Description
Start Date-End Date: 10/01/2016-10/01/2016
Land Manager Office: City of Colorado Springs
Land Manager Contact: Chris Lieber
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Take in grand views of Pikes Peak and downtown Colorado Springs as you repair a trail.
Description: About the Stewardship Site
Austin Bluffs Open Space - located in the heart of Colorado Springs' North Academy business and shopping district - encompasses nearly 500 acres of winding paved greenways, incredible rock formations, and is home to a variety of wildlife. Additionally, the area adjoins to several other neighborhoods and other parks that share its natural beauty.
About the Volunteer Experience
During this project, volunteers will repair and restore two neighborhood connections leading down to the Austin Bluffs Trail. The focus will be on repairing and reconstructing an existing trail that began as a social trail (an informal trail as the unplanned result of constant foot traffic), but will be redesigned to be sustainable. Specific tasks will include the construction of various erosion control and drainage structures, and the work itself will present options for various skill and physical difficulty levels. Unwind after the day of work with drinks and mingling at the happy hour at Great Storm Brewery with VOC drink specials.
About the Overall Work
Once complete, this trail restoration project will create sustainable access to University Park from the adjoining neighborhoods - and there will be no shortage of opportunities to take in the gorgeous surroundings!
Latitude/Longitude: 38.908074, -104.798176
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 75
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 67
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 3
Total Volunteer Days: 70
Total Unique Volunteers: 70
Total Volunteer Hours: 676.5
Staff Hours: 37
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, the location of the Austin Bluffs project was not your typical scene for a VOC day. The area was surrounded by houses and roads with just a tiny finger of forest hiding away off the side of the street. Upon entering this forested gateway, the trail construction began with a myriad of techinical rock sections, corridor clearing, and trail building.
70 volunteers showed up, many from the local College that backs right up to the Austin Bluffs Trail System. The blue skies prevailed once again, and the shady work areas in the forest created a great atmosphere to spend the day. The trail begins with a steep frop in elevation right from the start, the adjacent properties did not allow much space to meander slowly down the hillside, instead crew's constructed 4 substantial rock walls in order to support the short, steep turns that were necessary to lose the elevation needed. Fortunately the City of Colorado Springs provided all of the stone and fill material to construct the majority of the walls in this section. A group of 12 from Buckley Air Force Base was in charge of carrying large stones and moving material down the hillside to the work areas. The rest of the volunteers focused on clearing the corridor for the new trail, this work was difficult, yet rewarding at the same time. The majority of the plants removed were Scrub Oak and a few Ponderosa Pines. It was satisfying for volunteers to watch the corridor open and a new trail began to take form. Continuing down the trail, a large climbing turn was constructed, a beautiful armored crossing, and another nicely constructed retaining wall were built. At the very end, where the new trail connected with the old, a stubborn tree stump defied the come-along and the labor of many volunteers to remain upright in the trail....to live another day.
Successes and Challenges: Successes: The construction of several great stone retaining structures. The facilitation and creation of a great working relationship with many different organizations - Buckley Air Force, Friends of Pikes Peak, City of Colorado Springs, UCCS, & Merrel Shoe Company.
Challenges: Jimmy Johns prediction that they would send enough food out to feed 70 hungry volunteers. Undertaking a project that was scouted as being "easy basic tread construction" and ended up being techinically very difficult.
Lessons Learned: Either to not work with Jimmy Johns again, or give them a better understanding of how hungry people working in the forest can be. I also learned that the grip hoist may be a better mechanism to take out for pulling stumps.
Special Notes: Sarah Bryarly and the City of Colorado Springs are great partners to collaborate with.
Stewardship Education: Three instances from the day where people who lived in the immediate neighborhood stopped and asked questions as to what we were doing - they had no prior information. We were able to talk about the project and why it was necessary, and who we were as an organization. Everyone was very happy that the work was being completed.
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: There was a concern that we would not have enough gloves for all of the volunteers, but we did. There was not enough food for everyone to eat as much as they needed/wanted. It is imperative that volunteers are well fed when they are working so hard.
Description of Accidents/Incidents: There were no accidents or incidents.
Description of Work Completed:
Details
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