2019-5-Day Backcountry: Archuleta Trail Restoration @ Weminuche Wilderness

Start Date-End Date: 08/19/2019-08/23/2019 Land Manager Office: USFS - Divide Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Lisa McClure Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Spend a week in Colorado's largest Wilderness area. Description: Where You'll Be: Spanning nearly 500,000 acres in southwest Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness is the state's largest Wilderness area. It is three-quarters the size of Rhode Island and the Archuleta Trail is one of the more heavily used trails in the area, both for hikers and equestrians. It begins at the popular Big Meadows Reservoir and winds it way along a creek to Archuleta Lake right beneath the Continental Divide. Home to 14ers and other peaks in the San Juan Mountains, this area is a must-visit for those seeking a remote Wilderness experience. What You'll Do: You're invited to spend five days camping in Colorado's largest Wilderness area!With a group of no more than 15 people, you'll hike 6+ miles in to the campsite at a high lake near the Continental Divide and spend the next three days performing basic trail maintenance including clearing drains, re-establishing drain dips, and brushing and clearing the trail corridor. Meals will be provided by a talented backcountry Crew Chef and volunteersshould be prepared to carry their own personal gear (including camping gear, clothes, toiletries, water, etc.) and may be asked to help carry in food depending on pack support. PLEASE NOTE:Due to the 15-person limit in Wilderness areas and the duration of this project, even one late cancellation can be detrimental to our volunteer recruitment and outdoor stewardship efforts. Please contact Emily Schaeferat 303-715-1010 ext. 116 to cancel or with questions about space on this project. Why It Matters: The Archuleta Trail is one of the most heavily used trails in the Weminuche Wilderness and an important access point to a number of high lakes and the Continental Divide Trail. As such, keeping the trail in top shape is incredibly important to protect the natural habitat and preserve access to the Wilderness. Your efforts will go a long way in keeping this remote area accessible and pristine for years to come! Need-to-Know Details: All days are requireddue to the remote location of the project. Volunteers are responsible for providing their own camping equipment.VOC will provide meals, tools, and work gloves. Cancellation:Our partners rely on VOC volunteers to accomplish critical stewardship needs, and our projects often have wait lists. If you need to cancel, pleasecontact Emily Schaeferat 303-715-1010 ext. 116 as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. About Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is the state's oldest, largest, and leading outdoor stewardship nonprofit organization. Founded in 1984 to motivate and enable people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources, VOC has engaged nearly 120,000 people in more than 1,000 volunteer projects for a donated labor value of $24 million. Through award-winning youth and volunteer programs, leadership training, capacity-building programs, and collaborative efforts with nonprofits and land management agencies, VOC is an invaluable resource in Colorado, especially as our outdoor stewardship needs are approaching near-crisis levels. For more information, visitwww.voc.orgor call 303-715-1010. Latitude/Longitude: 37.536257, -106.879392 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 14 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 12 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 48 Total Unique Volunteers: 12 Total Volunteer Hours: 576 Staff Hours: 79 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: 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: