September! A month when the seasons begin to shift, families settle back into the rhythm of school, sports, and daily routines, and the Valley slowly transitions into fall. Mornings grow crisp, days get shorter, and a cozy excitement fills the air as we explore our favorite trails beneath canopies of changing leaves, accompanied by the satisfying crunch of foliage underfoot or beneath our tires. With cooler temperatures, breathtaking scenery, and endless opportunities for recreation and trail stewardship, it’s easy to get swept up in the magic of this time of year.
It’s no wonder September is a favorite month for so many of us here at the VVMTA, along with countless others who call the Vail Valley home. And while the seasons may be shifting, our passion for trails and the outdoors certainly isn’t slowing down. So, how did our dedicated crew of staff and volunteers make the most of this spectacular September?
Trail and Stewardship Crew
The Trails and Stewardship Crew’s main project this month took them to the Colorado River for a tamarisk removal project. Crews accessed river islands and shorelines by raft, working in a variety of weather and river conditions to tackle this invasive species. Tamarisk, an aggressive woody shrub that can outcompete native vegetation and spread quickly along waterways, has taken hold across much of the American West. This project required over 30+ hours from the TSC, tackling the tamarisk with chainsaws and herbicide treatments, while also developing a strategy for managing areas where the species was more established.
As Crew Leader Bay Stephens explained, the work wasn’t simply about removing as much tamarisk as possible, but rather understanding where the plant posed the greatest threat and focusing efforts where they could have the biggest impact: “We will take a containment approach to the tamarisk on the big island since there was a far healthier population than we realized. We’ve been cutting back the tamarisk from the water to reduce the efficacy of seeds spreading by water. Next week will focus mostly on satellite populations closer to the running water that have a better chance of propagating further afield.” By taking a thoughtful, strategic approach, our small but mighty crew can make the most of their time and resources, maximizing their impact while helping protect the health of our local ecosystems.
Adopt A Trail
Adopt A Trail had another busy month with more than 800 volunteer hours logged across 30 trail work days and 23 different Adopt a Trail teams. One stand out work day was led by Casey Wyse with a 32-person crew from Vail Christian High School on Wyse Way, a great climbing trail in the West Avon Preserve. Over five hours, the crew cleared 25 drainages, removed two fallen trees, repaired 350 feet of tread, cleared 50 feet of brush and overhanging limbs, and closed one social trail. The work was no small task, and one student, clearly surprised by just how physical trail work can be, asked Casey in disbelief, “You do this for fun? You don’t get paid?”
Congratulations to the AAT Team of the Month, Elevated Dental! Elevated Dental has been caring for Martin Creek since 2019, bringing together staff and clients to give back to our local trails. This year, they took their commitment to trail stewardship one step further! With the opening of their new Gypsum office, they adopted a second trail, Turniphead, which the Town of Eagle identified as a high-priority maintenance need. Two offices, two trails, and a whole lot of love for our outdoor spaces! Thank you, Elevated Dental, for your continued dedication to keeping our trails in tip top shape.
And congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month, Garrett Greiner! Garrett spent the summer serving as the Town of Eagle’s Open Space & Trails Technician, helping lead and support volunteer events throughout the season, including Adopt A Trail projects and the new Eagle D.I.R.T. Crew. With his positive attitude, enthusiasm for teaching, and passion for trail stewardship, Garrett is always a welcome face at volunteer events. We’re grateful for his hard work, leadership, and the energy he brings to our trail community. Thanks for an awesome season, Garrett!
Ladies Trail Crew
Ladies Trail Crew continued work on the Eagle-Vail Trail, a seemingly never-ending project where the question, “Is anything ever really finished?” rings especially true. A crew of 34 women of all ages and backgrounds divided and conquered different sections of trail, accomplishing a whole lot in just 2.5 hours. Together, the crew cleared 10 drainages, repaired 200 feet of tread, and continued improving the notoriously sensitive gypsum backslope that makes up a large portion of the Eagle-Vail Trail. Working on the gypsum backslope in particular is no easy task—the loose, powdery gypsum is notoriously tricky to work with, making for dusty conditions and requiring plenty of care to avoid further erosion. Long-time LTC and Soul Dirt participant Carli Jessup summed up the spirit of the group perfectly: “This is my favorite night of the month. There’s nothing better than getting down and dirty with your community. It’s just the best.”
Trail Ambassadors
Our Trail Ambassadors were posted at trails throughout the Valley, from Booth Lake and Deluge Lake in East Vail, all the way down to trails like Nolan Lake in Fulford.
Oftentimes, our work at the VVMTA brings us outside of the confines of the Vail Valley and deeper into Eagle County. For Trail Ambassador Alex Doone, a day at the Kokomo Pass trailhead offered several of those meaningful connections. He met a group of twelve young backpackers from Colorado Springs who were waiting for their organization to pick them up after a long few days on the trail. The conversation quickly turned to VVMTA, trail stewardship, outdoor industry work, and the importance of Leave No Trace. Later that day, while hiking the trail, Alex met a CDT thru-hiker on day 92 of her journey. Together they hiked a couple of miles, which gave them an opportunity to connect on all things trails, stewardship, accessibility, and the importance of caring for the places we recreate in. Alex shared “It was a good interaction with someone who cares deeply about trails, accessibility, and recreation.”
These interactions are a great example of how our Trail Ambassadors foster a culture of stewardship, connection and community wherever they go.
Soul Dirt
Soul Dirt continues to create opportunities for people who may not have the same access to nature to experience the joy and magic of recreating outside with communities across Eagle County. This month, Soul Dirt partnered with MOYA for a beautiful hike on Meadow Mountain, The Shaw Cancer Center for a hike on Gore Creek Trail, and Exploremos for a trail work day (The Cycle Effect came too!) In addition, we had a downhill day with Mountain Pride at Vail Mountain, where 14 riders came together to challenge themselves with the support of community and camaraderie, surrounded by the golden leaves covering the hillside. One participant summed up the day perfectly: “Yeah, I guess the biking was great, but these leaves are so vibrant!” Sometimes, getting outside is as simple as slowing down and enjoying the beauty that nature has to offer.
Vail Oktoberfest
Prost! From singletrack to steins, September gave us plenty of reasons to celebrate at Vail Oktoberfest! VVMTA was honored to once again be the nonprofit beneficiary, raising more than $36,000 to support our work throughout the Vail Valley! Nearly 300 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to check IDs, manage sales, and pour beer, all while spreading the word about VVMTA and our mission. Thanks to their enthusiasm, generosity, and hard work, a weekend of festive fun translated into meaningful support for the trails we all love.
Help our impact grow well beyond September! This Colorado Gives Day, support VVMTA and help us continue caring for the trails that connect our community. DONATE TODAY and help us reach our goal!
