NSA Colorado Projects

NSA Colorado South Elbert Trail Project, September 6 -10, 2006

A wooded dispersed camp below 10,000' near the Continental Divide Trail overlooking Twin Lakes with incredible views of the Collegiate Range; abundant tent and camper sites and numerous challenging tasks including bridges, turnpike construction and stone walls. What more could we ask for? How about camping in an Aspen grove as the autumnal coloration begins, great food prepared by the now veteran NSA camp cook Princess Sue, full camp and kitchen equipment support by the Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) and financial support tools and equipment supplied by the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and the USFS. Best of all, drinking beer and swapping stories with your bros around the campfire. If this sounds good to you, then there is plenty of time to sign up for the NSA Colorado South Elbert trail maintenance project.
Here is more detail about the project. Warren Pierce, CJ'64 volunteered as squad leader and already has many of the details of the project under control. The project site is located on the San Isabel National Forest about 20 miles north of Buena Vista on US 24, turning west at Balltown on Colorado 82 for three miles to Twin Lakes. We're going to assemble for lunch at the Twin Lakes Nordic Lodge, a National Historic Stagecoach Stop built in 1879. Over the years the structure has been the Twin Lakes Hotel, The Black Wolfe Inn, and The Sportsman Lodge. From there we'll convoy a few miles to the dispersed campsite, private but suitable for campers and accessible by high-centered passenger vehicles with beautiful tent sites in an Aspen grove.
We'll have full support from the CDTA which will provide $6.00 per day for each jumper for food. Justin Milne, Trails Coordinator from the Leadville Ranger District will be our in-camp technical advisor and supply all tools (bring your own hand pruning saw if you have one). Justin assured us on our recon trip to the site that there is plenty of challenging work. Although trail crews are in this area during the summer, numerous demanding projects are being held for the smokejumper crew. Details on the specific work projects will be posted as we receive information from the CTDA and the USFS.
It occurred to us that there maybe some of you who would like to plan a Labor Day visit to Colorado with your family or significant other and still volunteer on the project. We would like to suggest that you could do both by checking the partner or family into The Nordic Lodge B & B and then, while they drive over Independence Pass to Aspen 30 miles away to spend your money, you could go out on the trail for a few days.
Warren will be in contact with the crew by email regarding specifics and we will post general information on this blogspot as it is received. If any of you are considering or interested in signing up, there is still time but you need to get a sign up sheet to Jon McBride and let Warren know you'’re coming. A great project-don’t miss it!