Welcome to the GCCHLA Website

This home page is getting too long: click on one of the following to scroll immediately to that section:

• Next Meeting
  
• Emergency Exits
• Weather/Road Conditions
  

TBD

November 18, 2008

The sinkhole awhile back closed York Gulch for a little more than four hours; mudslides, snowslide, or a fire emergencies would present a similar predicament. (The avalanche five months earlier stranded even those who knew alternate routes, unless they had a snowmobile; some things are just beyond preparation.)

There are three good routes out of YG that don't use the "main drag", and one emergency only route. These (and two loops that detour around problem on the upper and middle portions of YG are described, with a map.

An Evacuation Checklist is available. It is in PDF; if necessary, download free reader first.

Kathleen (Krebs) Gaubatz is the Clear Creek Director of Emergency Preparedness. She spoke at the June 2004 Board meeting and again at the March 2007 meeting and offered the following tips:

• www.ReadyColorado.com - Residents should check out this website for advice on preparing a 72 hour evaculation kit.


• The 4 P's - Photos, Papers, Pets, Pills - these are the things most people want to save if you don't have much advanced warning. Know where they are.


• Leave your doors Unlocked - White flag program. Make white flags for all your doors, this tells the fire dept. that you have left. You can also put a flag at the end of your driveway with your address on it, if your house can't be easily seen from the road. This also tells the fire dept that you have left and this saves a lot of time for fire personnel.


• The EPN (emergency network) will also call your home and tell you to evacuate.

HINT: Thrift Stores often have inexpensive white sheets - cut into six pieces. Close in the door, so it hangs mostly to the outside. If your front door can't be seen from the road, hang a flag somewhere visable to the road as well.

Black henbane

Photo by Sandra Butler

I found this information from various Web sources. A real nasty character! If you find this weed, dig up, bag and distroy.

Black henbane is a Mediterranean native that was introduced as an ornamental and medicinal plant in the 17th century. It spreads by seeds and plants have been found near Alpine Rd and Forget Me Not Lane in York Gulch. Black henbane is narcotic and poisonous to humans.

Description: Erect annual or biennial herb with coarse, hairy stems; leaves alternate, simple, toothed; flowers axillary, tubular, 5-parted, greenish yellow or yellowish with purple veins; fruit a capsule.

Symptoms: Salivation, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid pulse, convulsions. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN.

Chinese clematis

The State of Colorado and Clear Creek County are making a serious effort to destroy the Chinese clematis, a fast growing noxious weed that covers and kills trees and shrubs in its path. I have seen at least one instance of Chinese clematis along lower York Gulch before Chinook. If you see any instance of this weed, feel feel to destroy and remove it. If it is on a neighbor's property, you might want to enlist their help. Recent weather conditions have increased the spread of this nasty weed. Inaction is not an acceptable option.

Good source for more information: http://co.gilpin.co.us/weeds/ChineseClematis.htm