Summary
Organization name
Friends of Wilderness
other names
FOW
2006
Tax id (EIN)
20-4597607
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
P.O. Box 771318Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Routt County, CO, US
About
Custom Tab
For over twenty years, Friends of Wilderness volunteers have coordinated with the Forest Service to educate the public and maintain the trails of the magnificent Zirkel, Flat Tops and Sarvis Creek wilderness areas in northwest Colorado. Next year, we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary, so help us make it our best year ever.
Testimonials
"Just wanted to extend a big thank you for the 2024 report you put together, and a huge thank you on our end to the absolutely essential amount of work FOW put in this year. The amount of hours and trees cut and time put in the Wilderness areas of the Routt is beyond huge. We couldn’t do it without you all, and all of your work from trails, to stewardship, and ambassadors is deeply appreciated. You all make a big difference for us. I hope fall is coming together for all of you well – just wanted to say thank you from our end. Please share the sentiment for all of your volunteers, you all are great."
Dave Mucklow - Routt National Forest - Mt Zirkel Wilderness
Today I completed an enjoyable hike from Slavonia TH to Mica Lake and back.
Thanks to your organization and its volunteers, I had a wonderful hiking trail void of any trees in my path. I also noticed a few other trail improvements around the switchbacks that were very helpful. Because of your efforts, and only because of your efforts, I was able to make it the lake and experience the wonders it provided.
Thank you, thank you.
Regards, Brain Fagan
Giving Activity
Mission
Friends of Wilderness partners with the U.S. Forest Service in managing and protecting the Wilderness and backcountry lands of the Routt National Forest and adjacent national forests.
Background Statement
In 1994, Elaine and Win Dermody arrived in Steamboat Springs. Having previously worked for the Forest Service in Creede, CO, Win was hired by the local Forest Service office to be an Information Specialist, and Elaine was encouraged and trained to be a volunteer wilderness ranger. She recruited friend Jan Hatcher, and they began patrolling the Zirkel Wilderness area in 1995.
In 1996, John and Mary Ann Duffey offered the use of their llamas to the women. The Lady Rangers, Elaine and Jan, along with new recruit Pat Wessel, led the llamas throughout the Zirkel, Sarvis and Flat Top Wilderness trails picking up trash, educating the public and leading overnight trips. Within the next two years, Win retired and joined the Lady Ranger, and Jan and Pat's husbands, Wade Hatcher and Bobby Mayfield, began patrolling on horseback.
Seeing the impact from cuts in the Forest Service's budget and staff, Elaine worked with Wilderness Manager Jon Halverson to officially establish the volunteer support organization Friends of Wilderness. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Routt National Forest outlining FOW's scope of work and areas of service was finalized in 2000.
Following Elaine, Suzanne Munn became the FOW Volunteer Coordinator in the fall of 2005. Suzanne, along with her husband John and the assistance of attorneys, took FOW to its next level by establishing bylaws, registering the organization with the State of Colorado and obtaining 501(c)3 non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service.
Over the last ten years, FOW has seen a dramatic increase in its number of volunteers and hours contributed educating the public, removing trash, restoring environmental damage, and clearing trails.
For a more complete history and pictures of FOW's development, please see the history tab on our webpage Friendsofwilderness.org
Media gallery
Organization Data
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477