Meeting location:

Volunteers will be parking in an area not open to the public so please follow directions carefully once you leave Highway 67 there is little to no cell phone service. To arrive at this location you will follow the driving directions below, a map link has been provided for reference. This is the location of the gate where a RMFI Staff member will meet you at and provide access for the workday only. 

Forest Service Gate

Driving Directions:

Coming from Highway 24 you will be turning left off of Hwy 67 just after the entrance to Mueller State Park onto Teller County Road 62. The sign reads, "CR 62" and there is also a brown Forest Service sign that points you in the direction of the Crags; this sign reads "Crags C.R. 3 1/2". You will now be on a dirt road for the remainder of the drive. This road is accessible to non 4x4 vehicles though we recommend that you drive carefully. Approximately 1.6 miles up CR 62 you will reach a fork at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, stay to your RIGHT. You will continue up CR 62 for another 2.5 miles into a more forested section of the road. You will pass the Raspberry Mountain Trailhead, the Crags Trailhead, and will pass the Campground. Once you have passed the campground, the road continues, and past a large meadow on your right, there will be a dirt road on your left with a gate, you have arrived where a RMFI staff member will let you through. This is a passable steep dirt road that does not require a 4x4 vehicle. The road is free of obstacles though we do recommend a vehicle that has some clearance and tires that are in good condition as you will be parking up the road in a clearing.

If you run into driving issues and have service, a Field Phone number will be provided in a confirmation email that will route you to a RMFI staff member in Colorado Springs, as the staff at the work site will not have service. We recommend downloading driving directions prior to leaving. 

Time:

8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Online registration will close Friday, June 26 at noon. If you are able, please register for this stewardship day online; however, we will provide paper copies of the registration form on-site. We do ask that all volunteers be available for the entire workday. We are unable to accommodate early departures for this workday. 

Activity: 

This project will focus on new trail tread construction. Project tasks will include decompacting hardened soils, moving materials such as rock, dirt, and soil, and potentially constructing trail structures at the direction of RMFI staff. The alignment of this trail has been predetermined by the USFS. This is strenuous work using tools in the outdoors at high elevation. Be prepared for a rewarding day of trail work! If you have concerns about accessibility on this stewardship day, please reach out to us.

How to be prepared and what to expect on a volunteer day:

A hike to the work site from the trailhead.

• For this project, please expect a 2.5-mile one-way hike to just below 12,000 feet. 

What to wear:

• Wear long pants and sturdy shoes (This is required. NO open-toed shoes or shorts!)
• Work gloves - a pair to borrow will be provided if you do not have your own
• Eye protection (work eyewear, sunglasses or RX glasses) 
• Weather-appropriate clothing (e.g., rain jacket, layers for work at near 12,000 feet)

What to pack:

• Backpack to carry your water and personal belongings - you will need free hands while hiking to and from the worksite for tools. 
• Water bottle(s) or hydration system with plenty of water (2+ liters) - due to the low snow pack, there are no seasonal water sources available for filtering water this season. Please pack enough water for the day. 
• Sack lunch and snacks - RMFI will provide a small snack. Please note we may not be able to accommodate all allergies or dietary needs.
• Sunscreen
• Any other personal needs e.g. medication, hat, extra snacks, electrolytes, etc.

RMFI will provide all the needed tools for this volunteer day.

Land Acknowledgment

This is a community stewardship day, which we acknowledge takes place on the traditional unceded territory of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Cheyenne, and Jicarilla Apache Nations*. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced occupation of their territory, and we honor and respect the many diverse indigenous people connected to this land on which our stewardship days take place.  

*If you would like to learn about the native territories that each of our projects are located on, please follow this link: https://www.rmfi.org/projects.