About Us
Learn more about us, our dedication to historic preservation, and our passions for Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel in Colorado.
“It was immediately apparent not just how much passion Travis had for Rollins Pass but also how much knowledge he had about its history, about its cultural importance, but also about how historic preservation worked.”
—Colorado State Archaeologist and the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer at History Colorado
WHO ARE THE FOUNDERS OF PRESERVE ROLLINS PASS?
B. Travis Wright, MPS and Kate Wright, MBA live in Colorado and are the co-founders of Preserve Rollins Pass.
Through partnerships with state and federal representatives, Native American tribes, special interest groups across the nation, archaeologists, historians, and university professors, Preserve Rollins Pass applies strategic pressures to protect the integrity of this national historic district. Credited for their professional facilitation, negotiation best practices, and ability to deliver a “master class on how to make a point,” Preserve Rollins Pass makes the case for preservation, delivered through breathtaking videography and photography, modern marketing, technology, and presentation skills. These efforts—combined with active volunteer and public outreach, education, and field archaeology—have culminated in the collapse of significant threats to the area, including a proposed federal land exchange involving Rollins Pass.
Co-founder, B. Travis Wright, MPS is a 2022 Colorado Preservation Inc. State Honor Award recipient for his advocacy of Rollins Pass, is President of the Board of the Grand County Historical Association, and is Vice Chair of the Gilpin County Historic Preservation Commission. Kate and Travis were recognized with the Partner of the Year award by Headwaters Trails Alliance in appreciation of their contributions to the meticulous planning and logistics related to the area in 2023.
Kate is a dual-degree graduate from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business with a Master of Business Administration. Travis is a two-time graduate of the University of Denver: after graduating summa cum laude, he received a master’s degree with concentrations in both alternative dispute resolution and web-enabled information systems.
They have two rescue dogs: Moffat, named after the Moffat Tunnel and the Moffat Road, and Maggie, named after Margaret Crawford, who traversed Rollins Pass in June 1874 to settle in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
ROLLINS PASS AND THE MOFFAT TUNNEL ARE OUR PASSIONS
We love talking anything related to Rollins Pass (Corona Pass, Boulder Pass, South Boulder Pass, Dart Pass—sometimes Dartt Pass, Moffat Pass, Rollinsville Pass) as well as the Moffat Tunnel at any time. We call Fraser home and enjoy meeting folks over a cup of coffee—any time of day, or virtual coffee on Zoom or Microsoft Teams if it is more convenient.
We also enjoy meeting on or atop the pass year-round… and sometimes our meetings aren’t scheduled: we have treated families to hot pizza while they waited for a tow truck in an area of Rollins Pass that doesn’t have cell signal, given groups of bicyclists our reserve water from the back of our truck, shuttled stranded motorists back to town, or opened our lunch kits to those who needed additional calories or protein to get over the pass and through their day. We also share stories, take family photographs, roll the cameras for groups of snowmobilers, help look for lost dogs, answer historical questions, advise on closure areas, contribute to academic projects, homeschool studies, and capstone research, suggest scenic vistas to honor ancestors, provide directions, and sometimes tuck complimentary signed books under windshield wipers of out of state vehicles parked on the pass.
Partner of the Year • State Honor Award • Archaeology & Historic Preservation Award
RECOGNIZED SECTION 106 CONSULTING PARTY FOR UNDERTAKINGS AFFECTING THE ROLLINS PASS & MOFFAT TUNNEL CORRIDOR
Contacting Us About a Rollins Pass or Moffat Tunnel Area Undertaking?
Preserve Rollins Pass—led by B. Travis Wright, MPS, and working in coordination with the Grand County Historical Association and other preservation partners—has served as a Section 106 consulting party on multiple federal undertakings affecting the Rollins Pass region. This role is grounded in federal regulations, which recognize individuals and organizations with a demonstrated scholarly or preservation interest in historic properties likely to be affected (§800.2(c)(5)), as well as those with a record of substantive participation in past consultations.
We bring deep institutional knowledge of the area’s transportation and preservation histories, rooted in original research, extensive fieldwork, published works, and formal participation in past Section 106 undertakings. Our understanding of the region’s archaeological and tribal significance comes through direct lines to qualified experts and representatives with longstanding ties to these resources. Mr. Wright has worked directly with federal agencies, tribal representatives, archaeologists, and state historic preservation offices; he has also contributed to mitigation planning and received a State Honor Award for his historic preservation efforts.
We also support public interpretation efforts and can assist agencies in communicating the historical dimensions of their projects to broader audiences—enhancing transparency and public understanding where appropriate. While we are not a tribal entity, we recognize the importance of tribal consultation and support respectful coordination in undertakings that may affect traditional cultural properties or ancestral lands.
Early engagement with us can reduce the risk of unanticipated delays, help identify potential adverse effects, and strengthen the defensibility of agency decisions. If discretion is needed during preliminary planning, we are willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to facilitate open, good-faith conversations while details are still being finalized.
Preserve Rollins Pass is here to help—early coordination creates better outcomes for everyone involved. Please direct inquiries to: authors@preserverollinspass.org
A NOTE ON OUR ADVOCACY AND STEWARDSHIP
ADVOCACY: SPEAKING UP FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST
Advocacy is our voice in the room when decisions are being made. It means engaging directly with policymakers, agencies, and communities to influence outcomes that protect the cultural, historical, and environmental integrity of Rollins Pass. Whether we’re reviewing land exchange proposals, participating in Section 106 consultations, or submitting public comment, advocacy ensures that preservation, access, and long-term stewardship aren’t sidelined by short-term gain or incomplete narratives. Why this matters: Without strong, consistent advocacy, decisions can be made in isolation—without the full story, the historical context, or a vision that extends beyond the immediate.
STEWARDSHIP: STANDING PRESENT AND BEING INVESTED IN THE WORK
Stewardship is our boots-on-the-ground commitment to the land and its legacy. It includes maintaining trails, preserving historical features, removing fallen debris, and sharing accurate histories rooted in original sources. Stewardship is more than care—it’s continuity. We don’t just speak for Rollins Pass—we show up for it. Every action reflects our responsibility to safeguard this legendary landscape so its significance remains visible and tangible for future generations. Why this matters: Stewardship turns values into action—it reflects accountability and makes clear that we are not just defending Rollins Pass from a distance—we’re here, doing the work.
ABOUT OUR ROLE
Preserve Rollins Pass is an independent, non-governmental initiative committed to the preservation, research, and responsible storytelling of this nationally significant landscape. While we regularly collaborate with public agencies and are occasionally referred to by them, we do not speak on behalf of any federal entity. Our work is grounded in original archival sources, peer-reviewed research, and extensive fieldwork—including photographic documentation and restoration, archaeological site review in partnership with experts, and the preservation of oral and written histories. We also work alongside academic researchers and cultural resource professionals to support respectful, well-informed interpretation of this shared landscape. Where applicable, we participate in Section 106 consultation processes and contribute findings to help identify, understand, and protect historic properties. Our role is not regulatory, but supportive—offering insight rooted in evidence. We share this work to foster deeper public understanding, promote stewardship, and ensure that the cultural and historical legacy of Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel are protected with accuracy, integrity, and care.
FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE
When we speak of America’s legacy of conservation, we feel both inheritance and obligation. From timeless alpine tundra to dense, old-growth forests, our public lands carry a promise—not only etched in stone above Yellowstone’s Roosevelt Arch, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People,” but embodied in the quiet act of stewardship and the fierce defense of the places that define us.
These lands offer more than scenic wonder. They are where stories begin, where memory takes root, and where generations have drawn strength, solace, and meaning. They hold the power to heal and the responsibility to teach. They remind us of what we’ve been given—and what we stand to lose.
To protect these landscapes is to affirm they belong to all of us—not just today, but far into the future. Their value can’t be measured in dollars or convenience, but in their capacity to inspire and to endure.
That is why we protect them. Because they matter. Because they are ours. And because they are worth every effort to preserve.
ABOUT US: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
If you would like to collaborate on a project, invite us to give a presentation, or feature Travis and Kate in a documentary or article, we welcome all inquiries. Please contact us at authors@preserverollinspass.org and we will respond in a timely manner.
Yes! Our presentations involve thousands of hours of work in consultation with experts from around the country, including archaeologists, botanists, zoologists, geodesists, research geologists, land managers, avalanche experts, and historic preservation authorities—including the State Archaeologist as well as Colorado’s first Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Every single presentation we deliver is distinctive and crafted from a place of deep passion for this incredible slice of Colorado—the audience recognizes this with high engagement marks and responses such as:
• “Thank you for sharing with all the attendees the magic that is Rollins Pass.”
• “I’ve seen thousands of presentations, and this has to be the best, neat, and cool, understandable, colorful presentation I have ever seen.”
• “Travis is a wonderful and inspiring presenter. Travis offered very great, helpful, clear steps to take in improving communication in difficult situations. This will be useful in lots of scenarios to do with current preservation projects.”
We sometimes receive inquiries about whether we can provide a copy of our slide deck via email, external hard drive, hard copy, or by an online link. Due to the extensive investment of time, effort, cost, and resources involved in creating our presentations, we have established a policy of not sharing these core materials and source files. The following points outline the key reasons for this decision:
Significant Investment: Creating and crafting our presentations has entailed tens of thousands of hours of meticulous work. This includes comprehensive research, the integration of high-quality images and videos spanning both historic and modern eras, and the development of custom and graphically-intensive content. Additionally, we have conducted extensive fieldwork to capture unique footage and engage in research as well as volunteer initiatives; our efforts directly contribute essential data to our presentations. For well over the past decade, we have continuously refined our presentations to ensure the highest quality and the incorporation of the most up-to-date information, coupled with new discoveries and streamlined historical research.
Complex Animations: Many individual slides contain up to six dozen layered animations, crucial for delivering dynamic, captivating content, and to aid the audience’s understanding of complex and conjoined timeframes and ideas. As a result, these intricate animations are tailored for live viewing and do not translate effectively to sharing or printing, often appearing overlapped and illegible when printed.
Slide Volume, File Size, and Technical Requirements: The master deck encompasses approximately 2,500 slides, with a variable core file size ranging from 30-40 GB in Apple Keynote format (file size varies due to new content under development and existing content undergoing revision). This extensive volume of proprietary content and large file size exacerbates the complexity of sharing logistics, notwithstanding the near-certainty of performance and readability issues on standard systems. The presentation is also not compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint. In fact, our presentation demands state-of-the-art hardware, specifically a Mac system powered by Apple silicon M-series Max or Ultra processors. Minimum specifications include a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 16-core neural engine, two ProRes encode/decode engines, 128 GB of memory with a memory bandwidth of 400GB/s to ensure optimal functionality for building, preparing, and presenting our slide deck. These systems guarantee peak performance, minimal latency, and flawless delivery.
While the complete slide deck remains proprietary, we may entertain reasonable, individual requests from specific groups or agencies necessitating particular images or screenshots. Such requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Of course, a sampling of our delivered presentations remain available to the world on YouTube. We extend our gratitude for your understanding and respect for the significant effort and resources invested in the development of our presentations. Upholding their integrity and exclusive use, as our intellectual property, is paramount to us and to our efforts to protect, preserve, and restore the area for future generations.
Absolutely! While we don’t own a copy of the rare silent film, The White Desert, we know where to source the only copy in existence! We also partner with superb pianist Hank Troy to provide live accompaniment. Regardless of venue size: whether a private screening for a dozen VIPs or for a crowd of several hundred people, we require 12 weeks’ notice (preferably more) to work out film shipment logistics, technology requirements, venue, and event planning.
At Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s 32nd Annual Dana Crawford & State Honor Awards event held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, B. Travis Wright, MPS of Preserve Rollins Pass was recognized and celebrated with a State Honor Award for excellence in historic preservation and preservation leadership for over a decade of work on Rollins Pass in Colorado. The story of Travis’ efforts on Rollins Pass for his State Honor Award were shared by Holly Kathryn Norton, PhD, State Archaeologist and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) as well as by Garrett W. Briggs, a Southern Ute tribal member and Colorado’s first Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO). The video shown at the awards ceremony and more information can be found here.
We adopted the trail in the summer of 2016 as part of the Adopt-A-Trail Program (AATP) administered under the auspices of Headwaters Trails Alliance (HTA) and the United States Forest Service (USFS)—all work is done on a volunteer basis. N76 is a 1.73 mile Class 2 Trail known as Riflesight (named for the famed Riflesight Notch Trestle), on the west side of Rollins Pass.
For well over the last decade, in the summers and early autumn, we are on the pass 3-5 times per week and log roughly 20-30 miles of hiking weekly. In winter and early spring, we’re on the pass on average 2 times per week.
I think we’ve lost track over the years! Approximately half of our flat tires were caused by punctures from railroad hardware in the road (old nails and rusted screws), while the remainder of flats were caused by sharp rocks causing blowouts of a sidewall or in between the tire tread. Always carry a spare and a jack as there’s not always cell signal to call for help!
It’s true: our rescue pup’s middle name was Rollins and he is pictured on page 55 of our second book on Rollins Pass! Rest in peace our sweet friend—play forever in that warm summer glow atop Rollins Pass ❤️🌈.
Yep, it’s true! Just as it was with history, Moffat’s chapter came after Rollins’ chapter (see immediately above), and so our current rescue dog is named after the Moffat Tunnel and the Moffat Road! He also has a coat of fur that looks like a puff of coal smoke, so that adds credibility to his name, too!
Absolutely! Connect with B. Travis Wright, MPS here and with Kate Wright, MBA here. Our websites can also be found here (Travis) and here (Kate).
Absolutely—we likely have the largest collection of still, video, timelapse, and archival B-roll footage (ground-based and aerial) that exists anywhere documenting the terrain and every feature or landmark of Rollins Pass (Corona Pass) from various angles, in every season, and in different lighting conditions. All drone photography was flown under an FAA Part 107 certificate and all flights complied with the rules set forth by the FAA for UAS flights within the United States; no drones took off, landed, or were operated from wilderness. B. Travis Wright, MPS is a representative with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) as a DronePro to help establish a positive safety culture within the aviation community.
We’ve collaborated with many newsrooms for projects over the years and we have a fast internet connection to upload large format photographs and high-definition video files to your team quickly. If the news story is urgent, please text us (preferred) or call us twice within 3 minutes and we will do our best to respond to you.
Our footage library includes, but is not limited to: Rollinsville, Baltimore, Tolland, Mammoth, East Portal, Ladora and Tunnel 31, Antelope, Spruce Wye, Yankee Doodle Lake, Guinn Mountain, Jenny Lake (Dixie Lake), Dixie Siding, Needle’s Eye Tunnel, Devil’s Slide Trestle and Phantom Bridge—known collectively as the Twin Trestles, Buttermilk Falls, Corona, King Lake, Mount Epworth, Corona Lake, Pumphouse Lake, Deadman’s Lake, Ptarmigan Point, Sunnyside, Riflesight Notch Trestle, the Loop and Tunnel 33, Ranch Creek Wye, Forest and Morgan Spurs, Arrow, Pacific Siding, Irving Spur, West Portal, the towns of Winter Park, Fraser, and all the way to Tabernash… and everywhere in between.
The CBS4 team knew they wanted to interview us on Rollins Pass; however, it would have been another hour—one way—to film on Guinn Mountain and they had tight deadlines to be back within signal. As we had adopted N76, it made sense to stop and film at that location to reinforce the message of establishing the need to care for trails and advocate for the irreplaceable history of the pass.
The Gilpin County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) consists of preservation commissioners appointed by the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners. The HPC ensures preservation issues, programs, policies, landmark designations, and stay-of-demolition reviews adhere to criteria consistent with the National Historic Preservation Act and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. To our knowledge, the Gilpin Historical Society operates museums and curates artifacts.
Writing books is more a labor of love than it is a source of revenue—we donated our first book’s royalties to Colorado State University’s field school students who perform archaeology fieldwork atop Rollins Pass in the summers. If your content is selected and will be used, we would be happy to give you a signed copy of the book when it publishes. We would also give you/your family credit in the book for each photo as well as special call-out in the Acknowledgments of the upcoming book and special mention at our book launch event.
Good news: we can scan the media for you (for free) and send you all of the photos digitally, too, to help preserve these memories for future generations.
We can scan large format photographs, newspapers, maps, and charts; negatives, slides, stereocards (stereograph cards), and Polaroids. For video, disc, and/or audio tapes, we can accept any and all analog formats.
No limit—whether you have just one, dozens, hundreds, or thousands of photographs/items—we’ve got both time and passion for any size job!
We’re accepting any image, but would love to see anything that would make a reader turn the page, see your photo, and say, “WOW!”
No worries—we’ll still accept it and we can determine approximate, if not precise, dates.
Preserve Rollins Pass encourages the responsible visitor to take care of the pass along with its vast 12,000 years of history for the next generation; we also safeguard Rollins Pass and Moffat Tunnel chronology, photographs, stories, structures, and landscapes—read more.
Read more about us on each page, linked to and detailed below:
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
B. Travis Wright, MPS has a passion for history and is an active advocate for historic preservation throughout Colorado.
EAST PORTAL CAMP CABINS
Historian B. Travis Wright, MPS is an active advocate for the imperiled East Portal Camp Cabins at the Moffat Tunnel, listed as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places in 2020 and officially created as a Gilpin County Local Historic Landmark in 2023.
LOST HISTORY OF ROLLINS PASS
Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel region hold countless stories—but some remain incomplete. This page highlights a growing list of unresolved mysteries uncovered through archival research, fieldwork, and conversations with the community. These are the gaps in the record—missing artifacts, unconfirmed accounts, and forgotten details waiting to be rediscovered.
Work in Progress: Moffat Tunnel Deaths; no plaque, no list—until now. This evolving memorial honors the men who died building Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel, ahead of its 2028 centennial.
RECOMMENDATIONS
B. Travis Wright, MPS & Kate Wright, MBA are honored to receive recommendations and reviews for their books, presentations, and documentaries on Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel.
REVIEWS
We always enjoy reading compelling reviews, yours if we are so honored, and would like to be able to share your words and thoughts on our recommendations page with others.
ROLLINS PASSION
For us, the story of Rollins Pass is interwoven with the story of who we are and encapsulates our excitement for all things related to this resplendent place: our Rollins Passion.
STATE HONOR AWARD
At Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s 32nd Annual Dana Crawford & State Honor Awards event held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, B. Travis Wright, MPS of Preserve Rollins Pass was recognized and celebrated with a State Honor Award for excellence in historic preservation and preservation leadership for over a decade of work on Rollins Pass in Colorado. The story of Travis’ efforts on Rollins Pass for his State Honor Award were shared by Holly Kathryn Norton, PhD, State Archaeologist and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) as well as by Garrett W. Briggs, a Southern Ute tribal member and Colorado’s first Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO).
TRAIL ADOPTERS
Award-winning Rollins Pass trail adopters and route historians Kate & B. Travis Wright maintain N76 and support the Fjällräven Classic USA. For their efforts in 2023, the Wrights received the Partner of the Year award from Headwaters Trails Alliance. Since 2022—the inaugural year for the course over Rollins Pass—we’ve served as the official Rollins Pass route historians for the 30.5 mile course comprising Fjällräven Classic USA.
WITH GRATITUDE
Preserve Rollins Pass is deeply appreciative of countless organizations and individuals for generously sharing scientific information, historic preservation expertise, research, knowledge, insight, photographs, time, and heartwarming stories. With gratitude for the many experts who make our work possible, we thank you.
CONTACT US
When it comes to those we meet about Rollins Pass and the Moffat Tunnel, there are those who are our friends and those who will soon be our friends. We invite you to share your perspective and contribute insights that help shape our work moving forward.
B. Travis Wright, MPS is “an extraordinary champion of the entire Rollins Pass region.”
“East Portal Cabins—history didn’t end when the tunnel opened,” The Mountain Ear (page 17)—June 8, 2023
OUR COMMITMENT TO AUTHENTIC IMAGERY: WE DO NOT USE SYNTHETIC OR ARTIFICIALLY-GENERATED IMAGES
All photographs and video we use and publish are directly made with a camera, except for scanned images or archival video of historical significance. We do not use synthetic or artificially-generated images that appear lifelike. While we may employ smart tools or AI-powered enhancement techniques, these methods do not result in significant alterations to the image as a whole, nor do they create misleading representations. The enhancements we apply do not modify the appearance of the subject beyond the way the subject appears in nature.
AFFILIATE & REFERRAL DISCLOSURE
Some pages on this site contain affiliate or referral links, meaning we may earn a commission—at no additional cost to you—if you make a purchase or activate a subscription. In some cases, these may also provide special discounts not available elsewhere. By using them, you help support Preserve Rollins Pass without paying anything extra. Thank you for your support!
The primary purpose of our work is to inform the public.
