2016-Hankins Pass Trail Restoration - 6/3/2016

Start Date-End Date: 06/03/2016-06/03/2016 Land Manager Office: USFS - South Platte Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Brandon Mitchell Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Restore an trail while being rewarded with rugged panoramas in the Lost Creek Wilderness. Description: About the Stewardship Site Located near Deckers, the Hankins Pass Trail is part of the trail system originating at the popular Goose Creek Trailhead, which provides access into the southeast portion of the Lost Creek Wilderness. In the warmer months, the area is glittered with wildflowers and offers the best in camping, fishing in Goose Creek, and remarkable views of formations of red Pikes Peak granite. Unfortunately, the torrential rains in September 2013 triggered serious deterioration of trails in the area, and effects are still lingering three years later. About the Volunteer Experience A small group of just over a dozen volunteers will repair and maintain damaged and eroding sections of trail on Hankins Pass. Anticipated work includes constructing drainage and erosion control structures using rock, reestablishing tread and outslope, and cleaning out and reinforcing existing drainage structures, among other tasks. Physical difficulty will be moderate to strenuous. For less experienced volunteers, this project is an ideal introduction to trail maintenance and restoration. A moderate hike of about two miles is required to reach the worksite. About the Overall Impact The U.S. Forest Service District that manages the Lost Creek Wilderness is limited in the staff time they can commit to trail maintenance, and in most cases, volunteers are the only way that damaged trails can be repaired and remain open. The work that volunteers will undertake to repair and prevent erosion will make the Hankins Pass Trail more enjoyable and sustainable for years to come. Latitude/Longitude: 39.246219, -105.354320 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 14 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 10 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 10 Total Unique Volunteers: 10 Total Volunteer Hours: 80 Staff Hours: 2 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Over two project days in late May and Early June, 21 volunteers contributed nearly 200 hours to the Hankins pass trail. This popular trail is part of the network emanating from the Goose Creek Trailhead, leading into the Lost Creek Wilderness. Due to it's close proximity to Denver, the trail sees a high volume of hiker and equestrian traffic. This high amount of use, coupled with usual wear and a tear from precipitation, led to a trail that was in serious need of some TLC. Volunteers addressed a wide variety of maintnenance issues, installing drainage and erosion control structures, and correcting trail tread and corridor problems. They even installed a new, horse friendly rock platform at one of the trails many stream crossings. Successes and Challenges: A small amount of attrition on both projects (avg. of 4 per, about 30% ), though with the small group size, even this much can have a significant effect. We've added stronger language to the email for these wilderness projects to help volunteers understand the impact if they no-show. However, Steve West is an expereineced and skilled project lead and always maximizes the time of his volunteers, leading to quality accomplishments. INTERNAL: This project was sold as flood restoration, but the issues encountered on the trail really don't support that. Maintenance was of the standard variety. The project teams didn't really find any significant flood issues (i.e. washouts, blow downs or areas of above average erosion needing attention.) We still got some great work done, but project pictures don't reflect flood damaged trail. These trails are suffering more form very high use. Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: The Goose Creek Trailhead is becoming more and more heavily used as the metro area popluation increases, making the work accomplished that much more critical. This was driven home to the volunteers simoly by seeing how full the lot was, even at 8am as they were getting started. By the end of the day, Cars were parked extending down the road. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Land Manager applied for this project with the flood resto. angle as part of the application, but it didn't really pan out that way. We still got some great work done though. Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: