In 2014 alone … 663 VOLUNTEERS contributed 11,281 hours preserving The Colorado Trail, an astounding $283,153 worth of labor! (1)
Adopt-A-Trail VOLUNTEERS • 240 Adopters & Helpers • 2,388 hours:
- Maintained The Colorado Trail (all 567 miles, as they do annually)
- 79 volunteer Adopters plus their helpers
- Multiple excursions each summer
- Cleared the Trail, sawing and removing numerous fallen trees
- Improved 5 equestrian creek crossings including better signage
- Cleaned hundreds of water diversions to preserve the tread and limit Trail erosion
- Assessed and reported sign issues, placed confidence markers
- Cut back foliage
- Constructed one new bridge
- Reported Trail conditions to the CTF for planning & USFS coordination
Trail Crew VOLUNTEERS • 219 Crew Members • 4,865 hours:
- Improved The Colorado Trail
- 12 trail crews, 9 week-longs and 3 weekends with an average of 18 participants each
- 58,206 feet of trail improved (over 11 miles: rebuilt tread, rehabbed, widened, boggy sections raised, overgrowth removed…)
- 403 water diversions built and rebuilt (rolling dips, check steps, knicks…)
- 19 switchbacks improved (smoothed, widened, drainage rebuilt…)
- 14 creek crossings improved (brush & debris removed, horse crossings built & refurbished…)
- 29 trees removed (including some really big ones)
- 2,795 feet newly built trail (new singletrack off roads, replacing unsustainable sections…)
- Took in and fed Trail users and educated them about the CTF
- Real accomplishments, tremendous pride, tons of fun
Behind the Scenes VOLUNTEERS • 204 incl. Board, Operations & Office • 4,028 hours:
- Provided vision, planning, financial assistance, etc. (volunteer Board Members)
- Educated Trail users at presentations
- Made and installed Trail signs
- Scouted, organized and planned logistics for crews and special projects
- Collaborated with Forest Service personnel on trail work and maintenance, etc.
- Managed programs including Trail Crews and Adopt-A-Trail
- Volunteered pro-bono, professional services in accounting, graphic design, marketing, editing, etc.
- Mailed Tread Lines newsletter and other publications keeping 12,300 households informed
- Delivered completion certificates to over 130 completers
- Reached new CT Friends with brochures and mailings
- Delivered thank-you notes to donors and volunteers
- Partnered with many organizations including the USFS, BLM, CMC, Trails 2000, COMBA, CDTC and others
- Maintained the CTF website, keeping current all the valuable public info
- Registered participants for Trail Crews
- Planned events including the Friends Picnic, Durango Soirée and Holiday Party
- Helped author revision of CT guides
Thanks to CTF Volunteers and Donors like you, The Colorado Trail remains one of the nation’s premier long distance trails. Preservation of The Colorado Trail was made possible through your help!
(1) $25.10 val vol hr CO, http://IndependentSector.org/volunteer_time
