Eagles Nest Wilderness 50th Birthday Party!

Eagles Nest officially received its Wilderness designation on July 12, 1976. . . which means it turns 50 this summer!  We at Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance are deeply thankful for the work of earlier generations to protect Eagles Nest under the 1964 Wilderness Act.  The effort took decades, there were obstacles at every turn, and this designation was in no way guaranteed.  The collective and sustained action of local citizens, conservationists, student groups, political representatives, and others allowed for the preservation of this land.  Even just a few days before President Ford signed the proclamation for Eagles Nest, there was legitimate concern that he would veto it.  

We invite you to celebrate the first 50 years of Eagles Nest, and welcome you to the next 50 years of this land’s story.  Please join us for this very special  Birthday Party on July 12th from 12-3.  Many of the groups and organizations that steward Eagles Nest will be represented. At one pm, join us to hear the incredible story told by the people who know it best: including wilderness historian Mark Pearson, presenting original research on the battle for Eagles Nest, and a special message from the Donovan family, whose grandfather Bill Mounsey walked and drew the boundaries that became law. Please use this as an opportunity to celebrate our wins, and continue in the efforts to protect our Public Lands through cooperation and coalition-building.  

We also invite you to be part of Voices for Wilderness, a project from the National Wilderness Coalition. Voices for Wilderness brings these stories together to remind us that wilderness is part of who we are.  Wilderness Workshop will be here to collect your stories and insights about why Wilderness matters to you.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  ― Margaret Mead

*Mark Pearson is a Colorado wilderness historian, advocate, and co-author of The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas. For more than two decades, he has been researching the political and legislative history of Colorado's Wilderness designations, conducting primary-source interviews with many of the key figures in those battles, including with Bill Mounsey, the envisioner of Eagles Nest Wilderness. Mark is currently completing a book on the subject, of which the Eagles Nest Wilderness is a centerpiece chapter. His presentation will draw on original documents, firsthand accounts, and archival materials, many provided by the Mounsey-Donovan family.