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North Fork Trail

Trip

Environmental Awareness – North Fork Trail

Contacts

Karl Ford
Karl Ford
Primary Leader
  • Sun, Sep 25, 2022
  • Denver
  • Environmental Awareness
  • Adults
  • Difficult A
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 6.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 500 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,500 ft
  • Pace: casual

Karl is an environmental scientist and author on long distance hiking and climate change. Join me for a hike on the North Fork Trail of Reynolds Park in Jefferson County Open Space at 9:00 am on September 11. It will be a leisurely walk of about 6 miles RT, but we will stop to take measurements of temperature, humidity, and fuel moisture at ground level in various locations to identify "cold air pools," locations that will remain cooler and wetter in the future. These areas are expected to harbor a climate environment for plants and animals to persist and migrate through as the landscape warms and dries. In addition, Karl will report on the several-year climate modeling project done by  Wild Connections to identify climate refugia that we can advocate for with the US Forest Service in its upcoming Forest Planning process. Learn more about the modeling Alison has done and why we need to protect these climate refugia areas. We will also discuss fire ecology concepts and the wildfire prospects for climate change.

Meet at 9:00 am at the south trailhead at the S Platte River. From Denver, drive Hwy 287 south past Conifer to the Foxton exit and go south on CR 97 8 miles to the river and turn left on CR 97 for approximately 8 miles on a paved, but very pot-holed road to the trailhead. 
You may want to bring a lunch, jacket and 2 liters of water, and possibly, a notebook to record measurements and notes. We will have handouts of the model.
Please take covid precautions and only carpool with people you are comfortable with. You may wear a mask if you prefer. Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms.”
Route/Place

North Fork Trail

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Ten essentials and notebook and pen.

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