2020-Hell's Hole Trail Restoration @ Mt. Evans Wilderness #2

Start Date-End Date: 08/01/2020-08/01/2020 Land Manager Office: USFS - Clear Creek Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Ralph Bradt Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: JOIN THE WAITLIST: Spend a Saturday in the scenic Mt. Evans Wilderness on our second project on Hell's Hole Trail. Description: Project photo courtesy of Cindy Bond (2018) Read Before You Register! Need-to-Know Details: We greatly appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to care for Colorado's outdoor places during COVID-19. To help provide a fun and safe experience for all, there are a few temporary changes to be prepared for: You may only register yourself.Every volunteer must sign our digital COVID-specific forms ahead of time to be able to attend. You must provide your own food.VOC will not be providing meals at this time. You must bring a face mask and work gloves.Pleaseclick herefor our full packing list of required and recommended items. Please come prepared to use the bathroom outdoors.VOC is not providing portalets at this time and public restrooms may be unavailable. Pleaseclick herefor more information on how to "go" outside. Cancellation & Waitlists:Due to this year's limited number of projects and volunteer spots, we expect projects to fill quickly with waitlists. If you need to cancel, please emailoutreach@voc.orgas soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. If you are waitlisted for multiple projects, please call us at 303-715-1010 ext. 130 and we can help you find an open project, if available. Where You'll Be: Nestled in Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest, the Mount Evans Wilderness spans more than 74,000 acres and boasts the best of Colorado's high alpine environments: towering peaks, tundra, bristlecone pines, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Just 30 miles west from Denver, it is one of the more easily accessible Wilderness areas from the city and attracts many day hikers. What You'll Do: On this project, you'll be led by Steve West, a highly-skilled volunteer who has completed more than 275 VOC projects since 1991! You'll spend the day addressing critical maintenance issues along a four-mile stretch of the Hell's Hole Trail. Work will include constructing and maintaining drainage features, as well as clearing encroaching vegetation from the trail corridor. No experience is required, but volunteers should be prepared for a physical challenge and a potentially long hike. Working with Steve West and a small group, this is a great introduction to basic trail maintenance tasks! Why It Matters: With close proximity to Denver, thousands of users - most frequently day hikers - visit the Hell's Hole Trail throughout the year. Such high use requires significant maintenance to prevent erosion, keep users on the trail, and reduce damage to the natural environment. Your efforts will help ensure this popular trail can sustain heavy traffic while offering a safe and sustainable experience for all. 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, visit www.voc.org or call 303-715-1010. Latitude/Longitude: 39.676932, -105.660278 Additional Information: We greatly appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to care for Colorado's outdoor places during COVID-19. To help provide a fun and safe experience for all, there are a few temporary changes to be prepared for: You must provide your own food.VOC will not be providing meals at this time. You must bring a face mask and work gloves.Pleaseclick herefor our full packing list of required and recommended items. Please come prepared to use the bathroom outdoors.VOC is not providing portalets at this time and public restrooms may be unavailable. Pleaseclick herefor more information on how to "go" outside. Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 9 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 9 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 9 Total Unique Volunteers: 9 Total Volunteer Hours: 85.5 Staff Hours: 3 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: all went well. Steve West ran the project with 8 other volunteers. the crew maintained a quarter mile of trail with 1 water bar installed, 1 water bar maintained, 1 rock step fixed, and 120 feet of trail reestablished. 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: