2012 marks RMFI's 30th anniversary. We've come a long way in our 30 years. Throughout 2012, we'll chat about our history and key projects over the years. Pull up a chair, pour yourself some coffee, and settle in to hear our coming of age tale:

Founded in 1982 as the American Mountain Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute was originally established to provide funding for international climbing expeditions. During the mid-1980s, AMF Executive Director, and climber and mountaineer, Mark Hesse began to notice the environmentally degrading impacts of climbers and other recreationists. He observed that these beautiful and treasured landscapes were quickly at risk of losing the very characteristics that drew people to them.

In 1989, Mark catalyzed a group of friends and fellow climbers and began building trails and restoring impacted areas in Indian Creek Canyon, an internationally renowned climbing mecca in the dramatic desert landscape of Utah. Over the next decade, Mark and volunteers protected acres of sensitive terrain by closing roads leading into side canyons, establishing a sustainable trail and camping infrastructure, and raising the awareness of climbers and land owners in the area.

In addition to Indian Creek, Mark focused his early efforts on climbing areas in Colorado, such as Eldorado Canyon, Shelf Road, and Fourteener summit trails including Mt. Huron, Mt. Belford, Humboldt Peak, and Crestone Needle. In 1997, acknowledging that the organization's priorities were now fully focused on environmental stewardship, the board changed the name to Rocky Mountain Field Institute, or as insiders call it, RMFI (pronounced "Rim-fee").

Mark is still involved with RMFI and currently sits on our board. He can often be found on the trail as well, especially at some of his favorite project sites including Indian Creek Canyon and Shelf Road, moving rocks and building impressive rock staircases. 

Photo: Early work at Indian Creek Canyon, Utah