August continues to bring trail magic, and thanks to some much-needed rain last week, the trails are looking better than ever! Huge shoutout to all our amazing volunteers who’ve been out digging, clearing, and spending time to give back to our community. From local teams adopting their favorite trails to youth groups jumping in to learn the ropes, the spirit of care and community has been stronger than ever. Here’s to everything we’ve accomplished together so far this season:
- Number of Volunteer Events: 83 (23 in August)
- Number of Volunteers: 1037
- Volunteer Hours on Trails: 3065
- Miles of Trails Covered: 86.37
- Miles of Tread Repaired: 5
- Miles of Corridor Cleared: 17.8
- Drainages Cleared: 392
- Closed Social Trails: 47
Pounds of Trash Removed: 20.25
Adopt A Trail Teams
Our AAT program saw 23 events and 308 volunteers in August! Volunteers from businesses, organizations, and neighborhood groups showed up ready to keep our trails looking great. A few favorite volunteer quotes from the month:
- “It’s like we’re brushing the forests’ hair.”
- “Eileen is the Lopper QUEEN.”
- “This is so good for my mind. This brings me back to reality as I’ve just been busy working at two different jobs all summer. This is great that we get to be out here.”
- “I used to be a part of the boy scouts and this work day is bringing me back!”
- How’s your crew doing? “Honestly, we’re pooped!”
- “I think we may have gotten a little social and forgot about the trail work part!”
- “Ugh, I’m going to be sore after this.”
- “I probably shouldn’t roll down big rocks for the water bar”
A huge thank you to the following AAT teams for their commitment in July:
- Vail Valley Running Club on East Lake Creek
- All Points North on Everkrisp (West)
- Bighorn Gravel on McKenzie Gulch
- FORM Attainment Studio on Wild West Ridge
- Sonnenalp Hotel on North Trail
- Vail Health on Riddle
- Howard Head Sports Medicine on Bighorn
- Walking Mountains on Nature Walk Loop
- Vail Valley Ride on Mayer Gulch
- Eagle River Water and Sanitation on Gore Creek
- Vail Club 50 on Stag Gulch
- Vail Recreation District on North Trail
- Venture Sports on Pitkin Creek
- Walking Mountains on Nature Walk Loop
- Eagle County Dept. of Human Services on Adam’s Way
- Vail Jr. Cycling on Extra Credit
Project of the Month: Volunteers on Quiver
After our Trail Conservation Crew (TCC) began their work on the new Arrowhead hiking trail named Quiver, our volunteers got to work! The brand-new, hiking-only trail was hand built with a natural feel to mimic Vail Mountain’s Berry Picker. We announced the grand opening of Quiver at our Friday Afternoon Club on August 22nd. Thanks to following groups for helping out:
- Amazon
- Wednesday Night Trail Crew
- Ladies Trail Crew
Just take a look to see how many volunteer hours went into this project!
- 109 volunteers
- 327 volunteer hours
- 0.6 miles / 3,170 ft of tread establishment and improvement
- 12 drainage structures installed or improved.
- 850 feet of corridor cleared
Youth Trail Stewards: Next Generation in Action
The Cycle Effect gets another shoutout this month as they wrap up a total of six work sessions throughout our county. Instead of biking during their practice time, they choose to spend a few days each month giving back to the trails they love to ride! From lopping the corridor to improving berms after the rain, they’ve put in some work hours this summer. Beyond the tools and hard work, their presence reminds us why stewardship matters: empowering youth to build confidence, connect with nature, and give back to the community. Great work to the coaches and girls at The Cycle Effect!
Interested in our Youth Trail Stewards Program? If your school or youth organization is interested in taking part in a stewardship project, we’d love to have you join us! Trail days are a fun and meaningful way for students to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and give back to their community. To learn more or set up a project, reach out to Natalie at natalie@vvmta.org — we’d be excited to work with you!
Volunteer Trail Crews - Join us before it's over
This month, our Wednesday Night Trail Crew and Ladies Trail Crew focused their efforts to support the Arrowhead project…awesome work!
There are a lot of reasons that people continue to show up to volunteer through these two crews. When we asked the ladies trail crew what brings them out, this is what we heard…people love coming together for a cause that’s greater than them, they love meeting new people, they feel a sense of belonging to a group, they love doing meaningful work, and they feel it’s important to come together as a community.
With a goal of connecting our community through trails, we’re grateful for both our returning and first-time volunteers who consistently show up to make a difference. Come out and join us for the last ones of the season!
Wednesday Night Trail Crew: 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 3rd
- Wednesday, September 17th
- Wednesday, October 1st
Ladies Trail Crew: 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 18th
Volunteer Champions for August 2025
Team of the Month: Walking Mountains
From May through August, this team has been hard at work all summer long. They’ve already completed 8 trail work events (with two more still on the calendar!) — which might just be an Adopt a Trail record.
The crew manages three trails around their Avon campus — Avon Overlook, Buck Creek, and the Nature Loop Trail — and their dedication shows. Huge kudos to the Walking Mountains staff for putting so much effort into their trails, ensuring both locals and visitors can enjoy these beautiful natural spaces!
Highlights of their work so far:
- 7.3 miles of trail covered
- 34 drainage structures cleared or built
- 8 fallen trees removed
- 419 feet of tread repaired or constructed
- 2,616 feet of corridor cleared
Volunteer of the Month: Molly Gamble
As a dedicated member of the Ladies Trail Crew, Molly has logged nearly 70 volunteer hours with VVMTA. This month on Quiver, she was spotted laughing as she cut new tread and ripped out roots — all while smiling and exclaiming, “I’m having the best time!!” Her positivity and hard work inspires everyone around her at volunteer events.
Professionally, Molly works at The Cycle Effect, a nonprofit empowering young women through mountain biking. In a 2021 article, she reflected:
“My favorite part about coaching for The Cycle Effect was seeing growth and progress with skills and social-emotional wellness throughout the season. This includes the rewarding experience of seeing each athlete become more confident as they learn more about the sport, find the courage to try hard things, and be their authentic selves as they access the trails in their own backyard.”
Kudos to Molly for all she contributes to our trails, our volunteers, and the wider community!
Volunteer Dog of the Month: Boots!
While he may not swing a pick or clear drains, Boots shows up to trail days with tail wags and endless enthusiasm. His specialty? Boosting morale, greeting everyone like an old friend, and reminding us that trail work is best enjoyed with a smile (and maybe a few belly rub breaks). A special thanks to Arianne and Ryan Simmons for bringing Boots to dozens of volunteer events throughout the years and thanks to Boots, for keeping spirits high out on the trails!
Thank You & Let's Finish Strong in September
Thank you to everyone who pitched in this August made a real impact in protecting the places we love to play. Your hard work keeps our trails safe, sustainable, and welcoming for all — and we couldn’t do it without you.
As we head into the final stretch of trail season this September, we’d love for you to join us one more time out on the dirt. Whether it’s your first event or your tenth, every set of hands makes a difference. Let’s finish strong together, keep the momentum going, and carry the spirit of stewardship into the off-season.
Thank you for your dedication — and don’t miss our upcoming September volunteer days. We can’t wait to see you out there!
