Description
Start Date-End Date: 08/26/2016-08/28/2016
Land Manager Office: USFS - Leadville Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Ben Hanus
Funding Partner: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Registration will open June 1.
Description: About the Stewardship Site
Located just northwest of Buena Vista and overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, Mt. Columbia is one of five peaks named for prominent universities that are the namesake of the Collegiate Peaks. Its status as one of Colorado's 54 famous fourteeners makes it a popular climb, and peak baggers frequently ascend Columbia along with nearby Mt. Harvard.
About the Volunteer Experience
In 2016, VOC will assist on the first phase of new trail construction and reconstruction on Mt. Columbia. A small volunteer crew of 12 will spend three days in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, constructing and delineating a new route up the mountain that includes rock steps and walls. Work will take place at high altitude and be physically strenuous, also requiring a 3.5-mile hike to the project area. To provide a true wilderness experience and to keep volunteers properly fueled, camping and home-cooked meals will be provided at a beautiful backcountry campsite.
Note: Due to the backcountry nature of this project, volunteers are required to register for all three days of the project. Volunteers not registered for the entirety of the project will be removed from the registration list.
About the Overall Impact
VOC will partner with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) on this project. In 2015, CFI released their report card on the condition of the trails on most of the state's peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation. Mt. Columbia received a letter grade "F" - making it among the neediest mountains in terms of repair. The current route up Mt. Columbia is unsustainable, with user-created trails that wind through unstable terrain and account for large amounts of soil erosion in the extremely fragile alpine environment. Volunteers will help to improve conditions on Mt. Columbia by moving the trail to more suitable terrain, which will protect the surrounding plants.
Latitude/Longitude: 38.870562, -106.265152
Additional Information:
Camping Available: Yes
Physical Difficulty: Difficult
High Altitude Project: Yes
Desired Number of Volunteers: 12
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Total Volunteer Hours: 0
Staff Hours: 0
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary:
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Stewardship Education:
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Details
| 18 and older |
