Don't Be A Hater!
So last Saturday (August 16th) CFI had a HUGE presence on the Kite Lake Trail Loop that connects Mounts Democrat, Lincoln, Cameron, and Bross. I (Brian, Education and Outreach Coordinator) was up there as a Peak Steward, counting and educating folks on LNT and the particular and sensitive private property issues that still remain in the area. Greg, Field Programs Manager, was up with the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers out of Boulder and Fort Collins and Lloyd (Executive Director) was up with a camera crew filming the volunteers working on the trail and restoration work that was put in last summer. These videos will be posted on our website later this fall and will provide information on CFI, alpine ecology, Leave No Trace on Fourteeners, and the ins and outs of trail design, construction, and maintenance.

There were many hikers out on Saturday. When I arrived at the Kite Lake Trailhead around 6:30 there were already over 55 cars parked, overflowing out of the fee area. By around 1PM I had verbally contacted around 450 individuals (keeping close track with a pitch counter attached to my belt). By the end of the day there were over 140 cars spanning about a mile down the road. Between the number of contacts I personally made, the number of cars parked in the lot when I arrived, and the fact that steady flows of hikers continued to arrive as I was leaving at around 2pm, we could safely say that those mountains witnessed between 500-600 visitors on that single day alone.

Almost every single person I spoke with was responsive, curious, appreciative and grateful that we were out there to both inform them of specific issues and hazards regarding those peaks and the fact that we were rehabilitating a portion of trail that had was eroding badly and creating a sustainable switchback in its place. Regardless of how good ones intentions might be, however, there is always going to be someone (or a group of someones) that feels the need to complain.

I approached a fellow and his wife (assumption) who was taking a photo of the trail crew and volunteers much like the shot below. When I said: "Nice...Taking some trail crew shots uh?" His response was "Yes...so I can send them to all my CFI hating friends." !!!!!!!

So Obviously I could tell that this conversation was not going to be the same one that I've had with the other few hundred people that day. I've been with this organization for over 7 years now, I found this not only offensive to everyone who helps out the organization either by volunteering or donating, but personally offensive as well. I've come across this mentality before and even after all this time, my blood still boiled a bit. But also having an academic background in Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Ethics, and Environmental Education - not to mention the fact that I was formally representing CFI and the USFS - I chose this as an opportunity to engage and hopefully extract some information that might help us understand where this mentality can come from.

This individual did make it clear that HE had nothing against the organization, but that his friend(s?) did (yet he still insisted on taking photos of CFI that were intended to be malicious and fuel his friends fire of hatred). There could be multiple reasons for this mindset and with my initial thoughts came these:

1-"Sheer Ignorance": not understanding CFI's specific roles in protection and preservation and misinterpreting either our intentions or actions.

2-"Anti-Establishments": seeing somebody out representing the agency and feeling held back. Believing that they should be able to do what they want regardless of circumstances and no agency or organization should tell them otherwise.

3-"Know-it-Alls": somebody insisting that they no more about preservation and protection than the professionals. This individual believes that their experiences have turned them into somewhat of an expert on mountains and that they feel the need to voice their disapproval when ecologists, biologists, trail designers, and land management agencies make a decision.

So I asked him "What specifically do your friends HATE about CFI?". His response was "Well, the estimate you use on your website says roughly 500,000 visitors use 14ers every year...that just can't be right." Yes, this number can be debatable and we are working intensely on obtaining accurate information but is it really a reason to "hate" CFI? And in all reality, does it even matter???

We debated numbers for a bit but I wanted real answers, not superficial "I feel like arguing" answers. So I asked "Besides the number then, what else does your friend not like about CFI?" His next response was "Well, you build to many carins." My response: "We have a partnership with the US Forest Service who manage most of the 14ers in Colorado and we don't move a rock unless they tell us to. Most of the carins that you see have probably been placed by hikers who felt the need to do so. A true carin is 4x4x5 and is designed to be seen with a couple feet of snow on the ground."

Wasn't really much he could say and unfortunately I couldn't really extract a true reason that his friend(s?) actually "HATE" a non-profit whose mission is to protect and preserve the natural integrity of the places that they use. The fellow wanted to get back at arguing numbers so I made a point to end the conversation. It was all cordial but at the same time I left the conversation a bit jaded.

I am constantly advising the Peak Stewards to not become emotionally attached to what they do as educators because on occasion someone will insist on doing whatever they want regardless of what is "right" and its not something that should personally effect us. For instance, insisting that it is OK to have their dog chase wildlife (yes, we actually hear this every now and then). In this interaction though, especially with the personal and professional connections I have to CFI and the 14ers, I was offended.

Two things helped me feel a bit better:

1-One of the volunteers sat and listened to the whole thing and when the couple left she said "WOW!! I can't believe how tactful you were!!" to which I replied, "thanks, lots of practice, and had that conversation taken place at a bar, it would have gone significantly different" with a chuckle and...

2-That guys wife had a stare in her eye and I am pretty sure as they were out of voice range she said something to the sort of "Seriously, why do you insist on acting like that to nice people." as more of a statement and not a question.

Long Story Short: DON"T BE A HATER!! This reaction to CFI doesn't pop up too often and the vast majority of those who hike on CFI-built trails are more than appreciative!! And to those of you who support CFI financially, with your time as volunteers, or bye the good words that you spread about us...THANK YOU SO MUCH!! We try very hard to protect the natural integrity of the delicate and over-used alpine ecosystems while at the same time provide quality hiking trails to the public and your support means everything to us!!!