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Stealey Mtn. South Trip Report: August 2021

Trip report:

Crew consisted of 6- 
John Hulburd, leader
Mike Pelkey, head whacker
Kevin Schiffer, sawyer
Zach Taylor, sawyer
Natalie Booth, first time brusher
Jodi Brown, first time brusher and digger
(Both Natalie and Jodi came because of my last-minute Facebook appeal!)
 
We all assembled in the Ridgway Town parking lot at 7:30 AM, in order to carpool in two trucks (John's and Kevin's). 
Tools:
1 McLeod
1 long crosscut saw
1 short crosscut saw
2 hand saws
2 shears
3 loppers
1 axe
2 pulaskis
1  pick-mattock
wedges and slings
 
As the County had just graded the Cow Creek road, we were able to easily drive up to the trailhead (in pouring rain) to meet Roy Jackson and his wranglers. By 9 o'clock we had completed the tailgate briefing and safety talk, and started on trail work immediately. The great challenge on this outing was brushing: we hacked and chopped, sliced and lopped at least 1.75 miles of thick, overgrown brush, including thick aspen tree saplings. This was especially so in the area that had burned 2 years prior: the ash appears to have acted as fertilizer, with substantially taller, more robust undergrowth in that area. The intensity of this work, as well as the limited crew size, limited our range of progress. I sent Mike and Kevin ahead to cut trees and dig drains ahead of the brush crew.
 
We camped overnight at the "Green Mountain Camp", as the packers call it, about 3 miles up the trail, surrounded by burned forest. We reconstructed the steep trail from camp down to the creek where water is collected.
 
The Jacksons encouraged us to use their canvas wall tent, which we happily agreed to, given the amount of rain falling (all evening and night). The tent was filled with much story-telling laughter and good cooking.
 
The next day, I sent Zach and Kevin up the trail to cut out trees as far as they could before a three o'clock turnaround time. They made fast progress down into Red Creek, but ran into some big, challenging trees on their way to the junction with the Courthouse trail, which they did not quite make it to.
 
The brushing/tread crew re-established the switchbacking trail in the meadow above camp, by cutting brush, placing survey flagging and erecting cairns. This eliminated the "straight up the fall-line" faint path that had been used recently. We cut several smaller trees from across the trail, installed some drainage structures and a couple of small re-routes to thwart erosion. We also re-benched about 250' of missing trail on a steep meadow traverse. We got as far as the lower part of Red Creek before the agreed turnaround time. It rained most of the day, especially on the way down.
 
Back at camp we met Roy and Tyler, and they agreed to use the new route up the meadow. They were very appreciative of our work, and carried some heavier tools back down. On our way, we did yet more brush lopping and drainage improvements.
 
In all, 25 trees were cut, and 23 drainages were constructed. A total of 7 miles of trail were maintained. We got back to the trucks at 5:30, where I treated the crew to beer, sodas, cookies and chips. It was all we could do to drive out of there, as the mud was deep and super slippery. I'm sorry to say we made a mess of the newly graded road, due to all the rain. We were home by 6:30pm, very wet and dirty.
 
I'll send pictures shortly.
 
John H
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Front Country Crews Begin Work Season!

The front country crew has been busy with updates to the trail in Box Canon Park and needed drainage work on the Perimeter Trail near Cascade Falls.  Thank you to all for volunteering for our public trails, and sharing OTG's commitment to safety.  Remember to check the "Volunteer" tab for the latest on planned multi-day work trips, and look for weekly emails from Hale Houts for single-day work closer to Ouray, usually on Mondays and Thursdays.  Contact Hale if you're not already receiving his weekly briefings.  Please remember to join OTG by clicking on the "Join OTG" buttons throughout the website.  Membership is FREE and provides OTG's email newsletters, free training opportunities, and more.

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Training

Volunteer Training Opportunities!

2026 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FROM OURAY TRAIL GROUP

Education is part of our mission, and so is ensuring safety and improving trail skills for our volunteers.  Ouray Trail Group will offer the following training opportunities for the 2026 work season.  Choose one or all of these great offerings from OTG and our support organizations.  Online registration has opened for some of our courses, so read the training descriptions below, and click on the appropriate form to reserve your spot.

Questions?  Please email at training@ouraytrails.org

UPCOMING TRAINING

Trail Maintance:  April 25

Join us for our annual Trail Maintenance Training on Saturday, April 25 at the Ouray Community Center.

This training is designed for both new and returning volunteers and will cover essential trail stewardship skills. Participants will learn about water mitigation techniques, how to evaluate and maintain proper tread conditions, corridor sizing, and understanding trail standards and requirements.

Whether you are joining your first workday or are a seasoned volunteer looking to refresh your skills, this training helps ensure our trail work is safe, sustainable, and effective.

Trail Crew Leader:  May 16-17

We are in need of new Trail Crew Leaders and would love to have a good turnout. Even if you don’t want to lead a trip initially, you can learn by working with experienced Trail Crew Leaders through backcountry trips that we plan to have this summer. 

A two-day Trail Crew Leader course will be held on Saturday and Sunday May 16 & 17 lead by John Hulburd. He is a certified OSI/VOC instructor and has a wealth of knowledge to share in trail building, construction, and maintenance!

Please email OTG at contactus@ouraytrails.org if interested in this class

Prerequisite:  Adult First Aid-CPR Certification by the American Red Cross or equivalent.

Minimum age: 18

Chainsaw and Crosscut Saw Training: May TBD

Clearing downed trees using chainsaws is an essential part of OTG’s volunteer trail maintenance work. The use of hand-powered crosscut saws is required in Wilderness situations and desirable in some backcountry situations. Learn the skills to become a certified chainsaw and crosscut sawyer!  Participants who complete this U.S. Forest Service-approved course will receive Forest Service sawyer certification for limbing and bucking downed trees which is required to operate a saw with Ouray Trail Group.   

A 2-day course will be held in May. The first day will be classroom training indoors and the second day will be out in the field. This course is geared toward those wishing to become certified or for those who need recertification and are at the "A" level.

Prerequisite: Current Adult First Aid and CPR certification by the American Red Cross or equivalent, please bring your certificate.

Minimum age: 18

ON GOING CLASSES

First Aid, CPR, & Stop the Bleed Class @ Montrose Regional Hospital

For OTG Volunteers and/or Trail Crew Leaders with First Aid certifications that expire in 2026, OTG is requesting you complete an online renewal process plus a hands-on refresher session. Please email training@ourytrails.org for more information.

Classes will be held at Montrose Regional Hospital. To enroll, please email education@montrosehealth.com or call
970-252-2692.

Read more …Training

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Baby Bathtubs Trail Botanical Species List

Baby Bathtubs Trail Botanical Species List

Courtesy of Peggy Lyon, Botanist

 

Scientific name                                          Common name

Abies concolor                                            White Fir

Achillea millefolium                                      Yarrow

Amelanchier alnifolia                                    Saskatoon Serviceberry

Antennaria parvifolia                                    Small-leaf Pussytoes

Antennaria rosea                                         Rosy Pussytoes

Aquilegia elegantula                                    Red Columbine

Arnica cordifolia                                          Heartleaf Arnica

Berberis repens                                          Oregon Grape

Boecheria stricta                                         Drummond's Rockcress

Carex geyeri                                               Elk Sedge

Clematis columbiana                                   Blue Clematis

Collinsia parviflora                                      Blue-eyed Mary

Cystopteris fragilis                                      Brittle Fern

Delphinium nuttallianum                              Nuttall's Larkspur

Erigeron flagellaris                                      Trailing Fleabane

Festuca thurberi                                         Thurber Fescue

Fragaria vesca                                            Wild Strawberry

Juniperus communis                                    Common Juniper

Juniperus scopuloroum                                Rocky Mountain Juniper

Lathyrus lanszwertii var.leucanthus                White Peavine

Lomatium triternatum                                  Great Basin Desert Parsley

Maianthemum racemosum var.amplexicaule   Large False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum stellatum                               Starry False Solomonseal

Noccaea fendleri                                          Pennycress

Packera multilobatua                                    Many-lobed Groundsel

Paxistima myrsinites                                     Mountain Lover

Picea pungens                                             Blue Spruce

Pinus strobiformis                                         New Mexico White Pine

Poa fendleriana                                             Muttongrasss

Populus tremuloides                                      Quaking Aspen

Prunus virginiana                                          Chokecherry

Pseudotsuga menziesii                                   Douglas Fir

Quercus gambelii                                          Gambel Oak

Ribes cereum                                               Wax currant

Saxifraga bronchialis                                     Spotted Saxifrage

Sedum lanceolatum                                      Spearleaf Stonecrop

Senecio integerrimus                                    Lambstongue Ragwort

Symphoricarpos rotundifolius                         Mountain Snowberry

Taraxacum officinale*                                   Common Dandelion

Thalictrum fendleri                                       Fendler's Meadowrue

Woodsia neomexicana                                  New Mexican Cliff Fern

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Call 911

Ouray Mountain Rescue, under the direction of the Ouray County Sheriff's Office, is always on call for assistance. The Rescue Team is a volunteer organization of mountaineers, technical climbers, paramedical personnel and a K-9 team. All are experienced in rescue techniques. In order to offset training and equipment expenses, tax-deductible donations are gratefully appreciated. Thank you for your support.

OURAY MOUNTAIN RESCUE
P.O. BOX 220
OURAY, COLORADO 81427