2015-Continental Divide Trail Alpine Tunnel to Hancock Lake Trail Reroute - 8/1/2015

Start Date-End Date: 08/01/2015-08/02/2015 Land Manager Office: USFS - Salida Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Brett Beasley Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Take on a challenging and rewarding trail construction project on the iconic Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Description: ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP SITE This project site is located approximately five miles South of St. Elmo in Chaffee County. The Continental Divide National Scenic (CDNST) Hancock Townsite trail provides advanced trailuse opportunitiesfor hikers, bikers, horseback riders and backpackers in a scenic setting. ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER WORK The primary reason for the Alpine Tunnel to Hancock Lake Trail is to get users off the road that's currently being used as the CDNST trail. The CDNST is intended by legislation to be a continuous single track trail, remote and as "wild" and scenic as possible, extending 3,100 miles from the Rocky Mountains on the Canadian border to the north and the country of Mexico to the south. Volunteers will help transform the current user experience on the road and bring it onto a scenic, non-marshy, sustainable trail. The reroute will be at higher elevation than the road takes currently, and volunteers will help build switchbacks and difficult trail structures, remove duff, and pull stumps to construct this trail. The full trail length from Alpine Tunnel to Hancock Lake is 4.8 miles, and volunteers will play a crucial role in this difficult construction. In addition, this project will protect vegetation and soil through proper trail location, design and construction; and help prevent excessive erosion and sedimentation to the hydrological system above Chalk Creek. Free meals and camping will be provided. PARTNERS U.S. Forest Service - Salida Ranger District Latitude/Longitude: 38.640621, -106.36977 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 35 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 43 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 43 Total Unique Volunteers: 22 Total Volunteer Hours: 473 Staff Hours: 95.5 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Great project, starting the brand new re-route on the CDNST to get thru-hikers off the road an onto a trail instead. Great project size (around 30), good camp location, accessibility, and project work. Successes and Challenges: Volunteers really enjoyed using the griphoist and learned new info about trail building and construction - we worked on brand new tred. Challenge - far away from a medical facility. We had one injury using the griphoist. Need to ensure EMT or other med qualified person can be on projects that far away. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: I invited an author (Suzy Kelly) and member of the Historic St. Elmo and Chalk Canyon historical society to present during dinner about the mininghistory of the area and the tunnel. It was really well received and appreciated by the volunteers. The society has also been invited and will attend the upcoming projects in St. Elmo this year. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: One volunteer (Beth Yost) was injured using the griphoist, when the shears snapped and she fell, injuring her wrist. It was swollen, and she wasn't able to work on the project the rest of the weekend - she drove home pretty immediately afterwards, fortunately she lives relatively close to the project. I've emailedto follow-upwith her since then. Description of Work Completed: