Event Overview

Mt. Democrat Stewardship Adventure

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring and creating lifelong environmental stewards through outdoor volunteer experiences. Since 1984, tens of thousands of citizens led by skilled volunteer leaders have helped protect, conserve, and sustain Colorado’s natural places through their work with VOC. Volunteers can join VOC outdoor projects throughout the year and help with stewardship efforts like the Mt. Democrat Stewardship Adventure, building and restoring trails in wilderness areas, constructing paths in city parks, and restoring fragile riverside habitat.

42 volunteers hit the alpine trails August 1-2 to help in the ongoing process to re-gain public access to several of Colorado's popular 14ers (peaks that are above 14,000 feet in elevation). VOC and the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) have been working together for two years to re-open access to the peaks of Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross. The trails to these peaks traverse private property and were closed in 2006 due to liability concerns from private landowners, primarily related to extensive mining holes, shafts, and tunnels throughout the area. Thanks to volunteer efforts, two of the three alpine trail restorations are now open again, and only Mt. Bross remains closed.

Bright and early on Saturday, August 1, volunteers made their way up the Mt. Bross trailhead where they were welcomed by a dusting of snow and stunning (above treeline) scenery. They worked at elevations of up to 13,000 feet to re-route a rapidly eroding section of trail to the summit and created much-needed rock steps and walls.

While Mt. Bross is not yet publicly accessible, CFI was thrilled with the progress made by VOC volunteers over the weekend, explaining that: "This project will have a lasting impact on Mt. Bross - the trail re-route that VOC finished replaces a section of trail that was rapidly eroding; the associated restoration work accelerates re-vegetation of the closed area in a fragile alpine environment; and the check steps that were installed will help prevent that section from rapidly deteriorating."

This volunteer effort is an excellent example of the tremendous impact that volunteers can have on caring for and preserving our natural resources. Aquafina is a proud supporter of volunteer efforts like the Mt. Democrat Stewardship Adventure and of organizations like VOC who not only lead these very important programs but also work to inspire lifelong environmental stewards.

Links

• www.voc.org
• www.14ers.org
• Event site >