By Luke Purvis
The Ramspondents
The Bay to Bay Trail at Horsetooth Reservoir has earned the Golden McLeod Award, which is a statewide honor that recognizes projects that stand out for craftsmanship in trail construction.
The trail connects the South Bay and Inlet Bay areas of Horsetooth Reservoir. The route offers a view of the reservoir with shoreline views and a hike through the rocky terrain.
Crews had to carve the trail through old rock quarries. Some of the work they did involved laying down solid layers of sedimentary rock on steep cross-slope terrain(s) with little flat ground to work on. On top of that, the design had to protect the environment. They had to avoid mountain mahogany shrubs while keeping the look of the hogback ridgeline.
CSU alumni Joel Schwab has worked with Larimer County Natural Resources for 13 years and serves as the county’s trail supervisor. The project required patience and creativity.
“The best part about my job is being outside,” Schwab said. “It’s the best and the worst part, it depends on the elements outdoors.”
The Larimer County Trail Crew, along with the Larimer County Conservation Corps and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, built the entire trail mostly by hand. Some 130 volunteers joined for the trail-building event in May.
Schwab said that the approach gave the team a chance to use some techniques they haven't tried out and used natural rock to create something unique.
Larimer County officials say the Golden McLeod Award belongs as much to the volunteers as to the trail itself.
Schwab explained, “Over a million people visit Horsetooth each year. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, they now have a new way to experience that landscape”
Joel Schwab has one message to Fort Collins residents:
“Come see what all this is all about, It’s those projects are worth being in the mountains.”
Luke Purvis is a CSU Journalism and Media Communication student. He hopes to gain as much knowledge as possible so that he can come prepared when he graduates.