2014-National Trails Day Cottonwood Trail Construction

Start Date-End Date: 06/07/2014-06/08/2014 Land Manager Office: USFS - Salida Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ben Lara Funding Partner: Salida Mountain Trails Programmatic Partner: Summary: Celebrate National Trails Day by helping to construct a sustainable trail providing access from 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. To register for this project click here http://ittybittyurl.com/2CSq 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/2CSq PARTNERS & SPONSORS USFS- Salida Ranger District Salida Mountain Trails Xcel Energy REI OTHER FUN STUFF Camping: Free camping will be available Friday and Saturday night. 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: 50 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 105 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 3 Total Volunteer Days: 108 Total Unique Volunteers: 63 Total Volunteer Hours: 830 Staff Hours: 64 Stipend Hours: 180 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: After dinner on Saturday eveing a volunteer, Conor O'Brien and a friend went for a hike around came and began climbing a rock face. Connor pulled a rock down on his leg and was unable to put any wait on his leg but was able to move his toes. He was driven to the hospital by his friends and the project manger Steve Wall filled out an incident report. Steve has tried to make contact with Conor via phone but has been unable to reach him and will continue to try and get an update. Description of Work Completed: On June 6th and 7th, 60 volunteers came out to help build hiking, bike, and equestrian trail on the Cottonwood trail. The volunteers "cleaned up" the trail after a mini excavator came through to help construct the intial trail tread. Volunteers established the backslope and outslope to make the trail sustainable. VOC partner with the Forest Service in conjunction with the Salida Mountain Trails. Volunteers completed over 2000ft of trail and one 15ft mono wall.