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| Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese talks about the importance of partnerships in accomplishing the Palisade Plunge Trail, a 32-mile mountain bike trail. |
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), along with Powderhorn Mountain Resort, hosted a media sneak peek and group ride to celebrate the completion of Phase 1.
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| Palisade Plunge informational kiosks have been installed along the trail. |
Phase 2 — Week 12:
With assistance from the Western Colorado Conservation Corps, the Palisade Plunge Trail crew managed to complete the remaining 9,504 feet of trail to reach MP 0.0 at the Mesa Top parking lot, and now two crew members have started to rough-cut the trail with a mini-ex from Lands End to the bottom of Otto’s Wall. They have completed 450 feet so far.
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| A Palisade Plunge Trail crew member checks for loose rocks and trail instability. |
Two other crew members have been reconstructing the trail through Otto’s Wall. So far, they’ve begun reestablishing the top two switchbacks and have been hanging off the edge with safety ropes and climbing gear, checking existing walls for any looseness or instability.
Next week, a few crew members will break off to start installing cattle guards and access gates at a few fence crossings along the Phase 2 portion of the trail.
The Otto's Wall crew will receive an extra hand, and the rest of the crew members will continue working on the approximately three-mile stretch of trail from the bottom of Otto’s Wall to the Lands End Road intersection.
About 11.53 miles of finished trail has been completed, which leaves about 3.2 miles to go before the completion of Phase 2 (total 14.73 miles).
The official opening of the Palisade Plunge Trail will be spring 2021.