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ENLARGE
Devil's Thumb Trail just outside Fraser leads hikers to the Continental Divide. This 3.93 mile hike to the thumb, the thumb shaped rock formation along the Divide, is one of the most popular trails in Grand County and often recommended to visitors looking to get up to the Divide for a challenging hike with views of the mountain peaks such as Mt. Neva and north to the Never Summer Wilderness.
This trail was adopted by Susie Masterson in 1997 and this year, on Aug. 28, she organized a work day to rebuild the bridge she helped construct thirteen years ago. “The bridge is important to me since we built it about 13 years ago on my first-ever work day,” she said.
Partnering with Boy Scout Troop 999 from Arvada, their leaders, Kymmie Scott from the Forest Service, volunteers from Denver and Winter Park, including friends of Guest Guide Publications that creates Grand County trail maps, there were 413 hours spent planning and building the bridge and ford on the Devil's Thumb Trail.
The work day originally was going to be Saint Louis Creek, but was changed when Susie hiked her trail this spring and found the bridge, located about two miles into the trail, was washed out.
It needed to be replaced, and soon.
Kymmie Scott, USFS Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator, says that everyone who hikes the trails need to communicate problems on the trail: “It is important to call the Forest Service to report poor trail conditions, especially bridges, since there is planning and preparation needed for big trail projects.” So when Susie told her about the bridge, the planning started.
The purpose of the project: To build a single-span bridge with rock retaining-wall abutments that had been washed out due to higher-than-normal runoff. This new bridge would prevent a public hazard after next spring's runoff.
How the bridge was built: There were a dozen large standing-dead pine trees in the area. These trees were used so they wouldn't fall later on the new bridge. And, these same trees were used in the new bridge construction. Additionally, by dropping the trees, they mitigated overhead hazards to the volunteers working on-site and to the public who will be using the trails in the future.
In addition to creating the new bridge, there were other tasks completed by the volunteer crew, including deconstruction of the old bridge (75 percent of material from it was used in the new bridge). The new log footbridge spans approximately 15 feet. They constructed puncheons leading up to the bridge on both sides and a ford for equestrian crossing at the previous location. They created rock work for abatements, sills, and approaches to the bridge.
The Adopt A Trail Program (AAT) at the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Sulphur Ranger District encourages community members to take ownership of their public lands. Last summer 62 trails were adopted, providing for 153 miles of trail maintained and 2,127 volunteer hours contributed. The program also allows for a direct line of communication between people who recreate in the National Forest and the USFS.
Kymmie says that the best part of the Adopt A Trail Program was the volunteerism.
“I am a firm believer in volunteerism,” she said. “It creates a positive impact on both the personal life of the volunteer and the community to which they give their time and skills. Through AAT I have worked with many great folks from our community and have witnessed how effective teamwork can be in creating a positive impact on our environment.”
At the end of the work day the Scouts lined up and were the first to officially cross the bridge. Although they didn't finish the ford and part of one approach during the work day, a few days later Kymmie and Nick Valentino from the Forest Service finished the ford. The approach will be finished shortly.
This trail was adopted by Susie Masterson in 1997 and this year, on Aug. 28, she organized a work day to rebuild the bridge she helped construct thirteen years ago. “The bridge is important to me since we built it about 13 years ago on my first-ever work day,” she said.
Partnering with Boy Scout Troop 999 from Arvada, their leaders, Kymmie Scott from the Forest Service, volunteers from Denver and Winter Park, including friends of Guest Guide Publications that creates Grand County trail maps, there were 413 hours spent planning and building the bridge and ford on the Devil's Thumb Trail.
The work day originally was going to be Saint Louis Creek, but was changed when Susie hiked her trail this spring and found the bridge, located about two miles into the trail, was washed out.
It needed to be replaced, and soon.
Kymmie Scott, USFS Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator, says that everyone who hikes the trails need to communicate problems on the trail: “It is important to call the Forest Service to report poor trail conditions, especially bridges, since there is planning and preparation needed for big trail projects.” So when Susie told her about the bridge, the planning started.
The purpose of the project: To build a single-span bridge with rock retaining-wall abutments that had been washed out due to higher-than-normal runoff. This new bridge would prevent a public hazard after next spring's runoff.
How the bridge was built: There were a dozen large standing-dead pine trees in the area. These trees were used so they wouldn't fall later on the new bridge. And, these same trees were used in the new bridge construction. Additionally, by dropping the trees, they mitigated overhead hazards to the volunteers working on-site and to the public who will be using the trails in the future.
In addition to creating the new bridge, there were other tasks completed by the volunteer crew, including deconstruction of the old bridge (75 percent of material from it was used in the new bridge). The new log footbridge spans approximately 15 feet. They constructed puncheons leading up to the bridge on both sides and a ford for equestrian crossing at the previous location. They created rock work for abatements, sills, and approaches to the bridge.
The Adopt A Trail Program (AAT) at the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Sulphur Ranger District encourages community members to take ownership of their public lands. Last summer 62 trails were adopted, providing for 153 miles of trail maintained and 2,127 volunteer hours contributed. The program also allows for a direct line of communication between people who recreate in the National Forest and the USFS.
Kymmie says that the best part of the Adopt A Trail Program was the volunteerism.
“I am a firm believer in volunteerism,” she said. “It creates a positive impact on both the personal life of the volunteer and the community to which they give their time and skills. Through AAT I have worked with many great folks from our community and have witnessed how effective teamwork can be in creating a positive impact on our environment.”
At the end of the work day the Scouts lined up and were the first to officially cross the bridge. Although they didn't finish the ford and part of one approach during the work day, a few days later Kymmie and Nick Valentino from the Forest Service finished the ford. The approach will be finished shortly.
