Fourteener summit trails are built of available rocks, logs and soils found in high alpine environments. Heavy winter snows, violent summer thunderstorms, and the impacts of an estimated half-million hikers annually take a heavy toll on even the most sturdily constructed summit trails. To keep these summit trails in great shape, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative enlists volunteer stewardship organizations, local businesses, youth summer camps, college programs, and other groups of organized volunteers to perform routine trail maintenance through the Adopt-a-Peak program. This active stewardship work protects trail structures, controls erosion, and restores denuded areas. Since 2001, nearly 6,000 volunteer days have been performed.

CFI is working with the pro bono assistance of consultants at Booz Allen Hamilton to develop a GIS-based trail conditions modeling program to assess the severity of resource damage and to track conditions over time on constructed and social trails. This system will help CFI prioritize future maintenance projects and will ensure that CFI’s limited maintenance funding and volunteer efforts are focused on the highest priority projects to ensure trails remain in good shape.