2017-Quandary Peak Trail Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 09/16/2017-09/17/2017 Land Manager Office: USFS - Dillon Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ben Hanus Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Summary: This project takes place atop a Fourteener and is perfect for the adventurous volunteer. Description: Beginning in 2017, VOC is partnering with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) and other Colorado outdoor stewardship groups to launch the NFFFind Your Fourteener(FYF) campaign. We are working collaboratively to increase the pace and scale of trail improvements and ecological restoration.With help from skilled, passionate volunteers like you, we can complete even more on-the-ground work on Colorado's beloved Fourteeners. Every volunteer is important in this long term FYF effort so that together we can build and maintain a sustainable trails network, ensuring these peaks remain healthy, accessible and inviting for decades to come. About the Stewardship Site: At 14,265 feet Quandary is Colorado's 13th-highest peak. It is named after a group of miners who were unable to identify minerals they found on its slopes in the 1860s - a "quandary" for them. Just six miles south of Breckenridge, Quandary is the second-most hiked Colorado "fourteener," with a trailhead that's accessible year-round. The elevation gain to the summit can be taxing, but the views of the surrounding mountains and encounters with mountain goats are worth the effort. About the Volunteer Experience: During the summer, Quandary Peak's access trail receives around 700 visits each week. This heavy traffic prompts many hikers to create their own informal trails, or "social trails," which damage the surrounding environment. This project will address these overuse issues. Tasks will be physically difficult and at high altitude, making this project perfect for the hardy adventurer seeking a challenge. Your efforts, sweat and sore muscles will be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment, and of course delicious meals served by our volunteer kitchen crew all weekend-long! About the Overall Impact: Although the unique high alpine plants at Quandary Peak are able to withstand extreme temperatures and climate conditions, trampling human feet can do a lot of damage. By caring for the alpine tundra with trail restoration, erosion reversal and revegetation - while still allowing hikers access to the summit - volunteers will help preserve and protect Quandary Peak for years to come. NOTE:MINORS ON VOC PROJECTSYouth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on overnight projects. Latitude/Longitude: 39.3973, -106.1064 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 30 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 62 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 1 Total Volunteer Days: 62 Total Unique Volunteers: 39 Total Volunteer Hours: 554 Staff Hours: 24 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: The first annual collaborative Quandary Peak Project was a huge success! Groups from Colorado 14ers Initiative, Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, Colorado Mountain Club, and REI all came out to experience a great time in the woods with a little bit of work, good food, and amazing people. A brisk and cloudy day greeted everyone on Saturday morning. A light snow was a reminder that that seasons were changing and that summer days were coming to a close. Volunteers gathered tools and eagerly began hiking to the project sites anticipating strenuous movement, blood flow, and warmth. The clouds broke mid morning and provided a welcome respite from the cooler air. The work was a mix of log peeling and check step installation that kept volunteers deeply engaged. At the higher elevation project sites where the weather was still a bit colder, volunteers set about the task of constructing two large timber retaining walls. Throughout the day volunteers recieved many words of encouragement and gratitude from the multitude of Quandary Peak Summit seekers. Upon returning to basecamp, volunteers were met with cold beverages and appetizers to enjoy while a massive raffle event began to take place. REI, CFI, and VOC all brought out itmes to be won by volunteers. The event culminated in a 60 person rock, paper, scissors, winner take all competition where the last person standing took home a brand new REI tent! Dinner was served shorly therafter and many people eventually made their way to the fireor to the their tents. Sunday morning greeted everyone with cooler types and plenty of sunshine! Everyone headed back to their project sites and set enthusiastically to work on their project sites. The weather was a bit warmer which made the work goa bit smoother. Many amazing things were accomplished and everyone returned safely to basecamp at the end of the day. Throughout the course of the weekend this is what was accomplished: - 30' timber retaining wall (mono wall) - 15' multi tiered timber retaining wall - 10' rock retaining wall - 35 timber check steps - 30' X 30" area of restoration - 12 willow stakes were transplanted. Successes and Challenges: Successes: Collaborating among five different groups to complete work on the Quandary Peak ascent route. Engaging with a multitude of trail users throughout the day and recieving many words of gratituded. First snow of the year! Challenges: Registration on Sat. morning with many different groups and waivers, and snowy weather made for a slow and confusing start to the day. Lessons Learned: Registration should be streamlined directly through VOC. There should also be a waiver agreement among all organizations that VOC can cover everyone under one umbrella liability form. Special Notes: None to be discussed at this time. Stewardship Education: CFI always does a great job educating volunteers as to why the alpine environment is in need of care and how to complete work in a frigile ecosystem. REI, as always, is a great partner and goes a long way to show volunteers that they are committed to the stewardship cause. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: N/A Description of Accidents/Incidents: N/A Description of Work Completed: