2013-Continental Divide Trail Construction, Clear Creek Reservoir...June 14th-16th

Start Date-End Date: 06/14/2013-06/16/2013 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 hike 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: 46 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 46 Total Unique Volunteers: 17 Total Volunteer Hours: 370 Staff Hours: 85 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Volunteers learned about the how the boreal toad has become endangered in the southern rockies due to the chytrid fungus, and how being sure to spray boots with a diluted bleach solution can help to avoid inadvertently introducing this fungus while hiking. They also learned how the drainage principles used in the design of the trail they were building will help to conserve the toad's wetland habitat. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: "Just wanted to thank you once again for a fantastic experience. We were both really impressed with how well everything was organized. " Email received from volunteers Robin and Jay Mcarthy Description of Accidents/Incidents: None Description of Work Completed: On the weekend of June 14-16, a group of 17 volunteers led by VOC and Forest service staff completed 300 feet of new bench, cut trail, and completed 95 feet of raised tread turnpike. This marked the first weekend of many this summer that VOC volunteers will be on the Continental Divide trail in Colorado working to complete a one-mile section in the Clear Creek Reservoir area.