Description
Start Date-End Date: 08/15/2013-08/16/2013
Land Manager Office: USFS - Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Dave Neely
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Come help restore the fragile habitat around the gorgeous Missouri Lakes and encourage proper wilderness use by future backpackers.
Description:
STEWARDSHIP SITE
The Holy Cross Wilderness, which lies just west of the Continental Divide, is a magnificent landscape of rugged peaks and verdant, glacier-carved valleys. It is also one of the most water-rich areas in Colorado, inundated with cascading, pooling snowmelt and tranquil alpine lakes. One such verdant, water-rich area is Missouri Lakes, a series of cascading streams and alpine lakes nestled below towering granite peaks. Not surprisingly, the Missouri Lake area is a popular destination for backpackers.
VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY
Sadly, many of these backpackers fail to follow wilderness regulations. The landscape is dotted with illegal campfire rings which encourage backpackers to create fires of their own, fires which threaten the fragile alpine ecosystem around the lake. Over the years, backpackers have also built campsites situated either too close to the trail or too close to water sources. These campsites negatively impact water sources and threaten this pristine wilderness. Volunteers will backpack a little over three miles to camp near Fancy Lake. Volunteers will break up and scatter illegal campfire rings, and camouflage these sites with pine needles. Volunteers will also rehabilitate illegal campsites by placing boulders to discourage campers and transplanting grasses to begin the restoration of these sites.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
As this is a backpacking trip, volunteers must supply their own backcountry gear and be in good physical shape.
PARTNERS
USFS - Holy Cross Ranger District
SPONSORS
National Forest Foundation
OTHER FUN STUFF
Camping: Free camping will be provided.
Latitude/Longitude: 39.586375, -106.430863
Additional Information:
Camping Available: Yes
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
High Altitude Project: Yes
Desired Number of Volunteers: 15
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 2
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 11
Total Volunteer Days: 13
Total Unique Volunteers: 13
Total Volunteer Hours: 104
Staff Hours: 35
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary:
Successes and Challenges:
Lessons Learned:
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education:
USFS employee, Carol Rodrigeuz, provided Boy Scout Troop 231 with an educational talk, outlining the importance of stewardship practices within Colorado's wilderness areas, which included proper food storage, trash removal, and safety. She hiked along with them to answer questions, which was greatly appreciated by the Troop.
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Great project and partnership with local Boy Scout Troop. This project was on the calendar since the beginning of the year with the full involvement of the troop. We kept in contact regularly, which was great b/c this project was one of the Scout's Eagle project, so I was coordinating with this one youth. USFS has expressed desire for Troop 231 to return on another project.
Description of Accidents/Incidents:
none
Description of Work Completed:
On August 15, 2013,2 adults and11 youth of Boy Scout Troop 231 in Avon, CO, hiked 3 miles to reach Fancy Lakes in the White River National Forest. Designated a wilderness area, the scouts were tasked with removing illegal fire rings and campsites. There are no camp fires allowed in the wilderness, nor can you have a campsite that is within 100 ft of any water source. Sadly, these two rules are not usually respected. Boy Scout Troop 231 spent 2 days (8/15-8/16) removing rocks, dispersing ashes, and spreading duff for 8 campgroundsites. This greatly impacts the natural asthetic of Fancy Lakes and provides an example for backpackers.
Details
| 6 and older |
