2010 Season's Report!

As many of you know, the Peak Steward Program functions as CFI's main "on-the-ground" educational tool by recruiting and training volunteers to educate hikers on the sensitivity of Colorado's fourteeners. The 2009 season posted record numbers of both volunteers and contacts totalling 30 active Peak Stewards, 140 volunteer days on 36 separate peaks contacting approximately 7,500 hikers. About one year ago funding was secured for CFI's overall Education and Outreach Program allowing the Peak Steward Program to not only continue to thrive, but provided an opportunity for further growth.

2010 was another VERY successful year for Peak Stewards!! Here is a brief run-down of our accomplishments. Over 100 individuals participated in the first of a 2-day training. As you may recall, instead of having one training in June for 2010, I decided to host single day trainings throughout the winter and spring with the intention of meeting those trainees in the field during the summer months to complete the field portion of training. Of those 100+ folks originally trained about 65 attended the second day and of those, 45 were active throughout the season totalling a record number of 225 volunteer days. When you include the 21 days I served as a Peak Steward we're looking at around 246 Peak Steward days!! A HUGE THANKS goes out to all of those that participated in the program and served as Peak Stewards!

Now that the numbers have been crunched and logs have been tallied from this season I'm busy looking forward to 2011. After learning a few things and reflecting on the progress of ramping up this program I will be doing things slightly different regarding trainings next year. They are already being scheduled and will start to be advertised throughout the winter. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! HIKE AND VOLUNTEER AT THE SAME TIME!! Keep and eye out for details...

Traffic on Quandary (photo by Peak Steward Steve Poland)


More traffic on Quandary...hard to see in this photo but check out the line of hikers coming down the left side from the summit all the way down to the saddle. When zoomed in you can count well over 100 over the course of less than a mile!! (photo also taken by Steve Poland)

Fred and Sharron Balmos Peak Steward on Mount Lincoln.

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!!!

Peak Stewards and ONE MORE TRAINING!!

Its been a busy season already for Peak Stewards on 14ers. We're making a huge presence on the Front Range and Mosquito/Ten Mile Ranges including multiple days on Quandary, Grays and Torreys, and Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross (not the summit though). Our Vail Crew and others have also made a big presence in the Holy Cross Wilderness and our western-slopers have already counted many days in areas like the Maroon Bells and Castle Peak. In the photo above you can see first time Peak Steward but long-time Nature lover Dorothy answer questions for a family about to embark on a 4-day trek through the Maroon Bells Wilderness Area. Dorothy was a part of the group that received training at the Glenwood Springs area. Jason, Joey and Cheyenne were also on the Bells with us that day and we interacted with many of the visitors informing them of CFI's future involvement in constructing a trail partway up South Maroon (work that is planned for next year).

In the photo below you can see Jim and Diana, also new recruits but experienced 14er climbers, identifying some alpine tundra species on Quandary Peak. It was a great day with quite a few hikers and many chances to educate on LNT practices on 14ers. Quandary Peak is definitely one of those that attracts folks who have never hiked a 14er before thus creating an opportunity to educate visitors on their FIRST 14er experience!!

We've got one more opportunity this year for you to be involved with the Peak Steward Program. A last minute training has been scheduled for the weekend of July 31st and August 1st. It will take place at the American Mountaineering Museum in Golden on the Saturday the 31st and on Grays and Torreys Peaks on Sunday the 1st. Contact brian@14ers.org if you are interested and would like details...Happy Trails!!

-BW

The Road Up...and Down Grays and Torreys Trailhead

DON'T WORRY...IT WASN'T ONE OF OURS!!

After a huge day on Grays and Torreys last Sunday (over 400 hikers and a miles worth of over-flow parking) I was on the way down the road to I-70 and came across what appeared to be a blow out of something fairly pressurized.

Curious, I hopped out of the CFI-baru and bent down...yep, it was..."Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea". Immediately I knew what happened but wasn't sure who it happened to or what they were driving but I had a pretty good feeling I would be seeing them fairly soon.

The road up to the Grays and Torreys Trailhead is in GREAT shape this year...the best I've seen it in over 10. Outside of a few areas, ANY 2wd vehicle could access it without even having to be careful. However, all it takes is one rock in the right place and your day can be ruined.

That one rock can be seen in the picture just to the left of this spill. It was about 4-6 inches tall if you were to balance it just right. After snapping a few shots (and debating on whether this would be a "rock WIN" or "low clearance vehicle FAIL") I followed the trail of oil about 1 1/2 miles down as it slowly dissipated to nothing, knowing that I would definitely see the driver and their car shortly.

Sure enough, a volvo was parked at the junction at I-70 and the Bakerville exit with AAA already en route. I could tell they didn't stop after the initial BUMP because there was no pooling so I went ahead and showed them the photos I took. It pretty much confirmed what they already new. I have heard this exact same story from the exact same place (except it was a VW Jetta)...watch out for the rocks that WILL jump up and bite ya!

-BW

Passes and Goats

As many of you may know, and for those of you who don't, one cannot access Guanella Pass and Mount Bierstadt from the North (Georgetown) side. So last Wednesday as I approached Guanella from highway 285, I was curious to see what the parking lot would look like. I figured this closure would have an impact but did not realize its extent. There were exactly 18 cars in the lot when I arrived at 7am. I have been here before a this time on a Wednesday and have counted over 60-70 cars in the lot, with an overflow of parallel parking running for about a quarter mile on each side of the pass. Literally over 150 cars on a WEDNESDAY!!

Well, sure enough, Guanella Pass will not be seeing the car traffic this season and Bierstadt will definitely not be seeing its typical foot traffic. This is a good thing and will create less ecological impact in the area that CFI and the Forest Service will have to deal with in the future but could also be a bad thing.

What would you do if you were planning on hiking a fourteener only to find out that to access it you would have to drive an extra 2-3 hours. Would you (A) drive the extra 2-3 hours or (B) drive an extra 30 minutes to the closest 14er you could find? I think the answer for most of us would be easy to make and that's what the masses are doing...driving to Grays and Torreys, to Quandary, or to Evans. So the fact that one access point is closed will actually push this traffic into other areas!

Some info on goats: The mountain goats that you see in Colorado are not native and were actually introduced in the late 1940's for the purpose of hunting. They have essentially become part of the cultural landscape and many hikers look forward to seeing them on 14ers. Below you can see a group on Quandary taking advantage of the goats habitualized behaviour. They will get so close up you don't need a zoom to photograph them...but remember, NEVER APPROACH THE GOATS!!

Just like all the animals in the alpine zone, goats are salt deprived and seek it out under all circumstances. LNT protocol says to urinate on a rock when you are above treeline. Because animals are salt deprived, they will lick up your urine and if you pee on vegetation, they will just eat it too. Below you can see a section of tundra that has been scuffed up by some goats. This section was about 2 feet off the trail and about 3 feet in diameter. I was at this exact point 3 days before this picture was taken and this soil was not exposed at that time. Chances are that within those three days, someone urinated directly off the trail and the goats came by to consume the salt. You can even see goat fur on some tundra on the right side of the photo.

So needless to say and as the photo depicts...if you have to relieve yourself in the alpine ecosystems...GO WATER A ROCK!

-BW

Out and About!

Its early in the season but CFI Peak Stewards are out and about!! Here's a brief recap of the last few days...

Field Trainings are underway! In order to boost the numbers of participants in the Peak Steward Program we had to break away from the traditional 2-day training that would take place on the second weekend of June. So, as mentioned in previous posts, I've been hard at work recruiting and training Peak Stewards throughout the winter months. Then, last Thursday (6/10), last Monday (6/21...not a bad way to spend the solstice), and today I met with some of them on Mount Evans to complete their second day of training in the field. Three really great groups came out in order to identify some alpine plants and the differences in their integrity, check out some braided areas of trail and how to identify areas where people may want to leave it, and obtain a further understanding of how to educate and interact with visitors and hikers on the 14ers.

It was WINDY last Thursday and there was a lot of snow left from the previous weekends storm. In the photo above you can see Steve and Chris (both new recruits this year) flashing their 14er specific LNT cards with Bierstadt in the background. We were right to the west of Spaulding's summit at around 13,700 ft. As you can see, it was difficult to find some tundra to look at but we managed to check some out lower down.

Over the course of the last week the snow has melted considerably. Over the course of the weeks time frame that I was up there, more and more blooms were visible (Sky Pilots, Alpine Phlox, Alpine Avens and Spring Blossom just to name a few) today we were even able to identify some alpine Forget-Me-Nots!! (I think the smell like scratch and sniff Blueberries!) The blooms seem to be blooming slightly late this year in this part of the high-country but with these warm temps, they will all be out in no time. Stay tuned for more Peak Steward Updates!!

-BW

A Classic Weather Weekend in the High-Country but None-the-Less...the Season Begins!

About half way through last week I started watching the weather forecasts for the weekend. The Final Peak Steward Training was scheduled to take place on Saturday in Alma and on Sunday on Mounts Lincoln, Democrat, and at the base of Bross. Sure enough, following our brutally and uncharacteristically hot weather last week, came a cold front that dropped quite a few inches of snow in the high-country (and even a funnel cloud in "Cloud City").

Forecast for Saturday: 40's in Alma with consistent rain and snow in the mix...Forecast for Sunday: snow all day in town (10,800 feet) and highs in the 30's; not to mention the fact that the training on Sunday would have started at the Kite Lake trailhead and most of it would have taken place around 12,500 feet.

Needless to say, I became anxious that part of this training could potentially be weathered out. But then I started thinking: I have basically conducted the 7 previous trainings this year with the intent of meeting up with the new recruits toward the end of this month in the field to cover alpine ecology, erosion identification, and reiterate important criteria from the first day of training. So if the new recruits from this weekend had to do the same...so be it. The Peak Steward Training in Alma was designed to be similar to our traditional 2-day training with the field day on Sunday immediately following Saturday's classroom sessions. Unfortunately, due to the weather, we did cancel Sunday's sessions and those new recruits will now have to make up that field day in the next couple weeks.

26 folks total showed up for the training on Saturday. 15 of these individuals were completely new to CFI's Peak Steward Program (bringing our total number of NEW recruits to 79 for 2010), 4 were CFI crew members that will be acting as education specialists and 7 were returning Peak Stewards - An outstanding and very fun group to interact with!!

Besides the typical portions of the training such as reviewing the history of outdoor recreation and adventure tourism, teaching 14er specific Leave No Trace, and learning how to use the "Authority of the Resource", representatives were also present from the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety to cover mine hazards and terminology and the United States Forest Service to talk about land management and the relationship between non-profits like CFI and the Federal Agency. We were very luck to have Craig (mining) and Kim (USFS) attend and share their knowledge to the Peak Stewards. We also had members from MRHI (Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative) to chat with us about specific private property issues concerning Alma's local peaks (Lincoln Democrat Bross and Cameron).

Today also marks our first official Peak Steward day for 2010. Dan Haskell drove out the Maroon Bells this morning and will be camped out through Saturday counting and educating visitors on LNT and informing them on CFI and ways that they can become involved!

- BW