunteer needs documentation of volunteer hours.  Michael asked about sending a letter.  Mary has written such letters at projects.

Registrations so far are, for planning days, 3, with participation of 12, and 2 and 4 for the second planning day, and 10 for Saturday, May 23, with 5 for June 4 and 16 participants.  2 are registered for July 18.  9 are spread across the others, 4 for Devil’s Playground.  Posted on the website, attached to the descriptions, is a pdf with information.  He’d like to have those for the other projects.  Steve is the lead for the two projects on Barr Trail.  July 18 will have work on the bottom of Barr Trail.  The second scheduled day for Barr Trail is August 1.  Steve would like to be flexible for location.  The website should be up in a week or two.  Mary is the lead for Horsethief.  Carol is for Devil’s Playground. 

Michael sent out e-mail to all the available member addresses, and cleaned up the list.  He asked members about e-mail only.  47 people responded, asking for e-mail only.  Steve has more paper copies of the newsletter.  Michael B. will check on a volunteer who did not receive a newsletter. 

Barry checked into a sign for the top of the Incline.  He has called Frank, set up two meetings, but not been able to see him.  Barry will continue to try to meet with Frank.  Mary suggested talking with Brent. 

Eric B. asked about t-shirts for the youth corps.  Steve has t-shirts.  He can give them to Eric B. 

Mary noted that grants are available for volunteers over 55. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.