2018-(Goose Creek) Weekday Trail Restoration @ Lost Creek Wilderness

Start Date-End Date: 05/25/2018-05/25/2018 Land Manager Office: USFS - South Platte Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Brandon Mitchell Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Restore the popular Goose Creek Trail on this small, backcountry project. Description: About the Stewardship Site: The Lost Creek Wilderness is about an hour southwest of Castle Rock and an hour northwest of Colorado Springs, making it one of the most easily accessible wilderness areas for these urban centers. With a remote feel and stunning views of unique red rock formations, the area's Goose Creek Trail is one of its most popular, offering summer wildflowers as well as prime camping and fishing opportunities. About the Volunteer Experience: This is the second of two projects that VOC will spend restoring the Goose Creek Trail this year. You will be led by one of our most-skilled volunteers, Steve West, in a small group of 15 or fewer volunteers as you perform critical trail maintenance tasks including re-establishing the trail tread, correcting steep grades, building erosion control barriers and reinforcing existing drainage structures. This is a great project for those who enjoy intimate, backcountry experiences and/or are looking to improve their technical stewardship skills. About the Overall Impact: The Goose Creek Trail has severely deteriorated from heavy precipitation and increased visitation in recent years and muddy, eroded trails often lead to hikers seeking off-trail routes, which damages the natural environment. By completing these important maintenance tasks, volunteers will help bring the Goose Creek Trail to a more sustainable state, enabling it to better handle heavy traffic in the upcoming hiking season and protect the surrounding wilderness. Need-to-Know Details: Parking, Food & Facilities: VOC will provide all tools and equipment, including work gloves and hard hats when needed. Parking is available at the trailhead but will require a 1-2 mile moderate hike to the worksite. There are no restroom facilities and VOC will not provide any food on this project. Cancellation: As a wilderness area, there is a strict 15-person limit for this project. Our land manager partners rely on VOC volunteers to accomplish critical stewardship needs, and our projects often have wait lists. If you need to cancel, please contact Jamie Burke at 303-715-1010 ext. 116 as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. Latitude/Longitude: 39.173128, -105.375265 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 25 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 25 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 25 Total Unique Volunteers: 25 Total Volunteer Hours: 250 Staff Hours: 0 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Adopt project managed by volunteer Steve West. Successful project with no adversity to report. Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: