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APRIL INSIGHTS FROM CHLT
  • Thank You Grand County Wilderness Group
  • Poem: A Man From Snowy River
  • Upcoming Events
  • Community News
  • Ways to Support CHLT
Thank You Grand County Wilderness Group
CHLT thanks the Grand County Wilderness Group for their generous donation to the land trust for the Granby Highlands Trails Conservation Easement project. Members of both groups met in the land trust office in Granby last Thursday to present the donation and talk about the shared goals and values of each organization.
From left to right: Paula Metcalf Stuart (CHLT Board President), Doris Klein (GCWG member), Jeremy D. Krones (CHLT Executive Director), Toni Wujek (GCWG Treasurer), Monica Sandstrom (GCWG Vice President), Stewart McNab (CHLT Board Member), Chris Larkin (CHLT Board Member), Tony Eason (CHLT Board Vice President)
When completed, this project will conserve 780 acres of open space, including 480 acres for publicly-accessible recreation and 300 acres as a wildlife preserve, and two river miles of the Colorado River in the Granby north of the Sun Community development at the intersection of U.S. highways 40 and 34.

The preserved area is a key part of a vital migration corridor for many local wildlife species, and borders large areas of public and private open space. There will also be a full winter closure on the property, to benefit wildlife like elk who spend the season in the beautiful Granby area, just like so many of our friends do.
Whether you're a resident of Grand County or a visitor who loves to take advantage
of our area’s outdoor recreation, we all have a stake in preserving the open spaces we
care about in Colorado. Help us conserve The Granby Highlands Trails Conservation Easement by making a donation to the land trust today.

We need your help to raise the last $205,400 to protect the Granby Highlands Trails Conservation Easement. With your gift, you can help CHLT protect spaces like this parcel of land in perpetuity, for visitors, locals, and wildlife to enjoy, forever.
Poem: A Man From Snowy River
by A B (Banjo), Patterson
There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from Old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses - he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up —
He would go wherever horse and man could go.
And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast;
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony — three parts thoroughbred at least —
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.
He was hard and tough and wiry — just the sort that won't say die —
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, "That horse will never do
For a long and tiring gallop - lad, you'd better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you."
So he waited sad and wistful — only Clancy stood his friend —
"I think we ought to let him come," he said;
"I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred."

"He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.
And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen."

So he went; they found the horses by the big mimosa clump,
They raced away towards the mountain's brow,
And the old man gave his orders, "Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.
And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills."

So Clancy rode to wheel them — he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stockhorse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.
Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.
And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where Mountain Ash and Kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, "We may bid the mob good day,
No man can hold them down the other side."

When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull -
It well might make the boldest hold their breath;
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint-stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timbers in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat —
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the farther hill
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely; he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.
Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges - but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.
But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,
And where around the Overflow the reed -beds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The man from Snowy River is a household word today,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.
The beginning of April marks the start of National Poetry Month! Our land trust staff loves that our natural spaces play a vital role in some of our favorite literature. In honor of this month, we'll be featuring your favorite poems on our social channels. To submit a poem, please email cschwab@coloradoheadwaterslandtrust.org to be featured.
Upcoming Events
Headwaters Book Club
Thursday, June 15th
Join CHLT and HTA for our quarterly book club meeting, Thursday, June 15th, 6:00 pm, location TBA

We'll be discussing the book Eager by Ben Goldfarb, as well as our relationships with wildlife in rural/wild settings. Check out this webinar to learn more about beavers and their vital role in our environment.
Headwaters River Journey's Earth Day Celebration
Saturday - April 22nd
Join CHLT at Headwaters River Journey's Earth Day Celebration and Community Festival for all ages. Admission is $10 per person and includes admission to the immersive Headwaters museum. Hang out and get comfortable with food, a cash bar, and live music from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Land Trust Social
Saturday - May 20th
Thank you to all who braved the weather and joined us at the Parshall Inn last Friday for our first land trust social of 2023, and a special thank you to Caitlyn Taussig for being our musical guest!

Our next Land Trust Social will take place in Denver on Saturday, May 20th at Mockery Brewing. Start time TBA!
Community News
  • Boulder County is looking to hire an Agricultural Water Specialist. Under the supervision of the Water Program Supervisor, the Agricultural Water Specialist will lead the coordination and operations of Boulder County's agricultural water rights. Click here to learn more.

  • Gates Family Foundation is seeking to hire our first Learning and Evaluation Director. This position will report to the Foundation’s President and will join a team of 12 staff members across our program teams, finance/administration, impact investing, strategic communications, and grants management.

  • The United States Geological Survey (USGS), Colorado Water Science Center is seeking undergraduate students, who are in their sophomore or junior year, working towards a degree in Physical Science, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics, or closely related field. To learn more, click here.


  • Western Water Assessment is hiring a new engaged social science postdoc to focus on climate adaptation and justice in frontline communities in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The position is fully funded for two years, and full information is available here.
Ways to Support CHLT
Want to make a big impact by conserving and stewarding the land we love across Grand County in 2023? Become a monthly donor!
When you join Colorado Headwaters Land Trust’s monthly donor program, you will become a part of a special group of people supporting us each month to care for the wildlife, the vistas, the waterways, and the agricultural history that make Grand County so special.

Ready to join our monthly giving community? Click here to set up your recurring donation at any amount.
Kroger Community Rewards

Kroger Community Rewards program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Card to an organization, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Shopper’s Card. Click here to learn more.
CARS

Is your vehicle costing more than it's worth? Then hit the brakes on expensive repairs and consider donating your car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or boat to Colorado Headwaters Land Trust.
We accept all types of vehicles, running or not! We'll use the proceeds from your donation to continue to conserve and steward the open lands and natural character of the headwaters of the Colorado River in partnership with the local community. The process is easy, the pick-up is free, and your donation is tax-deductible. To learn more, click here.
Be Our Conservation Partner!
Are you or your business interested in becoming a Conservation Partner of CHLT? Click here for more information!
P.O. Box 1938 Granby, CO 80446 (970) 887-1177