2018-(Ruby Jewel) Trail Restoration @ State Forest State Park

Start Date-End Date: 08/04/2018-08/05/2018 Land Manager Office: CPW - State Forest State Park Land Manager Contact: Anthony Johnson Funding Partner: CPW - State Office Programmatic Partner: Summary: Explore Colorado's largest state park with this highcountry project. Description: About the Stewardship Site: Located about two hours west of Fort Collins, State Forest State Park is Colorado's largest state park with 71,000 acres that stretch along the Medicine Bow Mountains and the Never Summer Range. The park is known as the moose-viewing capital of Colorado and offers visitors rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and miles of year-round trail use. Volunteers will work on the 3.5-mile Ruby Jewell Trail, which leads to a high alpine lake at the base of Clark Peak in the Never Summer Range. About the Volunteer Experience: This project provides volunteers ages 16+ with the opportunity to explore Colorado's largest state park while restoring the Ruby Jewell Trail in a remote, backcountry setting. The work will be tough yet rewarding as you reroute the trail and construct rock steps, walls, and other structures including rustic bridges and turnpikes. This is the perfect project for volunteers who are comfortable working at high-altitude and interested in discovering new destinations across the state. Meals will be provided by our fantastic volunteer Crew Chefs! About the Overall Impact: State Forest State Park is home to roughly 100 miles of trails, but there is limited staffing to maintain them in the face of increased visitation. Alpine trails, including Ruby Jewell, require special attention and have seen little maintenance in recent years. On this project, volunteers will help reduce the harmful impacts of erosion, improve the trail's durability, and protect the wetland through which the trail crosses.? Need-to-Know Details: Minors:Youth under 18mustbe accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on overnight projects. Cancellation: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, pleasecontact Jamie Burkeat 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: 40.555443, -106.035793 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 40 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 88 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 88 Total Unique Volunteers: 47 Total Volunteer Hours: 1038 Staff Hours: 47 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Clouds loomed over State Forest State Park as the project team and volunteers arrived at the campsite. Rains and scattered thunderstorms greeted many, as did the project's social chair. Eventually, the weather cleared while some volunteers socialized and some went to bed for the full day ahead. Saturday morning started with a wonderful breakfast, rousing Welcome speech, and volunteer shuttles. Shuttling and hiking took around an hour and half, and the project started around 9:30-10am. Terry Gimbel and State Forest State Park provided excellent support as Crews took on exceptionally difficult sections. Spirits were high and the weather was good as Crews worked into the afternoon on switchbacks, rock walls, and new tread. In the evening, the Crew Chefs provided a meal that received much praise, including the critically acclaimed fish biscuits. Volunteers were able to enjoy a variety of games, including KanJam, Cornhole, Spikeball, Frisbee Cups, and Ladder Ball. Some of the games even drew in audiences, with many picking sides. The Social Chairs helped the Project Manager put on a wonderful raffle and membership pitch, resulting in three donations. Thanks to Denny Farrell, many were able to stay up late and enjoy a fire ban compliant, propane fire pit. Despite heavy rain and the Sunday scattering of tent clean up, the second morning when even faster than the first- starting around 9:15. While the entirety of the work was not completed, Terry (TA and SFSP staff) was happy with the work accomplished. The project ended about an hour early due to nearby lightning and bad weather. Overall this was a successful project, especially in terms of social experience. Successes and Challenges: Successes: -Roll out of the social chair position. Social Chair, Jaime Desman did a fantastic job! She helped load tools and rode with the project team. She greeted volunteers as they arrived Friday night, creating a welcoming atmosphere and directing volunteers to where they could park and camp. She helped during registration and attended the project. During the evening, she and Alex Dean set up a variety of games for all to play. The two also led the volunteer raffle. Jaime's outgoing nature and willingness to help quickly made her a camp name that all knew. -We were able to still have a fire thanks to Denny Farrell's fire ban compliant, propane fire pit! -Volunteers were handed a fairly difficult slate of work for the weekend, and while not all of it was completed, the crews made good progress that the TA/partner was happy with. -Steve Hulsberg completed his first solo Crew Leading project -Sean Mallory completed his first solo Tool Manager Project -Three volunteers donated, with two becoming members! -Both of 2017's seasonals (Alex Dean and Katie Goodleaf) attended the project in leadership capacities. Challenges: -The weather. Patches of bad weather and thunderstorms loomed over the camp and work site during various times over the weekend. Overall, the weather had minimal impact but was a constant consideration. The project ended about an hour early due to Sunday afternoon storms. -The Tool Truck arrived about an hour and a half late, putting us behind schedule for tool staging. -The Crew Chef tent fell down during the day due to high winds and rain, dampening the spirits of the Chef team. -One volunteer encountered altitude sickness when arriving at the work site. She was taken back down to camp, which was at lower elevation. While she was fine and in good spirits once lower, she ended up leaving the project Sunday morning. -Shuttling. The road was a 4x4, rough road with large rocks. The VOC 250 truck had trouble on this road because of its road tires. Due to the lack of shuttles and how rough the ride was, volunteers opted to hike the 1.6 miles in. This took time and energy away from the project. A few of the older volunteers decided not to return to the work site the second day. -A few forgotten items by the project team, but solutions were found. Lessons Learned: Social Chair ended up being a much more helpful and liked position than anticipated! Highly encourage it. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: