Friends of Wilderness

08/03/2026

FOW at work on the Upper Sarvis Creek Trail with the Forest Service, while certifying/re-certifying A Sawyers and B Sawyers . A good time was had by all!

07/31/2026

More than a dozen Friends Of Wilderness volunteers were enroute to
patrol the Flat Tops Wilderness when they came upon a vehicle
that had rolled more than 100 feet down an embankment near the
Yamcolo Reservoir. The only occupant was able to extricate himself
and climb back up the embankment. FOW arrived minutes later and
rendered first aid for minor lacerations to his head and face, and then
facilitated satellite communication with his wife who was hiking from
Trappers Lake. Law enforcement and EMS arrived shortly thereafter.
FOW went on to patrol 5 trails for reconnaissance and hiker education.

07/29/2026

On Saturday FOW held an All Hands Day at the Flat Tops. We had a group of 16 (Trail Ambassadors and trainees) covering 7 different trails and staffing an information trailhead table. Our trail ambassadors answered questions, provided direction when needed, offered maps, lopped trails, broke down a few campfire rings, and reported on trail status.

07/26/2026

This just in! Gilpin is now cleared to the pass. gold, Gilpin, Mica and Three Island trails are clear with no trees down. The only trail in the Slavonia area not cleared is North Lake, but FOW has made one trip up to clear it, and the Forest Service has made two.

07/20/2026

Here's a summary of what's been cleared so far this summer:

Rainbow Lake—clear to the lake

Gold—clear to the lake

Mica Lake— two trees within first mile, then clear

Three Island Lake—clear to the lake. There’s one tree on lower trail

Lower Sarvis—clear to the bridge

Upper Silver—clear the first 2.5 miles

Lower Silver—first 3 miles cleared

Seven Lakes—cleared to the switch backs

North Lake—clearing just began first couple miles clear,

Gilpin—19 trees down between upper stream crossing and lake, and six trees down between lake and the pass. We believe the Forest Service has removed many/all of these last week.

Zirkel Circle—above gold clear to the pass. Only obstacle is trees mentioned above

The “Sheep Draw” section of Wyoming Trail 1101—cleared 1/2 mile up from junction with Gold Creek Trail.

Red Dirt—clear to 2.5 miles up

Ute Pass and Slavonia Mine—have not been cleared; anticipate mid-August work

07/18/2026

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps working the Bighorn Lake trail 7/14/26. 10 teenagers, 3 advisors, 1 USFS and 3 Friends Of Wilderness cleared 24 trees all the way to Bighorn Lake. The prior day, the Lake Katherine trail was cleared all the way to Lake Katherine!

07/09/2026

About 25 trees remain on Gilpin between the upper water crossing and the pass. Other than that the Zirkel Circle is clear!

07/06/2026

Happy Independence Day to all Friends of Wilderness!

07/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1E7p2poC6b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Every conversation between backcountry search and rescue volunteers these days seems to start with the crazy weather Colorado is having – the winter that wasn’t, the drought conditions, and the high temperature records being broken on a weekly basis.  And lurking beneath it all, the fear that w...

07/01/2026

Stretching prior to trail maintenance is key. Board member Curtis Rogers show us how!