text: Wild Connections La Salle Pass Restoration Project
  with the USFS South Park Ranger District near the Farnum roadless area
  Wild Connections has a long history of working to protect the roadless lands in the Farnum Peak/Schoolmarm Mountain and adjoining Badger Flats areas on the Pike National Forest lands, on the east side of South Park. Since 2012, we have had many boots-on-the-ground volunteer teams installing post & cable, restoring illegal motorized tracks, and monitoring the results of these many different projects. All of this hard work has paid off as local residents and hunters consistently report the return of elk and deer herds to these important wild lands.
  Proposed 2020 Restoration Project Area on the West Side of La Salle Pass. Photo John Sztukowski
  We're excited that our September 2020 restoration project, partnering with the South Park Ranger District, is still on as scheduled.
  For this project on the west side of La Salle Pass, just north of Badger Mountain and US 24, we will address illegal motorized tracks that threaten the roadless lands on the south side of the Farnum Peak and Schoolmarm Mountain. It will continue our long-time efforts to protect the wildlife and wild lands of the area.
  We still plan to do this as a one-day restoration project with a small amount of volunteers, abiding by official health guidelines and recommendations.
  You can support support this project with a donation to cover the costs of materials. Go here for details.
  Volunteer Guidelines & Recommendations
  Wild Connections is monitoring all local public health and CDC guidelines for hosting volunteer events, and coordinating with the USFS South Park Ranger District for this restoration project. Our main priority is the safety of of our volunteers, staff, agency partners, and local communities.
  Limit social interactions leading up to and following the event.
  Limit Travel: please do not volunteer if you are coming from a long distance away.
  Vulnerable populations & seniors: If you are in an at-risk group or age 65+, you are encouraged to stay home. Also if you live with or are in close contact with vulnerable individuals, we ask that you reconsider participating as well at this time.
  Bring Your Own Cloth Mask
  No Carpools at this time.
  Coordinate your sign-on waiver and emergency contact ahead of time.
  Volunteers are encouraged to volunteer with a close friend or family member to be on the same two-person team for the day.
  Don't come if you are Sick or have symptoms (fever, dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) or have not been fever-free without medication for 72 hours. If you have been exposed to someone with symptoms within the past 14 days, do not come.
  For additional questions or to register, contact Wild Connections' Conservation Director, John Sztukowski at john@wildconnections.org or (817) 939-4239.
  First Known Man's and Woman's Ascents of Pikes Peak
  John Stansfield, Storyteller and Writer, recounts the fascinating history of the early adventurers on Pikes Peak. Ute people, Edwin James of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, and Julia Archibald coming west with her family are featured.
  Click the image below to go to the YouTube video
  View of James Peak in the Rain by Samuel Seymour, 1820. Click above to go to the video.
  Fly Over Grape Creek Wilderness Study Area
  Threatened by proposed mining
  Go on a virtual tour of Grape Creek with with our friends at EcoFlight and introduced by Rep. Diana DeGette. It highlights the illegal proposed mining threats to the Grape Creek Wilderness Study Area and proposed Wilderness. For additional info and actions you can take, go to our Grape Creek page.
  Wild Connections' mission is to identify, protect, and restore wildlands, native species, and biological diversity in the Arkansas and South Platte watersheds.