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

Guests: Bob Bunch, John Murphy.

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

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Board Discussion:

Steve reported.  He has tried to renew the nonprofit status with the state of Colorado three times, but received a message saying paperwork was unavailable.  He’ll try calling.

The two Barr Trail work days on Saturday had 6 volunteers and 7 volunteers.  They worked primarily on the trail above the cut off, about half mile up.  They widened the trail with timbers and filled behind them.  They built some rock steps.  They improved drainage.  On one switchback with much gravel washing down they tried to reroute the flow of water.  They made good progress on that section.  Bob was instrumental in scouting out the spots and organizing work.  Steve parked at the Chalet.  Steve gave Michael all the waiver forms. 

Matt Carpenter e-mailed Steve about a discussion the city council as utility board had.  Steve was grateful to Matt for the notice.  They discussed the Barr Trail parking lot.  Colorado Springs wanted to direct use of the money.  Steve told the utility board that Friends of the Peak works on Barr Trail. 

Steve sent out info on the web site.  A suggestion was using Google Earth.  A problem is that it isn’t lined up with the coordinates they have for the trail.  Paddington made some changes.  Eric B. has some experience with this sort of thing and offered to help.  He’ll be on campus once classes start.  Steve would like more detail.  Other users can offer comments.  Steve would like to work with it more before launching.  One possibility is talking to the Gazette about it.  Eric B. has already offered some suggestions.  The web site is operational. 

Mary brought a copy of the Forest Service trail construction book.  She gave one to Eric S.  The booklets are available free, with a web site online.  Mary ordered six new ones and has already received them. 

Mary asked about the phone service.  The phone doesn’t receive traffic.  Mary receives phone calls on her home phone.  The project description could have the project lead phone number.  Board members phone numbers are on the web site.  Mary moved to cancel the phone service.  Eric S. seconded.  Motion passed.  Mary will cancel the phone.  References to that number on the web site and newsletter must be removed. 

Mary has waivers to give to Michael and will mail them to him.  The project in the middle of July had 10 people and the end of July had 6 people.  Almost a mile of trail is complete.  The group is in the middle of the big bad hill.  Volunteers will put more drains and steps along the same spot.  There are three more work days.  The last day needs to pull out tools.  Mary will send e-mail to Michael to send out to all the Thursday volunteers to come help carry out tools.  The day to clean tools is on the web site with a date to be determined.  The last work day is September 10.  Bob will leave for the northwest soon.  Mike Ci. and Cliff are interested in continuing.  The tools must come down at the end of the work season.  Bob expects to be back in October, and will start again then if weather permits.  The tools are about half mile up the trail.  Bob can send out e-mail to Mike and Cliff.  If volunteers are willing to work, Steve would like to keep the tools available.  Bob expects that the only winter work would be replacing rails.  They have 2 pick mattocks, 2 shovels, 2 McLeods, a Pulaski, a bucket.  Mary suggested October 3, a Saturday, 9:00 a.m. at Mary’s house.  Mary will also give Michael an e-mail to send to everyone who volunteered on a project to ask them to help. 

Mary hiked Crags to Devil’s Playground trail.  The new trail that Forest Service built by the trailhead is built.  The parking lot is built but not open.  The new trail is about 25% grade.  It has some drainage.  It goes down about 50 feet at the end.  It’s well constructed.  It won’t hold.  Steve asked if it has a number.  It is an extension of the Devil’s Playground trail.  Eric B. wondered if the trail went where the plan showed it.  Forest Service had public scoping.  Friends of the Peak might want to attend future ones.  Eric S. walked the alignment beforehand, and doesn’t believe the plan had such a steep grade.  Mary suggested that people hike the trail.  Forest Service has not signed along the road.  The parking lot and trail had approval.  Fire rings and camping are a separate project.  The parking lot will have a pit toilet. 

Mary also noted that the temporary signs are still on the upper part.  She wondered if the signs should be permanent or disappear.  The first sign is at the logging camp.  It points to the campground and to Devil’s Playground.  The wood moved temporarily.  It is after 2 miles, where the road turns to trail.  There are three signs that say restoration, please use new trail.  The areas looked well recovered.  The signs do put the name and web site on the trail.  Some people do respond to those.  One sign is above timberline.  The signs are useful in winter when snow obscures the trail.  The lowest one is useful.  The operating plan for next year could include that.  The signs for Limber Pine trail are discreet and attractive.  Forest Service might not allow names on signs.  A possibility is a sign at the parking lot.  The road to the left at the first sign is not obvious now.  We can ask Forest Service about signs. 

An item for the agenda for the retreat would be Ring the Peak and the NEPA. 

The dinner needs to be planned.  It can be social time at 5:30 and dinner at 6:00.  Steve will contact the caterer from the past couple of years.  Last year seemed better than the year before.  The dinner is November 7.  Mary has reserved the room at the Department of Wildlife.  Mary suggested sending out a save the date note.  We need a guest speaker.  Steve asked Eric S. if he would be willing.  Steve will be in Grand Junction that day.  November 7 is also the day for Colorado Mountain Club’s dinner.  October does not work for Mary.  Halloween would probably have low turn out.  4 to 6 members are in both FOTP and CMC.  Steve can put together a presentation and recruit a replacement.

Barry talked to Frank about a sign at the top of the Incline to direct people to use the right path.  Barry was gone July and talked to Frank again in August.  Frank said the official trail is not an official trail.  Most people don’t even know about the higher trail.  Mary suggested investigating further.  Barry wondered about a map that might show it.  Ed has the Pikes Peak Atlas.  The new atlas is out.  The old atlas did not have a number for the road.  The road must date to at least 1907.  Eric will check the Forest Service Pike map.  Trails Illustrated showed it as Trail 627.  Eric B. noted that Forest Service will designate motorized routes.  Closing social trails is allowable, with dead timber. 

John had a hand out of expenses.  John thanked Friends of the Peak for help with the project and apologized for any problems with signs and the picnic table.  The plaque is allowable, 3” x 5”.  They’ll put the sign in the cemetery.  John thanked Mary and Friends of the Peak for guidance.  John checked with Forest Service about the removal, but has not heard about cost for that.  Steve moved to reimburse John and transfer the remainder to Friends of the Peak.  Motioned was seconded and passed. 

Mike C. had the idea of fund raising committees.  It would be a good topic for the retreat.  KRCC has had announcements on the air for projects.

Eric B. went with Gail Snyder up the peak.  She had photos from the 1990s.  City council is debating tax measures.  One voted down was the mill levy for the paving.  Paving is to be completed by 2012.  City is investigating options for paying for it.  They might increase tolls.  Tolls have been the same since 1999.  Once paving is done, the excess funds could go to various projects.  August 25 is the date for toll increase decision and the bonding option.  City had a meeting with four people, not heavily advertised.  They considered a more expensive pass for unlimited access.  The rangers are counting pass usage.  Mary noted that the Severy damage is improving, as viewed from the highway.  Eric S. noted that the work on Elk Park trail was a good improvement. 

Michael B. added a field to the registration form on how people heard about Friends of the Peak.  No one has mentioned the radio.  Most of the people who said something met someone on the trail.  Some saw the t-shirts.  Eric S. suggested taking application forms for his talks.  Michael can print the brochures. 

Bob reported.  He will leave tools through October.  He had an item for Eric B.  He would like a late fall meeting on Barr Trail.  After Bob returns in October would be the time to hold it.  Matt C. and Bob H. would also be interested.  It would be a discussion of what is happening and what needs to be done.  Having everyone together would be good.  Mike C. suggested also including funding.  The Incline Club was working on the 16 golden stairs.  Bob H. and his friend work on it.  Mike suggested communicating with the Incline Club.  Mike will check into their Sunday activities and visiting them.  Other trails are also opportunities. 

Carol reported.  The August 8 project to build cairns in the sections above timberline on the Crags route to the summit where the trail is obscure attracted 24 volunteers.  The highway had a long line at 8 a.m. that did not clear until 9 a.m., but the highway was open for only the first 15 miles, which was below the project site, anyway.  The group drove up at 9 a.m. and by the time they reached the project site the highway was open.  With so many volunteers, the group finished all the cairns by about 12:30.  Several of the volunteers commented that they were very glad that Friends of the Peak had this project because they were regular users of the trail and wholeheartedly agreed that those areas needed better marking. 

In Ring sign news, there were three more signing runs.  Four signs were replaced from the Crags road to Putney Gulch.  Two signs were replaced at the Y intersection with the trail to Crystal Park and the Red Rock trail in Section 16.  On that signing run, a hiker coming down offered to help, and then spent his morning pulling the slammer up and back down the trail.  Then, off the Pikes Peak Highway , two signs were replaced near Crowe Gulch, one at the intersection with the Mount Esther trail and one a short distance counterclockwise from there.  Another sign was replaced at the end of the link near the utility shed.  The only signing run left for the year is the infamous Frosty Park to Bear Creek run, which will be an all day adventure.  The suggestion is to wait until the weather is cooler and less prone to afternoon thunderstorms.  With that, the only sections not checked this year are Intemann and Ute Pass.   If anyone knows whether signs are missing or good on those segments, please tell Carol.

Eric S. reported on the WAAG.  They met the contractor who will review the science involved in the recreational activities.  It’s the same company doing Pike National Forest transportation planning.  They’ve done other work in the area.  They’ll interview stake holders.  That should be anyone with an interest in recreation on South Slope.  Interviews will be one on one.  Eric S. will submit names.  He requested permission to look at existing trails but has not received it.  Eric has been working on the Fremont project.  After the show, the artifacts go into storage.  Eric S. keeps discovering more information and people. 

Mary checked with Chris on the tunnel trail.  He will check on whether it is motorized and work with Forest Service.  He’ll get back to Mary.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.