Field Projects Help Build Trails and Community

HELENA  — Each year, volunteers hit the trail helping to build and maintain the National Trail System on public lands. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) recently announced the opening of public registration for volunteer field projects in several Rocky Mountain states. Non-profit trail organizations like CDTC partner with Federal agencies and other organizations to plan and implement field projects, and effectively expand federal capacity to build and maintain trails. Projects range in length and level of challenge and occur in the states through which the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) traverses: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. 

“Field-based volunteer stewardship projects are a cornerstone of the work we do, and volunteers are at the heart of these efforts,” said CDTC Executive Director Teresa Martinez (she/her/ella). “While the goal is to maintain the trails, our volunteer stewardship efforts allow us to connect with communities along the CDT. Many of our volunteers are people who live, work, and play in the CDT landscape.” 

In 2023, volunteers with CDTC logged 1,800 hours of CDT maintenance, according to the 2024 CDTC Congressional Report. Each project ranges in length from one to five days and offers something different, from trail maintenance and logging out— clearing sections with downed trees— to trail and bridge construction. CDTC emphasizes that experience with trail work is not required, and their Field Crew Leaders come equipped to lead the projects and teach new skills. 

“It’s very rewarding to watch people gain confidence over the course of each project”, said Haley Gamertsfelder (she/her), CDTC Field Project Coordinator. “Some people come to the project with little or no experience, which allows other participants to mentor new volunteers as well as the project leaders. There’s a real sense of community when we’re on the trail.” 

Aside from sharing a willingness to get their hands dirty, volunteers often have a personal reason to help out on the trail. Some already have a connection to the area, while others are seeking an opportunity to explore somewhere new. The annual project in Yellowstone National Park tends to attract people from a wider audience because of Yellowstone’s infamous attractions, according to Gamertsfelder. By contrast, the one-day projects are more inviting for locals who want to help take care of the trails they use regularly. 

“A common thread among volunteers is their desire to give back. People have these amazing, life-changing experiences on the CDT and other trails, and they want to offer something in return,” shared Gamertsfelder. 

Ambitious volunteers may also choose to give back by adopting their own section of the CDT. The Adopt-a-Trail program allows volunteers to work with CDTC and a local agency to learn the skills to plan their own trail maintenance outings and maintain a specific area. By the end of 2023, CDTC’s 360 registered trail adopters assisted in maintaining over 1,300 miles of trail and logged nearly 6,000 hours of trail work. 

Trail Adopters can be individuals or groups, and some sections are adopted by corporate entities and their staff. Part of enrolling in the program is committing to participating in training to learn about trail work techniques and safety. 

“The Adopt-a-Trail program is unique, because we’re not out on the trail with each adopter. We provide support, resources, and training, but there is a lot of autonomy in the program,” said Gamertsfelder. 

Additional training and workshops through CDTC and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado are also being offered this year. An in-person crosscut sawyer training and certification workshop will take place from Friday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 5th in Del Norte, Colorado, and a virtual Crew Chef training will take place on Wednesday, March 27. People willing to volunteer in the camp kitchen with utensils rather than out on the trail with tools are encouraged to participate in the workshop.

More information about upcoming field projects, training opportunities, and events is available at continentaldividetrail.org/volunteer or by contacting volunteer@continentaldividetrail.org. 

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About the Congressional Report

As a connector of landscapes, communities, and cultures, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) provides a setting for community members, decision-makers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone connected to the lands and waters of the Divide, to come together to discuss how to steward the vital natural, cultural, and historic resources found across its entirety. Link to report: https://issuu.com/cdtc/docs/congressional-report-2024

About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging, and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors annually. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection. 

About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail as a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.