Who wants to crush trails for the planet? The weekend of June 21, the Leadville-based sustainability nonprofit Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) is partnering up with Runners for Public Lands (RPL) to bridge the gap between exercise and stewardship with the new Leadville Camp & Run event.
For $45, runners of all experience levels are welcome to spend the weekend running and helping with trail cleanup. At night, participants will gather at a large group campsite to reflect on trail running and sustainability, and just to have some fun.
C4 and RPL have partnered in the past to host panels and events about trail running and sustainability. Last year, the two organizations partnered to host Roaring Fork Valley-based author, trail runner and comedian Zoë Rom during the release of her book, “Becoming a Sustainable Runner: A Guide to Running for Life, Community and the Planet.”
The Leadville Camp & Run will be the first event held by the two organizations this year, which will get some boots (or trail shoes) on the ground. Notably, Rom will be one of the weekend’s mentors and share her passion for sustainability, runner’s know-how and crunchy comedy — around the trailhead and the campfire.
Having hosted the Camp & Run event before, RPL will be organizing much of the running schedule. Previously, RPL has hosted the event at trail running destinations, like Los Padres National Forest and central California’s Montaña de Oro State Park, but never before in Lake County.
Meanwhile, C4 has been using their local knowledge to coordinate with Lake County organizations to set up the weekend’s volunteer events. On Saturday, participants will lend a hand at C4’s unique high-altitude farm project, helping to create more infrastructure to help extend the farm’s growing capability beyond the area’s short season so as to continue to provide fresh, sustainably grown produce.
On Sunday, participants will be joining the stewardship organization Friends of Lake County to clean up trash and illegal fire rings on Halfmoon Road (the route hikers will often drive through to get to Mount Massive and Mount Elbert).
Activities will be split 50-50 between volunteer projects and pick-your-distance runs. While Leadville may be famous for its high-altitude ultrarunning events, the Camp & Run is non-competitive and designed to build community amongst runners.
The aim of the event is also, in part, to shift the paradigm of trail running and other forms of outdoor recreation from being something potentially detrimental to the local environment to something regenerative.
To push more regenerative tourism – both for the natural environment and for the community of Leadville – the Lake County Tourism Panel has provided C4 with a grant for the event. The grant keeps costs accessible. The $45 price tag includes two nights of camping, coffee, lunch, dinner and programming. C4 and RPL will use some grant funding to work with local restaurants and caterers to help refuel the runners.
Currently, C4 is organizing meals that will also be prepared with ingredients from their farm. Additionally, participants will be caffeinated by drinks from Zero Day, the nation’s highest in elevation coffee shop. Event sponsors like Trail Butter and GU will also be present to provide little bits of fuel throughout the day.
That being said, participants are advised to bring their own water bottles, utensils and plates, among other recommended gear. Those interested should be aware that, at over 10,000 feet, nights in Lake County can get rather cold. If camping isn’t your thing, folks can seek their own accommodation at hotels in Leadville and still be welcome to participate in the day events. The packing list, schedule, and registration can be found online at www.c4leadville.org
In a Nutshell:
What: Camp & Run
Where: Leadville
When: June 21-23
More info: www.c4leadville.org