2022-Weeklong Crosscut @ Weminuche Wilderness

Start Date-End Date: 06/19/2022-06/24/2022 Land Manager Office: USFS - Divide Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Bryce Hoffman Funding Partner: National Forest Foundation Programmatic Partner: Summary: WAITLIST ONLY. Clear fallen trees from trails using crosscut saws. *DEPOSIT REQUIRED* Description: Project photo by Nicholas Guthrie Where You'll Be: Spanning nearly 500,000 acres in southwest Colorado, the Weminuche Wilderness is three-quarters the size of Rhode Island and the state's largest Wilderness area. On this project, you'll be camped out in the backcountry approximately 7 miles and 1,000 vertical feet up a Wilderness trail. What You'll Do: Come experience a week of wonder in the wilderness away from it all, with great backcountry cooking like you've never had before from our volunteer Crew Chefs! We will focus on hiking the upper reaches of the Wilderness trails in the area and you'll have the opportunity to use traditional crosscut saws to remove fallen trees from the trail. No experience is necessary, though certified sawyers* are required to lead sawing operations. If all log clearing is completed, we will do some basic trail surface and drain structure maintenance. 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. As such, a deposit of $80 is required to register. This deposit will be refunded in full upon completion of the project, or upon cancellation more than two weeks prior to the project. Deposits will not be refunded if you cancel less than two weeks before the project. If the deposit causes an undue financial hardship, please contact Jazmyn Winzer at outreach@voc.org or at 303-715-1010 ext. 116. Why crosscut saws? These are a traditional tool that carry a long history of work on the land in our country, and have made a modern resurgence as the tool of choice for clearing fallen trees on trails in federally designated Wilderness areas, where workers are required to use the minimum possible tool. But it's not just about policy: using traditional tools allows us the opportunity to experience the quiet, solitude and characteristics of more remote areas, as well as become attuned to the characteristics of trees themselves. Crosscut sawyers often talk about how they enjoy the experience of hearing the fibers of trees pop and crack as cuts are made. *If you would like to learn more about becoming certified as a Crosscut Sawyer, visit our Training Calendar or contact Kelly Clouse at 303-715-1010 ext. 118. Learn more about crosscut sawing at go.nps.gov/lavocast. Why It Matters: Wilderness trails on the Rio Grande National Forest are becoming increasingly inaccessible (and dangerous) to hikers and equestrians due to the falling dead Engelmann spruce trees in the area. The U.S. Forest Service cannot keep up with the demand for keeping the trails clear, making volunteers an increasingly critical asset to assist the Forest Service in keeping these Wilderness trails open and accessible to the public. 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: 37.721417, -107.26042 Additional Information: Tools, food and crew chef equipment will be packed in by a pack string. Volunteers will be responsible for hiking in all of their personal gear. First and last days will be pack in and pack out days. Days 2-4 will be trail clearing days. Your deposit will be refunded in full upon completion of the project, or upon cancellation more than two weeks prior to the project. Deposits will not be refunded if you cancel less than two weeks before the project. Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 3 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 72 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 72 Total Unique Volunteers: 16 Total Volunteer Hours: 752 Staff Hours: 78 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: VOC meeting spot: parking lot at 30-mile campground Wilderness Campsite: 37.64666, -107.23782 Work Site: We will be working on the last 2 miles of the Squaw Creek trail Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Working with the regional pack string out of Wyoming was free and way easier than private outfitters. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: JEDI- renaming offensive public land places - "squaw" Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: