2016-Red Rock Canyon Trail Construction

Start Date-End Date: 09/10/2016-09/10/2016 Land Manager Office: City of Colorado Springs Land Manager Contact: Chris Lieber Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Construct a trail at this true outdoor gem of the Pikes Peak region. Description: About the Stewardship Site If you love the red rocks of Garden of the Gods, you'll love this tranquil place! Red Rock Canyon Open Space, located south of U.S. Route 24 between Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, is a recreationalist's wonderland. Each year, up to 500,000 runners, mountain bikers, climbers, and nature watchers use the various trails that wind along beautiful canyons and ridges of red rock. The park is also home to two off-leash dog loops and a free-ride bike park. About the Volunteer Experience On this project, volunteers will use hand tools to help construct a large section of new sustainable trail on the north side of the park. This new portion of the trail will expand recreational access and take hikers to high points in the park that provide fantastic views of Garden of the Gods and the north end of the city. As an added bonus, volunteers on this project will receive a FREE T-shirt donated by REI! About the Overall Work The crucial section of trail that volunteers will help build is planned to eventually connect to other existing trails within the park. This, in turn, will likely open up possibilities for many new trails and options off of this "backbone" trail, which will provide a variety of exciting recreational opportunities for the park's many visitors. Latitude/Longitude: 38.847130, -104.880332 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 100 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 70 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 14 Total Volunteer Days: 82 Total Unique Volunteers: 84 Total Volunteer Hours: 741 Staff Hours: 33 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: 76 Volunteers found the Bear Creek Nature Center Overflow lot, waited for the shuttle to arrive, endured the 12 minute ride up to the project site, and then hiked a short distance to begin work at Red Rock Canyon. Once the logistical business settled everyone happily swung pick mattocks, pulaskis, and mccleods while overlooking the valley and the not too distant Garden of the Gods. The new trail construction at Red Rock Canyon had a little bit of the Red Rock feel as it wound through the scrub oak and mountain mohagony, up and over some slick rock outcroppings to end in another wide open meadow with expansive views. Volunteers were lucky enough to be able to construct trail from scratch as there was no preperation work complted beforehand. Trees were cut back, roots were dug out, and rock structures were contstructed in order to construct a new sustainable tread. The weather was perfect with no clouds, and cooler fall like temperatures to keep every one moving. At lunch time everyone hiked the roughly 1/4 mile back to the staging area where a hot lunch of homemade pulled pork sandwiches and cole slaw awaited us. After lunch the work continued. volunteers focused on completing the sections that they were assigned as there were some physical and technical aspects to certain points that were a bit time consuming. Digging out the root systems of some of the Scub Oak Trees was discouraging for some of the volunteers, but after lunch with a few more hands to assist people were able to reap the satisfaction of determination and hard work when the roots and trees were finally removed from the tread. The same went for the crews building rock structures. The going seemed a bit slower in the morning until a solid plan was identified, the afternoon air was filled with victory as crews finished up 8 different rock structures. Everyone hiked out to the staging area around 3:45 tired yet satisfied. Successes and Challenges: Successes: This project offered a unique perspective for volunteers to see a trail constructed from the beginning to the end. The morning hike along the proposed trail route was precarious as the volunteers ducked and lost footing since there was no trail or corridor cleared prior to the workday. At the end of the day the volunteers were able to walk on a completed 36" wide tread. Challenge: Always a challenge when working within the confines of shuttling volunteers to the project site. Lessons Learned: Since groups were arriving at different times, rather than have people stand around and wait I decided to stagger groups out to the work site. This was very beneficial for the people that were ready to go and did not have to wait around for 45 minutes. Special Notes: City of Colorado Springs did a great job in preparing the site for us, and allowing our Tool Manager to camp out in the park overnight with the Tool Truck. Stewardship Education: We were able to talk a little about the effects of invasive plants on the environment and the need to keep trail users on the new trail. The majority of volunteers had never worked with VOC before, so it was good to see new faces and inform them about the importance of our work. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Gordon Carruths 100th Project! Description of Accidents/Incidents: No incidents or accidents Description of Work Completed: