Successes and Lessons Learned on El Diente

Our work on El Diente this year was a big undertaking for CFI. The project was led by two of our most talented and experienced crew leaders, Tom Cronin and Miriam Venman-Clay. With help from Southwest Conservation Corps and volunteers, they were able to complete 1.21...

Now Steena, you promised you wouldn’t get lost again…

Mission: Collect Wilderness permits and check out potential hunter camps along Martin trail, hike out to West Grouse Mountain trailhead. This is the story about how an easy day hike through the Holy Cross Wilderness became the longest hike ever. 8am: I headed out to...

Seasons of Wonder

Not everyone has a chance to experience the wilderness as I have this season. I have had the opportunity and absolute privilege to see the Rocky Mountains of Colorado transition through spring, summer, and fall, with each transformation just as enchanting as the next....

A Return to the Primitive

In the Wilderness Act of 1964, which we can thank for areas like the Holy Cross Wilderness, part of the definition of wilderness contains the following line: “has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation” In wilderness...

From Sea Level to Summit

I drove from Atlanta to Colorado in early August knowing little about what the next two months doing trail maintenance may entail.  Soon enough I learned about altitude sickness, days spent moving large rocks, snow in August, and wag-bags.  And I’ve loved every...