In 2016, oversight of the Adopt-A-Trail program was passed from long-time volunteer Janet Farrar to CTF Field Operations Manager Brent Adams. A new handbook was issued to all adopters, and three well-attended training sessions were held. Tread maintenance, drainage maintenance and improvement, problem identification, and the importance of reporting were all emphasized.
Adopters do important work in their sections of trail, which range from 1.6 to 16.8 miles. Some do the work themselves and some assemble a group for the outing. Visiting as soon as they can after the snow melts in late Spring, they cut and remove fallen trees clearing the trail, rake and hoe silt & debris out of the water diversions to limit erosion, assess the signage, and report their work and findings. Adopters make sure the trail is passable for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders.
Snapshot: Adopters 2016
- Oversight of Adopter program transferred from Janet Farrar to Brent Adams
- Advisor Handbook revised and issued to all adopters
- Adopter Training Program well attended and well received
- 293 volunteers including Adopters and helpers
- 2,860 volunteer hours just this year
Accomplishments
- Maintained the entire 567 miles of the CT
- Made multiple excursions each summer
- Cleared the Trail, sawing and removing hundreds of fallen trees
- Cut back foliage
- Repaired rockslides
- Cleaned hundreds of water diversions to preserve the tread and limit Trail erosion
- Repaired, replaced and added signs, including wooden, steel and confidence markers
- Reported Trail conditions to the CTF for planning & USFS coordination
Adopter Notes
Section 5.1 Dawn Zalone
29 trees were cleared from the trail. We eliminated reroutes and restored the original trail route throughout. 30 existing water diversions were cleaned. Cut branches away from the trail. Trimmed overhanging branches.
Section 7.2 Suzanne Reed
All drains were working well (thanks to Cindy Johnson’s crew last summer). There was no water on the trail and no sign of erosion due to water. All signage is in place.
Section 12.1 Michael Fischer
81 trees removed, trail itself in excellent shape. Hip deep snow persists above 10,800 feet in the shadows but can be maneuvered around and trail is snow free on the pass.
Section 17.1 Jeremy Mattingley
Four trees removed, one confidence marker replaced. This section is part of an old jeep track which is filled with quite a bit of loose rock. We worked to make one track free of much of the loose rock that cause problems for mountain bikers and hikers.
Section 22.1 Ron Davis
1 tree removed, 1 water diversion, approximately 12 CT/CDT blazes installed, 2 posts reinstalled in cairns, graffiti removed from 2 posts, and lots of trash removed.
Section 26.2 Philip & Julie Ayers
No downed trees were found. Improved tread and cleaned drains above tree line. Blocked off a trail braid, and widened and flattened the bottom of the actual trail to make it more usable and desirable. Unplugged a culvert, sort of like flushing a toilet.
Section CW01B Bob Mathes
This is my first year in this section. It will take 2 more trips to clear drains up to summit. I estimate an additional 12 need to be built. Up to 20 fallen and leaning trees were removed but two additional large ones have fallen since. Many drains were repaired and improved up to Big Willis junction.
