WEMUC MEMBERS DONATE SNOWMOBILES

Steve Maznio, owner of Character Builders in New Castle, has donated a Polaris snowmobile to the club. Tim Kwiatkowski is tuning it up so it will be ready when the snow flies. Tod Tibbetts will use that machine to groom trails. However we are still looking for a trailer for it.
 
Anthony Benham, owner of Independent Bicycle Repair in Silt, is donating the use of his snowmobile and trailer and he has also volunteered to be a trail groomer.

We’re ready for our first big snowfall. As soon as it comes we will be able to groom those trails.

Thank you Steve and Anthony!

NAME THAT TRAIL

It’s high time we name our trails. We have been referring to the trails as the Short Loop, Outer Loop, and North Loop (half mile from trailhead turn right).

The Short Loop will now be known as Kay’s Loop, in honor of the club’s founder, Kay Robinson and her many years of hard work keeping up our trail system. The North Loop will now be called Snowshoe Loop because that best describes it.

Please help us name the Outer Loop, which trails off to the left at the Y just before the downhill on Kay’s Loop.

Send your suggestions to Peggy at: peggyt@siltnet.net

Then watch this blog for the Name that Trail poll.

GARCO & WEMUC MEMBERS PROVIDE FUNDS FOR 2010

If you haven’t already heard, WEMUC Executive Director Tod Tibbetts received preliminary approval for $4,000 in funding from Garfield County to help with equipment needs. We hope to receive those funds in January 2010.

Rio Grand Trail and Corridor Manager Robert Comey has offered to sell the club a snowmobile and groomer for $1,900. The equipment was previously used on the Rio Grand Trail between Carbondale and Basalt. We are planning to purchase the snowmobile and groomer with part of the funds from GarCo.

We will use funds we currently have available to purchase a trailer for the snowmobile donated by Steve Maznio. If you know of any good deals on trailers please contact Tod Tibbetts.

WE ASKED AND YOU DELIVERED

This fall the club has received over $300 in member renewals and donations. Thank you!

On average it costs $35 in gas to groom the trails,including transportation to the trailhead. We plan to groom twice a week during heavy snowfalls. Your support helps us keep the trails in good shape. Renew your membership today!

 TRAIL CONDITIONS

This photo was taken on November 27. Not enough snow to groom at that time. Snowshoeing would be okay in the woods. We expect our first big snow any minute now. Information on trail conditions will be posted here on this blog. Spread the word.

SNOWSHOERS PACK TRAILS

Snowmobiles do a pretty good job of setting a track to ski on. By far the best way to really pack the trail and build up a good base is to snowshoe it. All season long we need snow-shoers to get out and pack the trail, especially the North Loop which is narrow and impossible to groom with a snowmobile. In the gully the snow gets too deep and the snowmobile gets stuck. Take the challenge and test your skills.

WANTED: TRAIL SIGNS

Wood craftsman needed to make the following signs:
West Elk Trail (for trailhead)
Kay’s Loop
Snowshoe Loop
plus one more once we choose a name for the Outer Loop

Can you help?
Please call Tod or Peggy Tibbetts (#’s in the book)
Or email: peggyt@siltnet.net

This photo was taken 11/27/09

News from Peggy:

Tod and I took the dogs up to the West Elk trail on Sunday, November 22 and 27. The snowpack is only about 3-4 inches. Not enough snow to ski. We need at least 2 feet to groom.  We hiked out to Dorothy’s View. Snowshoeing would be okay though. The trail sections that are in the woods have good snow cover for snowshoes. The jeep trail to the meadow is both muddy and snowy.  

We will be going up to check on the trail every weekend.  I will continue to post updates on conditions.

Think snow!

In 2002, the West Elk Multi-Use Club was formed to mark, maintain and promote trails in the White River National Forest North of Rifle, Silt, and New Castle for horseback riding, hiking, biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. The Club worked with the White River National Forest Regional District to put in a 3-loop winter trail system, approximately 10 miles in length, starting on Forest Road 819, 16 miles North of New Castle on the Buford Road. The Club has also organized a number of volunteer projects that have cleared horseback trails going from Rifle Mountain Park to the Triangle Park area connecting to an existing network of pack trials on the Flat Tops.

The Club is a volunteer organization, supported by donations and a $15 voluntary user fee. Since its inception, the Club has been supported by 82 donors giving between $250 and $800 per year. These donations have covered the cost of maintaining the winter ski trail. While most of the donors are from the Towns of New Castle and Silt, each municipality from Parachute to Carbondale is represented on their donor list. A very small group of dedicated volunteers have accomplished a lot in this group’s 7 years of existence, but their success has put strain on the organizational capacity as user numbers continue to grow.

The National Forest in Garfield County has long been a key recreational amenity for residents and visitors alike. Multi-Use is a key management principle for the Forest Service, but the reality of tightened budgets has pushed the responsibility for National Forest trail systems to user groups, like West Elk Multi-Use Club, doing the building, marking, and maintaining of trails with Forest Service oversight.

Building and maintaining trail systems takes an organized effort to procure and manage the financial resources to support the volunteer labor, as well as the expenses incurred by the organizational entity itself. Transitioning from a grass roots volunteer group to the
formally organized, non-profit corporate entity necessary to support the group’s mission year after year is a critical and essential move for the long term viability of this effort.

In 2006, the Club was required to carry insurance which more than doubled their expense load. A record snowfall winter last year accentuated the fact that grooming the cross country trail system requires equipment designed for that task because personal snowmobiles previously used don’t stand up to the task in the long run. These are the financial realities that this organization needs to address to continue the fine work that has already been accomplished.

Here’s how we plan on making this transition happen:

1) Raise awareness of our trail system through press exposure, inclusion in trail guides and publishing a brochure with a trail map to distribute locally.

2) Increase the Board of Directors from 4 to 8 people. The increased size allows this volunteer Board to delegate tasks more effectively. All the tasks, from fund raising to volunteer coordination, can be accomplished more effectively with twice the people addressing them.

3) Broaden financial support by reaching out to entities that would have an interest in supporting the regional recreational amenities addressed by their mission.

4) Become a non-profit corporation or align the group with a non-profit organization to allow them to apply for grants from multiple entities that fund trail systems.

West Elk Ski Trail Map (click on image for a printable map)

Winter trail system wins Garfield County commissioners’ support
Multi-use club secures $4,000 for operating expenses
by John Colson

A group of volunteers, after creating and maintaining what one man called “‘the best kept winter secret’ in Garfield County,” now enjoys public support after a meeting with the Board of County Commissioners this week.

The “secret” is a small cross-country skiing trail system in western Garfield County, which has been in existence since 2002 but has had a low public profile, according to Todd Tibbetts, executive director of the West-Elk Multi-Use Club.

County commissioners Trési Houpt and John Martin (Mike Samson was absent) agreed to put $4,000 into the county budget to help defray the operating costs of the club, and to assist in the purchase of trail-grooming equipment.

But, as Martin told Tibbetts on Monday, there is no guarantee that the contribution will make it through the budget process, which this year is focused on savings in preparation for hard economic times ahead.

“We’ll just have to see how it goes,” Martin said, after suggesting that there may be other, better ways to meet the group’s financial needs than the county’s general fund.

Tibbetts told the commissioners that the system was created, and the West Elk club formed, with plans “to mark, maintain and promote trails in the White River National Forest north of Rifle, Silt and New Castle for horseback riding, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding.”

As it stands, Tibbetts said, the group has worked with the USFS district offices to install a three-loop winter trail system, roughly 10 miles long, that starts on Forest Road 819 about 16 miles north of New Castle on the Buford Road.

“The club has also organized a number of volunteer projects that have cleared horseback trails going from Rifle Mountain Park to the Triangle Park area, connecting to an existing network of pack trails on the Flat Tops,” Tibbetts told the commissioners, reading from a prepared statement.

Although the system has primarily been used by cross-country skiers, Tibbetts said, the group hopes to broaden its scope as well as its funding base.

To date, he said, the group has subsisted on donations from users and private supporters, and has relied on volunteer labor using private equipment to take care of maintenance and clearing. Tibbetts said the group pays $700 a year for liability insurance, and that its budget calls for $1,250 in operating expenses and $700 for trail maintenance.

Tibbetts told the commissioners that, as part of its overall ambitions, the club is hoping to “broaden their financial support by reaching out to entities that would have an interest in supporting the regional recreation amenities” initiated by the West Elk group.

OCTOBER 3 IS TRAIL MAINTENANCE DAY

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 3, 2009. Please join with other club member for fall trail maintenance. We will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the trailhead across from the Buford Road parking lot. We will be doing brush and tree clearing around both loops.

Please sign up to help. Call or email Tod Tibbetts: todt@siltnet.net

WEMUC NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Tod Tibbetts is the new Executive Director of WEMUC. Peggy Tibbetts will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

James Fletcher will remain as Chairman. Kay Robinson and Eric Boley will continue to help with trails. If you would like to volunteer contact Tod or email Peggy: peggyt@siltnet.net

Your support is appreciated. Renew your membership today.

WEMUC HAS A NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Peggy Tibbetts, WEMUC Treasurer
PO Box 129
Silt, CO 81652

WEMUC SEEKS FUNDING FROM GARFIELD COUNTY

WEMUC Executive Director Tod Tibbetts is in the process of requesting funding from Garfield County from the 2010 budget. Prospects are good for next year. He will keep members updated on any news.

For the most part WEMUC thrives because of the
generosity of our members. Our biggest annual expense is liability insurance.

During this upcoming 2009-2010 ski season the club plans to purchase a snowmobile for about $3,000. We need our own equipment available in order to keep up a regular grooming schedule during the winter months. We also plan to put up a shed at the trailhead to store the club’s grooming equipment.

Member renewals and donations will help make these dreams become reality.

Communication is also key to our club’s strength. The blog and newsletter are part of our new member outreach. Tod and Peggy Tibbetts welcome member comments & suggestions. Please feel free to contact them by phone or email.

WEMUC TRAIL MAKES THE NEWS

In May, WEMUC trail was featured in the special outdoor recreation edition of the Rifle Citizen Telegram. Click here to read the full article.

Mike McKibbin, Editor of the Rifle Citizen Telegram is working on an article about the West Elk Multi-Use Club and trail. He plans to focus on the all season, multi-use aspect of the trail. The article won’t be published until around May 1. He would like some summer or off-season photos to go with the article — especially hiking, biking, horseback riding, or just scenery. If you have any off-season photos, or if you know of anyone with photos, please email them to me at: peggyt@siltnet.net

The deadline is April 10. I will make sure that Mike gets them.

Thanks!

Peggy Tibbetts

What is WEMUC?  It’s the West Elk Multi-Use Club, a small organization supporting a hidden gem of 12 miles of scenic Nordic ski and snowshoe trails right in our backyard. 

These dog- and family-friendly trails head out from the West Elk Trailhead parking lot (complete with toilet) situated in the White River National Forest, just off the Buford/New Castle Road. 

Over the past few years a small band of eight local snow enthusiasts has created and maintained a network of ski/snowshoe trails that range from easy to challenging. The trails meander through rolling meadows and glades of aspen and pine, and reward the user with breathtaking views of the distant Grand Hogbacks.  In the summer, wildflowers replace the snow, and in the fall the gold of the aspens lights up the trails.  These “off seasons” offer superb biking and hiking, as well as horseback riding and picnicking.

The dedicated “WEMUCers” are now putting the call out for more members and volunteers, to help with the various tasks of keeping the trails open and accessible to all.  They need help in the form of trail grooming and cleaning, marker placement and removal, grant writing to obtain a heavy duty snowmobile and groomer, membership and financial contributions, and event planning such as a possible moon light ski and snowshoe next month.

Call Kay Robinson (625-3663), James Fletcher (625-5302), or Tod Tibbetts (876-2196) for more information.

The West Elk trail has had about 12-14 inches of snow since last weekend (2/8).  Several skiers and snowshoers packed the trail today. Also, Eric tracked it out with the snowmobile. The short loop and outer loop are both in good condition.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The trail is in great shape! Fast and fun.

We skied Saturday and Sunday. The weather was perfect. On Sunday, our granddaughter Hailey skied with us. She’s 7 years old. We also remembered the camera.

Hailey led the way.

Hailey likes the downhills best of all.

Hailey's such a good skier she makes her Nana proud

Papa shows Hailey how to tuck it

Skiing with a kid. It doesn't get any better than this!

If you’ve been out on the trail recently, please post your comments and/or send your photos to Peggy at: peggyt@siltnet.net You can also post questions and we’ll try to find the answers. We encourage everyone’s participation. Be sure to bookmark this blog.

Do you know other West Elk trail users who would like to stay connected? Please help us spread the word about this blog.

See you on the trail!

Greetings West Elk Multi-Use Club members!

We are your hosts, Peggy and Tod Tibbetts from Silt, Colorado. We thought a blog would be a great way for club members to meet, stay connected, share photos, update trail conditions, and make new friends. You don’t have to join anything to participate. All you need to do is post to the comment section. Or you can contribute a blog post, just send photos and/or information to Peggy at: peggyt@siltnet.net

We will post everything on the blog for you. How easy is that?

We don’t have a member email list yet, so please feel free to send your email address to Peggy and we will start a database of emails for sending out special announcements. Peggy is also working on a button so you can subscribe to this blog.

We were on the trail Saturday, January 10 and found it in great shape. The trail had been tracked recently by a snowmobile, so it was smoother and wider than it has been in several weeks. We forgot the camera. Doh! But we DID come up with the idea for this blog while skiing. So that’s something.

On New Years weekend we met up with several snowshoers on the trail. Snowshoers do a great job of packing the trail. A couple snowshoers asked whether or not the skiers wanted them on the trail. We said, “Yes! Of course!” And thanked them for packing the trail. So let’s clear the air about snowshoers. West Elk is a multi-use trail. We WANT snowshoers. We NEED snowshoers. Snowshoes pack the trail. So spread the word. Skiers are snowshoe friendly. Everyone is welcome. All trail packers are much appreciated.

If you’ve been out on the trail recently, please post your comments and/or send your photos to Peggy. You can also post questions and we’ll try to find the answers. We encourage everyone’s participation. Be sure to bookmark this blog.

Do you know other West Elk trail users who would like to stay connected? Please help us spread the word about this blog.

See you on the trail!