The 2021 Tour des Trees tackled the mountains of Colorado this August after a year of riding from home. Thirty-eight riders rode their bikes over 320 miles and traversed approximately 23,500 feet of climbing over five days, starting in Denver and circling around to Boulder, Estes Park, Fort Collins, and back to Boulder and Denver. Thirty-four virtual participants also joined in from their own homes, all helping to support the TREE Fund’s mission.
While riding through the state, riders participated in tree plantings at three locations, planting seven trees, helped with a beaver mitigation project on the Sand Creek Greenway, and had a Zoomed presentation from Professor Pricklethorn to the Loveland Public Library. Everyone was also able to enjoy a yoga session and a meditation session during the week.
Riders met a lot of interesting people along the way, talking to everyone they could about the importance of trees and tree research. They received assistance from several local Lions Clubs, the Colorado chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and other businesses that provided snacks and meals. All this, combined with beautiful accommodations, several first-class meals with the support of the ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter, The Davey Tree Expert Company, and SaveATree, and a wild Vermeer Olympics night made for a tour that will long be remembered.
This year’s Tour des Trees is not finished, though, as riders are still accepting donations through October 31. You can donate to a rider or chapter at www.tourdestrees.org, and all the donated money goes toward helping the TREE Fund’s mission.