2011-Uncompahgre Peak Trail Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 07/28/2011-07/31/2011 Land Manager Office: Land Manager Contact: Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Help restore trails on Uncompahgre Peak, the 6th highest peak in the Colorado! Description: The 6th highest peak in Colorado, Uncompahgre Peak has a broad summit plateau surrounded by scenic alpine basins below. The project provides an unparalleled experience for volunteers to complete meaningful conservation work in a uniquely beautiful area. While Uncompahgre Peak's lower slopes are composed of relatively rich, organic soil and a robust vegetation community, those very organic soils are also incredibly erosive. The main trail leading up the peak (from the Nellie Creek Trailhead) has degraded over several years from heavy use and weathering to a point where people are just starting to hike off-trail (to avoid awkward uncomfortably eroded trail). This has lead to negative off-trail impacts and vegetation damage. VOC volunteers have the opportunity to complete ecological restoration, including the construction of rock check steps to curb soil erosion, in order to remedy this problem before it significantly damages this otherwise pristine landscape. There is no fee for this project. Camping is provided Thursday night through Sunday afternoon. Meals are provided beginning with Thursday evening dinner and ending with Sunday lunch. Thursday will be an arrival day to help set up camp. The majority of the project work will occur at high elevation and will require a significant hike to the worksite. Latitude/Longitude: 38.0299967, -107.3153335 Additional Information: Project was great but the logistics are difficult. Working out shuttles for everyone to get up the campsites turned out okay, though many volunteers ended up just driving themselves in their own 4WD vehicles. All crew chef equipment and tools were transported by the VOC and CFI trucks. The crew chef backed out to close to the project to find a replacement so staff had to serve that role. Big thunderstorms arrived two of the days but having an alpine start meant all crews were off the moutain and back at camp before they started. Everyone seemed to enjoy just having two hard work days on Friday and Saturday and treating the other days as travel/recreation days. Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 20 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 20 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 1 Total Unique Volunteers: 20 Total Volunteer Hours: 696 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: CFI highlighted alpine stewardship. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Project was great but the logistics are difficult. Working out shuttles for everyone to get up the campsites turned out okay, though many volunteers ended up just driving themselves in their own 4WD vehicles. All crew chef equipment and tools were transported by the VOC and CFI trucks. The crew chef backed out to close to the project to find a replacement so staff had to serve that role. Big thunderstorms arrived two of the days but having an alpine start meant all crews were off the moutain and back at camp before they started. Everyone seemed to enjoy just having two hard work days on Friday and Saturday and treating the other days as travel/recreation days. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Carl Quist left early on Friday due to feeling ill. Description of Work Completed: 20 hard working volunteers spent July 28-31 atop Uncompahgre Peak, one of Colorado