Trail Maintenance – South Texas Creek via Cottonwood Pass

Dates: Monday 8/24 to Thursday 8/27. We'd love for anyone to be out for as much of the hitch as possible! 

The trail: South Texas Creek Trail #417. Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison Ranger District. Coincides with the Colorado Trail Collegiate West and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. 4.3 miles from trailhead to the end of the trail/junction with Texas Creek Trail #416. 

• COTREX link: https://trails.colorado.gov/trails/south-texas-18943. 

Elevation info: High point: 12,218'. High point is only ¼ mile from the trailhead. Low point: 10,303' (vicinity of campsite). Low point is 4.3 miles from trailhead. Hike in to camp: 251' elevation gain, 2,067' elevation loss. Hike out from camp: 2,067' elevation gain, 251 elevation. 

The work: Isolated worksites are along the whole trail. Building and maintaining drainage structures along the trail to prevent erosion damage to the trail. Critical for future sustainability and use. De-berming rutted sections of trail. Allows water to flow across and off trail. Also, helps to widen thinning trails and keep hikers from walking around the trail. Clearing loose rocks/gravel that create tripping hazards on the trail. Brushing/clearing vegetation back from trail. If we finish all the work on the South Texas Creek Trail, we can do additional work on the Texas Creek Trail west of the junction. Will be using digging, raking, and cutting tools. 

The Campsite: We will be camping in the vicinity of the trail junction of South Texas Creek #417 and Texas Creek #416.  4.3 miles from trailhead, with 2,067' of elevation loss. Texas Creek flows through the area, providing a water source for the hitch. We will use this site as a basecamp, hiking out from it to worksites each day. 

Trailhead and parking: The trailhead for South Texas Creek is the top of Cottonwood Pass (38.827907°N 106.409°W). There is a parking lot on the top of the pass at the trailhead, however, it is small. Ideally, for anyone coming from the Front Range, parking in the Avalanche Trailhead lot lower on the pass and carpooling from there will be good to not have too many cars at the top. 

Cottonwood Pass: Seasonal road between Buena Vista and Almont. Chaffee County Road 306, Gunnison County Road 209. 12,126' above sea level. Highest paved crossing of the Continental Divide in the country. Second highest improved road in Colorado.

Gear: Whatever you would typically take backpacking: Tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, Backpacking pack, Bear barrel, Cooking supplies, Water filter, Warm clothes, Wind/rain/sun protection, Anything else for comfort. 

Additional gear specific for trail work: Work gloves, Sturdy hiking boots (trail runners might be comfy, but they won't do much to stop a dropped rock or tool), Long pants/sleeves, Eye protection (sunglasses are good).

Pack accordingly to possible weather conditions and elevations. Camp will be closer to 10,000', but some of the worksites will be above 12,000'. 

Who will be there? CMC’s Gunnison-based Stewardship Trail Crew, some members of CMC's staff, and other volunteers. 

Meeting at the parking area at the top of Cottonwood Pass around 9:30am on Monday, 8/24. Aiming to begin the hike in at 10am.