heavily wooded area southwest of Denver. It's been twelve years
since the Hayman Fire consumed and destroyed over 138,000
acres of Colorado's pristine wilderness and only five years since
the trail was reopened.
waiving her magic wand over the area and slowly coaxing it
back to life. Beautiful Aspen trees are replacing the once dominant
Ponderosa pine and thick Douglas fir. Wildlife has returned, new
plant growth is establishing its stronghold on the forest floor and
outdoor recreationists are returning in droves to enjoy this beautiful
area. The elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer are back and their
presence has convinced the mountain lion and black bear to return
as well. Even the legendary South Platte River is shedding its layer
of ash and loose soil, allowing aquatic life to return to its stream-
bed. This rebirth of river bottom has given the brown and rainbow
trout a reason to return. It's a privilege to witness the cycle of life
from season to season.
a club in order to see firsthand the rebirth of the area. This first
event had only five vehicles in attendance. That number increased
to eleven last year and this year's event increased again to fif-
teen. That's not a bad turnout for a run that takes place between
Thanksgiving and Christmas and starts forty miles from the nearest
town of any size. There is always the potential for major snow and
this particular area is prone to temperatures well below zero with