The Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) is pleased to announce that it will begin trail and restoration work on Blanca Peak in the summer of 2011. At 14,345 feet, Blanca Peak is the 4th highest summit in Colorado, towering 6,000 feet above the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado. The project will focus on reconstructing the summit trail from Como Lake to the summits of both Blanca Peak and its ridgeline neighbor, Ellingwood Point. The lack of a defined summit trail has resulted in a proliferation of user-created social trails, gullied and denuded areas, and severe vegetation loss. This project represents one of the more difficult trail endeavors in Colorado due to the steep, rocky, high-elevation terrain of the area. Completion of the project will result in the protection of this unique alpine area and enhance the recreational experience for thousands of annual visitors.

The project is funded by a grant through the Colorado State Recreational Trails Program, as well as with support from the US Forest Service and Colorado Mountain Club. The project will be completed over the course of two summers by RMFI’s undergraduate Earth Corps environmental service and education program, as well as open enrollment volunteer work days. RMFI has constructed summit trails on Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Mount Humboldt, La Plata Peak, Mount Belford, and Mount Huron.

Since 1989, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute has been one of the leading trail and restoration organizations in Southern Colorado, hosting over 1,000 volunteers annually to complete work in foothills, riparian, desert, and alpine ecosystems. RMFI strongly believes in cultivating a public stewardship ethic by incorporating environmental education into each project.