2013-Continental Divide Trail Construction, Clear Creek Reservoir 7/12-14/2013

Start Date-End Date: 07/12/2013-07/14/2013 Land Manager Office: USFS - Leadville Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Adam Brown Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Join us on this Colorado backcountry adventure! Help build a new trail in a wilderness area, between Leadville and Buena Vista, near the historic townsite of Winfield. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, or the Continental Divide Trail for short, runs 3,100 miles between Canada and Mexico. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and crosses five states in the U.S.: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. This stewardship project takes place on the Colorado section of the trail located betweenLeadville and Buena Vista, near the historic townsite of Winfield. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Volunteers will help construct a new trail in a wilderness area, which will include clearing the trail corridor, working with rocks,clearing roots and trees, and building bridges on certain sections of trail, ultimately connecting to the famous Lake Ann trail. This new trail will help move this section of the Continental Divide Trail away from the road,making ita safer and more scenic route. We will be working at this site over nine different dates over the summer. Join us on this challenging backcountry adventure to help maintain one of Colorado's treasures! The worksite will be in a wilderness area, a short drive away from base camp (not in a wilderness area), located at an elevation of over 10,000 feet with spectacular views.Due to the remote project location,it is recommended that volunteers arrive at base camp on the evening before the project and sign up for at least 2 days. SPONSORS USFS -- Leadville Ranger District National Forest Foundation Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation GSI Outdoors, Inc Latitude/Longitude: 38.9620, -106.4627 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 25 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 41 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 6 Total Volunteer Days: 46 Total Unique Volunteers: 16 Total Volunteer Hours: 442 Staff Hours: 90 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Educate that drinking at elevation effects people faster. Encourage volunteers who brought personal alcohol to refrain from bringing them to the VOC campsite. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Friday night we did have an incident that required the VOC staff to take a volunteer to the ER. A different volunteer had brought a bottle of moonshine and a woman had drunk too much. After staying with the women for many hours, it was discovered that she was on depression, insomnia, and blood pressure medications, as well as possibly an antibiotic. Ellie Jordan did not feel comfortable with the condition the women was in and decided for the safety of the volunteer a trip to the hospital was necessary. At the ER her blood alcohol level was high but otherwise the doctor said she could continue with the project, but she would feel horrible. The women worked the next two days. Description of Work Completed: Volunteers spent the weekend of July 12-14 near Clear Creek Reservoir adding new trail to the Continental Divide Trail. Over three days, volunteers accomplished approximatly 100 feet of raised bed turnpike and 400 feet of new bench cut trail. The work is important in finally connecting the past seven years' volunteer work, over twenty miles of trail, to the existing CDT trail. Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make the weekend a success!