Peak & Prairie

Rocky Mountain Chapter's
Online Newsletter
April / May 1998

Calendar

To list outings, events or meetings, post the information in the Outings, Events or Meetings Forum of the Chapter BBS (see Page 2), email to rmc-calendar@juno.com or fax to the chapter office at (303) 861-2436, Attn: Calendar Editor. Please follow the format below.

Outings

All Club members and interested public are free to sign up for any outing. There is no cost, except for sharing gas expenses with the driver. We meet for car-pooling at various times and places, so call the leader for that information. Participants may be screened by the leader for appropriate equipment and experience.

Saturday, April 4 Lots of attention will be paid to removing weeds this year. Do your bit of pulling weeds along the Cherry Creek Bike Path. Meet at the bike path Colfax ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring work gloves, we will pick up trash as well as weeds. For more information call Don Thompson (303) 320-4895 (EMG).

Saturday, April 4  9:00 - 12:00 a.m. Meet in the Sawhill Ponds, Boulder Open Space and help take cottonwood cutting for propagation. Later on when rooted these cuttings will be used to replace the obnoxious russian olives. Call Betty Jo Page for directions. (303) 232-9105 (IPG).

Sunday, April 12  Put on your Easter bonnet and participate in a sneak preview of the summer hiking season--a moderate hike through Eldorado Canyon State Park to Walker Ranch, 8 miles round-trip. Hopefully, the trail will be dry. Kirk Cunningham (303) 939-8519 (IPG).

Saturday, April 18  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Meet in the Sawhill Ponds, Boulder Open Space again. Colorado now has a State law that encourages/requires weed control, so help pull the hateful russian olives and other exotic noxious plants. Call Betty Jo Page for directions. (303) 232-9105 (IPG).

Saturday, April 18  An easy hike to the top of Table Mountain near Highway 115, halfway between Colorado Springs and Canon City, looking down into the adjacent Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area. For further information, call Jim Lockhart at (719) 385-0045 (PPG).

Sunday, April 19  Moderate day hike on the Mesa Trail. Start the hiking season with this hike from Chatauqua Park to Eldorado Springs and return. Negligible elevation gain, 12 miles RT. Linda Batlin, (303) 494-6407 (IPG).

Saturday, May 2  9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Meet in the Sawhills Pond, Boulder Open Space. The russian olives are growing rampant where ever the soil is at all moist., choking out our indigenous plants. Help get rid of this weed. Call Betty Jo Page for directions. (303) 232-9105 (IPG).

Saturday, May 9  Prevent the need for spraying along your Cherry Creek Bike Path by helping to pull the weeds by hand and pick up trash. Meet at the bike path Colfax ramp at 9:00 a.m. Bring work gloves. For more information call Don Thompson (303) 320-4895 (EMG).

Sunday, May 10  Moderate day hike in White Ranch Open Space Park north of Golden. We'll do the 10 mile outer loop, with about 1,000 ft elevation gain. Contact Kirk Cunningham, (303) 939-8519 (IPG).

Saturday, May 16  9:00 a.m. - 12 ;00 p.m. Meet in the Sawhill Pond, Boulder Open Space. Today we complete the removal of the russian olives and other exotic noxious weeds, and replacing them with the young cottonwood trees that we propagated in April. Call Betty Jo Page for directions. (303) 232-9105 (IPG).

Saturday, May 16  Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area Hike. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Peak, this hike will venture into the granite canyonlands of the spectacular Beaver Creek WSA, between Colorado Springs and Canon City. The hike will be moderate-to-strenuous. For more information and to register, call John Stansfield at (303) 660-5849 (PPG).

Friday-Monday, May 22-25 (Memorial Day weekend).   Wilderness explration trip to the wilds of extreme northwest Colorado. The areas visited will be the Vermillion Bluffs area (the wilderness qualities of which are now being contested) and the Diamond Breaks Wilderness Study Area. Moderate to strenuous day hiking and car camping. The plan is to leave the Front Range about noon on Friday and return about noon on Monday. Participants bring their own food and camping gear. Contact Leader: Kirk Cunningham (303) 939-8519 (IPG).

Sunday, June 7  Moderate day hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, 1,000 ft elevation gain in about a 11 miles round trip. Contact Kirk Cunningham (303) 939-8519 (IPG).

Sunday-Saturday, September 13-19  Colorado National Monument is a spectacular complex of mesas, canyons and monoliths, located just outside of Grand Junction. Join in the week of trail maintenance and play in the best time of the year. This trip is suitable for both beginners or experienced persons. We camp in the Park Service campground. Hawaiian type meals are included in the $295 cost of the trip. For more information call the Leader: Bob Tipton at (303) 759-2299 or the Sierra Club Outing Dept. (415) 977-5630.

Friday-Sunday, September 25-27  This is an early warning that our annual retreat will again be held at the Glacier View Ranch. At this time Melanie needs new committee members or former committee member who will help organize this special event. If you can help or if you need information about the retreat, please call Melanie Guerra at (303 ) 715-1838 or preferably email Melanie at windfriend@usa.net.

Events

Thursday, April 2  Outings Leaders Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Sierra Club Headquarters, Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). Do you enjoy hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities? Do you love to meet new people, or have good times with friends? Sure you do! Join outing specialist Kirk Cunningham to learn the ins and outs of outings leadership. Open to anyone who is interested. For more information and RSVP please call Sue Scheppler at (303) 340-8344.

Saturday-Saturday, April 11-18  Every April since 1977, some of the world's most distinguished wildlife film directors, producers, cinematographers and other professionals have gathered in Missoula to participate in the week-long International Wildlife Film Festival. What began as a grassroots effort by a determined wildlife biologist and a handful of university students has blossomed into an annual celebration that has changed the way the world watches and perceives wildlife. For additional information contact Amy Hetzier-Sperry or Jennifer Thomas at (406) 728-9380 or email to jwff@wildlifefilms.org. 

Tuesday, April 14  From 4:30-7:30 p.m. the Colorado Chapter of Community Development Society presents The Rocky Flats Impact Initiative. Dee Ann Butterfield describes what to do with 8,000 emploees, 6,500 acres and a nulear production site located in a major metropolitan area. For location and RSVP contact Barbara Coe (303) 758-7288 or send email to bcoe@du.edu.  

Thursday, April 16 From 6:45 - 8:45 p.m. A free slide presentation and discussion on the Population Growth and Habitat Loss is sponsored by Zero Population Growth, the Population & Habitat Campaign of the Audubon Society and the Ft. Collins Audubon Society. Contact Janna Six at (970) 493-5034 0r email to Six@lamar.colostate.edu.

Friday, April 17  The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment at the University of Utah College of Law is hosting a conference, Exploring Aldo Leopold's Legacy: The Land Ethic and American West in the 21st Century, at the University Park Hotel on campus in Salt Lake City. Fees are $75 if received by April 7, afterwards, $110. For inquires, email Lisa Stewart at lisa.stewart@law.utah.edu.

Sunday-Wednesday, April 19-22  The Thorne Ecological Institute in Glenwood Springs presents a wildlife symposium, Integrating Wildlife Habitats and People Across Landscapes: Conflicts, Consequences and Solutions for the New West. The symposium will be held at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, and features concurrent workshops on land use management, habitat conservation planning and much more. Space is limited, and registration is required. Cost is $165, and $75 for students with a valid ID. Contact Aun Linsay (303) 442-2600 for a registration form or call Thorne Ecological Institute at (303) 499-3647.

Saturday, April 25  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Standard First Aid classes will be held at the American Red Cross Headquarters, 444 Sherman Street, Denver. To ensure that you are covered for liability insurance purposes, every two years Sierra Club Leaders are required to pass Standard First Aid exam. The cost of $42 for the classes also covers the first-aid booklet entitled 'till help arrives. A minimum of six participants is required for the classes to take place. You need to call Sue Scheppler (303) 340-8344 to pre-register for the class.

Saturday, April 25  Over the next several years greenway development will begin to link the High Line Canal to the Platte River Greenway through the Sand Creek Corridor. Please call the Sand Creek Regional Greenway at (303) 715-1010, if you would like to volunteer to help plant trees.

Saturday, May 2  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Colorado Council of Churches is sponsoring an Environmental Conference entitled Healing and Defending God's Creation, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lakewood. The keynoter Dana Wilbanks will speak on The Environmental Stewardship of God's Creation. Workshops already scheduled will be given by Mary Romano and Sandra Eid from the Sierra Club, Susan Tixier and Lauren Martens from the Colorado Environmental Coalition and a leader from the Audubon Society. The cost of $15 includes lunch. Registration forms are available at the Sierra Club office, or call John Wade at (303) 762-0537 or john_wade@unidial.com. 

Sunday-Wednesday, May 3-6 Join the Water Environment Federation for 1998's largest and most comprehensive watershed management conference and exhibition. At the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Thirty-three technical sessions, 37 poster presentations, 6 workshops, and 4 site tours offer you the opportunity to discover the newest advances and most current experiences in the use of watershed management. 1.0 CEU for every 10 hours of participation. To obtain the program and registration information call the Watershed Management Conference Registration at 800-666-0206 or email to confinfo@wef.org. 

Chapter Meetings

All Sierra Club meetings are open to the public. New and old members who would like to become more active are urged to attend. It's a good way to meet people and share concerns. Chairs: to reserve a conference room at the Club office building, call Mary Romano at (303) 861-8819 (days) at least one week before your meeting.

Metro Regional Council of Groups
The Metro Regional Council of (Sierra Club) Groups, meets monthly for breakfast to provide an informal forum for inter-group communications on issues that cross group boundaries, especially those related to growth (for example, RTD, mountain backdrop, water, open space, air, GOCO). Contact Don Thompson, (303) 320-4895, for agenda information and the meeting date.

Chapter Conservation and Legislative Committee
Monday, April 13 & May 11, 5:30-9:00 p.m. Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). We discuss issues and state legislature bills of importance to the Chapter and how to respond to them. Open to all members. Please contact Conservation Committee Chair. Kirk Cunningham, (303) 939-8519 or kmcunnin@juno.com   regarding information and agenda items for the Conservation Committee meeting and Mark Pearson, Legislative Chair for agenda and information conserning the Legislative Committee, (970) 259-6181, mark.pearson@sierraclub.org.

Executive Committee 
Saturday-Sunday. The Ex-Com is the governing body of the chapter. It meets quarterly at locations throughout the state to discuss and decide on conservation issues and administrative matters. For information and agenda, contact Chair Sherri Valentine, (303) 670-4883.

Lifestyles/Education Committee
Wednesday, April 15 and May 20, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The Lifestyles/Education Committee seeks to inform our communities on living an eco-friendly life. The next meetings will be at 1410 Grant, Denver (call for room location). For details contact Jan Oen at (303) 320-4895.

Tuesday May 19, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Voluntary simplicity study circles are a project of the Lifestyle/Education Committee. A Voluntary Simplicity introductory evening will be held at 1410 Grant, Denver (call for room location). Join simplicity advocate Mary Romano to learn about what Voluntary Simplicity is, how it can make your life more enjoyable and rewarding, and to get more information on the simplicity study circles now forming throughout the state. Contact Mary Romano w(303) 861-8819 or h (303) 388-0911, or email Mary at mor1@concentric.net.

Population Committee
Committee meetings are usually held monthly in Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). 6:30-8:00 p.m. The world population is 5.9 billion and growing. The US population is doubling within a lifetime, moving toward half a billion people in the next century. If you are concerned about this impact of population growth on the environment, please call Fred Elbel, (303) 220-7499 or email Fred at felbel@sni.net and learn the date of our next meeting .

Water Quality Committee
The committee holds evening meetings monthly, at irregular times. It deals with all issues covered by the Clean Water Act: pollution, discharge regulation, planning, polluted run-off and wetlands protection. We usually meet for a potluck supper before the meeting. To be on our contact list, call Chair. Kirk Cunningham, (303) 939-8519.

Inner City Outings
Tuesday, April 7 & May 5, 6:30 p.m. in Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). ICO introduces disadvantaged urban young people to the out-of-doors. Meetings dates and times may vary, so call David Rausen, ICO Chair (303) 698-0805 to confirm.

Peak & Prairie mailing party
Thursday, May 28. Join us for fun at the mailing party! Dinner and refreshments provided. Call Angela Medbery, (303) 433-2608, to confirm location and time.

Gay and Lesbian Sierrans
Thursday, April 9 & May 14. The GLS Committee welcomes new members in the Sierra Club Headquarters, Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). The GLS Committee is a great way to join in appreciation and concern for our natural environment. GLS balances our members' environmental, social and political objectives, call Sue Scheppler (303) 340-8344, for information and to confirm time and location.

Group Meetings

Enos Mills Group 
Tuesday, April 14 and May 12, 6 p.m. potluck, 6:30 p.m. meeting. The Ex-Com meets at Sierra Club Headquarters, Suite 205B at 1410 Grant St., Denver. (NE Corner of Colfax and Grant). An opportunity to meet other EMG activists and learn what the Sierra Club is doing in Denver. Call Jan Oen, (303) 320-4895 to confirm time and location.

High Plains Group
(eastern Denver suburbs)
For information on meeting dates, call Chair. Roger Wendell at (303) 693-4244.

Indian Peaks Group 
Thursday, April 9 and May 14, 6:15 PM (potluck supper), 7:00 (meeting), at the Hoge's home at 2300 Iris Ave. in north Boulder. IPG Ex-Com meeting. The Ex-Com discusses management issues and sets conservation policy for the IPG. For information, For information and agenda contact Group Chair. Susan LeFever at (303) 443-5943.

Wednesday, April 1 and May 6, 7:00 PM. IPG Conservation Committee meeting, LAW Fund Building, SW corner of Baseline and Broadway in Boulder. We discuss and formulate a Group strategy on pressing conservation issues not involving urban areas. Contact Kirk Cunningham, (303) 939-8519, for information and agenda.

Thursday, April 2 and May 7, 12:00 p.m. IPG Urban Land Use Committee. We meet for lunch in downtown Boulder at the Harvest Restaurant, 18th and Pearl Streets We discuss issues involving cities in Boulder County. Call Pam Hoge, (303) 440-3827, for agenda and other details.

Mount Evans Group
(western Jefferson County)
Thursdays, April 10 & May 14, 7:30 p.m. Regular meetings are at the Evergreen Rec. Center. Our group is currently working on our Earth Day booth, Jefferson County Open Space issues, the proposed rape of Guanella Pass, the Nike/South Table Mountain issue, Rep. Skaggs' wilderness bill, and several water and wetland issues. Call Myron Gerhard for information, (303) 948-9778.

Pikes Peak Group
(El Paso & Teller Counties)
Tuesday, April 14 and May 19, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Conservation Committee and Ex-Com meet at the Beidleman Environmental Center, 740 W. Caramillo. All members are invited to attend and participate in our monthly meeting. If you are interested in local, state, or national environmental issues, this is the place to learn more and get involved with the activities which relate to them. Hope to see you there! For more information contact Chuck Hachmeister at (719) 592-0963.

Friday, April 17, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join Mary Romano at the Pike Peak Justice and Peace Center, 235 E. Fountain Blvd., for the first gathering of a new Voluntary Simplicity Study Circle in Colorado Springs (see Lifestyle/Education Committee). The first meeting will be an introductory session. For information call the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission office (719) 632-6189 or Gail Snyder at (719) 481-4962.

Tuesday, April 21, General Meeting. We'll connect with the Colorado Mountain Club this month for a slide presentation of the Leave No Trace program. Recreational use of America's public lands has expanded dramatically since the 1960's. In some areas of the arid southwest, visitor use has increased 1,500 per cent over the last seven years! The impact from this increased use is apparent and extreme; scars of campfires, latrines, human trampling, and refuse are common sights in once pristine areas. Learn how to reduce your impact on the land and to the experience of other visitors. Following the LNT program will be a Colorado Springs: State of the Environment report from the Environmental Alliance of the Pikes Peak Region. The general meeting will be held at Centennial Hall, 200 South Cascade Avenue. For more information call Gail Snyder at (719) 481-4962. Sunday, April 26, 5:00PM, Newsletter Stapling Party and Potluck Dinner. Come join us to help assemble and prepare for mailing the next issue of our Timberlines newsletter. This is a great place for new and newly-active members to get involved. It's one of our most enjoyable social activities. For more information about the location please contact Judy Bolin at (719) 592-0963.

Tuesday, May 12, General Meeting. Join us for a slide show and discussion about the Colorado Grizzly Project. Are there still grizzlies in Colorado? Can they be reintroduced and where? Please join us at this meeting at the High Plains UU Church (1714 Brookwood Drive). For more information call Gail Snyder at (719) 481-4962.

Poudre Canyon Group
(Larimer and Weld Counties)
Monday, April 13 and May 11, 6:30 p.m. Ex-Com usually meets at the Norlarco Credit Union, 700 Whaler's Way, Fort Collins. Confirm dates with Will Walters, (970) 568-9841, or email to walters@ezlink.com. 

Rachel Carson Group
(eastern Jefferson County)
Tuesday, April 16 and May 21. Meetings are usually held at the Arvada Municipal Hall, but call Joan Rech, (303) 541- 0710 to confirm location and time.

Sangre de Cristo Group
(Arkansas River & San Luis Valleys)
Tuesday, April 14 and May 12, 6:30 p.m. Ex-Com meets at the Lamplighter Coffee House in Pueblo. Call Susan Finzel-Aldred, (719) 947-0315, for confirmation of dates.

Uncompahgre Group
(Mesa, Delta & Gunnison Counties)
Wednesday, April 8, 6:15 p.m. Ex-Com meeting and potluck supper. Meet the second Wednesday of alternate months at Shelly Weiss' home, 2215 Driftwood Lane, Grand Junction; call Shelly for directions, (970) 243-5138.

Weminuche Group
(Durango area)
Monday, April 6 and May 4. Ex-Com meeting. Call Jim Decker for information and to confirm meeting dates, (970) 247-8811.