Join us for a hike in the Encampment River Wilderness to help out with a solitude study!

When?

We'll meet at the Stadium parking lot at 7:00 am to carpool to the Encampment River Wilderness trailhead. Please RSVP by clicking the link here.

What are we doing?

We'll be hiking the Encampment River Wilderness and helping the Forest Service by recording solitude (which basically means documenting how many other people we encounter).

Why are we doing this? 

Currently, there is no data on solitude for our Encampment River and Huston Park wildernesses. This is a problem because solitude is a wilderness characteristic, and this lack of data makes it harder to get resources to support these areas. We're asking volunteers to get out there, enjoy the wilderness, and complete a short survey when they're done.

Busy on October 6th, but want to be involved?

Getting involved couldn’t be easier—all we ask is for you to complete a short survey when you hike, hunt, ride horses or fish in the Encampment River or Huston Park wildernesses recording where you were, for how long, and how many people you ran into. Anytime now-October 31st, grab a friend or two and head out to the Encampment River and Huston Park wildernesses. Just complete this form and send it back to commonoutdoorground@gmail.com when you’re done.

Questions?

Email Meghan at commonoutdoorground@gmail.com.

COG is partnering with the University of Wyoming, the U.S. Forest Service, the BLM, Wyoming Conservation Corps, Wyoming Pathways, and Laramie Bikenet to organize multiple volunteer events around Laramie for National Public Lands Day.

Projects include:

• rehabilitating old sections of the Aspen Trail on Pole Mountain, which have been closed due to new reroutes

• cleaning up Roger’s Canyon northeast of Laramie

• building new trails on the state land east of Laramie, commonly referred to as the Schoolyard

Day-of logistics

Volunteers are asked to meet at 9 a.m. at the Outdoor Program on UW’s campus.

The Outdoor Program is located at the northeast corner of the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center. From there, we’ll divide into groups and head out to the various work sites.

Most project work should be completed by 2 p.m. Donuts and lunch will be provided.

Transportation will be provided, but carpooling is also encouraged. Please bring water and work gloves (if you have them), and wear close-toed shoes. Those who wish to help naturalize the Aspen Trail should anticipate a short hike to get to the work site.

Registration

• UW students and staff can register here.

• Community members can register here.

Let’s give Pole Mountain some love!

Join us for a community cleanup on July 8 — i.e. right after the busy holiday weekend.

We'll meet at the Lincoln Monument rest area, and from there, volunteers will break up into smaller groups to pick up trash at various locations around Pole Mountain. We'll have a dumpster on hand, and food will be provided at the end of the event.

If you know of areas that are a mess and need to be cleaned up, please let us know ahead of the event so we can be sure to direct people there!

Interested? Here are the details...

• When: July 8, 4:00-7:00 p.m. We know it's a workday, so feel free to come and go whenever works for you within that time frame!

• Where: Meet at the Lincoln Monument rest area

• What to bring: Clothing that you don't mind getting mucked up, sturdy shoes, work gloves (if you have them), bug spray, water.

• If you have a truck...please consider bringing it; last year we hauled out large items like mattresses, refrigerators, etc. — i.e. things too big to fit into most passenger cars. It's always helpful to have some pickups on hand to get these kinds of items back to the dumpster.

Your presence is more important than your RSVP, but knowing how many people to expect will help us plan and get the right amount of food.

The Forest Service is planning major trail improvements in the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges this summer. In order for trail crews to be able to maximize efficiency, they need up-to-date information about where repairs are necessary, and where downed trees are obstructing trails.

That’s where we come in. COG is helping organize a Rapid Trails Assessment Program, in which volunteers will hike wilderness trails in the Snowies and note areas of need.

Teams of volunteers will hike out from several different trailheads on June 22. If you’re interested in leading one of the teams, or would like to hear more about the program, please come to an orientation meeting on June 4 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (exact location TBA; it’ll be somewhere in Laramie). We’ll go over all the details and let you know where and when to show up on the 22nd.

If you’d like to participate on the 22nd, but can’t come to the meeting on June 4, please email us at commonoutdoorground@gmail.com so we can get you all the info you’ll need!

Common Outdoor Ground is hosting a public meeting on Friday, Nov. 30, followed by a year-end party and fundraiser. 

We hope you'll join us!

The meeting will be from 2-4 p.m. at Laramie Fire Department Station #3 (in West Laramie). We'll recap some of the exciting things that COG accomplished in 2018, and YOU will have a chance to suggest projects for the coming year. Land managers and project organizers are encouraged to attend, and all members of the public are welcome.

Immediately following the meeting, we'll reconvene at The Library Sports Grille and Brewery in downtown Laramie for a celebration and fundraiser. That event will go from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

If you didn't make it to the meeting, you can suggest project ideas at the celebration. We'll be selling COG merchandise, doing a raffle, and — of course — accepting donations. Previous donors, sponsors, and multi-event volunteers will also be recognized at the party. Food and drink will be on your own and available from the restaurant.

Sept. 22 is National Public Lands Day, and COG is partnering with UW’s Outdoor Program, Wyoming Conservation Corps (WCC), the Service, Leadership and Community Engagement (SLCE) office, the Medicine Bow National Forest, and Laramie BikeNet to build new trails and rehab older trails that have been rerouted.

At Happy Jack, we will be rehabilitating the old middle Aspen Trail and old Cardiac Bypass, plus installing road signage at Pole Mountain. At the Schoolyard (the state land east of Laramie), we will be constructing new trail.

Bring work gloves if you have them, plus water, sun screen, and close-toed shoes. We’ll provide tools — and lunch!

We'll be hiking up Medicine Bow Peak this Sunday, to install a new trail sign, and we'd love your company!

Here are the details:

• When: Sunday, Sept. 9, noon
• Where: Meet at the Lewis Lake Trailhead
• What to expect: We'll be hiking up Medicine Bow Peak, carrying tools and materials for a new sign. We'll install the sign just below the summit. Please note: the hike is several miles long, with over 1,500 feet of elevation gain.
• What to bring: Work gloves (if you have them), warm layers, rain gear, water & snacks, sunscreen, and anything else you want for a hike in the mountains.
• If you'd like to come... please email us at commonoutdoorground@gmail.com, or send us a facebook message.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

We're partnering with Wyoming State Trails, Wyoming Pathways, and the Wyoming Conservation Corps to improve the trail network at Happy Jack. 

Contractors have already begun re-routing unsustainable or damaged sections of trail. We'll be helping by decommissioning old trail segments along the Headquarters Trail — and if we finish that, there's additional work to do on Middle Aspen.

Exact details TBA, so stay tuned! There will likely be food and/or libations at the end.

We need your help to clean up Pole Mountain! Common Outdoor Ground is hosting a cleanup day in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming Department of Transportation.

We'll meet at the Summit Visitor Center (Abraham Lincoln Statue) and then head out to a variety of locations, either pre-located sites or areas that may need attention. 

Show up and depart at your leisure between 4 and 8 p.m. Forest Service staff will be available to assist with extracting and hauling larger items, and Common Outdoor Ground can direct you to sites that need the most help. 

Please bring gloves and appropriate clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. RSVP by e-mailing commonoutdoorground@gmail.com.

Food will be provided by Common Outdoor Ground.

Know of a specific location that's a mess? Send us the location(s) for your (least) favorite Pole Mountain trash pile and we'll direct Volunteers that way! Coordinates and specifics are helpful.