Description
Start Date-End Date: 09/17/2022-09/18/2022
Land Manager Office: USFS - Divide Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Bryce Hoffman
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner: San Luis Valley Great Outdoors - SLVGO
Summary: Restore access to a popular trail on this small San Luis Valley project.
Description: Where You'll Be:
The Ute Creek Trailhead sits at the west side of the Rio Grande Reservoir and provides access to a large trail system in the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest Wilderness area. This is a popular trail with both anglers and hikers: the Ute Creek Trail is the main access route to the Ute Basin area, home to four fishable lakes just below the Continental Divide. The nearby Rio Grande Reservoir and Road Canyon Reservoir, along with the Rio Grande River and numerous nearby creeks, further cement this area as a trout fisherman's paradise with some of the best fishing in the country.
Anyone that attends a VOC volunteer opportunity in August, September, and October will be entered in a drawing for the chance to win a $300 SCHEELS Gift Card. The more opportunities you attend, the more entries you will earn. Good luck!
What You'll Do:
On this weekend project, you'll work with a small group of approximately 15 volunteers to repair and rebuild a 400-foot boardwalk that provides access to the Ute Creek Trail. Time permitting, we'll also conduct additional maintenance work on the trail. This is a great chance to expand your trail knowledge and try your hand at some carpentry! All skill levels are welcome.
Free campsites will be provided along with meals from our volunteer Crew Chefs.
Why It Matters:
A series of unprecedented water events beginning in 2019 has left the boardwalk in dire need of repair and it currently poses a significant safety risk to visitors. The boardwalk begins right at the trailhead, so users cannot access any portion of the Ute Creek Trail without crossing it. By repairing and rebuilding this boardwalk, you will help re-open access to the Ute Creek Trail.
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 128,000 people in more than 1,000 volunteer projects for a donated labor value of $26 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: 37.7592898, -107.3431794
Additional Information: To organize carpooling please visithttps://www.groupcarpool.com/t/wzyu0f
Please determine the following amongst yourselves:
1. Pick up location
2. When you leave
3. Vaccination status
4. Mask usage
VOC suggests coordinating carpooling in the safest way possible and encouraging a mask friendly policy in your cars. If you have any issues finding a rider or a ride, please feel free to reach out to myself. Happy volunteering!
Camping Available: Yes
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
High Altitude Project: Yes
Desired Number of Volunteers: 15
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 32
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0
Total Volunteer Days: 32
Total Unique Volunteers: 18
Total Volunteer Hours: 384
Staff Hours: 44
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: VOC Camping spot: Ute Creek Trailhead
Work Site: Ute Creek Trailhead, working on the 400 ft. stretch of boardwalk that starts at the TH
Successes and Challenges: Coordinating with SLV GO and the RGNF trail crew posed some challenges in getting the work started on Saturday. I was receiving different instructions from each group and the trail crew was hard to work with in terms of integrating volunteers into the work. Eventually it got sorted and the work went smoothly but it started off a bit rocky.
The project site was beautiful and there was plenty of space available despite it being hunting season.
The history presentation given by Sandra was a highlight of the project and included some really interesting fact about the area.
Lessons Learned: I think more communication beforehand with all the organizations working on the project would have allowed a better work plan to be in place.
It was also very cold in the mornings, maybe a few weeks earlier for that location would have been better.
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education: The history of the Rio Grande area by Sandra Wagner
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents:
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 18 and older |
