Trail & Timberline is the magazine of the Colorado Mountain Club, sent to over 10,000 members and subscribers. Published continuously since 1918, Trail & Timberline celebrated its 100th anniversary with "The Centennial Edition" in 2018. The magazine contains news from the Club, suggested trips and destinations, and feature articles on everything from climbing fourteeners to the Club's conservation ethic.
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Carson Black
November 17, 1940 – September 16, 2021
Elmer “Carson” Black, Jr. was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Elmer Carson Black and Alice Williams Black. He was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. After high school, Carson attended Kansas University, and University of Missouri – Kansas City dental school. He then served as an Army dentist at Fort Lewis during the Vietnam War. Carson moved to Colorado Springs in 1968 and began the dental practice he ran until he retired. In the fall 1979, he did volunteer dentistry at two sites in Guatemala.
Carson was an avid mountaineer, climbing the mountains of Colorado, all the 14ers, many of them multiple times, and the top 200 13ers. He climbed abroad, including the Tour de Mont Blanc, Pisco in Peru, and Russia’s Mount Elbrus. He was an avid technical climber, backpacker, and skate skier. He participated in the first Frisco Gold Rush cross country ski race. He was also an accomplished orienteer, teaching the skill and competing in meets in Scotland, Australia, and elsewhere. He also was an accomplished trail runner, completing the Pikes Peak Ascent multiple times, placing in the Pikes Peak Marathon, and participating in longer runs including Utah’s Wasatch 100, and placing in the Leadville 100. He was also a cyclist, completing multiple century rides as well as many mountain bike trips.
Carson was involved with the Colorado Mountain Club and had served as the president of its Pikes Peak Group. As a trip leader, he was always willing to help others find joy in the mountains that he experienced, and to help when they were in need.
Carson is survived by his partner, Marian Avoy of Cascade, Colorado; his sister Ann Woods of Houston; his brother Reed Black of Overland Park, Kansas; and his nieces and nephews: Whitley Levy of Bellaire, Texas; Ashley Brown of League City, Texas; and Maggie Black and Carson Black, both of Prairie Village, Kansas.
The family has chosen to have a private memorial. There will also be a celebration of life for Carson at a future time.
Carson believed in taking care of the less fortunate and supported Doctors Without Borders, Planned Parenthood, and Westside Cares, a Colorado Springs human services provider. He would agree with a donation to any of these organizations, in his honor.
Carson will be missed by so many who loved him and shared his love of the outdoors.
Thomas F. Cope, PhD
February 29, 1948–May 8, 2021
Long-time CMC member Thomas F. Cope passed away at home on May 8, 2021, after an eighteen-month battle with leukemia. Born on the leap year date of February 29, 1948, in Illinois, Tom graduated from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn and then came west to attend the University of Denver, where he received his BA (1970), JD (1974), and MA (1976). He received his PhD in history from the University of Chicago in 2001. Tom was a partner at Bryan Cave LLP (formerly Holme Roberts & Owen LLP) focusing on natural resource and environmental law.
Tom loved the mountains and had a particular passion for highpoints. He joined the Colorado Mountain Club in 1986 and participated in many local trips as well as international outings. He climbed all the Fourteeners and numerous other peaks and highpoints in Colorado and around the world, including Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus, and the Mexican volcanoes. The coldest hailstorm I ever encountered was descending Hagues Peak with Tom.
Tom’s love of the outdoors informed much of his extensive service to the community. Tom was an original board member of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, preparing the incorporation papers in 1996 and subsequently serving as board secretary for many years. He also volunteered on trail crews. I once came across him engineering a large cairn on La Plata’s north ridge. Tom served on the board of the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation and chaired its fellowship selection committee. Assisting students with outdoor science and environmental projects was one of his most rewarding experiences. He also volunteered for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Meals on Wheels and was active in his church and legal organizations.
Tom Cope was a man of many interests and could as easily converse about Irish legal history—the subject of his doctoral dissertation—as woodworking, a hobby he eagerly shared with his grandsons. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Ann Wattis, in 1970, and they recently celebrated 51 years of marriage. They had two children, Beth Whitenight and Philip Cope, and two beloved grandsons, George Whitenight and Oliver Cope. Tom was the consummate professional in all our non-profit endeavors, a stalwart companion in the mountains, and a loyal and valued friend.
— Walt Borneman
Marilyn Fellows
Dedicated mega-volunteer Marilyn “Gracie” Fellows passed from this life early in the morning of April 9, after opening her eyes one last time to drink in a final beautiful sunrise at age 73. She served in at least seven or eight different capacities for the CMC over the years, and was one of the few unsung heroes who put in FAR more time than most to keep this club running. To her, we all owe a debt. Thank you, our "Brainard Cabin Queen," for more than words can express.
Natalie Mack notes, “She brought so many of us together. The second CMC hike I ever went on was led by Marilyn back in 1999. What wonderful friendships have resulted! Many times over the years, I thanked Marilyn for her gift of bringing people together. I think she probably thought, 'Anyone could do this,' but I for one could not. It's a gift I lack and one I have profoundly appreciated in her.”
Janine Fugere and Karen Baldwin, Boulder Hiking/Backpacking School Directors after Marilyn’s tenure, recall that “Marilyn, whom many knew as 'Gracie,' was ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP even newbies like we were, who somehow made it to leadership roles without a clue what we were getting ourselves into! Her encouragement and support helped keep the FUN in volunteering. She brought people to the club, brought them together as friends, and made connections between many members that have lasted a lifetime. Gracie was a solid member of the Boulder group LONG before us and will be remembered LONG after her worldly time on this earth.”
Joy was named Joy because her birthday is in December so she is Christmas Joy. She is the oldest of eight kids. Her dad said last year at her 60th birthday party that he never thought he would see a daughter of his turn 60. He was so very proud of her. Both her parents are struggling with the loss of their beautiful first born.
Her enthusiasm for the outdoors and love of nature was where she connected with her soul. She told me many times "Connie, I love hiking with you, but I do really enjoy hiking by myself." It is where she found peace and a connection with a Power greater than herself. She was deeply spiritual but not religious. Her pictures are almost always about nature, flowers, trees, birds, wildlife, lakes, streams... Once the kids were all grown and out on their own she found herself looking for more. She found the big playground of nature. She did not take any adventure for granted. She did her homework. Joy tried it all: climbing, cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, overnight winter hikes, canyoneering… the list goes on and on. She loved passing her knowledge onto others and led many CMC training sessions. She was training to climb Mount Rainier (her dream) this year. She loved music and playing guitar. She sang in many choruses throughout the years when the kids were young.
She sent every one of her kids through college on her own. I know she was the best mother to each of her kids and loved them so very much. Whether it was hiking or skiing with Kristen, or helping Anthony move to Fort Collins, or talking to Kevin for hours over the phone about baseball or working out, she was always available to them—never missing a beat.
She owned her own business and was very successful with it. She is also a published writer. Her list of accomplishments goes on and on, but I believe the biggest imprint she leaves with all of us is her unconditional love of family and friends. Joy would give you the shirt off her back even if it was the last one she had. She has been there for me while I gathered the pieces of my life back together. She was my glue (and for so many others too). I find I hear her in my head today where ever I am saying "Its ok, you can do this. It will be alright". She loved seeing others succeed.
I will leave you with this: She loved the saying "All is well and all will be well and all this is well as well". I used it many times in the past few days now, and it has brought me comfort. –Connie Gemigna
What I will remember most about Joy is her quiet strength and uplifting presence. She was a wonderful person to be around and I'm glad I got to know her. We will miss having Joy with us but her Light shines on in our hearts and memories. –Betty Katondo
Joy had this zest for the outdoors like no other. She would not give up and was always the last to get off her skis because she didn’t want the day to end. We all learned from her to enjoy life to the fullest. –Kim Wetzel
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Circulation
The Colorado Mountain Club has active groups in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Aspen, Vail, Grand Junction, Montrose, Pueblo, Greeley, and Loveland. Additionally, the Club has a Friends of Colorado group for out-of-state mountain enthusiasts.
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Fourteener Completion Master List
If you've finished the Colorado 14ers, 13ers or any of the CO Hundred Milestones (Highest 100, 200, etc.), you can submit your name to the Colorado Mountain Club by October 1 of each year, to be included in the record books. The lists for completions submitted each year will be published in the Trail & Timberline magazine.
All completion information can be filled out on our online form. If you're reporting a 14er completion, we will ask you to include your name, the name and date of your first 14er, and the name and date of your last 14er. You also have the opportunity to share information about specific summits you enjoyed, which might be selected as a 14er article on our Clubhouse blog or in Trail & Timberline. In addition, if you’d like to share photos, email them to office@cmc.org and include names and locations.
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