NSA Colorado Projects

On The Colorado Trail June 23-24, 2005: Over coming extreme environmental conditions-beautiful blue sky, early summer Rocky Mountain weather with temps in the 70's, crystal clear mountain water rushing down to Coors Brewery in Golden and eagles soaring high, five smokejumpers, one CTF official, one aspiring teenager and one trail dog completed another successful project on the Colorado Trail.
Starting at a basecamp elevation of 10,028' Richard Hilderbrand MSO'66 (squadleader) Warren Pierce CJ'64, Herm Ball MSO'50, Gasper Blea NIFC'78 (head sawyer), Blogger Bill CJ'58, George Milller, CTF, Cody Blea and Kepler, not deterred by massive snow drifts and swift flowing, icy mountain streams, cleared countless downfalls on a section of a connecting trail with the Colorado Trail. Urged onward and upward, by our squad leader, the crew cleared so many fallen trees that Hilderbrand, having only so many fingers and toes lost track after 20. Pierce piped in with his continuing encouraging words of "the trail junction is just around the corner," and the crew reached the high point of the supposedly two-day project at 11,658' joining with Colorado Trail (now named Kepler Junction).

The plan was to return to base camp and start up the other end of the trail on the second day. But no one was anxious to climb back up again with the chain saws so we continued working down the Colorado Trail to base camp arriving there about 6:00PM after clearing 10.5 miles of trail. Not bad for a days work. We figured that at this elevation , our trail work easily equated to 21 miles of cleared trail in the flatlands of the Bob.

That night we had a great dinner, and around a campfire the usual bullshit laced with an occasional true story. Our second day was a lot easier with blueberry hot cakes and coffee to start off another beautiful Colorado day and with all the work completed, we broke camp early and the crew departed . George Miller, field coordinator for the CTF, was again amazed at the volume off work accomplished in a short time by the highly trained and high spirited NSA Colorado crew. We are already discussing a two-day, (Thursday- Friday) project somewhere on the Colorado Trail for late June 2006.

Stay tuned for the next update on the NSA Colorado Trail Project, September 7-11, 2005.
There is still time to sign up and all are welcome.

Rich, I will be at the campground on Wed evening as I have some other scouting to do in the area on Wed. Bill, Do I need to bring anything other than tools for the project. I am going to put my big camper on so we will have access to some cooking ability. George

All,
I have created some confusion by stating the meeting time is 0800 on
Thurs. That is not correct and we should meet no later than 9:30 at the
Jefferson Creek Campground.

I will NOT come up Wed evening now and will be there on Thurs morning.
We may need 3 spots on Thurs evening only.

Again, 9:30 Thurs morning at the Jefferson Creek Campground at the
campsite. I will have an NSA CO sign to put out at the campsite. Sorry
for the screw up in the time!

Mobile 719-359-6725

Rich

RE: NSA /CTF Jefferson Creeek Trail Project
Included in this posting is an email exchange between Rich Hilderbrand, squaleader and myself. It should answer most of your questions. With two of the longest days of the year we should have plenty of time to complete this project and have a good time doing it. The menu is listed in this posting and it includes paper plates, plastic utensils, You may want to bring your own coffee mug. See you at Jefferson Creek Campground on June 23 by 0930.

Hi Rich,
Are you planning on sending out a final email to the crew? I think
Gasper would appreciate receiving some last final information to
include conformation of time and location of assembly area. I plan to
send out an email regarding grub on Thursday evening and breakfast on
Friday and if you want to send me an email with your final
instructions, I'll forward it along with mine. What do you think of
Roasted Chicken, Potato Salad, Baked Beans and Apple Pie for Thursday
evening, Hot Cakes, Bacon and coffee for Friday breakfast, and
sandwich fixings/fruit/ cookies for sack lunch on Friday? This will
be easy for me and it will be better than everyone trying to take
care of their own food. Let me know if this is okay with you and
I'll get the email out advising the crew. As you know we picked up
another crew member. This will be a good project.
Best regards,
Bill Ruskin

Hi to all,
Plans for next week at Jefferson Creek project.

Meeting place:
The directions to Jefferson Creek are available on previous email. If
you need those, just reply and I will send again. There are three
campgrounds just below Jefferson Lake. The last one on the drive in is
Jefferson Creek Campground (the other campgrounds have different names
that I don't remember.) From George I understand we will have spots in
the Jefferson Creek Campground - so lets plan on meeting there. George,
we have added 2 people, so If you can get one more campsite, that may be
helpful.

Time:
I will be driving up Wed evening and spending wed night at the
campground. I have a brown Dodge regular cab 4x4 pickup and will be
tenting. The final meeting spot if you drive up Thurs Morning should be
at the Jefferson Creek campsites by 8 am. ****

Food:
See below for what will be provided - that is lunches, dinner for
evening on thurs, and breakfast Friday. Other than those meals bring
your own food and BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS AND SNACKS.

Looking forward to seeing everyone and this should be a fun time. Call
me at 719-359-6725 on my mobile phone if you have any questions. Thanks
and see you soon. Rich

**** NOTE: SHOULD BE 0930 HOURS