Motorized and non-motorized advocates to lead 50+ volunteers in major maintenance project on National Trails Day
Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) and Central Colorado Mountain Riders (CCMR), in collaboration with the Salida Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service, will lead a large volunteer event on National Trails Day to restore part of the iconic Rainbow Trail near Salida, Colorado.
Image courtesy of Salida Mountain Trails.
With 50+ volunteers signed up to help, organizers will collectively invest about $10,000 in the trail on this one day alone. This in-kind estimate uses the current volunteer rate of $28.54/hr., plus tools, transportation, and other materials.
This project is a perfect example of the power of shared stewardship, with motorized and non-motorized trail advocates working together to get more done. In this case, SMT and CCMR will be making the Rainbow Trail more sustainable and user-friendly, and addressing issues stemming from the 2019 Decker fire and subsequent rainstorms.
“Our organizations have a history of working together to make this shared trail safe, sustainable and fun for all users,” said Jon Terbush, executive director of Salida Mountain Trails. “We’re proud to continue that partnership with a joint volunteer project that adds tremendous value to a treasured local asset.”
The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 4. Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop and Soulcraft Brewing are generously donating lunch and libations for all volunteers. SMT will also provide all volunteers with a commemorative Rainbow Trail hat.
Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds, maintains and advocates for the network of more than 50 miles of non-motorized trails in and around the City of Salida. SMT leaders say the organization believes trails improve quality of life for residents while boosting the bottom line of local businesses. It works with other stakeholders—including the City of Salida, federal land managers, and other recreation groups—to plan and develop new trails.
Two years ago SMT spent $50,000 for contract work on the Rainbow Trail and close to $20,000 in in-kind work. ‘this was the same year SMT spent over $65,000 for contract work on the new Pot-O-Gold Trail.
Mike
The headline is misleading. It reads like SMT is putting up $10k for Rainbow Trail work but I think what you meant was that this is the value of the volunteers time. It’s also misleading since CCMR is the trail adopter for the Rainbow trail, and does most of the maintenance on this trail.
Brad, this is an excellent point. But donated time is as much a resource as money, and when given to a nonprofit that tracks this (and SMT and many others do) – it does have a numeric value.
First, I appreciate the work you do and I enjoy reading AVV. However, I gotta agree with Brad about how The headline is written because I was confused. It should read: SALIDA MOUNTAIN TRAILS ANNOUNCES large scale volunteer effort on THE RAINBOW TRAIL. They’re not literally investing dollars…which is why it’s volunteers. Nothing wrong with that and it doesn’t negate the value of volunteer hours. Frankly people power is, in this case, more valuable than dollars. Just my opinion though.