2018-Volunteer Adventure: South San Juan Wilderness Trail Restoration (Rito Azul Trail)

Start Date-End Date: 07/16/2018-07/20/2018 Land Manager Office: USFS - Conejos Peak Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Jeremiah Martinez Funding Partner: USFS - Rio Grande National Forest Programmatic Partner: Summary: This 5-day backcountry project is perfect for volunteers looking for an intimate, remote experience. Description: About the Stewardship Site: The peaceful South San Juan Wilderness covers over 150,000 acres, including the southeastern end of the San Juan Mountain Range and part of the Continental Divide. The distinct terrain of this relatively undiscovered gem was shaped by volcanic and glacial activity, resulting in jagged pinnacles, ragged ridges, and steep slopes above vast valleys. You'll also find elevations as high as 13,300 feet and the headwaters of the Conejos, San Juan, and Blanco Rivers. About the Volunteer Experience: Volunteers ages 18+ are invited to join us for a five-day backcountry experience through the remote beauty of the South San Juan Wilderness! With a small group of 15 people or less, you'll spend the first day hiking in to base camp at Blue Lake (4.6 miles, 1100' gain). Then, you'll spend the next three days restoring the Rito Azul Trail, one of the most popular trails in this area. You'll close harmful "social trails" and build drainage structures to reduce erosion on the trail before hiking out on the fifth and final day. Throughout your volunteer vacation, you'll be treated to good company, good views, and fantastic food from legendary volunteer Crew Chef, Tim Zvada. Due to the remote backcountry nature of this project, volunteers are required to register for all five days of the project. We have another Volunteer Adventure in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness on August 20-24. About the Overall Impact: Muddy, eroded trails result in users going off-trail, creating "social trails" that lead others off designated routes and damage the environment. By closing these trails and installing drainage structures, volunteers will have a significant impact on the sustainability of the popular Rito Azul Trail and the health of the surrounding wilderness area. With limited staffing from the U.S. Forest Service to maintain the trail, the work that VOC volunteers complete will likely be the only maintenance on the trail for quite some time. Need-to-Know Details: All days are requireddue to the remote nature of this project.Volunteers not registered for the entirety of the project will be removed from the registration list. Parking, Food & Facilities:Volunteers will park at the trailhead and take a 4.6-mile hike to the project site with 1100' of vertical gain. As a backcountry project, there will be no restroom facilities available and volunteers are expected to follow Leave No Trace principles; please bring a trowel and toilet paper. Our volunteer Crew Chef, Tim Zvada, will provide meals each day. Cancellation: As awilderness area, there is a strict 15-person limit.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 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: 37.301971, -106.605606 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 14 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 64 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 64 Total Unique Volunteers: 14 Total Volunteer Hours: 760 Staff Hours: 68 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: How many volunteers were on the project and how many hours were contributed? 14 volunteers 760 hours Brief description of need for the project: The South San Juan Wilderness Trail Restoration Project took place on the Rito Azul Trail to Blue Lake on the Rio Grande National Forest's portion of the South San Juan Wilderness. We worked on important trail maintenance for sustainability and resource protection on the most heavily used trail in this portion of the SSJ Wilderness area. We closed social trails to keep traffic on one trail and reduce impacts on vegetation and soils; reconstruct and build new drainage structures; and conducted other maintenance tasks. Improving the most used trail in this Wilderness area helps to protect the high country and alpine resources, as well as provide for a safe and sustainable trail to endure for hikers, backpackers, equestrians and hunters. Goals accomplished (example: feet of trail built, acres of invasive weeds removed, etc.): 10 water bars/diversion structures installed 38 Water Drainage Diversions & Structures Maintained 11 trees cleared 4 trees felled 1.92 miles of trail maintained (10,138 feet) 1 timber step constructed 9 rock steps constructed 2112 feet of social trails closed and rehabilitated (0.4 miles) 1 alpine backwall constructed 4 rock rock and timber monowalls constructed for 2 rock drains 53 feet of turnpike maintained Importance of work and volunteer effort: Trail maintenance and restoration is rarely done on the Rito Azul Trail, the most heavily used trail in the Rio Grande National Forest's portion of the South San Juan Wilderness, due to dwindling agency staff and resources. Having VOC volunteers work for three solid days on maintaining drainage structures, improving and installing new drainage structures, closing and revegetation braided social trails and working on rock structures was critical care that was badly needed on this trail. If it had not been for the work done by VOC volunteers likely no maintenance would have been done on this 2 miles stretch of heavily used trail for many years. Highlights (example: band, volunteer appreciation raffle, educational presentation): Appreciation raffle Fishing and swimming in Blue Lake Relaxing on the shore of the lake Morning and afternoon hikes onto the Continental Divide for views into the Navajo River Basin Working alongside Trepper from the USFS Regional Pack String to assist with the mules Successes and Challenges: big storms every afternoon but we had a huge tarp for the back country kitchen and so we were all able to stay under that and stay dry. Lessons Learned: higher output propane stoves worked great, especially for boiling water for coffee, etc. But they use more propane Used all of one 15 pound propane tank, part of another needed 6 mules to pack in all the tools, kitchen equipment and food. Used only 1 mule for tools Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: none Description of Work Completed: