2022-Kimmeridge Energy SWAT: Raccoon Trail Reroute @ Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Start Date-End Date: 08/23/2022-08/23/2022 Land Manager Office: CPW - Golden Gate Canyon State Park Land Manager Contact: Jake Murray Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Reroute an unsustainable trail with your coworkers at Golden Gate Canyon State Park Description: Project photo by David J. Kennedy What You'll Do: Join us for our third year working to re-route the multi-use Raccoon Trail to make it more sustainable. Tasks will be moderate to difficult in nature, including trail construction and the chance to build rock walls and switchbacks for volunteers who enjoy a technical challenge. Where You'll Be: Only a short drive from Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park boasts over 12,000 acres of dense forest, rocky peaks, and aspen-rimmed meadows laced with miles of trails. With options for hikers, mountain bikers, backpackers, equestrians, anglers, campers, rock climbers, and winter sports enthusiasts, it's not surprising an estimated 850,000 visitors recreate here annually. The park also provides a home for a great number and variety of wildlife, providing the perfect place for wildlife watching and photography. Why It Matters: This park sees an estimated 1 million visitors per year and the Raccoon Trail is one of the most heavily utilized trails at the park due to it's proximity to Reverend's Ridge Campground and Panorama Point. This section of fall-line trail is unsustainable, requires regular maintenance throughout the year, and currently provides users with an extremely difficult and potentially dangerous trail experience. Your efforts will help provide users with a safer and more enjoyable trail experience. Latitude/Longitude: 39.8807012, -105.444917 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 15 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 11 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 11 Total Unique Volunteers: 11 Total Volunteer Hours: 81 Staff Hours: 18 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Great day with the Kimmeridge team. they had great energy, came well prepared, and worked for the entire day. the project was to continue the Raccoon Trail reroute and we started where the VOC Pride Month project in June left off. The work involved new trail construction, so cutting out the bench, and there were quite a few large boulders in the trail path. We also built some rock walls. Terry the TA for the trail joined us, as did Joe Chastain as a crew Leader and Jake from GGCSP. 8 Kimmeridge staff joined in the work, 1 sat out the whole day as the hike was exhausting enough for them, but they still had a great time and joined in the group conversations. Joe and Terry gave the tool talk - they did an excellent job. Since it was a small group, we split into two crews of 4 and then worked in pairs mostly between that. Everyone got to try their hand at all the tools and various tasks. We ate lunch from 12-12:30pm and then got back to work, and returned to the cars by 3pm. 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: