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.
What is a Peak Steward?
The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s Peak Stewards are a group of enthusiastic volunteers who are trained to patrol 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.
Potential volunteers must have significant hiking experience, strong outdoor ethics, and a desire to educate others about responsible hiking practices for alpine environments. Volunteers must attend a two-day Peak Steward Training on June 21-22, 2008. The training will include topics such as alpine ecology, mountain safety, “Authority of the Resource” training, Forest Service regulations, and a Leave No Trace Trainer Certification. Once trained, Peak Stewards will commit to volunteering a minimum of four days throughout the summer.
How Can You Become a Peak Steward?
If you are interested in becoming a Peak Steward, please fill out a 2008 Volunteer Application or register online.
If you cannot access the application or for more information, please contact Jessica at 303-278-7650×115 or jessica@14ers.org.
Current Peak Stewards
Peak Stewards may now schedule days and enter Peak Steward Log data conveniently online! Features of the new Peak Steward Google account include:
Interactive Calendar - You can update your scheduled days and peaks from any computer to let other volunteers and the CFI office know where you are going and how to contact you!
Documents - You can print extra copies of the Peak Steward Log and input data that you have collected! Please mail the original copy of your log to CFI.
Photo feature - Upload and share pictures from your hike!
To access the Google account, click here. If you need the Google account password or prefer to have the office input your data, contact Jessica at 303-278-7650×115 or jessica@14ers.org.