2018-National Public Lands Day Trail Construction @ Greenie Mountain

Start Date-End Date: 09/22/2018-09/23/2018 Land Manager Office: BLM - San Luis Valley Land Manager Contact: Sean Noonan Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Create a new, multi-use trail in the scenic beauty of the San Luis Valley. Description: About the Stewardship Site: Greenie Mountain sits on the western edge of the majestic San Luis Valley - about a half-hour drive from Monte Vista and an hour from Great Sand Dunes National Park - and offers sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range to the north and south, including the seven jagged, impressive fourteeners Kit Carson, Challenger, Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Ellingwood Point, Blanca Peak and Little Bear; the dunes can also be seen on a clear day. The project site also sits near where a western branch of the Old Spanish Trail passed through the valley connecting Santa Fe with California as a trade route in the mid-1800s. About the Volunteer Experience: Volunteers will camp near scenic Greenie Mountain as they continue construction of a new single-track, multi-use trail on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands south of Monte Vista. Tasks are appropriate for volunteers of all skill levels, ranging from moving a thin layer of soil and clearing plants such as grasses, yucca, and cacti, to moving large rocks and boulders. Meals will be provided by VOC's volunteer Crew Chefs. About the Overall Impact: Outdoor recreation is a growing economy in the San Luis Valley and volunteers' work will play a critical role in establishing and extending a sustainable trail system for visitors and residents alike. This project will help create a network of loops for recreation by utilizing pre-existing 2-track roads, and potentially connect to U.S. Forest Service trail systems on adjacent lands in years to come. Need-to-Know Details: Minors:All youth under 16mustbe accompanied by an adult 21 years or older on single-day projects.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: 37.407000, -106.193361 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 45 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 71 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 2 Total Volunteer Days: 73 Total Unique Volunteers: 46 Total Volunteer Hours: 772 Staff Hours: 78 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: National Public Lands Day Trail Construction @ Greenie Mountain - Sept 22-23, 2018 How many volunteers were on the project and how many hours were contributed? 46 volunteers 741 hours Brief description of need for the project: The San Luis Valley is a beautiful part of Colorado that is really just beginning to create a more extensive trail systems on BLM lands on the boundaries of the Valley. The construction of a new trail for multiple use (mountain bike, hike, horse, single-track motorized) on the Greenie Mountain BLM lands south of Monte Vista will help to expand these recreational opportunities in a new area of the valley. Goals accomplished (example: feet of trail built, acres of invasive weeds removed, etc.): 3120 feet (0.59 miles) of new trail constructed! 433 feet of existing trail improved and maintained 12 drains installed 5 trees thinned Importance of work and volunteer effort: Expanding recreational opportunities in the San Luis Valley is an important part of helping to create places for people to get outdoors, and enjoy public lands, as well as helping to provide a draw to the area that can have positive economic impacts in this rural area. Highlights (example: band, volunteer appreciation raffle, educational presentation): Volunteer raffle with gifts from Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa Watching the International Space Station fly over Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: none Description of Work Completed: