Initiatives
Winter Use Data Collection Initiative
DCI
Coming upon its fifth winter season, Silent Tracks has teamed up with the Western Colorado University, Master in Environmental Management (MEM) Program to provide funding for graduate students to collect recreational user data in the backcountry of the Gunnison Valley. Silent Tracks has raised $12,000 for this program via matching donations from Silent Tracks, individuals and other organizations, and generous grants from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley (CFGV) and the Town of Crested Butte.
Outdoor Recreation Plan
ORP
Silent Tracks is a sponsor and a participant in the informational series on winter recreation travel management. The four-part series will be held at Western Colorado University throughout November and early December 2018.
Solitude Monitoring
WSM
Silent Tracks has partnered with the Gunnison National Forest. We recruited volunteers to conduct solitude monitoring surveys on two trails in the West Elk Wilderness, Mill Castle Trail #450 and Coal Mesa Trail #451. Members and volunteers donated over 100 hours of their time to complete the monitoring in the summer and fall of 2018. We anticipate this project will be ongoing and look forward to working on other solitude monitoring projects in the future.
Winter Manners
MM
Silent Tracks collaborated with other local user groups to develop and print an educational brochure with tips for reducing conflicts between users in the backcountry. This free brochure is available at the CB/Mt CB Visitor Centers and elsewhere around the community.
