Author: Susan Davies
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Trail Talk: Answer the call to Colorado’s great outdoors
By Susan DaviesSpecial to The Gazette If you bike, hike, snowboard or ski, it’s likely you’ve suffered a hard fall at least once. Your response probably matched mine: you wriggled your fingers and toes, made sure they still moved and breathed a sigh of relief that everything still works. In March, I endured a day…
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Friends Groups in Pikes Peak region continue long legacy of outdoor service | Trail Talk
Years ago, I attended a state conference that would bring together park employees and open space advocates. It was marvelous for the cutting-edge ideas shared among participants. I had the opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of our local Friends Groups. New residents might not know that Friends Groups are somewhat unique to this region. These…
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Cheers to a career dedicated to improving overall quality of parks, open spaces in Colorado Springs area | Trail Talk
How many of us know people who took an entry-level position and ended up running the company? It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it grabs our attention. To start from the bottom and work your way to the top is a matter of timing and luck, but it also takes patience, perseverance and,…
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GOCO’s $2.5 million gift signals potential for project surrounding Pikes Peak | Trail Talk
I’m hoping you’ve read about the $2.5 million Great Outdoors Colorado award to improve and protect Pikes Peak. Conservation buddies have asked me, “Is this a good thing?” No, it’s a great thing! I admit to bias. The Trails and Open Space Coalition led the effort to complete the Ring the Peak Trail for 10-plus…
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COLUMN: Outdoors scene in Colorado Springs is wonderful. Let’s improve it.
I spent the month of September traveling 5,000-plus miles visiting friends in the Midwest and East. The trip exceeded expectations, but when we returned home we were reminded why we choose to live here: no bugs, low humidity, sunny days and our wonderful peaks and trails. Rather than rest on the Pikes Peak region’s laurels,…
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Trail Talk: North Slope of Pikes Peak holds promise 365 days a year
“Killing two birds with one stone.” A rather violent, mid-17th century phrase some of us used as children. As someone who now feeds and watches birds, I much prefer “Feed two birds with one scone.” I’m also OK with “Kill two mosquitoes with one slap.” I recall nightmarish camping trips in Wisconsin where mosquitoes feasted…
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Trail Talk: Be prepared for ever-changing elements when you hike during spring in Colorado
May is my least favorite month in Colorado. We are teased into believing spring is here and summer will soon follow. But May is mercurial. Seventy-degree temperatures are often followed by cold rain or snow and can turn a pleasant hike into a muddy, wet slog. For that reason, shorts and tennis shoes are often…
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Trail Talk: Take time to celebrate the female adventurers who made their marks in Colorado Springs
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” This stark statement came from someone who could neither see nor hear — Helen Keller. The Pikes Peak region has inspired many females who were daring adventurers. The popular local trail Captain Jack’s was named for Ellen Jack, who assumed her husband’s name, Captain Charles…
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Trail Talk: Be grateful for the foresight that creates so many Colorado parks and open spaces
Perhaps you’ve heard, but Denver is preparing to create its fourth largest park in the city’s history. Plans for the former 155-acre golf course have generated plenty of controversy. Some neighbors would prefer the land to be turned into shops or housing. A pesky conservation easement limits options, however. I say “pesky” with my tongue…
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Trail Talk: Third nature center should be welcomed
Do we really need a third nature center? When that question was asked a decade ago, the answer was yes. When the El Paso County Master Plan was updated two years ago, the answer was still yes. Some living near Fox Run Regional Park don’t want it in “their park.” They say it will mean…