Trailblazer Spotlight: Gary Brooks
We’ve all met a trailblazer – someone who forges ahead to cut the trail, volunteers for the hard job, charts the uncharted territory. Throughout the history of the Eagle Valley Trail, many have stepped forward to blaze the trail, turning what started as a grassroots vision into a reality. Eagle County resident Gary Brooks is one such Trailblazer. Over some 30-odd years he has dedicated his time, resources and talents to designing, building, supporting and furthering the Eagle Valley Trail.
Gary is a soft-spoken man who has a lot to share about his passion for the EVT. While he’s originally from Oklahoma, he moved north to Eagle County in 1986 after his job as a petroleum geologist went south along with the price of oil. Determined to become a ski bum in Avon, Gary ended up falling in love with the valley and deciding to stay.
Gary Brooks, EVT Trailblazer.
At his job with Alpine Engineering in Edwards, he staked out the spur trail from Highway 6 up to Beaver Creek. Because Alpine Engineering designed large portions of the EVT, including sections through Dowd Junction, EagleVail, Avon and Miniturn, Gary’s work can be seen all over the valley. As he and his wife drive around, he often reminisces about tough portions of the trail or interesting jobs. “My wife gets tired of hearing me say that [stuff] whenever we drive around. She’s giggling. I’ll say, ‘I designed that parking lot, honey,’ and she’ll say, ‘That’s the best parking lot I’ve ever seen.’”
How This Trailblazer Is Shaping the EVT
Today Gary lends his decades of trail-designing expertise to Trails Manager Kevin Sharkey and others on the ECO Trails committee, where he also volunteers his time. “I thought I could help out because it’s a complex piece, and I’ve designed quite a bit.” As Kevin prepares to break ground on the longest, toughest and last remaining section of the EVT, some hurdles remain to be conquered. “We’ve walked some sections – he has some difficult sections. … So I was helping Kevin connect to people in the valley who could help support [him].”
As the last piece of the EVT puzzle, the 7.5-mile section between Horn Ranch and Edwards would finally connect not just the communities of Eagle County but all the way from Breckenridge to Aspen. “It’s more than a legacy piece,” said Gary. “It’s the final piece of the puzzle, and it’s the hardest. If we can push this thing across the finish line and finally get it done, the groundbreaking is going to be a huge ceremony. It’s a big deal.
Having put decades of work and energy into building the trail, Gary also finds much joy in using it to walk his two Springer Spaniels, Zoee and JuJu, and to access portions of the river for fly-fishing, one of his biggest hobbies. “We spend a lot of time on the trail,” he said, referring to the walks he and Linn take with their dogs. “We get in 3 or 4 or even 5 miles a day walking on the trail. And I use the pet stations a lot. So when it was time to donate some of our personal money to the fundraising campaign, it just made sense that we would buy a poop station.”
As Eagle County nears completion on the Eagle Valley Trail, Gary anticipates the difference this 63-mile trail will make for connecting the community. “We’re the piece that’s in the middle that needs to be done. I think throwing everything at it benefits everybody in three counties. Not only is it a great commuter site that would reduce vehicle trips and help the county reach their climate goals, it’s also an economic generator.”
“We’re the piece that’s in the middle that needs to be done. I think throwing everything at it benefits everybody in three counties.”
Having been active on several county boards and committees for most of his adult life, Gary knows that one person is capable of creating change. “I've learned that it is not that hard to get involved in local boards and committees that can truly make a difference in our communities.” He plans to continue blazing trails in his community of Avon, applying everything he’s learned from his time serving greater Eagle County.
How You Can Become a Trailblazer
Interested in becoming an Eagle County Trailblazer? Consider donating to finish the Eagle Valley Trail or show your support by using the hashtag #weEVT on Instagram when you post photos of yourself using the trail. Know of someone you think is an EVT Trailblazer? Nominate them for a future spotlight by emailing Robin Thompson at fundraiser@robinthompson.com.