The view from Crow Gultch

Pondering Pikes Peak

By Mary Burger

Hope springs eternal. The snow, (too little of it again this year), is melting and soon we will be able to return to our labors of caring for the mountain. Our focus has shifted in the last few years from caring for the plants and eco-systems on and near the summit of the peak, towards the trails and access points. It will shift back in the future.

In addition to all the trails we have been maintaining, This year, we will assume responsibility for another major trail; the Bear Creek Trail. Additionally, we expect to install the toilet which has been needed for so long at the A-frame on Barr Trail, and we will begin a very aggressive plan to sign the Ring the Peak Trail as we build another segment of connecting trail.

Here on Pikes Peak, we need to strike a balance. We balance those who make their living from the tourist dollar with those who wish the tourist would just go home. We balance the needs of the land and the eco-system with those who would love the peak to death. So, once again this year, we will walk that tightrope supporting first and foremost, the health of the mountain, and secondarily, the needs of the people who will visit it.

I believe the people in the Pikes Peak area, be they locals or tourists, deserve a safe and friendly encounter with the mountain. By focusing on the trails and signage we show our respect for the mountain, and those who visit.