Western Slope Group

For Grand JunctioN, Montrose, Durango and Surrounding Communities

The Western Slope Group (WSG) has members throughout the western area of Colorado including Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango and beyond. We bring people together who love recreating in the outdoors and preserving the natural environment. The WSG inspires their members to get outside and enjoy the Colorado mountains through hiking, backpacking, camping, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and cycling. The WSG also encourages its members to partake in educational courses to promote increased knowledge and skills on being safe in enjoying the outdoors.

If you're interested in more information, getting involved, leading trips or helping with conservation activities, please contact the Western Slope Group at WSGofCMC@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to join the Western Slope Group please contact the office@cmc.org or click Join Now to sign up. 

To see the trips posted by the Western Slope Group, click on the Calendar of Events and Trips or select Find Trips and filter for Western Slope as the Group.

Western Slope Group Council 

Anne Keil
Group Chair and Outings Chair

I have been a Denver CMC member and trip leader since the late 1990s and have lived in Colorado since 1995. I have led hikes (A-C), biking trips, snowshoeing and downhill skiing trips and have written articles for Trail and Timberline. We moved to the Western Slope in 2018 and love exploring the Western Slope from the desert to the mountains without all the crowds. I am a semi-retired physical therapist. I served as the WSG Vice Chair from June 2020 to November 2022. I'm now serving as the Chair (since November 2022) and the Outings Chair (since June 2022). 

Brenda Leach
Group Vice Chair

I moved to Colorado in 1980 and have been a CMC member for 30+ years. I had been a very active member in the Boulder Group while living in the Front Range. I volunteered as an A/B hikes and rock climbing trip leader, Basic Rock School senior instructor, Rock Leading School assistant instructor and the Spring/Summer/Fall School Director. In 2008, I served as the Boulder Group Chair. My husband and I moved to the Ridgway area in 2018. I enjoy the beauty and variety of the western slope and the multitude of areas for exploring and recreating, mostly without crowds. I served as the WSG Chair from June 2020 to November 2022. I'm now serving as the Vice Chair.

John Broadbooks
Treasurer

I moved to Colorado in 1978, spent most of my working years (30 yrs) in financial services, running the collection departments of two of the seven largest credit unions in Colorado during that time, along with the last six years of my career with a credit union owned mortgage company. I retired in 2016 after 38 years in the Denver metro area, moved to Montrose and live a slower paced life on the beautiful western slope near my favorite part of the Colorado (the San Juan mountains). I have been a member of CMC since 1995, completed Wilderness Trekking school in 1996, BMS in 1998, and was an assistant instructor in BMS in 1999 and 2000. Trip leader (mostly C & D hikes) since 2005. Completed the 59 fourteeners in 2005, the centennials in 2009, and continue a quest to climb all the thirteeners. Present list is at 305, but unsure if I will ever finish--the quest is the thing! 

Jill Mattoon
Secretary

I grew up in the Los Angeles area and came to Colorado to attend CU in Boulder. I was an attorney and then a judge in Pueblo. My husband Rick and I raised our two beautiful daughters and then moved to Ouray at retirement. I have been a CMC member for many years, and was chair of the Pueblo group. I enjoy hiking and cross country skiing and have had some wonderful experiences with CMC overseas Adventure Travel.

Claire McCullough
Conservation Chair

I grew up in northern Colorado and began hiking with my dad in Rocky Mountain National Park when I was 5 years old. Thirty years ago, I moved to the Western Slope. I have been involved with various conservation issues. I was an appointed member of the Colorado Northwest Resource Advisory Council – part of a 15-member council providing the BLM with recommendations on public land management issues. I participated in the field study of resource values of several BLM Wilderness Study Areas in the Grand Junction and Craig districts, providing citizen input to the BLM. I worked with a local rancher and an environmental group to reach an agreement that led to the legislative designation of the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area. I currently live in Grand Junction and enjoy hiking, Nordic skiing and tending to my micro flower farm. For printed inspiration about the value of nature, I read the works of Aldo Leopold, Terry Tempest Williams and Edward Abbey.