2010 Peak Steward Trainings
The activity of the Peak Stewards in 2009 was tremendous! Volunteer Peak Stewards performed almost 140 days, the most days per season to date!!! Check out the Accomplishments Report for details.
We have big aspirations to keep boosting the program by offering condensed trainings throughout the winter and spring. If you enjoy hiking Fourteeners and want to educate others while you are doing it, Please become involved!! See below:
2010 Peak Steward Trainings will take a different form than they have in the past. We will still host a two day training in the beginning of June but we will also be hosting trainings throughout the winter and spring!! These trainings will focus on alpine ecology, mountain safety, environmental education techniques including using the “Authority of the Resource”, Forest Service regulations, Leave No Trace principles and practices, and the general tenets of environmental stewardship.
Training #1 - took place on 1/30/10 with 15 participants
Training #2
Sunday March 7th, 2010
REI - Boulder Colorado
Training #3
Saturday March 27th, 2010
American Mountaineering Center - Golden Colorado
Training #4
Saturday April 24th, 2010
Colorado Mountain College - Leadville Colorado
Training #5
Sunday April 25th, 2010
Location TBD - Salida
Training #6
Saturday May 22nd, 2010
Glenwood Springs Community Center, Glenwood Springs CO
Big Training
Saturday June 12th-Sunday June 13th
Alma Town Hall, Alma Colorado, Mtns Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross
For more information call Brian at 303-278-7650 or email to brian@14ers.org and to register for the training download the registration form. We're looking forward to hearing from you!
Climb With a Purpose!
Nearly 500,000 hikers attempt to climb one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks each year. This high level of use has resulted in dramatic impacts to the peaks’ fragile alpine environments. CFI’s educational programs attempt to minimize future recreational impacts by encouraging hikers to practice Leave No Trace skills and ethics. The Peak Steward Program provides Fourteener enthusiasts with the opportunity to “climb with a purpose” by hiking high-use Fourteeners, collecting valuable information and educating fellow hikers about minimum impact climbing ethics.
We Need Your Help!!
Environmental stewardship is essential to the health of the natural places that everyone enjoys, including Colorado’s fourteen thousand foot peaks. Stewardship is also a responsibility take care of, protect, and preserve these places in order to ensure their natural beauty and ecological integrity. CFI’s Peak Steward program does just this by training volunteers and advocating their commitment to these special peaks that we love. PLEASE HELP US AND THE MOUNTAINS…..BECOME A PEAK STEWARD!!
What is a Peak Steward?
The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s Peak Stewards are a group of enthusiastic volunteers who are trained to monitor high-use Fourteeners. Peak Stewards document human and wildlife encounters, user behaviors, compliance with Forest Service regulations, and trail and resource conditions. Peak Stewards also initiate contact with other climbers when appropriate, and provide educational information about Fourteener-specific Leave No Trace principles for Colorado’s alpine environment. Once trained, Peak Stewards will commit to volunteering a minimum of four days throughout the summer.
Current Peak Stewards - Stay Involved!
(a note from CFI's Education and Outreach Coordinator)
The best way we can advertise volunteer opportunities and recruit more Peak Stewards is to keep the conversation going. Fourteeners are often a topic of discussion outside of the peaks themselves. Folks are getting in "Prep-Mode" this time of year and thinking about their summer climbs. If you hear Fourteener related chit-chat, chime in! Direct them to this website or drop my email (brian@14ers.org) and get them involved. Every single individual that we can recruit and train as a Peak Steward will make a huge difference. Or, if you come across an online forum involving CFI, post a link to this page and let other Fourteener climbers know about the opportunity to become involved. Thanks!
- Brian Wallace