2011-Grays and Torreys Peaks Trail Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 09/10/2011-09/11/2011 Land Manager Office: Land Manager Contact: Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Restore the trail of the popular Grays and Torreys Peaks. Mark the way for thousands of hikers! Description: Thousands of hikers climb the connected Grays and Torreys Peaks each year. Just an hour from Denver, Grays and Torreys are some of Colorado's most popular 14ers. Current conditions of the high-use trail cause active soil erosion and damage to neighboring sensitive alpine plant communities. Join VOC and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative to reconstruct sections of trail to minimize vegetation loss and soil erosion in this fragile alpine tundra ecosystem. This project will include two components. Some volunteers will re-construct a 580-foot section of trail through a wetland immediately next to the trailhead. This section of trail is currently built with treated timbers, crusher fines (gravel), and geotextile fabric (landscape fabric) that has become heavily eroded and damaged due to weathering from frost-heave and erosion. Volunteers will use better quality materials and construction methods to make this trail more sustainable. Other volunteers will perform heavy maintenance on higher elevation sections of trail. Work will include building rock check steps to curb soil erosion and closing off areas where short cuts have been made. Volunteer efforts will keep these landscapes intact, providing the beauty and natural experience that so many hikers seek. There is no fee for this project. Free camping is provided Friday night through Sunday afternoon. Free meals are provided beginning with Saturday morning breakfast and ending with Sunday lunch. Latitude/Longitude: 39.7424881, -105.5136081 Additional Information: Logistically a very challenging project for staff due to the material movement that needed to be done my machines. Camping Available: Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Desired Number of Volunteers: 40 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 79 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 2 Total Volunteer Days: 60 Total Unique Volunteers: 46 Total Volunteer Hours: 682 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: CFI gave a presentation on alpine stewardship. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Logistically a very challenging project for staff due to the material movement that needed to be done my machines. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: On September 10-11, 45 awesome volunteers teamed up with VOC and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) to restore the eroded trail leading to Grays and Torreys Peaks. Volunteers moved 58 tons of rocks and crusher fine to build a 600 foot turnpike which will prevent erosion on this popular trail. The weekend was topped off with delicious food, fun company, and a beautiful setting. This project was also a registered project for the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance