2014-National Public Lands Day Cottonwood Trail Construction

Start Date-End Date: 09/27/2014-09/28/2014 Land Manager Office: USFS - Salida Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ben Lara Funding Partner: Salida Mountain Trails Programmatic Partner: Summary: Celebrate National Public Lands Day by helping to construct a sustainable trail connecting downtown Salida to the Arkansas Hills Trail System. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The Cottonwood Trail provides a quality experience for users as it winds through sections of dense forest, and also opens upon fantastic vistas of the Arkansas River Valley as well as the Sangre De Cristo and Collegiate Mountain Ranges. Once completed, the trail will provide the critical link needed to complete a 17-mile loop beginning and ending in downtown Salida utilizing the Arkansas Hills Trail System and provide safe and easy access for residents and recreational tourists. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY The current Cottonwood trail is user-created and travels close to critical winter wildlife habitat. Volunteers will work to reroute this section of trail away from vital areas, allowing wildlife uninterrupted access both summer and winter habitat. Volunteers will also help ensure the long-term sustainability of the trail by constructing drainage structures and other trail features.To register for this project click here http://ittybittyurl.com/2CSs PARTNERS & SPONSORS USFS- Salida Ranger District Salida Mountain Trails Xcel Energy REI OTHER FUN STUFF Camping: Free camping available Friday and Saturday. Meals: Meals will be provided Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch. Trails workshop: Want to build up your trailbuilding skills and learn the technical side of trail work? Check out our trail skills workshop on June 21 athttp://www.voc.org/project/genesee-basic-trail-construction-skills-training. NOTE: Volunteers are NOT required to take this workshop before volunteering. This is an opportunity for those interested in building deeper skills. Latitude/Longitude: 38.600782, -105.941763 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 60 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 105 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 4 Total Volunteer Days: 109 Total Unique Volunteers: 62 Total Volunteer Hours: 1262.5 Staff Hours: 71 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Mike Sugaski (Salida Mountain Trails) and the USFS shared with the group about the history of the area, the peaks surrounding the gulch, and the importance of this trail connecting with the rest of the Arkansas Trail system. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: TA/construction notes weren't provided from the USFS in advance - this is a critical piece that would have helped project efficiency and less confusion about technique on the first day of the project. Having defined TA and Crew Leader roles is helpful - the TA didn't roam as much as was asked, and thus many volunteers thought they were "done" but workstandards weren't well communicated so there was a feeling that they had to "re-do" their work later. Description of Accidents/Incidents: 3 students from Kansas struggled with mild altitude sickness, and 2 were hiked back to camp early as a result. Description of Work Completed: 2,200 ft of trail along the Cottonwood Scenic Trail just out of town from Salida, CO was maintained/improved by narrowing the tred, removing the berm, installing simple water drainages, and improving the outslope and backslope.