RICO ALPINE SOCIETY
SUMMER 2007 NEWSLETTER

Forest Service Seeks Input on Rico Trails
            The United States Forest Service is in the process of revising the Travel Management Plan for the San Juan National Forest.  All single-track trails in the 1.8 -million acre forest will be identified as open or closed to motorized and non-motorized uses, including hiking, biking, horses, motorcycles, all-terrain and 4-wheel drive utility vehicles. The Forest Service has asked the Rico community to provide input on the trails in our area, to help them with planning the individual trail designations.   Once revised, the plan will be in effect for twenty years.  
A citizens group was formed to discuss and debate motorized versus non-motorized trail use in the area.  The North San Juans Advisory Committee was made from concerned members of the community, to agree on a trails proposal to submit to the Forest Service from the Rico community as a whole. 
The committee has met several times during the past year to iron out local differences of opinion.  Their draft plan, which promotes passive recreation in the high country surrounding Rico, will next be presented to the Rico Town Board for discussion then approval.  Watch for meetings in the local newspaper and announcements board, and please try to attend and give your input on the future of our local trails. 

JOIN US FOR A HIKE!   BURNETT to HORSE CREEK, SUNDAY AUGUST 5
            Due to popular request, the Alpine Society has scheduled its first group hike.  Planned for Sunday August 5, the group will meet at the Town Park at 7:00 am and drive participants up Burnett Creek road to the start of single track.  From there, we’ll all hike up Burnett to the ridge, head north on the Calico Trail, and then back down to town via Horse Creek.  The entire adventure should take about 6 hours.  Hearty hikers can bag a peak along the way. 
            This loop trail has been proposed by the North San Juan Advisory Committee to be a designated non-motorized hiking and biking route accessible from town.  The trail provides access to many popular peaks in the area, and travels through pristine alpine meadows and high altitude elk habitat.  Learn to recognize native plants along the way with Rico wetland ecologist Patrick Drew, who will bring field guides and local knowledge. 
Hope to see you there.  Bring a raincoat!! 

Trail Designations Made Without Public Participation - Memorandum of Understanding now in place
            The Rico Alpine Society has learned that after 1992 many trails in the San Juan National Forest were changed from non-motorized to motorized dirt-bike use without the necessary public and NEPA processes.  These questionable designations are indicated on recreation maps published by the Forest Service for public use and include local Burnett Creek, Horse Creek, Calico, Ryman, and Johnny Bull trails. 
Forest Service decisions on how people can travel on public trails are legally required to consider public comments and to include a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) environmental analysis.  Neither seemed to have taken place before the Forest Service began to publish these trails as open to dirt bike use on their visitor maps.  It is not certain at this time whether legal action against the agency will take place; the Alpine Society will continue to investigate this matter.    
However, the local Forest Service acknowledges and regrets this error, and has promised to include the town of Rico in all future trail designation decisions.  A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by the Forest Service, Dolores County, and the Town of Rico that says no public lands planning and decisions for the Rico area will take place without the community’s knowledge and participation.
The Forest Service plans to schedule at least one meeting in Rico this fall, and more in the region, to discuss the forest plan revisions currently taking place.  A draft plan for trails in our local area is planned to be put out for review and comment by the Forest Service later this year.  The public will have a chance to comment – and this time the Forest Service will read the comments- on the draft plan before the final plan is prepared. 

RAS ANNUAL MEETING AND BBQ SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2:00 pm
            Once a year, all members of the Alpine Society come together for the annual meeting.  This year, the meeting is set for Saturday September 22, at 2:00pm in the Rico Town Park (Jones Park).  The Society will provide BBQ and drinks, please bring a side dish to contribute. 
Updates on projects, and the election of Board Members will take place then the group will break for beer and volleyball.  Please plan to attend and share your ideas with the organization.  The fall colors should be in full force!   

Rico Hotel and MountainFilm Movie Night a Success
            This spring, the Rico Hotel hosted a movie night to benefit the Alpine Society.  In cooperation with Telluride MountainFilm and director Peter Kenworthy, a sneak-preview of several short adventure and environmental films from this year’s world-renowned film festival were shown to attendants. Fifty percent of the proceeds from dinners that night went to the Alpine Society, and a check for $500 was deposited into the RAS account. 
The Alpine Society hopes to hold this exciting event each spring.  Thanks Eamonn, MountainFilm and The Rico Hotel for your generous support. 

First “Expectation” Membership Sold
            Scott Livesay became the Rico Alpine Society’s first “Expectation” member with a $500 donation this spring. Scott owns a house on River Street and generously donated to the RAS after hearing about the organization from member Keith Lindauer. 
“Scott’s new to town and wanted to do some good for the community,” Keith said.  “I told him about the non-profits in town, and he responded appropriately.”   
The Alpine Society holds a membership drive each summer for funds to support the organization and its projects.    Memberships are: Individual -$10, Family-$20, Dolores-$100, Expectation- $500, and Blackhawk- $1000. 
A membership form is attached to this newsletter.  We appreciate your support. 

RAS Nordic Trail Benefits Entire Community
            Thanks to a grant from the Rico Center, the Rico Alpine Society was able to purchase equipment to maintain a Nordic trail on public access roads adjacent to town last winter.  Snowshoers and cross-country skiers of all ages enjoyed the trail, which provided about three miles of groomed trail for season-long recreation on the east side of town. 
Special thanks go out to trail groomers Pat Drew and John Godizak, Tom Bennett for snowmobile repair and to Patsy Engel for use of her land to store the grooming equipment.  Look for improved grooming and more trails this winter. 

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