Who We Are.

Who are the Mountaineers?

We are a family oriented club, organized in 1965, to promote and enjoy the recreation of four wheeling. Four wheeling involves driving a four wheel drive vehicle on roads and trails which are impassable to normal street vehicles. It's often referred to as " off-roading ," but in most cases we use marked "roads" in order to protect the areas through which we travel. occasionally we play "off-road" on designated sand dunes or ice where it is a bit tough to "stay on the trail" since there is none. Unlike the images portrayed by mass media and environmental groups, we are concerned with conserving the natural beauty of the State of Colorado and anywhere we four wheel. We believe strongly in the principles of Tread Lightly! ©. We also participate in both the Adopt-a-Trail and the Adopt-A-Highway programs. We work closely with the US Forest Service in maintaining trails, many of our members participate in the Trail Host program. We assist our community, Fort Collins, Colorado, by providing transportation during severe winter weather for employees and some patients of "critical need" groups like Poudre Valley Hospital, Good Samaritan Retirement Village and Meals-On-Wheels and by assisting groups like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army in transporting supplies and the like to and from remote areas during crises.

How to Join.

How to Join the Mountaineers?

What do you do?
All you need to do is attend three club functions within 90 days, one of which must be a club trip, own a four wheel drive vehicle (we welcome all vehicle types!) and be at least 18 years old. Click here if you can't meet these qualifications.
Then what?
Once you've met these requirements, you'll need to get a "Request for Membership" application from one of our board members, complete it and submit it along with a sponsoring member's signature and $45, our yearly dues, to a board member. At the next board meeting the board will review your application and vote on your request. (It is rumored that the board has yet to decline a membership application.) Upon approval, you get a membership for the current year, which includes your immediate family. If you apply mid-year, your dues may be prorated.
What do you get?
As a member you'll receive a vehicle number, a choice of club license plate or magnetic 6" logo, one vote in club procedures, a subscription to the monthly newsletter and more fun than you can imagine. This not only gets you a membership in the Mountaineers, but it also gets you an associate membership in the Colorado Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs and a member of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO). As a regular member, you'll be eligible to run for a board position the end of the current year of your application approval. We recommend at least a years membership before running for board positions to familiarize yourself with our procedures. The board positions are as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 4 Trip Planners. We also have various functions which require member participation, not limited to, but including newsletter editor, Land Use coordinator, webmasters, refreshments, fund raising, etc.
What if you don't or can't qualify?
If you cannot or don't want to meet our regular membership requirements, an associate membership is available upon request for $15 and entitles you to receive our monthly newsletter. If you're under 18, bring your parent or guardian and get them to join. Their membership includes you.
Where do you go to attend a meeting or club trip?
Our monthly Club Meetings are at 7:30 P.M. the third Wednesday of each month at 121 North Meldrum, courtesy of Knights of Columbus. We usually meet the following Sunday for our Club Trip at the King Soopers's Parking Lot N. College and Willox in Fort Collins and depart at 8 or 9 AM, depending on the trip. Our trips are planned beforehand and led by our trip planners. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Why Join.

Why Join the Mountaineers?

You get the opportunity to four wheel at least once a month with a group of like-minded four wheelers.
You get to meet new people who love to play in the beautiful Colorado back country.
You get discounts at local auto parts and 4x4 stores like: Carquest, and Ft. Collins 4X4.
You get to promote our sport through organized events like the American Rock Crawling Association's and the CoA4WDCI Jeep Raffle.
You get to keep trails open through membership in the Colorado Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs and the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO).
You get to help clean up the local trails we use the most through the Adopt-A-Trail Program of the US Forest Service.
. . . and lots more . . . come on out and try it!

Adopt-A-Trail and Adopt-A-Highway

Adopt-A-Trail

This program allows clubs/groups to assist in maintaining and cleaning-up trails frequently used by the clubs, often allowing the trails to remain open. This is done in conjunction with the US Forest Service.
Kelly Flats Located off of State Highway 14 approximately 40 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado. You can see footage of several Mountaineers in the Rick Russell Colorado Video Series #11: Colorado Trails Vol. II. Kelly Flats is a fun trail with rock and loose-dirt hill climbs and depending on the time of year, some challenging mud on the upper end of the trail. Kelly Flats is closed seasonally in the winter by the US Forest Service.
Seven Mile Creek Located just north of Rustic, Colorado on State Highway 14 approximately 48 miles west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Seven Mile is a medium challenging trail that is a real blast in the winter when the snow makes it quite challenging. Seven Mile has some creek crossings and lots of small to medium rocks. The mud is a challenge in the spring and the snow makes the trail a winter favorite for the club. There are several old mines just off the trail and even an active one at the beginning. Seven Mile is open year round for now. The US Forest Service has closed the trail during spring run off on unusually wet years.
Moody Hill Located off County Road 44H, west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Moody is a fun linking trail we mostly use to access the Crystal Mountain Trail. Moody is a long hill climb with lots of ruts that will give open differentialed vehicles a real fit. Moody Hill is not too steep, but is a lot of fun for beginners. Moody Hill is closed by the Forest Service during the winter months.

Adopt-A-Highway

Adopt-A-Highway Information: Our clean-up location Located on State Highway 14 at Mile Marker #119, west of Fort Collins, is our designated Adopt-A-Highway cleanup area. We clean up trash from the sides of the road four times per year and help keep the Colorado roadside a beautiful place. We've chosen this area because we frequently pass this spot on our way to many of our club trips and events.
Colorado State Highway 14 is a scenic highway that follows the Cache La Poudre River up the canyon with spectacular views of the sheer canyon walls and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, the Official Colorado State Animal. This highway connects US Highway 287 north of Fort Collins to the town of Walden in North Park.
Our Adopt-A-Highway cleanups are scheduled by the Board depending on weather and other events. As always, donuts and orange juice (not from concentrate) will be available or a stop for pancakes at the Braskich home. With enough people it usually takes less than 45 minutes. We meet at our section of highway which starts at Mile Marker #119. There is always an unusual array of trash to be picked up and a lot of it makes for good conversation. Occasionally, some of it borders on bizarre.