In 2021, 673 volunteers contributed 11,091 hours preserving The Colorado Trail, an astounding $316,251 worth of labor!
Adopt-A-Trail VOLUNTEERS • 185 Adopters, Helpers, & Training Attendees • 1,716 hours:
- Maintained the 567-mile CT (as they do annually)
- 84 volunteer Adopters plus their helpers
- Each visits their Adoption one or more times every season
- Cleared the trail, sawed and removed hundreds of fallen trees (avg. = 450 each summer)
- Cleaned hundreds of water diversions (preserving tread and limiting erosion)
- Repaired, replaced and installed signs (directional and confidence markers)
- Cut back foliage
- Repaired rockslides
- Reported Trail conditions to the CTF for planning & USFS coordination
Trail Crew VOLUNTEERS • 229 Crew Members • 7,610 hours:
- Improved The Colorado Trail
- 1 one day, 1 weekend, 2 three day, 7 weeklong, and 5 four-to-five day Volunteer Trail Crews
- Crew average of 13 participants each
- Built and refurbished hundreds of water diversions (rolling dips, check steps, etc.)
- Removed trees and overgrowth
- Eliminated rocks impeding the trail
- Constructed new trail
- Extended another off road reroute
- Built or rebuilt 10+ turnpikes
- Cleared avalanche debris
- Rebuilt bridges
- Took in and fed Trail users and educated them about the CTF
Behind the Scenes VOLUNTEERS • 42 Board, Ops & Other • 1,047 hours:
- Provided vision, planning, financial assistance, etc. (volunteer Board Members)
- Educated Trail users via on-Trail Outreach
- 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.
- Volunteered pro-bono, professional services in graphic design, marketing, editing, etc.
- Mailed Tread Lines newsletter and other publications keeping 17,000 households informed
- Delivered completion certificates to over 500 completers
- Reached new CT Friends by handing out business cards and brochures
- Handled accounting and oversight
- Delivered thank-you notes to donors and volunteers
- Partnered with many organizations including the USFS, BLM, CMC, Trails 2000, COMBA, CDTC and others
- Helped mail hundreds of donor thank-you letters
- Planned events including the Friends Picnic and Durango Gathering
