CMC Seasonal Stewardship Trail Crew Update

At Brainard Lake, one of our three crews has been working on some new trails off of Lefhand Reservoir Road. First, they finished a new section of the Little Raven trail that will keep users from needing to hike or bike on the road. This project included building a bridge over Left Hand Creek, which the crew completed alongside staff from the US Forest Service Boulder Ranger District. They are now working on building reroutes for another section of trail in the same vicinity at Brainard Lake Recreation Area. CMC's Brainard Lake crew has also been welcoming volunteers to help work on the trail each Wednesday. If you are interested in volunteering, you can learn more here. 

^{Brainard Lake crew works with USFS Staff to build a bridge over Left Hand Creek} 

Up on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, our "MedBow" crew has been backpacking through the Mount Zirkel Wilderness as well as the Encampment River Wilderness in southern Wyoming. Clearing trails as they go, they have improved access to many incredible areas in the region. In addition to improving erosion control structures and clearing back lots of brush, they have cut out over 700 down trees. That is more than 100 per week! Crewmembers have expressed that some of their favorite locations they have worked at are Lake Katherine and the Encampment River.  

^{Medbow crew members clearing a down tree in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness} 

Over on the Gunnison National Forest, our Gunnison-based crew has spent weeks working in the La Garita Wilderness between Lake City and Creede, as well as in the West Elk Wilderness between Crested Butte and Paonia. Beginning on the moose-infested Skyline trail below Spring Creek Pass, the crew moved to another project on a different section of Skyline that coincides with the Colorado Trail (CT)/Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). Doing extensive work to mitigate erosion above tree line, the crew enjoyed getting to chat with thru-hikers as they passed by. Their newest project has taken them to lower elevations in the West Elks on the Throughline trail. Soon, they will be back to the CT/CDNST in the Sawatch range around the Alpine Tunnel. Say hi if you see them! 

^{Gunnison Crew members hike on the CT/CDNST in the La Garita Wilderness} 

If you are interested in participating in CMC's stewardship efforts, please email conservation@cmc.org. If you are interested in volunteering with CMC's Brainard Lake crew, information is available here.