Start Date-End Date: 09/05/2015-09/06/2015
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 provided. PARTNERS & SPONSORS 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: 63 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 2 Total Volunteer Days: 63 Total Unique Volunteers: 34 Total Volunteer Hours: 714 Staff Hours: 90 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Met project goals, fairly straight-forward since already had 2 projects here this year. Continued work building new trail, a continuation from prior VOC project weekend. Successes and Challenges: Challenges with Altitude Sickness, at this high elevation (11,000) with many volunteers coming from sea-level in Kansas (only 700 ft). Successful mitigation and planning ahead of time for what could be prevented. Lessons Learned: The EWB (Engineers without Borders) group from Kansas has now come to Colorado twice for VOC projects, and students struggled both times with high altitude sickness. Part of the challenge is that they drove straight here from Kansas overnight, and hadn't slept at all before arriving. When working/planning groups, we should specifically work with their trip leader to ensure they are prepared for these aspects of the project. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Great presentation from Vic about mining history of the area (member of Buena Vista Heritage board). Rosemary Schiano (USFS Wildlife Field Biologist) brought pelts and skulls and talked about wildlife, bear safety, and LNT with the VOC and CTF group. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Altitude sickness and naeuseated volunteers from Kansas. Lack of sleep. Poor hydration beforehand. Description of Work Completed:
