2012-Midland Hill Trail Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 06/09/2012-06/10/2012 Land Manager Office: BLM - Royal Gorge Field Office Land Manager Contact: Kalem Lenard Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Help restore the popular Midland Hill Trail and enjoy beautiful views of the Collegiate Peaks. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE Stretching out over two miles and providing beautiful vistas of the Collegiate Peaks, Midland Hill Trail is one of the most popular trails in Arkansas River Valley. Due to its proximity to the town of Buena Vista, the route has become a staple in many running and hiking regimens. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Midland Hill Trail sees as much water runoff as it does runner and hiker traffic. Rain storms tend to come fast and hard in the valley and cause severe erosion on the area's natural surface trails. Help restore this popular trail in order to provide a safe and sustainable route for trail users. Volunteer work will involve repairing trail drains, constructing rock retaining walls, and installing new rock steps. PARTNERS Bureau of Land Management (BLM) OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch Camping: available Friday and Saturday nights Latitude/Longitude: 38.8380012512207, -106.14710235595703 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 75 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 126 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 4 Total Volunteer Days: 119 Total Unique Volunteers: 72 Total Volunteer Hours: 1314 Staff Hours: 52 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: 70 volunteers helped restore the beautiful Midland Hill Trail by constructing 170 new steps, installing over 30 feet of new rock walls, building several large switchbacks, and rehabilitating over 2,000 feet of existing trail. Their hard work will help mitigate erosion and sedimentation into parts of the Arkansas River—as well as provide a safe and sustainable route to the summit of one of the most spectacular view points in the Arkansas Valley!