Notes from the Field

Contrary to how it sometimes looks, restoration is a bit more than throwing seeds on the ground. A lot of thought and planning go into a site before the work is completed to ensure successful restoration. Our staff asks questions like when is the best time to seed, what type of seed should be used at a site, what type of prep work should be done at the site before the seed is sown, and will the seed stay in place?

It’s that time of year again; Christmas music is playing in the stores, the lights are up around town, and with white stuff on the ground and with cold morning temps, it finally feels like winter. On December 4th, the Capitol Christmas tree was lit in Washington D.C., a tree that originated from Colorado. The small town of Meeker, CO had the honor this year of providing the tree for the Capitol.  The tree comes from the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest on the Western Slope.

Wait… why would we ever close and restore a campsite?! Before you go on thinking we’re anti-camping fanatics, hear us out! For over 15 field seasons RMFI has been working in South Colony Lakes Basin, a beautiful alpine cirque basin and designated Wilderness Area home to Humboldt Peak, Crestone Needle, and Crestone Peak. We spent over a decade building a sustainable trail infrastructure within the basin and to the summits of its peaks, and are now focusing on creating a sustainable camping infrastructure.

In June 2002, the Hayman Fire burned over 130,000 acres and was the largest forest fire in Colorado history.  Through a partnership with the US Forest Service, National Forest Foundation and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, RMFI staff and two dedicated, hardworking crews have been building erosion control structures in ephemeral draws on the site of the Hayman Burn, near West Creek, Colorado.

High up on the northeastern flank of Pikes Peak there is a special place of which few people are aware. This place is the headwater area to Severy Creek and it has been recognized by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program for its outstanding biological diversity. Within Severy Creek resides a population of the threatened Colorado greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias), Colorado's state fish, as well as a slew of other sensitive flora and fauna. Part of what makes this area so biologically diverse is the presence of the largest fen on Pikes Peak.

This month we highlight one of the most renowned tools for trail work.  Similar to the McLeod (featured in September 2011’s Knowledge Nook) the Pulaski has its roots in wildland firefighting.  Ed Pulaski was the inventor of this versatile tool.  He combined an ax head with an adze (hoe) to create the Pulaski.  The Pulaski is a favorite tool of firefighters for digging firebreaks, which involves removing vegetation and digging trenches.  The adze is used for grubbing and digging, and the ax is for chopping and clearing roots.

The father daughter running team of Kalee Ricks and Thomas Ricks are planning to embark on a running challenge this May of truly inspiring nature.  They are going to run/hike the first 1000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 40 days, which means they are moving at least the distance of a marathon each and every day.  To add to the prowess of this physical feat these Colorado Springs locals are running for a cause.

RMFI began reconstructing the popular summit trail from Lake Como Basin to Blanca Peak (14,345') in 2011. Our goal has been to mitigate environmental degradation associated with the ample foot traffic on this mountain. This  work includes rerouting a trail away from an alpine wetland near crater lake and restoring the many social trails of the area. The work should be completed this year and is part of our Earth Corps program (more details).

As we all know, restoration is a big part of what RMFI does with our sweat equity. We’ve led the push to restore social trails and gullies in places such as Garden of the Gods, and played a big role in large-scale restoration projects in the Hayman Burn Area and on Pikes Peak. We all know it makes sense now, but when did this idea of restoring wild places back to their pre-human conditions first come about?

Since 2001, RMFI has partnered with Colorado College students to offer a 5 day service learning opportunity that involves trail and restoration work in the magnificent Canyonlands region of Utah. In 2008 this program added an adventure driven back-country experience with 5 days of canyoneering and backpacking. This all happens over spring break and this year RMFI is embarking on the 11th annual expedition.

This upcoming Saturday, the 28th of January, RMFI and the local branch of the Sunflower Farmer's Market (www.sunflowermarkets.com) are partnering to offer you, the incredible public, the perfect winter lunch. What is that you ask? Well, grilled cheese and tomato soup of course! (for only $3). Eager RMFI volunteers will be cooking and serving you the food at Sunflower's 1730 Dublin Boulevard location.

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:

Winter is a dark time for RMFI. Imagine the first scene of “The Empire Strikes Back”, the Imperial Walkers are coming and our Ton-Tons are about to freeze, along with out hands and shovels and any drive to do trail maintenance, let alone request the help of volunteers (playing the Jedis of course).  The rebels are about to give up the fight against imperial erosion, I mean everything is covered in snow anyways, we can walk as our snowshoes and skis see fit, freedom like the Old Republic!

The weather, it seems, has finally turned to winter on us. The speed at which 60 degrees switched to 20 makes the head spin more than a doubly exposed belay. And in a not so clarifying prospect this wintery weather is also bringing an end to the climbing season in our snowy state. Well, an end to lot of our climbing. But as many of you know some of the best sport climbing around is accessible and bearable (temperature wise) year round. I am talking about the Shelf Road Recreation Area outside of Canon City, one of RMFI's long time projects.

This might seem slightly melodramatic but in this day of fast cars and video games, of TV and the internet the great outdoors is beginning to feel more like a lost family member every year. The outdoors is a force for peace in many of our lives because of beautiful climbs, calming hikes and that feeling you get when the last sigh leaves your body and it is just you and the woods, or the desert, or the mountains. That feeling is what RMFI is dedicated to preserving and we could never do it without help.

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”  ---- Brundtland Commision