Introduction
A few years ago, the Gay and Lesbian Section of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Sierra Club (GLS) teamed up with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) to "adopt" Capitol Peak, a "fourteener" (one of ~55 mountains over 14,000 ft in elevation above sea level located in the state of Colorado). Peak adoption means maintaining and protecting the wilderness area surrounding the peak, and one of the most important ongoing tasks this includes is building and maintaining trails which convey hikers and other visitors through beautiful and ecologically fragile territory on their way to the ridges and summit of magnificent Capitol Peak.
GLS volunteers teamed up with CFI leader Alicia Day for this year's work project which took place from 21-24 July 2004. Horses were used to pack in heavy tools like pick axes, sledges, and hammers, as well as food. The volunteers hiked about 6 miles from the trailhead to a wooded campsite next to a mountain stream and the rolling, steep, wildflower-studded tundra leading up to the rocky granite slopes.
Work took place along the trail which had been built on previous volunteer trips over the past two years, at elevations around 11,000 feet. The wildflowers, the views, the delicious meals, and the excellent company made for ideal conditions in which to do trail work.
Participants pictured above include CFI team leader Alicia Day, front and center (blue blouse); GLS volunteers from left to right are: Jamie Bender, Lisa Lewis, Bill Roettker (behind Alicia), Jacob Morgan, and John Krotchko. The pretty horse is unidentified but I think his name should be Brownie.
Want to know more, or join us for a future work project or an outing? Check out these photos and visit us at our websites. Then give us a call.
Sierra Club, Rocky Mountain Chapter http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/index.shtml
Gay and Lesbian section http://www.rmc.sierraclub.org/gls/
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative http://www.coloradofourteeners.org/home/index.php
