Where you’ll be:
Mt. Democrat has recently been acquired by the U.S. Forest Service. In the past, this trail was on private land and had been closed to the public. Join us for a weekend of much-needed trail maintenance to make this trail more sustainable and safer for all trail users and outdoor enthusiasts! This majestic beauty is the 29th highest peak in Colorado at 14,148 ft. Nestled in the Mosquito Range alongside Mt. Bross, Mt. Cameron, and Mt. Lincoln, many underestimate this “easy” hike due to the high elevation start – this is rated a Class 2 climb.
What you’ll do:
On this weekend project of up to 40 volunteers, you'll work with our partners at Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) to install timber checks, delineate trails, and other maintenance tasks. The trailhead is at 12,000 ft of elevation (above tree line). Volunteers can expect to hike ~1 mi from the trailhead to the project site.
Your hard work will be rewarded with stunning views and free campsites on Friday night and Saturday night, along with breakfast and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, provided by volunteer crew chefs. Please bring your own lunch (BYOL).
Please note that we strongly recommend arriving on Friday evening in order to be prepared for Saturday due to the remote nature of this project.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to get coffee and breakfast to-go starting at 6 am and hike at their own pace. CFI staff will be at the work site welcoming volunteers as they arrive. This project involves a long hike to the worksite, and we want to make everyone feel comfortable hiking at their own speed.
Why it’s important:
The hike to this peak is quite popular since it is usually noted as one of the "easiest" 14ers to summit. Mt. Democrat is often the first peak that enthusiastic adventurers ascend when they take on the challenge of "DeCaLiBron" - summiting four different peaks all in one go (Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Ages 18+
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered difficult. Check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Accessibility Factors:
Vehicle accessibility: To get to the trailhead, volunteers will have to drive on Co Rd 8 for ~5.5 mi. The conditions of the last mile of this road vary depending on weather conditions, heavy usage, and the maintenance that the town of Alma can provide that year. We will update volunteers about road conditions and accessibility closer to the project date. We may ask volunteers to carpool depending on road conditions.
Other notes: Bathrooms will be available at the trailhead. Please note that cell phone service is not reliable in this area.
Join us in making a positive impact while reducing your carbon footprint! Register yourself for our upcoming project and take the eco-friendly route by carpooling with fellow volunteers.
Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).
