VAIL: The Town will be constructing a new

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Todd Cox
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PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER ECO Trails: the communities of Gypsum, Avon, Eagle, Vail, Minturn, Red Cliff and Eagle County - working together to create a regional trail system.

The second phase of the trail will complete the connection to the trail bridge into Vail and will be completed by CDOT as part of the planned I-70 interchange improvements.

For more information contact Town of Minturn at 827-5645 or ECO Trails at 328-3523.

Phase 3 will improve the remaining mileage between Wolcott towards Eagle and is in design now, in preparation for construction in 2010 if funds become available.

1 PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER ECO Trails: the communities of Gypsum, Avon, Eagle, Vail, Minturn, Red Cliff and Eagle County - working together to create a regional trail system. WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFETY ON HIGHWAY 6 In June 2009, a second phase of shoulder widening is set to begin on Highway 6 between Eagle and Edwards as a joint project between the Colorado Department of Transportation and Eagle County. The project will add two feet of shoulders on each side and asphalt overlay the full width of Highway 6 between Squaw Creek Road and Wolcott for the purpose of improving both bicycle and motor vehicle safety. The $2.5 million cost of the five mile project is shared between the two agencies, with the County contributing $1 million in funding and in-house engineering, and with CDOT providing $1.5 million and managing the construction. Spring 2009 NEWSLETTER because it is considered shovel-ready and can be completed this summer. The project is 1,300 feet long and located alongside Highway 24 and the Eagle River and ties into the back road into Minturn, County Road 14. The trail will not connect to the trail bridge into Vail. The second phase of the trail will complete the connection to the trail bridge into Vail and will be completed by CDOT as part of the planned I-70 interchange improvements.the trail will connect to the 11 miles of trail planned from Dowd Junction through Minturn and on to Red Cliff, as part of the Battle Mountain PUD project approval. For more information contact Town of Minturn at or ECO Trails at In 2008, two miles of Highway 6 east of Eagle was widened and overlaid as Phase I of vision to improve Highway 6 safety. Phase 3 will improve the remaining mileage between Wolcott towards Eagle and is in design now, in preparation for construction in 2010 if funds become available. For more information, contact Eagle County Engineering at or CDOT Eagle office at TRAIL & SHARED ROAD PROJECTS Keep an eye out for these construction projects this summer MINTURN: Town of Minturn and ECO Trails were granted stimulus funds, after review by CDOT S regional government planning commission of five counties, for Dowd to Minturn Phase I trail VAIL: The Town will be constructing a new section of ten foot trail on the North Frontage Road near Timber Ridge and Roost Lodge to close a gap in the system. The trail is funded by the Town of Vail and a grant from CDOT s Enhancement program. Vail is planning several other trail projects this summer. Be alert for closures, detours or workers on the North Recreation Path near Red Sandstone Park, the Streamwalk at Mt. View and western section, Bald Mountain Underpass near the San Plant bridge, in addition to vegetation control work and stripping work. Sections of the Gore Valley Trail at Cascade Club and near the Vail Resorts shop will be closed and detoured for portions of this summer. For more information, contact Town of Vail at GO TO TOP CONTINUED TRAIL MAPS Go to to print out easy to use backcountry maps for yourself, or visiting family and friends. Prepared by Eagle County GIS Department for past issues of the ECO Sports/Vail Velo Rides Guides, our GIS staff selected their favs! Maps of road rides and the maps showing the regional trail sections that are built or planned are also available on our website.

closure. For more information, contact Town of Avon at 748-4100. EAGLE COUNTY: ECO Trails is managing the Dowd to Minturn construction project for the Town.

2 CONT D FROM BOTTOM OF PAGE 1 AVON: Road improvement work on Hurd Lane will affect usability on the attached trail. Several sections of trail through Nottingham Park will be overlaid, and an overlay on the Avon section of regional trail behind Brookside townhouses will be overlaid and require a temporary trail closure. For more information, contact Town of Avon at EAGLE COUNTY: ECO Trails is managing the Dowd to Minturn construction project for the Town. Various maintenance projects are scheduled for the summer that will require detours or alerting users at Dowd Junction, Eagle to Gypsum and Edwards. Pavement overlays are scheduled for Edwards at Miller Ranch and Riverwalk, and are funded by the Edwards Metro District. The new section of trail on Cooley Mesa Road that was constructed last fall and surfaced with asphalt millings will be paved in June. Engineering, permitting and landowner collaboration are in progress on the Edwards to Wolcott trail section, with the goal to begin construction on the first phase of the 5 mile long trail in late summer. Design work is underway to pave the Gypsum to Dotsero Phase I trail, and design work will commence on the Wolcott to Eagle Phase I trail mid-summer. For more information, contact ECO Trails at or ellie.caryl@ eaglecounty.us. BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS UPDATE BELLYACHE CONSENSUS After a series of meetings to discuss conflicts, a management plan for the Bellyache Road out of Eagle into Bureau of Land Management property was successfully developed with input from adjacent landowners at The Bluffs subdivision, citizens that use the area to hunt, bike, run or walk, Division of Wildlife, Town of Eagle and Eagle County staff and elected officials. Severe road damage by vehicles during the winter and mud season, associated drainage and erosion problems, off-road vehicles in closed areas, litter and trespass problems were the topics on the table regarding how best to manage the access road into the popular East Eagle BLM lands. Hunters have used the area for decades. In more recent years it has become land boundary and access road. Developed with input from the different interest groups, a Bellyache Road management plan emerged with the following decisions: The road will be closed to motorized use from December 1st through April 30th to control road damage. Snowmobiles will still be allowed to enter the area in winter. 4 to 6 parking spaces will be available at the trail head, and additional parking is at The Bluffs park and soccer field lot. Town of Eagle Police Department and Eagle County Sheriff s office have already increased their patrols of the area as well. A gate has been installed by Eagle County to control road access and Town of Eagle has placed boulders to control parking. This summer the road will be graded and surfaced with base or milled asphalt for a 1/4 mile to help reduce erosion. Town of Eagle will install a kiosk with educational signs. LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS The Bureau of Land Management is in process of a travel management plan update for the Glenwood Springs Resource Area. See for more details or call The U.S. Forest Service is in process now of reviewing comments received on the revised Travel Management Plan for the White River National Forest, having closed the public comment period in January. Go to: management to stay on top of the proposed changes. SEASONAL TRAIL CLOSURE Trails in Gypsum and Eagle are dry and open, but some trail closures remain in effect on up-valley trails until mid to late June for wildlife protection. North Trail and Son of Middle Creek are closed until June 15. Paulie s Plunge and Paulie s Sister are closed until June 30. Whiskey Creek, Eastern Hillside and the Back Bowl s (i.e.: large portion of Two Elk Trail) are closed until July 1. Please respect these closures for the sake of wildlife and their calving, feeding and migration needs. For more information, contact the Holy Cross Ranger District at

2008 RECAP OF A GREAT YEAR COOLEY MESA TRAIL Eagle County Road and Bridge and ECO Trails teamed up to close a gap in the trail connection from Eagle to Gypsum.

This trail connects to the nearly mile long section of new trail constructed along the airport frontage last summer, and work on a new trail section further west built by the Town of Gypsum, and it

At the Highway 6 intersection, continue on to Eagle via the Eagle Valley core trail. Thanks Road and Bridge and Town of Gypsum for all your efforts.

Cascade Village trail and bridge reconstruction and undertook major trail repairs at Dowd Junction.

Ellen Miller for her solo efforts to raise funds for ECO Trails. Louise Randall for her 12 years as an enthusiastic, hard working member of the ECO Trails Committee.

MEMBERS NEEDED for the ECO TRAILS COMMITTEE Members are scoping out the next trail project.

3 2008 RECAP OF A GREAT YEAR COOLEY MESA TRAIL Eagle County Road and Bridge and ECO Trails teamed up to close a gap in the trail connection from Eagle to Gypsum. A 1/2 mile of new trail was constructed along side Cooley Mesa Road and is scheduled for final pavement this June. This trail connects to the nearly mile long section of new trail constructed along the airport frontage last summer, and work on a new trail section further west built by the Town of Gypsum, and it means that you can now enjoy a ride or walk along the Cooley Mesa Road corridor on trail separated from the roadway. At the Highway 6 intersection, continue on to Eagle via the Eagle Valley core trail. Thanks Road and Bridge and Town of Gypsum for all your efforts. TRYING OUT THE NEW COOLEY TRAIL TOWN OF VAIL In 2008, the Vail Town Council and Public Works Department implemented upgrades to the North Frontage Road Trail, the Katos Ranch Trail, facilitated the Cascade Village trail and bridge reconstruction and undertook major trail repairs at Dowd Junction. TRAIL SUPPORTERS of the YEAR AWARD WINNERS Rosana and Johannes Faessler for their 8 years of hosting the Casual Classic Fundraising bike ride as a benefit for ECO Trails. Ellen Miller for her solo efforts to raise funds for ECO Trails. Louise Randall for her 12 years as an enthusiastic, hard working member of the ECO Trails Committee. Town of Vail for their extra effort in 2008 to repair and upgrade several sections of trail throughout the town. MEMBERS NEEDED for the ECO TRAILS COMMITTEE Members are scoping out the next trail project. There are two vacancies on the ECO Eagle Valley Trails Committee for members from District 3 which includes Gypsum and western Eagle County. If you are interested in being part of the 18-member committee, please contact Ellie Caryl at or ellie.caryl@eaglecounty.us for an application or to learn more. ECO TRAILS MEMBERS: Rachel Friede, Vail, Chairman; Dick Cleveland, Vail; Louise Randall, Vail; Jennie Hursey, Vail; Diana Scherr, Minturn; Greta Blamire, Avon; Paul Gotthelf, Edwards; Jeannie Hauff, Edwards; John Bailey, Eagle; Adam Palmer, Eagle; Pete Lombardi, Eagle; Scott Schlosser, Eagle; Kent Rose, Eagle; Bill Fisher, Gypsum; Annie Esbenshade, Gypsum, Vice-Chair. GREGG BARRIE, LOUISE RANDALL, ROSANA FAESSLER RECEIVED 2008 TRAILS SUPPORTER AWARDS FROM RON WOLFE AND RACHEL FRIEDE OF ECO. COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED COMMITTEE MEMBERSNEEDED LEFT: DOWD BEFORE RIGHT: DOWD AFTER ELLEN MILLER DOGS UNLEASHED PLEASH LEASH AND CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG. Tickets can be issued for violations on paved multi-use trails, and we ask that you respect others.

PO BOX 1070 3289 COOLEY MESA ROAD GYPSUM, CO 81637 JUNE IS COLORADOBIKE MONTH ANNUAL ECO TRAILS VAIL PASS Trail Clean-Up Saturday, June 13th 8:00 a.m.

4 PO BOX COOLEY MESA ROAD GYPSUM, CO JUNE IS COLORADOBIKE MONTH ANNUAL ECO TRAILS VAIL PASS Trail Clean-Up Saturday, June 13th 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Lionshead structure top deck. Bring gloves, water bottle & raincoat. All else providedincluding lunch & prizes! Please call Ellie at for questions or to sign up or just show up! BIKE TO WORK DAY: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Look for aid stations from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Vail, Dowd Junction, Avon, Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum. GO to bicyclecolorado.org for: What s Happening Statewide Rules of the Road Biking Legislation

2009 COMMUTER OF THE YEAR Do you know someone who really makes an extra effort to commute to work via bike or foot?

Go to eaglecounty.us/ecotrails or call 328-3539 for a nomination form and tell us about your nominee. Do they have kids and a full-time job and still manage to commute to work by bike or foot?

This year s winner will join past Commuter of the Year winners: Tim Carlson in 2005, Jeff McMohram in 2006, Leslie Kehmeier in 2007, and Mike Janelle in 2008.

5 2009 COMMUTER OF THE YEAR Do you know someone who really makes an extra effort to commute to work via bike or foot? ECO Trails would like to honor those folks that go the distance and make the effort to pack up their stuff and head out in the wind, sun, rain, or snow on a bike or by foot to get to work. Go to eaglecounty.us/ecotrails or call for a nomination form and tell us about your nominee. Do they have kids and a full-time job and still manage to commute to work by bike or foot? Do they log hundreds or thousands of miles a year? Or did they start and you never thought they would be able to keep doing it, but they have? Let us know about your favorite commuter. This year s winner will join past Commuter of the Year winners: Tim Carlson in 2005, Jeff McMohram in 2006, Leslie Kehmeier in 2007, and Mike Janelle in Nominations are due to ECO Trails on June 10. The winner will be selected by the 18-member ECO Trails Committee, which includes several committed bicycle commuters. MIKE JANELLE 2009 SAVE THE DATE! THE SONNENALP OF VAIL FOUNDATION 24TH Casual Classic Bike Ride Saturday Aug. 22, 2009 thank you, thank you! 38 mile FUN RIDE from Breckenridge to Vail. Contact Michelle Davis at mdavis@sonnenalp.com to reserve your spot. Adult donations $84. For children 15 years and younger $38. Transportation to the start, prizes, goodie bags, aid stations and lunch provided. Proceeds benefit the Sonnenalp of Vail Foundation & ECO Trails. ECO Eagle Valley Trails Committee - for all your hard work and commitment. Adopt a Trail Groups - for keeping the trails clean and more enjoyable. Edwards Metro District - for making a major donation to ECO Trails to overlay the trail in Edwards and the annual contribution to the maintenance fund. ECO Board - for supporting the trails program. BJ and Garrett Smith, Ginny Culp, Arla Randall and Diane Tope for their donations. The Sonnenalp Foundation for selecting ECO Trails again as a Casual Classic Beneficiary. All the Volunteers at ECO Trails Special Events. CDOT and all Town & County Maintenance Departments for their continued efforts. Town of Eagle for their work on Clean-Up Day and work at East Eagle & Eagle Ranch. To grant application and project supporters for the Edwards to Wolcott Trail including Edwards Metro Board, Eagle Ranch HOA, Edwards Rotary, Vail Christian School, Cordillera POA, Cordillera Metro, Eagle River Mobile Home Park, the Jouflas Families, Union Pacific Railroad, Eagle Springs Golf Course, Colorado Department of Transportation, Moontime Cyclery, The Kind Cyclist, Michelle Keane and Scott O Connell. All the Prize and Supply Donors to the Vail Pass Clean-Up and Bike-to-Work Day - Vail Resorts, Town of Vail, Beaver Creek Metro, Pedal Power, Mountain Pedaler, The Kind Cyclist, Moontime Cyclery, Starbucks, Village Market, Columbine Market, Red Canyon Cafe, Westside Cafe and Loaded Joe s.

2009 WHEEL of events BIKE, RUN & WALK Eagle & Vail Valleys of Colorado MAY 15 Bike to School Finale Rally 15-17 Dusty Boot Spring into Bike Season Festival Eagle 27 4 Eagle Ranch Bike Race Series

6 2009 WHEEL of events BIKE, RUN & WALK Eagle & Vail Valleys of Colorado MAY 15 Bike to School Finale Rally Dusty Boot Spring into Bike Season Festival Eagle 27 4 Eagle Ranch Bike Race Series June 6 National Trails Day 6-7 Teva Mountain Games Vail CYCLING: SoBe X Country 6/6 SoBe FreeRide Dual 6/6 SoBe Slopestyle 6/7 Michelob Ultra Hill Climb 6/7 RUNNING: Teva X-1 Mud Fun Run 6/6 NEW! Triumph Development Vail Pass Half Marathon 6/6 10 K Spring Run Off 6/7 ULTRA MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE 6/6-6/7 com 10 Eagle Classic Bike Race Series 13 Vail Pass Trail Clean-Up 17 Berry Creek Bash Bike Race Series 20 La Sportiva Summer Solstice Twilight Trail Run - Beaver Creek w 24 Bike-to-Work Day july 5 The 33rd Annual La Sportiva Vail HillClimb Trail Running Race 8 Vail Grind Bike Race Series 111 Triple Bypass La Sportiva Vail Half Marathon Trail Running Race 25th Anniversary-Davos Dash 25 Colorado - Eagle River Ride & 25 Courage Classic Tour 7/25-7/27 3 Day, 155 mi aug 1 Copper Triangle Copper Mtn, Vail Pass, Leadville, Fremont Pass, Climax Mine, back to Copper, 78 mi RT. 5,981 ft. elevation gain. 2 La Sportiva Berry Picker Trail Run 5 Beaver Creek Blast Bike Race Series 16 La Sportiva 10k@10,000 Feet Running Race 22 Beaver Creek Vertical Ascent Running Race 22 Casual Bicycle Classic Key word: casual. 38 miles one-way from Breckenridge to Vail On Going La Sportiva Vail Trophy Challenge Mountain Cup Series sept13 13 La Sportiva Evergold 10k Trail Run oct National Pedestrian Month 30 Ski & Snowboard Swap ALL YEAR Vail Valley Nature Center I am away. I am with the wind and sun. I am the bike and the bike is me. Robert Cormier In memory of Brett Malin

2007 Trail Happenings

THE COMMUNITIES OF GYPSUM, EAGLE, EDWARDS, AVON, VAIL, MINTURN, RED CLIFF AND EAGLE COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A REGIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM. 2007 Trail Happenings CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON THE EAGLE