Where you'll be:
Step back in time and journey to the historic Duncan Cabin, about 15 minutes outside the town of Crestone. You’ll enjoy a scenic four-mile hike through the San Luis Valley sagebrush plain, flanked by the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Along the way, you'll be greeted by the Deadman Creek, lined with towering cottonwoods, before ascending into the foothills to reach the solitary cabin. The logs of the cabin are squared and carefully notched at the corners to lock together. Inside waits a cast iron stove, wooden cabinets with supplies, a dining table with chairs and four bunks.
The cabin is more than 140 years old. The Rio Grande National Forest Archaeologist, Price Heiner, explains that “Sometimes, you’re near an archeological site or a historic site where it’s not even close to seeing the landscape the way it was when it was occupied – but you’re going to get at Duncan. It’s just super neat.”
The Duncan Cabin — estimated to have been completed in 1880 — stands as the lone remaining structure of the town of Duncan, which once had a population of 250.
What you'll do:
Join us for a four-day adventure at Duncan Cabin, where volunteers will engage in archeological surveys, which will include the excavation and documentation of multiple 1 meter x 1 meter plots around the property. No experience is required, instruction will be provided by the Rio Grande National Forest's Archeologist, Price Heiner, who is also the Heritage Program Manager.
Why it's important:
As part of the Passport in Time (PIT) program, volunteers play an important role in preserving archaeological sites in National Forests throughout the U.S. Through collaboration with professional Forest Service archaeologists, volunteers contribute to a range of activities, such as surveys and excavation, historic structure restoration, oral history gathering, and analysis and curation of artifacts.
On this project the Forest Service’s professional staff of archaeologists and historians will be your hosts, guides, and co-workers.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Ages 16+
All youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on overnight projects.
Because of the resources needed to plan and execute this volunteer experience, a deposit of $80 is required for sign-up. You will receive your deposit back, in full, after attending the project. If VOC needs to cancel the project due to inclement weather of for any other reason, you will receive your deposit back in full (please disregard if you are registering as a leader).
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered easy to moderate please check our difficulty rating criteria, here, for more details.
Accessibility Factors:
Vehicle Accessibility:
The parking area is accessible with a 2WD vehicle. We will then shuttle volunteers 4 miles down a sandy 4WD access road. Volunteers who are not able to make the set shuttle time could potentially hike in, it's a mellow hike through a sandy trail on the valley floor.
Other notes:
Volunteers will have to tent camp, vehicles won’t be near camp and the cabin will be for the use of crew chefs.
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).
