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CDTA Rounds Up Congress for Trail Funding

From the Fall 2001 Issue of Trail Tracks, the national newsletter of American Trails

From the Continental Divide Trail Alliance

One of the most effective ways to gain recognition and publicity for your trail is to get the right elected officials out on a field trip. It's even more effective if you go right to the top, as the The Continental Divide Trail Alliance did this summer.

Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb, and a wide variety of CDT enthusiasts from Washington, D.C. to California hit the trail on an historic horseback ride on the CDT.

The ride and a weekend of activities hosted by Senator Campbell and his wife Linda focused on recreation on public lands and the significance of the Trail. The Roundup Riders of the Rockies provided horses and volunteers for the trip.

Riding on a recent trail relocation by the Colorado Mountain Club in Copper Mountain, Colorado, the group learned about the increasing support for the Trail by the Backcountry Horsemen of America (BCHA), the American Hiking Society, the International Mountain Biking Association, a wide variety of corporate and individual donors, and local groups from Canada to Mexico.

According to Senator Campbell. “The real value of the CDTA is that they just don't rely on federal help. They've got all kind of volunteers out there, digging and building trails and clearing brush, as well as building incredible success in securing private sector support.”

Presentations by Rollie Barnard of the Round Up Riders of the Rockies, Forest Service Director of Recreation Denny Bschor, the Outdoor Industry Association's Myrna Johnson, BCHA former Chairman Alan Hill, and others helped to drive home the message that the Trail is much more than a narrow tread from Canada to Mexico— it is also truly a symbol of the greatness of the American people expressed by their dedication to completing this national legacy.

For more information on the Continental Divide Trail: P.O. Box 628 Pine, CO 80470 (303) 838-3760 or www.cdtrail.org.

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