Skarvan: Coming together for a common cause

Our seventh annual Pristine Riders Fall Trash Crush community clean-up and environmental stewardship event held on Sept. 25 was a huge success, including a record volunteer turnout!

Thirty volunteers strong brought together by a love for our backyard removed litter along our roads and paths coming out of Aspen and had fun doing it. Considering the need and rewards, we’d hope for more volunteerism in a town of the 6,800 residents and thousands more in the county who live here for what our community and mountains offer.

We claim to be environmentalists. Let’s show it! Join us, and be a 1%-er in a meaningful way. When we increase volunteerism, we clean up more of our community while experiencing a greater sense of community, including our volunteer picnic.

Pristine Riders ongoing litter cleanup and Trash Crush community events are about more than beautifying our backyards and removing toxic litter. We’re about coming together for a common cause and sharing stewardship to create the needed multiplier effect. If most of us do a bit, it will mean a lot. Sharing this message is crucial to have a greater impact. Litter is a type of pollution we can easily remove. Use gloves, litter grabber or pet pickup to keep it safe.

Heartfelt thanks to our awesome volunteers, including: Kathleen Airbee, Edgar Barber, Lance Bolton, Cindy Burke, Susan Capiel, Tom Cooper, Doreen Clavell, Catalina Cruz, Neddie Grumley, Dusty Hamrick, Cathy Isom, Karen Lundy, Chris McKelvey, Jane Mitchell, Bill Mitchell, Erlinda Morehead, “Stump” Morehead, Lori Payne, Della Pegolotti, John Phillips, Rachel Richards, Summer Richards, Meaghan Rubey, Erik Skarvan, Robin Smith, Terry Stephenson, Lisa Vantine, David Vantine, Linda Vitti and Luke Wampler.

Thanks to our thoughtful partners and sponsors, including: CDOT, Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, city of Aspen Environmental Health and Sustainability Department, Aspen Après Ski School and annual picnic sponsor 520 Grill. 

To join our mission and crew, check pristineriders.org and “Like” Pristine Riders on Facebook.

Erik Skarvan

Aspen