Supplemental Training

Last summer Karl Riters at age 80 hiked the 500 mile Colorado Trail which goes from Denver to Durango. He will present a slide show on his adventure and discuss the contents of his ultralight backpack weighing in at 13 pounds (excluding food & water).

Council Tree Library
2733 Council Tree Ave. #200
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

Beavers in Colorado: The Once & Future Ecosystem Engineers?

The construction of dams and canals by beavers alters the movement of water and sediment in rivers, creates abundant and diverse habitat for other plants and animals, and increases the resilience of rivers to fire, flood, and drought. Beavers were trapped nearly to extinction in Colorado by the 1840s and their comeback has been slowed by loss of habitat and continued trapping. We will explore how beavers can benefit rivers and human societies, as well as some of the efforts to reintroduce beavers and to mimic their environmental effects with human-built structures.

"Beavers in Colorado" will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at the Council Tree Library Large Meeting room from 6:30PM to 7:45PM.

A PWV presentation by CSU Geoscience Assistant Professor Dan McGrath. Dan’s research examines many aspects of the cryosphere, including glacier-climate interactions and seasonal snow distribution

.Registratration is required and will be capped at 65 people. After 65 people a waitlist will be started"

The Wilderness areas in Colorado have a rich history and are well used by the public. We will explore the history of these Wilderness areas, the work done by five leading front range and western slope Colorado organizations to support these lands and the issues we face moving forward.

Please join Mark Tobin and Jud Haverkamp for a PWV birding experience on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 7:00 A.M. at Pineridge Natural Area, Fort Collins.

This will be an informal hike in and around the Pineridge Natural Area to see what migratory and other birds are present and to sharpen your skills for identifying birds.

PWV member Joe Cox will present his perspectives how indigenous cultures view our land. Joe has had the honor and privilege to participate in indigenous ceremonies for many years and worked with indigenous elders from around the world. He invites you to “come with an open mind and a good heart.”

This clinic is designed to inform our patrollers about the critical differences in winter and summer patrols. We encounter different conditions, trails and scenarios and our understanding of these differences are key to successful patrols and our safety. Topics : Trip planning, cold weather clothing, winter-specific gear, route finding, weather, modes of travel, what’s in the winter pack, safety issues, most common trails, how to avoid problems, handy tips and stuff that doesn’t work in the winter.

You can preview the PDF file for this class by going to the PWV website and find the Member Downloads menu.

Registration is required for the event based on limited seating capacity at the Council Tree Library. Registration will be capped at 65 people.

New recruite "Preview Night" at Horse and Dragon Brewery, 124 Racquette Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Megan Maiolo-Heath, Marketing Manager, from the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), will discuss the long and short-term impacts of wildfire in the watershed and how CPRW and their partners are working to help restore the land in the wake of fire. Megan will also look to the future – how are we learning to live with fire in our forested watersheds?

New recruite "Preview Night" at Horse and Dragon Brewery, 124 Racquette Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Throughout the National Forest’s history, dispersed camping has allowed recreators to extend their outdoor experience beyond the boundaries of developed recreation areas and campgrounds. Join us as we dive deep into the ins and outs of dispersed camping, review best practices, and discuss relevant rules and regulations.

Basic Trail Construction and Maintenance, Tuesday April 16, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00P.M. at USDA Forest Service, 2150 Centre Avenue Building, Fort Collins

This class will be a discussion of some history of recreational trails, five step construction procedure, trail drainage and support structures, along with some does and don't and tips on trail maintenance.

June 22, 2024 (Rain date: June 29, 2024)

Wildflower Hike From Molly Lake to Lady Moon via the Molly Moon Connection Trail

The group will meet at the Lady Moon TH off the 74E (Red Feather Lakes Rd.) at 9 a.m., leave some cars to form a shuttle at the end of the hike, and then drive to the Molly Lake TH to begin this 4.5 mile, one-way hike. Bring a lunch and all the typical items you would bring on a PWV hike.