Calla moved from the Metro Detroit area in Michigan 6 years ago in search of more outdoors. Making the great choice of Colorado Springs having great access to many trails, open spaces and national forests she felt compelled to help serve the outdoors community and keep our trails wild. Cheyenne Canon can make you feel a world away but only a minutes drive from heart of Colorado Springs. Calla’s favorite hike is Mt. Cutler as she feels it is so accessible to many different fitness levels and still offers the beauty of Cheyenne Canon. Calla loves to enjoy the outdoors in as many ways as possible as a runner, hiker, mountain and road biker and enjoying our many 4X4 trails in the state. There’s just too much beauty in Colorado to not enjoy in it as many ways as possible!
Gary Carollo - Board Member
Gary was born in Milwaukee but from the time he was two he was raised in southwest Colorado Springs. He graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School. His first summer job was at Seven Falls as a parking lot attendant. He received his undergraduate degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Gary has served two full-time missionary assignments in Mexico City, the first when he was just out of college for two years and the second after he retired for one and a half years. His chosen field was law enforcement and he retired from Colorado Springs Police Department after a total of twenty-five years.
He has been married thirty-two years and is the father of four children and grandfather of four grandchildren. Gary has lived in Marion, Alabama, Chelan, Washington, San Antonio, Texas, and Provo, Utah. He enjoys reading, weightlifting, long distance hiking, mountain biking, gardening, and birding. He volunteers as a Temple and Family History Leader at his church, a trail worker with RMFI, and recently as a Master Gardner Apprentice with CSU Extension.
Gary says, “I have loved North Cheyenne Canyon since the time when I celebrated my third birthday at the Mesa Picnic area until now when I wander the Columbine Trail to Helen Hunt Falls. All of us long for a sense of place and purpose in life. John Muir had Yosemite and I have the Canyon. I am happy to be able to give back some small amount of the joy that I have gained from the Canyon by serving in whatever capacity with the Friends of Cheyenne Canyon.”
Jim Herron - Board Member
Brian Pilger - Board Member
Brian has lived in Colorado since 2015, but feels like he always belonged here. As an avid trail runner and hiker who also enjoys building and riding single-speed bikes, he has discovered that the canyon is a perfect launch point for mountain adventures big and small. The abundant access to trails and natural wonders in the Springs led Brian to explore how these spaces become established and protected, and after experiencing events based at the Starsmore such as the Hummingbird Festival and Canya Cañon trail race, he decided to serve the community by getting involved with Friends of Cheyenne Cañon.
