2014-Mt. of the Holy Cross Trail & Ecological Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 08/14/2014-08/17/2014 Land Manager Office: USFS - Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ben Hanus Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Join us to restore a trail on Mt. of the Holy Cross, a stunning Colorado 14er. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The incredible natural beauty of Mt. of the Holy Cross, one of Colorado's famed "14ers," provides a stunning backdrop for an unforgettable camping experience. The mountain, only 14 miles from Vail ski area, is famous for the east facing cross couloir, which fills with snow and forms a well defined cross. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY This project offers a unique backcountry experience for volunteers wanting to give back to Colorado's highly used 14ers in a meaningful way. Volunteers will work at two project sites, the first along Halfmoon Pass and the second site on Notch Mountain. Volunteers will work to close social trails, build rock walls, and restore areas damaged by overuse and erosion.The majority of the project work will occur at high elevation and will require a roughly 2-mile hike to the backcountry work site each day from the base camp, which is not in the wilderness area. PARTNERS & SPONSORS Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Xcel Energy REI ?Lockheed Martin The Boeing Company Oracle Clif Bar & Company National Forest Foundation U.S. Forest Service Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and Climax Molybdenum Company Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation OTHER FUN STUFF Camping: Camping will be available at Tigawan campground Thursday through Saturday night. Meals: Meals will be provided Thursday breakfast through Sunday lunch. Latitude/Longitude: 39.467503, -106.481885 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 26 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 21 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 80 Total Unique Volunteers: 21 Total Volunteer Hours: 718 Staff Hours: 89 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative gave an informative presentation on rules in the wilderness, why restoration to 14ers (given their growing popularity) is so important and basic wilderness safety. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: This was a great project. We partnered with Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), which worked out really well. They provided all the crew leaders, and helped to coordinate the work schedule and where to camp. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: On August 14th-17th, 2014, 21 volunteers came to the Holy Cross Wilderness to restore trail on Half Moon Pass and Notch Mountain. The volunteers were able to complete 18 rock check steps, cleared and improved 110 drainages and closed 150 ft of social trails. Volunteers were working in the Holy Cross Wilderness, so they went in two separate crews of 10 to complete the trail maintenance. The longer span of the project gave the volunteers the chance to bond with each other, and to delve deeper into the restoration work that they were doing. They all left the project with a better understanding of the amount of effort and time it takes to keep Colorado's trails in pristine condition.