Eldorado - Wind Tower & Hawk Eagle Trail Work

Over the last year, there were several rock slides that damaged the Wind Tower and Hawk-Eagle trails. This spring saw a pretty focused effort to repair those trails.

The very base of the trail got a little help. It was eroding and unsustainable. Part of the design challenge was to build structures and not make the trail too inviting to the legion of Streamside trail tourists.

Bottom of Wind Tower.

The next section was a retaining wall destroyed by rockfall this spring.

There was a trail here.

After some work.

The base of the Hawk-Eagle ridge trail, below the chockstone, received the lion's share of technical rock work. It suffered a pretty serious rock slide last year - there wasn't much left but mud. And there was this angry guy in a green sweatshirt.

Hawk-Eagle before.

We ended up placing 36 stone steps. The final result is pretty nifty:

After.

From above.

While all the rock work was going on, groups were also rebuilding rubble walls, redefining trails, and pulling weeds.

There are waaayyyy to many people that deserve epic thanks:

• Roger Briggs, Tony B, Fossana, all the volunteers that showed up.
• The AAC, Access Fund, and several anonymous donors that funded the BCC Front Range Trail Team
• The Front Range Team (Mark, Jay, Max, Kevin). Only one damaged toe and two destroyed fingernails.
• The Eldorado staff.

There were a lot of days of crews drilling, splitting, and hauling rocks. Climbers on the Wind Tower were more than understanding of the noise - a lot of people went out of their way to thank the crews. All of us are climbers building trails for climbers: Hearing the gratitude and compliments made the hard days really rewarding.

See you out there.

Splitting rocks.

Wow, it looks great. Thanks to everyone for your efforts!

Love this.

Was up there a few days ago... you guys are awesome! Thank you...

That looks awesome guys, thanks for all the hard work.

I climbed on Hawk-Eagle for the first time on Sunday, and we noticed how great the trail looks. Thanks for all your hard work!

Nice work Mike & Crew, looks good!

Way to go Mike.
Thanks.

Dang guys. Nice work and a big thanks!!!