‘Gudy’ Gaskill to be honored with hike

Hikers enjoy the scenic overlook at Gudy’s Rest on the Colorado Trail. On Tuesday, hikers and mountain bikers will travel the trail to Gudy’s Rest to honor its namesake, Gudy Gaskill, the “Mother of the Colorado Trail,” who died in July at the age of 89.

Courtesy of Scott D.W. Smith/Trails 2000

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Hikers enjoy the scenic overlook at Gudy’s Rest on the Colorado Trail. On Tuesday, hikers and mountain bikers will travel the trail to Gudy’s Rest to honor its namesake, Gudy Gaskill, the “Mother of the Colorado Trail,” who died in July at the age of 89.

Courtesy of Scott D.W. Smith/Trails 2000

Gaskill

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Gaskill

For 30 years, Gudrun “Gudy” Gaskill worked to make the Colorado Trail a reality, raising money, recruiting volunteers and cutting some trail herself.

Her work led to the nickname “Mother of the Colorado Trail,” and multiple recognitions, including induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. At the Durango end of the 500-mile trail, a scenic overlook was equipped with a rustic bench and named in her honor as Gudy’s Rest.

Gaskill died July 14 at the age of 89, and to remember her and her contributions, Trails 2000 is holding “A Hike to Gudy’s for Gudy,” a 4-mile hike or mountain bike trip from the lower Junction Creek trailhead at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Gudy’s Rest is on the 19.1-mile section of the Colorado Trail maintained by Trails 2000, the longest adopted area on the trail.

Herald Staff