2018-14er: Mt. Elbert Trail Restoration #1

Start Date-End Date: 06/23/2018-06/24/2018 Land Manager Office: USFS - Leadville Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ben Hanus Funding Partner: National Forest Foundation, USFS - Leadville Ranger District Programmatic Partner: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Summary: Protect the delicate habitat of Colorado's tallest mountain on this overnight alpine experience. **BOTH DAYS REQUIRED** Description: Starting in 2017, VOC is partnering other Colorado outdoor stewardship groups and the U.S. Forest Service through the National Forest FoundationFind Your Fourteenercampaign so that together we can do more on our majestic Fourteeners. We are working collaborativelyto increase the pace and scale of trail improvements and ecological restoration. Our vision is to work together, with you, to build and maintain a sustainable trails network, ensuring these peaks remain healthy and inviting for decades to come.With help from skilled, passionate volunteers like you, we can complete even more on-the-ground work on Colorado's Fourteeners. Every volunteer in the Fourteener community is important in this long-term effort, and we are grateful for your help! About the Stewardship Site: Located near Leadville, Mt. Elbert stands at 14,433 feet and is the tallest peak in Colorado and in the entire Rocky Mountain Range. The South Mount Elbert Trail is one of the most popular routes to the summit as it climbs through the San Isabel National Forest and across alpine tundra, providing the mountain's many visitors with stunning views and the occasional marmot, pika or mountain goat sighting. About the Volunteer Experience: This is VOC's second year in a row at Mt. Elbert and our first of two projects there this season. Volunteers ages 18+ are invited to spend the weekend with VOC above tree line, restoring the extremely popular South Mount Elbert Trail. As we wrap up the final stages of the restoration process, volunteers will practice various alpine restoration techniques and install erosion control structures to rehabilitate the old, eroded trail. Tasks are physically difficult and take place at high-altitude, and volunteers are required to participate in the entire duration of the project due to the remote location. All will be rewarded with magnificent views and meals from our volunteer Crew Chefs! Stay involved! Join us for Mt. Elbert Trail Restoration #2 on July 14-15 and stay tuned for details about our Alpine Stewards training (not required to volunteer). About the Overall Impact: Colorado's "14ers" pay a price for their popularity, and Mt. Elbert easily sees tens of thousands of hikers in a single summer. On this project, volunteers will help address the harmful issues that result from increased visitation and reduce erosion to protect the delicate alpine habitat. On behalf of all of the organizations involved in the Find Your Fourteener campaign, thanks again for your interest in this project! Need-to-Know Details: Both days are requireddue to the remote location of this project. 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: 39.105672, -106.395373 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 50 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 100 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 100 Total Unique Volunteers: 50 Total Volunteer Hours: 898 Staff Hours: 48 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: The majority of volunteers arrived Friday afternoon and evening, parking at the beautiful Mt. Elbert Forebay as they awaited shuttling. With the help of some generous Crew Leaders, the shuttles occurred from 3:30 to 9 pm. One more shuttle ran to the bay in the wee hours on Saturday, as the Crew Chefs hustled and bustled, people packed their lunches, and registration began. The lucky 3-5-10 project volunteers were delighted at their prizes, and one has never seen stickers fly off of a table so quickly! CFI led a Crew Leader circle in the morning, trying to establish a unity between the two organizations for the weekend. A morning speech was given, and volunteers were assigned their weekend crews. The hike was a sweat-inducing 2.5 mile incline up the new South Mount Elbert trail, beautifully designed to deliver captivating views before one even leaves tree line. Volunteers arrived at the work site and started to returned the closed down trail to its natural glory by transplanting plugs and using fill materials from near-by borrow pits. Conditions were sunny, and many were able to work on their summer tans- as shade was not always easily accessible. Spirits were high as tools were cached and volunteers were able to walk empty-handed back to camp, where snacks and ice-cold Sierra Nevada beers awaited them. Dinner was eaten, dessert demolished, raffles won, beanbags tossed, and good times were had! CFI and VOC placed an emphasis on delivering a clear and consistent work plan and specifics to both crew leaders and volunteers on the second morning- hopefully addressing any lingering frustrations from the day before. Also, a volunteer excitedly presented VOC's Statewide Stewardship Initiative to the group. A tool-free hike in made for a happy hike in on day two. Crews were able to finish their previous days work with finishing touches, and many moved on to new sections. The day ended slightly early (to the delight of many) due to the impending snow/hail/rain. A hasty hike-out fed right into shuttling, and just like that- the project was finished! Successes and Challenges: Successes: Despite what we previously thought, the tool truck was able to make it to the campsite. This made for a much easier pre and post project. Received a large amount of volunteer support for shuttling volunteers on both Friday and Sunday, making for an easy process. Accomplished all the weekend work plans in first day, and CFI was also able to setup meaningful work for second day. Strong working relationship between CFI and VOC project leads. Met several times to give each other feedback and support Crew Leads. As per last year's advice, messaging was sent out that discouraged volunteers from trying to summit during the weekend. To our delight, no one did! Happy spirits at camp! Sierra Nevada's donation was well received. Challenges: Several volunteers and some Crew Leaders voiced frustrations over the working relationship with CFI and the amount of differing leadership voices. Many felt that they were receiving different directions from so many sources that they were frustrated and confused. Port-a-potty was not delivered. Long hike in. Was told during site visit that it was only 1.5 miles- but it was 2.5 miles with a lot of elevation gain. I wish I had a more accurate number to give volunteers in the email so that they could make judgement calls about their ability to participate. One volunteer faced altitude sickness. Weather. Hot and exposed during the first work day, battled snow leaving the project site on the second. Had trouble with VOC rental truck gas card, but the issue was eventually resolved. Lessons Learned: That port-a-potty rentals cannot always be counted on, and having back-up groovers is a good idea. Reaching out to volunteers to help shuttle was very effective. It is ok to tell a volunteer to go back to camp if it is clear that the hike is too much. It is probably not a good idea for the project manager to be the end sweep, as this led to a late arrival at the work site. Important to communicate with CFI as much as possible during the project, it was well received and highly effective. Volunteer borrow-pits can quickly get out of control! Important to establish proper dimensions and practices before starting. Special Notes: Rethinking the relationship between VOC and CFI crew leaders. While I personally felt that CFI and I had a strong and positive working relationship, it is clear that something in the current partnership is not working for volunteers. CFI staff expressed that their partnership efforts in general are not their favorite. I think it is worth considering if VOC needs to have Crew Leaders at all on CFI projects. It was clear that the double leadership that occurred caused frustration for many. Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: One volunteer took nearly three times as long to hike to the work site as the majority of volunteers. Upon arriving at the site, the full effects of altitude sickness started to kick in. The volunteer was checked on frequently, and ultimately it was decided that she needed to go back down as soon as possible. CFI and VOC staff assisted the volunteer back to the campsite. The volunteer stayed for the second day, helping in the kitchen. Another volunteer sprained her ankle during the first work day. She informed the project manager of this at the start of day two and left the project early. Description of Work Completed: