2023-Trail Construction @ Greenie Mountain

Start Date-End Date: 06/24/2023-06/25/2023 Land Manager Office: BLM - San Luis Valley Land Manager Contact: Sean Noonan Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: San Luis Valley Great Outdoors - SLVGO Summary: Join this opportunity to become a steward of your public lands! No experience required, just the desire to be outside and care for Colorado's hiking trails in a fun, social setting. Description: *insert Golden description here Latitude/Longitude: 37.40337, -106.1943 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 40 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: Total Youth Volunteers Attended: Total Volunteer Days: Total Unique Volunteers: Total Volunteer Hours: 0 Staff Hours: 45.5 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: This was the 3rd year VOC was working on Greenie Mountain, this project was to complete the final section of the trail. The capacity was set at 40 volunteers and recruitment was very difficult. This is likely because it is the 3rd consecutive year working at this site, it is also a typical BLM project site (hot, no shade, in the hills no unique draw in terms on landscape). I focused a lot on local recruitment and hung flyers in the surrounding towns, emailed partners and even put out a press release, promoted it on a podcast etc. In a last minute effort to increase numbers I was able to loop in a local SCC crew of 10 people. We were able to get about 30 volunteers out the first day but tracking numbers for meals was really difficult because many volunteers who said they planned on joining for dinner were hot and tired and decided not to stick around. We expected 28 for dinner and ended up with 13. I was able to keep the chefs updated so they could adjust and try to save any food they could but it was a bummer. As for the work. This was the first time I was planning a trail project that was initially rough cut by a mini excavator. SLV GO assisted with the trail planning and rough cut of the trail, and essentially acted as the TAs. They ended up cutting the tread way too wide, about 4 ft as opposed to 18 inches. This required a lot of work dedicated to trying to reduce the width of the tread, which wasn't very easy and some crew leaders understood the task better than others. One volunteer had a disagreement with the crew working next to them and left the project, ultimately emailing that he hated the use of mechanized equipment to create single track trail. Myself and the agency followed up and came to a resolve with that volunteer. Overall, the work went fine and we were able to complete the new section of trail, do some rehab and 2 track closure work and maintenance on the existing 2.5 miles on trail. Dispersed Camp Coordinates: Latitude:37.40347 Longitude:-106.18877 Elevation:8,105 CAMPING INFORMATION: We will be camping at a dispersed site on BLM land. There is plenty of flat ground for tent or car camping but not much shade. We will try and bring out two 20x20 tents for shade, if an extra is available. I will have the 200-gallon water buffalo out so there will be plenty of water for the weekend. We will have 2 porta potties delivered to the site for the VOC project. Successes and Challenges: Successes Beautiful sunsets/sunrises Finally completed the Greenie Mountain trail! Although the overnight group ended up being small we had a really good time and everyone enjoyed the company Challenges One volunteer had a disagreement with the crew working next to them and left the project, ultimately emailing that he hated the use of mechanized equipment to create single track trail. Myself and the agency followed up and came to a resolve with that volunteer. Recruitment - meal planning Lessons Learned: Unless a work site has a pretty unique draw, I would avoid hosting the same project 3 years in a row. What trail construction looks like when you are following-up mechanized equipment, very different than a traditional trail construction project and volunteers might have feelings about the work type. It definitely not as rewarding. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: n/a Description of Work Completed: