Visiting the Vail Valley for the first time is a special experience. As visitors crest the top of Vail Pass, they are greeted with a stunning vista of multiple mountain ranges and spiked peaks. It can be intimidating to look upon these mountains and it can bring forth a mix of questions: How difficult is the hiking? Is there any wildlife we should be aware of? What trail is easiest for me and my family?
With consideration of how much usage our local trails receive on an annual basis, our Trail Ambassador program extended into the summer this season. Melanie Morone and Noah Ejnes, our two incredible seasonal Trail Ambassadors, were hired to support education initiatives and provide additional stewardship to improve user experience at trailheads throughout the summer.
Mel and Noah, prepared with leashes and maps, Wag Bags and stickers, spent countless hours everywhere from the remote trails of Missouri and Nolan Lakes, to the Cordillera favorite Stag Gulch to inform, teach, and connect with locals and visitors alike.
They hiked 315 miles and engaged with over 2,300 individuals. 992 individuals that they spoke with live in Eagle County and over 1,300 were visiting. California, Texas, and Florida made up the majority of visitors with many more from the Front Range.
Both experienced hikers and novices can enjoy the recreation opportunities here in the Valley but with the initiation of the “Respect the Vail Valley” campaign, they provided more information about how to best respect the natural environment and adhere to principles of stewardship.
Heard on the Trail:
Mel and Noah were asked many questions, some of which were standard fair others a bit more…peculiar. Something we learned this summer: GPS apps are deceiving people and valet parking for trailheads might be the future of hiking.
To Our Community of Stewards, Thank You.
We cannot talk about the Trail Ambassador program without thanking veteran volunteer and recent VVMTA Hall of Fame inductee Ellen Miller. She has been an example for stewardship, a champion of Wilderness, and a mentor to other volunteers. Ellen’s contributions to the Trail Ambassador program have been unmatched and she selflessly dedicated her time to continuing efforts to educate our community about the importance of protecting wild landscapes.
This program has changed and adapted since its inception in 2018 but the goal remains clear: education is a valuable tool that helps inform decision making and how we choose to navigate the outdoors. We have seen a significant decrease in the number of closed trail violations during our winter months and more dogs on leashes.
We thank those who have volunteered with Trail Ambassadors and those who have influenced and shaped it into what it is today.
We also thank our community for doing the right thing, by respecting closures, packing out what they take in, and leashing dogs where off-leash is prohibited.
Thank you for loving your trails and Respecting the Vail Valley.
Molly DeLallo, Trail Stewardship Coordinator
Molly Wants You To Support our Trail Ambassadors:
Donate now to support our Trail Ambassadors with:
- Informational Materials: We want to provide our Trail Ambassadors with materials that they can use to support education in and around the community. This can include access to trail apps, maps, and handouts.
- Respect the Vail Valley Campaign: This campaign requires to spread its messaging both locally and beyond.
- Signage: We are constantly looking for ways to improve messages to expand to a broader audience. Your donation can provide more signage at trailheads with updated and improved maps, and updated messaging.
