Description
Start Date-End Date: 06/24/2017-06/25/2017
Land Manager Office: USFS - Leadville Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Ben Hanus
Funding Partner: Colorado Lottery
Programmatic Partner: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Summary: Build new trail on the highest mountain in Colorado!
**BOTH SAT & SUN REQUIRED**
Description: About the Stewardship Site:
Standing at 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is Colorado's tallest mountain and the apex of the Rocky Mountain Range. The Mount Elbert Trail (also called the South Mount Elbert Trail), ascending the mountain's east flank,is one of the peak's most popular routes. It climbs steeply through the San Isabel National Forest and across alpine tundra, giving glimpses of the occasional marmot, pika or mountain goat, before reaching the summit.
About the Volunteer Experience:
Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains - dubbed "fourteeners" - pay a price for their popularity. Erosion and trail widening are persistent problems here at Mount Elbert. On this project, volunteers will work to reroute the lower 2 miles of the South Elbert Trail, constructing new trail tread along a more sustainable alignment. Work sections will require a short hike to reach, and tasks will be physically moderate to difficult and at high altitude.This project is great for experienced trail builders, as well as first-timers that are up for a challenge!
There will be a maximum of 90 volunteers, so it is a great opportunity to meet lots of new people from around the state. In addition, VOC will provide free breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
Please Note: Due to the remote location, volunteers are required to participate in the entire duration of the project.
About the Overall Impact:
As one of the most visited fourteeners, Mount Elbert is also one of the most vulnerable to human impact.Mount Elbert's three main summit routes often see tens of thousands of hikers in a single summer! This project will address issues stemming from high-use, improving trail erosion issues and creating a route that can better sustain heavy traffic.
A Grand Milestone Signature Project
Latitude/Longitude: 39.105672, -106.395373
Additional Information:
Camping Available: Yes
Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
High Altitude Project: Yes
Desired Number of Volunteers: 75
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 143
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0
Total Volunteer Days: 143
Total Unique Volunteers: 72
Total Volunteer Hours: 1331
Staff Hours: 15
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: Mt. Elbert loomed in the distance as we approached the parking area for volunteers. An agreeable afternoon welcomed our presence, and the mountain landscape invited us to walk among the Aspens and pines in order to create a new trail for people to travel.
We awoke Saturday morning after a long night of shuttling almost 75 volunteers up to the camp site from the lower parking lot. The cool mountain air was mixed with the smell of coffee and breakfast cooking in the nearby Crew Chef tent. Volunteers began to stir as the sunstarted to breach the thick pine canopy and shed a few rays of light onto the hustle of a busy volunteer morning. Once everyone was fed, lunches were packed, and the crews established, everyone set out hiking towards our destination for the day.
The work areas were set among a beautiful grove of Aspen trees that provided shade for most of the day. Almost 20 volunteers participated in restoration work while another 40 volunteers were set to creating new tread further up the new trail alignment. 14 lucky volunteers had the distinguished pleasure of hiking wattles up to the treeline in order to stage the material for a future project. The roughly 5 mile round trip was completed twice on Saturday hby those 14 indidviduals.
As the morning turned to early afternoon, volunteers began to feel the affect of the high elevation and hard work. We drew the work day to an end and hiked back to camp with everyone in high spirits anticipating good fun and camground social comradery. Slack lines, frisbees, bag toss, and guitars were in full force aroung the campground as volunteers unwinded from the invigorating day. Right before dinner was served, volunteers signed the Colorado Lottery Banner and recieved a water bottle and a lottery ticket. A couple of lucky volunteers were winners in the raffle and then the Crew Chef tent was invaded with hungry volunteers. Another spectacular meal was created by the Crew Chefs and volunteers began to wind down with a few drinks and warm campfire.
Sunday morning began in much the same was as Saturday, only volunteers were a step slower getting out the door and moving due to the previous days events. The work went well, the day was beautiful, and volunteers were in great spirits conducting trail work.
The day endeda bit early in order to facilitate the task of shuttling all of the volunteers out.
Successes and Challenges: Successes: Shuttling 77 volunteers up to the camping area in an orderly fashion. Accomplishing more than was expected. Keeping everyone safe and happy in a backcountry high altitude environment.
Challenges: Shuttling 77 volunteers up to the camping area in an orderly fashion. Mosquitos. Group dynamics. Extracurricular activities (Peak bagging.)
Lessons Learned: Flag pathways to groovers better. Explain as much about using groovers in early email communications.
Special Notes: No special notes to be noted
Stewardship Education: Colorado Lottery provided info regarding funding stewardship efforts accross the state.
Many volunteers were new to the art of correctly using wag bags and groovers.
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Key Concern: Might have to address individuals who want to summit the peaks when we work on 14er projects. Whether we need to have a release of liability waiver for them to sign if they hike from the project site or if we require volunteers to return to the camping area before we transfer liability.
Description of Accidents/Incidents: One volunteer was hiking up on Saturday morning and she began to feel light headed and subsequently fell over. A nearby volunteer was able to grab her and lie her gently on the ground. She recovered fine and began to hike out with the assistance of another volunteer. I met them on the way down and accompanied them back to camp where the volunteer began to feel better. She spent the rest of the weekend in the Crew Chef tent assisting with the cooking.
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 18 and older |
