September Mountain Memo – CB Land Trust

Photo by Xavi Fane

September Mountain Memo E-Newsletter

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CBLT Week

From hikes to happy hours, join us for a week of events celebrating the lands we love. See below for the full schedule; there’s something for everyone! Email jessica@cblandtrust.org to RSVP.

Zuni Street Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest | Saturday, September 27
Come say hi to us at our booth at Zuni Street Brewing Company’s annual Oktoberfest in CB South. Live music, great food, drinks, and a good time.

Plein Air Watercolor Hike | Sunday, September 28, 10 AM – 12 PM
Join local artist Mike Mahoney for a guided Plein Air Watercolor Hike on the Lower Loop. Learn the science behind watercoloring and capture the beauty of the valley through art. Supplies provided. Space is limited and RSVPs are required!

Happy Hour at Redline Gallery with Sam Heart | Monday, September 29, 5–8 PM
Enjoy live tunes from Sam Heart and connect with friends and supporters of local conservation at the Redline Gallery at 429 Elk Ave.

Gunsight Bridge Day – Booth & Guided Hike | Tuesday, September 30
Visit our tent at the Gunsight Bridge trailhead from late morning into the afternoon for information, maps, and CBLT swag. At 12 PM, Executive Director Jake Jones will lead a guided ~2.5-mile hike on the GB Loop, highlighting the area’s natural beauty, history, and conservation story.

Long Lake Day – Booth & Guided Hike | Wednesday, October 1
Find our booth out at the Long Lake parking lot from late morning into the afternoon to chat with staff and pick up maps and swag. At 12 PM, join a guided hike on the Lilli Loop Trail, offering scenic views and insights into local conservation.

Elk Avenue Tent with Coffee and Pastries | Thursday, October 2, 9 AM – 11 AM
Visit with us outside LIV Sotheby’s at 401 Elk Avenue for coffee, pastries, and conversation.

Lower Loop Day – Booth & Guided Hike | Friday, October 3
Stop by the Alien Shack parking lot from late morning into the afternoon to learn more about our work and pick up some CBLT swag. At 12 PM, Jake Jones will lead a guided hike along the Budd Trail, sharing stories about the land and its protection.

Walking with Purpose: Conservation Easement Monitoring

Each summer season, the stewardship and conservation staff set out to monitor the extensive list of conservation easements and fee-owned properties under the CBLT’s care, totaling over 6,500 acres and 65 individual properties. This act of stewardship is more than a compliance task; it is a way of listening to the landscape and noticing subtle shifts in the natural world and, in turn, stewarding the land responsibly. Every property has specific resources and values to consider, whether it be agricultural heritage and grazing, wildlife habitat protection, or recreation access. Monitoring occurs on foot, and as we have acquired properties in harder-to-reach places, via satellite imagery.

Careful observation is key when monitoring a property. As we walk, we take descriptive pictures and track our movement, allowing us to navigate to locations of concern for the following year. We see wildlife trails etched into the land, test the strength of weathered fence lines, and witness the force of late-summer rains as they nourish the meadows before autumn takes hold. Monitoring is equal parts science, patience, and attentiveness to the land. Each report becomes part of an archive that tells the story of every parcel, recording its health and honoring the values that guide CBLT’s conservation work.

Fall Stewardship: Caring for the Lands We Love

Fall is getting into full swing, and while we welcome the changing of seasons, our stewardship team is still hard at work. Cattle fences will soon be decommissioned, and new fence projects at trailheads and other priority sites are planned throughout the fall to protect sensitive areas and guide visitors.

This summer, our Conservation and Recreation Ranger recorded more than 100,000 visits to the Lower Loop and Gunsight Bridge areas combined. This significant number of users highlights just how much our community enjoys these lands, and underscores the importance of year-round stewardship to preserve them for future generations.

Wildlife on the Move: Protecting Migration Corridors

As fall arrives, elk and mule deer begin their seasonal migrations to lower-elevation winter ranges. In the Gunnison Basin, elk are known to travel long distances twice a year, sometimes over 70 miles, from high-elevation summer feeding grounds down toward wintering areas, stretching from Paradise Divide to Saguache. Conserved lands like the Slate River Valley provide critical corridors for these animals, ensuring safe passage and access to food and shelter.

With an estimated 15,000 elk in the Gunnison Basin, this region plays a vital role in sustaining these migrations. As the landscape turns to gold and cooler weather sets in, keep an eye out for these majestic animals moving across the lands we’ve worked together to protect.