Where You’ll Be:
Spanning nearly 500,000 acres in southwest Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness is three-quarters the size of Rhode Island and the state's largest Wilderness area. On this project, you'll be camped out in the front country of the Rio Grande National Forest near the Rio Grande Reservoir, and will hike into the neighboring Wilderness each day to complete project work.
The Weminuche (pronounced wim-in-ooch) spans the Continental Divide, North America's geological backbone, with its headwaters diverted to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom peaks rise above 14,000 feet, while many others reach above 13,000 feet. With an average elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, the Weminuche is rugged country, but its ecosystems are fragile. Volunteers will spend the weekend enjoying the breathtaking beauty of some of Colorado’s most picturesque alpine views during this project.
Nearest town: Creed, CO 81130
The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will be in a group of 3-4 sawyers and will spend each day hiking the trails into the Weminuche Wilderness and logging out the trail on the way back down to basecamp.
Why crosscut saws?
Crosscut saws are a traditional tool that carry a long history of work on the land in our country, and have made a modern resurgence as the tool of choice for clearing fallen trees on trails in federally designated Wilderness areas, where workers cannot use mechanized equipment.
But it's not just about policy: using traditional tools allows us the opportunity to experience the quiet, solitude and characteristics of more remote areas, as well as become attuned to the characteristics of trees themselves.
Crosscut sawyers often talk about how they enjoy the experience of hearing the fibers of trees pop and crack as cuts are made. We welcome you to give crosscut sawing a try, not only to experience for yourself the use of a fun and powerful traditional tool, but to also allow yourself to spend time in nature in a way that perhaps you have not before. No experience is necessary to attend this project as a volunteer, a certified sawyer will be leading each cutting group.
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with dinner on Friday and Saturday. Bring your own dinner on Thursday night, and enough snacks for the weekend.
Free campsites are available Thursday - Sunday nights, and volunteers are encouraged to arrive at base camp before 8 pm on Thursday if participating in the work on Friday.
Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper!
We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering, and we could use your help to make it happen!
View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up.
Why It Matters:
Wilderness trails on the Rio Grande National Forest are becoming increasingly inaccessible (and dangerous) to hikers and equestrians due to the falling dead Engelmann spruce trees in the area. The U.S. Forest Service cannot keep up with the demand for keeping the trails clear, making volunteers an increasingly critical asset to assist the Forest Service in keeping these Wilderness trails open and accessible to the public.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Ages 18+
On this project, we need six B-certified crosscut sawyers. A-certified and non-certified volunteers will be able to cut under the supervision of B Sawyers. If you are certified, please include this in the comments of your registration.
Interested in getting certified? Visit our Training Calendar to view upcoming training opportunities.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations: This project will include hiking 4-5 miles each day up steep grade trails, at high elevation. Volunteers will need to carry all their supplies for the day and potentially a small tool for their group. Working in the wilderness isn’t easy! Using a crosscut saw requires repeated cross body arm movement, often in a kneeling position. work will also include rolling or lifting heavy tree sections to clear them off the trail.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: 2WD dirt road.
Other Notes: Tent camping OK. Car and Van camping OK. Large vehicles or tow-behinds may be accommodated, please contact Katie (katie@voc.org) to confirm availability. This project will be at 9500 ft. elevation. Vault toilets and potable water will be available at camp.
Join us in reducing our carbon footprint by carpooling! Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).
