Colorado’s statewide Stay-at-Home order states:

“You should stay home as much as possible except for critical activities including: 

 • Participating in outdoor recreation at a legally-mandated safe distance of six feet or more from other parties.”

For many of us trail riders, home is where the heart is. And our hearts are quite often at home on the local trails!

For now, recreation on trails is not prohibited. However, most local Roaring Fork trails are either still closed, under snow, muddy or too crowded.

If you need to ride — and who doesn’t? — Please respect closures, ride dirt not mud, and of course, keep it safe and keep your distance.

 For getting your “dirt fix,” we recommend:

• Keeping at least a bike length from others.
• Riding empty dry double track, rather than congested singletrack (Red Hill).
• Exploring remote and dry gravel roads.
• Not taking risks.
• Not congregating at trail heads.
• Continue to follow CDC’s most up to date guidelines.
  

Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Director Gary Tennenbaum warned Tuesday that if people ignore social-distancing requirements and hang out in crowds while recreating outside, they will leave public land managers no choice but to take drastic actions.

 “If we [enjoy recreation] responsibly, we can keep it going,” Tennenbaum said. “Closing public access is such a big step that we don’t want to take.”

Thank you for your diligence in this challenging time. We’re all in this together. Please stay healthy.

Crown Mountain Park and Recreation District secured a vital grant Thursday to help it build a 3.75-acre bike park in the midvalley.

The expansion of the biking facilities at Crown Mountain Park further enhances the Roaring Fork Valley’s facilities. The valley was designated a Gold Level Ride Center in January by the International Mountain Biking Association. It was the first area in Colorado to get the designation and only the seventh worldwide.

“This bike park expansion will strengthen the Ride Center’s Gold Level scoring during future evaluations, while creating a place for our youngest generation to learn, train and benefit from multiple aspects of cycling culture in a safe environment,” said Mike Pritchard, director of the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association, a chapter of the international association.

Read the full story in the Aspen Times:

Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel scores $168,000 grant to expand bike park

The following message was received from Kevin Schorzman (Public Works Director in Carbondale) about cancellation of the Red Hill Construction Open House on Wednesday. It has been canceled.

The Town of Carbondale will be closing access to the Red Hill trails for a period of 4-6 weeks this spring to allow for planned construction activities.

This includes a re-aligned CR 107 road and intersection with Hwy 82, drainage improvements, two new parking lots, and a dismantling of the old (existing) parking lot.

An updated trailhead will eventually include new informational signage and amenities.

The public is invited An open house is scheduled for Wednesday March 18th, 4-7pm at Carbondale Town Hall.

In an effort to help boost the number of elk calves that are born and survive until fall each year, the White River National Forest proposes to modify the spring closure dates of the area that contains the Government Trail section from Snowmass to Buttermilk and the Anaerobic Nightmare trail that connects the Tom Blake Trail to the Government Trail.

The proposal would add one week to the seasonal closure changing the spring opening from June 21st to June 28th.

Tom Blake, Sequel and the Snowmass Bike Park trails will still open on June 21st.

RFMBA supports this proposal. And we think a majority of mountain bikers understand the need to respect management decisions focused on healthy ecosystems and a thriving wildlife population.

RFMBA is open to supporting balanced proposals, like this one, that utilize reasonable, science based, and time specific limits on recreation. This proposal has also been reviewed and is supported by the Town of Snowmass Village, Pitkin County’s Open Space & Trails, and the Aspen Skiing Company. Working together, we’ll all help to publicized the revised closure period information.

The USFS warns that if the proposal is implemented, violations of the restriction order would be punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.

How to Comment
For more information please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57661 to view maps of the closure areas and corresponding closure periods.

You may comment on this proposal at https://cara.ecosystem‐management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=57661

Please provide comments by March 16, 2020.

RFMBA – Seasonal Trail Crew Member – Summer 2020

Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association – RF Valley, Colorado

Love trails?  Have a passion for mountain biking?  Join RFMBA’s third annual Seasonal Trail Crew, May through August!  Enquire for potential to start earlier and end later.  Ideal candidates will have volunteer or professional experience with singletrack trail maintenance and will be passionate about mountain biking and trail culture.  Spend the summer outdoors, improving local trails from Aspen to New Castle.  Maintain trail tread and drainage structures, trim corridor vegetation, clear fallen trees, and generally improve bike trails in both high-use and remote backcountry areas.  During 2020, three Trail Crew Members will serve as ambassadors for public lands and RFMBA.  Personal vehicle required for remote trailhead access; mileage reimbursement offered for all travel.  Equipment stipend and mobile phone reimbursement offered.  Training requirements are included to improve your trail, tool, safety, and backcountry knowledge.  $15-$18+/hour, 40 hours/week, based on experience.  Learn more by calling 970-948-3486.

To Apply:If interested, please submit a PDF resume to info@rfmba.org.  Resumes & Email introduction statement of interest & experience must be submitted by Friday, April 3 (earlier is better), with availability to work starting between early April or late May.

Position Summary 

• Maintain and improve existing public trails open to mountain biking.  Report accomplishments and identify future maintenance needs on a daily basis.  Serve as an ambassador for public lands and RFMBA.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Promote public trails and RFMBA’s mission as a friendly ambassador.

• Responsible for the assigned maintenance of specific trail corridors, treads, drainage structures, turn structures, and other trail features.

• Clearly communicate with RFMBA supervisors regarding scheduled and assigned work.

• Learn and utilize online system for daily descriptive reporting of accomplished work and trail issues identified for potential future work.

• Work with RFMBA staff and volunteers on trail maintenance, trail system improvement, or trail construction projects when assigned and scheduled to do so.

• Responsible for all tools provided for the use within the Seasonal Trail Crew Program.

• Additional duties as assigned by RFMBA supervisors.

Education, Experience & Skills 

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Passion for mountain biking and trail culture (strong understanding of trail experiences desired by all types of mountain bikers on various trail types).

• Trail maintenance or trail construction experience with traditional hand tools (volunteer or professional).

• Experience using a chainsaw or brush cutter (safety training to be provided).

• Ability to handle high stress situations.

• Ability to work both independently and in small groups, while remaining motivated without on-site supervision.

• High intermediate to expert mountain biking skills with the physical dexterity to carry heavy loads while moving downhill.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

License and Certifications 

• Must have a valid, current, and unrestricted Driver’s license.

• Must maintain standard auto insurance coverage.

Working Conditions 

• Candidates must be willing and able to work in all conditions relative to outdoor weather up to 8 hours per day.

• Must be able to lift and move up to 80 pounds.

• Must be able to lift reasonable weight and will be expected to lop/shovel/chainsaw/etc. for considerable amounts of each work day.