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Cushion Plants – Alpine Pioneers

by admin | Nov 1, 2011 | Videos detail gallery | 0 comments

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmkrMfL3nyY

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2025 Field Season Recap
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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

3 weeks ago

🤍 14er Flora & Fauna: Short-Tailed Weasel EditionMeet one of the smallest but fiercest predators in Colorado's alpine environment—the short-tailed weasel, also known as an ermine when it's sporting its brilliant white winter coat!Weighing only a few ounces, these pint-size hunters are Colorado's smallest mammalian carnivores. Don't let their adorable appearance fool you though—they can kill and carry prey up to 10 times their own size. Their long, slender bodies allow them to capture and kill prey in tight spaces, like under rocks on the alpine tundra.What makes them perfectly adapted to life above treeline? They hunt in the subnivean zone—those tunnels beneath the snow—pursuing their primary prey of voles and pikas right into their burrows. This makes them vital predators in the alpine food web, helping maintain healthy small mammal populations.Our trail work protects critical alpine habitat for these remarkable hunters and their prey. By keeping hikers on designated trails, we preserve the talus slopes, rock piles, and tundra ecosystems where weasels hunt and den.Fun fact: The decreasing daylight as winter approaches triggers hormone reactions that cause a decrease in melanin production, turning their brown summer coat white—except for that signature black-tipped tail.Have you spotted a weasel darting across the trail? Share your sighting below! 👇 ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

3 weeks ago

Last night, we raised a glass (or two 🍺) to the people who make it all possible. 🏔️More than 80 of our incredible volunteers and supporters gathered at New Terrain Brewing Company in Golden to celebrate an unforgettable year on Colorado's fourteeners. We handed out awards, cheered on raffle winners, and soaked in the good vibes that only come from a room full of people who truly love these mountains.Thank you to every single one of you who showed up in 2025 — with your hands, your boots, and your hearts — to protect and restore Colorado's high country. You are CFI. 💙Shout-out to Blair Hamill, who created and donated the award posters. 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

4 weeks ago

Great! Join us on April 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the REI in Colorado Springs for this free informative class!CFI's expert instructors will cover topics such as practical insights and strategies for hiking 14,000-foot peaks, vital skills for staying safe in the high country, the importance of minimizing human impact through Leave No Trace principles, the fascinating ecology of Colorado's alpine regions, and stewardship opportunities to give back to the mountains.Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels, this class offers key takeaways and practical guidance for anyone seeking to explore Colorado's high country responsibly and safely.Sign up here:https://www.rei.com/events/dcfi/discovering-colorados-14ers-with-the-colorado-fourteeners-initiative ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

1 month ago

🫎 14er Flora & Fauna: Moose EditionSpotted: a moose hanging out on Mount Bierstadt! These massive mammals were reintroduced to Colorado in the late 1970s, and they've thrived—our state is now home to around 3,000.While moose might look right at home munching on willow carr, their presence reminds us why thoughtful trail construction and management matter. Our work protects critical habitat corridors and riparian areas where moose (and countless other species) feed and rest.When you encounter wildlife on your 14er adventure, remember: Give them space, stay on the trail, and let them go about their business. Every sustainable trail we build helps ensure these incredible animals can coexist with the thousands of hikers who visit Colorado's peaks each year.Fun fact: Bull moose can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and stand over six feet tall at the shoulder. Definitely worth admiring from a safe distance!Have you spotted moose on a 14er? Tell us where in the comments! 👇 ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

1 month ago

🏔️ WE'RE HIRING! 🏔️Join the team protecting Colorado's iconic 14ers! We're looking for a Controller to help power our mission from the financial side.The Gig:You'll be CFI's financial wizard—managing budgets, payroll for 35+ crew members, grant reporting, and everything that keeps our trail work humming. Report to our leadership team and work with our board to keep us on track.You Bring:✨ 3-5+ years finance/accounting experience✨ QuickBooks & Excel mastery✨ Strategic thinking + detail obsession✨ Bachelor's in business/accounting or related fieldBonus Points:💚 CPA certification💚 Nonprofit accounting experience💚 You love hiking 14ers!Our Vibe:We're a tight-knit crew of five year-round staff who expand to 30-40 during peak season. We work hard, MacGyver our way through challenges, and are all about keeping the band together for the long haul. Think special forces of trail work! 💪📧 Apply: Send cover letter + résumé to controller@14ers.org (subject: "Controller")📅 Deadline: Feb 17 (but reviewing until filled)Based in Lakewood, CO. Full-time, exempt position.Let's protect these peaks together! 🌲⛰️https://www.14ers.org/employment/ ... See MoreSee Less

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colorado14ersinitiative

CFI works to preserve and protect the natural integrity of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education.

❄️ Finally, some snow! After a painfully dry stre

❄️ Finally, some snow!

After a painfully dry stretch, the peaks are looking a little better after some weekend precip. The fresh snow is more than just pretty—it's essential for the alpine ecosystem.

Snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, slowly releasing moisture through spring and early summer to nourish alpine plants during their short growing season. It also releases nutrients as it melts, giving wildflowers and other vegetation the boost they need to thrive in harsh conditions. Plus, snow insulates the ground, protecting fragile plants and soil from extreme temperature swings and frost damage.

Our trails help protect these snow-fed ecosystems by keeping foot traffic concentrated and preventing damage to the plants that depend on this precious moisture. Every sustainable trail we build means healthier alpine environments—especially when Mother Nature delivers the goods.

It looks like this week could bring record-high temps, so pray that we get more of the white stuff soon. Colorado's 14ers (and everyone downstream) are thirsty! 🏔️💧

#ColoradoFourteenersInitiative #WetterhornPeak #Snowpack #AlpineEcosystem #ColoradoSnow #14ers #ConservationMatters #TrailStewardship

🦋 14er Flora & Fauna: White-Lined Sphinx Moth Edit

🦋 14er Flora & Fauna: White-Lined Sphinx Moth Edition

Is it a bird? Is it a bee? Nope—it's a white-lined sphinx moth! These incredible pollinators are often mistaken for hummingbirds as they hover over flowers, sipping nectar with their long proboscis. With a wingspan of two to three inches and the ability to fly up to 30 mph, they're one of Colorado's most impressive mountain insects.

Here's the cool part: Sphinx moths have actually shaped the geographic variation in flower color of our state flower, the blue columbine! At lower elevations where moths fly at night, columbines are often white (easier to spot in the dark). At high elevations where colder temps force the moths to fly during the day, columbines are dark blue. That's evolution in action!

These moths have been seen in abundance in the mountains of Colorado, making them important pollinators for alpine and subalpine wildflowers. By keeping hikers on sustainable trails, we protect the delicate wildflowers these moths depend on for nectar—and the healthy ecosystems where both plants and pollinators thrive together.

Fun fact: While hovering, their wings beat 41 times per second, creating a distinctive buzzing sound.

Have you spotted a sphinx moth on your 14er adventures? Share your sighting below! 👇

#14erFloraFauna #ColoradoFourteenersInitiative #WhiteLinedSphinxMoth #HummingbirdMoth #AlpinePollinators #ColoradoWildflowers #LeaveNoTrace #TrailStewardship

🤍 14er Flora & Fauna: Short-Tailed Weasel Edition

🤍 14er Flora & Fauna: Short-Tailed Weasel Edition

Meet one of the smallest but fiercest predators in Colorado's alpine environment—the short-tailed weasel, also known as an ermine when it's sporting its brilliant white winter coat!

Weighing only a few ounces, these pint-size hunters are Colorado's smallest mammalian carnivores. Don't let their adorable appearance fool you though—they can kill and carry prey up to 10 times their own size. Their long, slender bodies allow them to capture and kill prey in tight spaces, like under rocks on the alpine tundra.

What makes them perfectly adapted to life above treeline? They hunt in the subnivean zone—those tunnels beneath the snow—pursuing their primary prey of voles and pikas right into their burrows. This makes them vital predators in the alpine food web, helping maintain healthy small mammal populations.

Our trail work protects critical alpine habitat for these remarkable hunters and their prey. By keeping hikers on designated trails, we preserve the talus slopes, rock piles, and tundra ecosystems where weasels hunt and den.

Fun fact: The decreasing daylight as winter approaches triggers hormone reactions that cause a decrease in melanin production, turning their brown summer coat white—except for that signature black-tipped tail.

Have you spotted a weasel darting across the trail? Share your sighting below! 👇

#14erFloraFauna #ColoradoFourteenersInitiative #ShortTailedWeasel #Ermine #AlpineWildlife #AlpineEcosystem #LeaveNoTrace #TrailStewardship

Last night, we raised a glass (or two 🍺) to the pe

Last night, we raised a glass (or two 🍺) to the people who make it all possible. 🏔️

More than 80 of our incredible volunteers and supporters gathered at @NewTerrainBrewing in Golden to celebrate an unforgettable year on Colorado's fourteeners. We handed out awards, cheered on raffle winners, and soaked in the good vibes that only come from a room full of people who truly love these mountains.

Thank you to every single one of you who showed up in 2025 — with your hands, your boots, and your hearts — to protect and restore Colorado's high country. You are CFI. 💙

Shout-out to Blair Hamill, who created and donated the award posters. 🙏

Great! Join us on April 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at

Great! Join us on April 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the REI in Colorado Springs for this free informative class!

CFI's expert instructors will cover topics such as practical insights and strategies for hiking 14,000-foot peaks, vital skills for staying safe in the high country, the importance of minimizing human impact through Leave No Trace principles, the fascinating ecology of Colorado's alpine regions, and stewardship opportunities to give back to the mountains.

Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels, this class offers key takeaways and practical guidance for anyone seeking to explore Colorado's high country responsibly and safely.

👉 Sign up at the link in bio

🫎 14er Flora & Fauna: Moose Edition Spotted: a mo

🫎 14er Flora & Fauna: Moose Edition

Spotted: a moose hanging out on Mount Bierstadt! These massive mammals were reintroduced to Colorado in the late 1970s, and they've thrived—our state is now home to around 3,000.

While moose might look right at home munching on willow carr, their presence reminds us why thoughtful trail construction and management matter. Our work protects critical habitat corridors and riparian areas where moose (and countless other species) feed and rest.

When you encounter wildlife on your 14er adventure, remember: Give them space, stay on the trail, and let them go about their business. Every sustainable trail we build helps ensure these incredible animals can coexist with the thousands of hikers who visit Colorado's peaks each year.

Fun fact: Bull moose can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and stand over six feet tall at the shoulder. Definitely worth admiring from a safe distance!

Have you spotted moose on a 14er? Tell us where in the comments! 👇

#14erFloraFauna #ColoradoFourteenersInitiative #ColoradoMoose #WildlifeConservation #MountBierstadt #LeaveNoTrace #TrailStewardship

🏔️ WE'RE HIRING! 🏔️ Join the team protecting Colo

🏔️ WE'RE HIRING! 🏔️

Join the team protecting Colorado's iconic 14ers! We're looking for a Controller to help power our mission from the financial side.

The Gig:
You'll be CFI's financial wizard—managing budgets, payroll for 35+ crew members, grant reporting, and everything that keeps our trail work humming. Report to our leadership team and work with our board to keep us on track.

You Bring:
✨ 3-5+ years finance/accounting experience
✨ QuickBooks & Excel mastery
✨ Strategic thinking + detail obsession
✨ Bachelor's in business/accounting or related field

Bonus Points:
💚 CPA certification
💚 Nonprofit accounting experience
💚 You love hiking 14ers!

Our Vibe:
We're a tight-knit crew of five year-round staff who expand to 30-40 during peak season. We work hard, MacGyver our way through challenges, and are all about keeping the band together for the long haul. Think special forces of trail work! 💪

📧 Apply: Send cover letter + résumé to controller@14ers.org (subject: "Controller")

📅 Deadline: Feb 17 (but reviewing until filled)

Based in Lakewood, CO. Full-time, exempt position.

Let's protect these peaks together! 🌲⛰️

Link in bio for full job posting.

🌸 14er Flora & Fauna: Blue Columbine Edition Meet

🌸 14er Flora & Fauna: Blue Columbine Edition

Meet Colorado's state flower since 1899—the delicate blue columbine! These gorgeous blooms might look hardy as they dance in subalpine winds, but they're actually incredibly fragile. One misplaced boot can damage plants that struggle to thrive in harsh mountain environments.

That's where our work comes in. Every trail we build isn't just about getting you to the summit—it's about protecting 14er-based treasures like the columbine. By concentrating foot traffic on durable trail surfaces, we keep thousands of boots off the vegetation.

Next time you're ascending one of Colorado's fourteeners, take a moment to appreciate these beauties from the trail. They're part of what makes our peaks so special.

What's your favorite subalpine or alpine wildflower? Drop it in the comments! 👇

#14erFloraFauna #ColoradoFourteenersInitiative #BlueColumbine #AlpineConservation #ColoradoWildflowers #LeaveNoTrace #TrailStewardship

Each year, CFI recognizes those who have stepped u

Each year, CFI recognizes those who have stepped up in huge ways to support the organization and its mission. We are proud to honor 10 award recipients who went above and beyond in 2025 to protect and restore Colorado’s fourteeners. We could not do what we do without these fine folks donating their time, expertise, dollars, and enthusiasm. So without further ado, allow us to present the 2025 CFI Award recipients.

1. Rookie of the Year: Holly Brazzle
2. Corporate Partner of the Year: Davis Graham & Stubbs (pictured: partner Jeff Brandel with his daughter, Elizabeth)
3. Peak Steward of the Year: Cindy Haddleton
4. Trail Steward of the Year: Stephen Milstrey
5. Foundation Partner of the Year: The Scheffel-Anderson Charitable Family Fund (pictured: Tim, Ale, Steve, Chris, Kaye, and Larry Anderson)
6. Volunteer of the Year: David Kennedy
7. Agency Partner of the Year: Brendan Kelly, USFS assistant regional trails and dispersed recreation program manager
8. Special Recognition Award: The Feinstein Family (pictured: Andy, Kerry and Rachel Feinstein)
9. Special Recognition Award: Glenn Randall
10. Special Recognition Award: Freestone Endurance (pictured: High Lonesome 100 volunteers)

Thank you all for all you’ve done to support CFI. We are grateful beyond measure. 🙏

After our most competitive hiring season ever, CFI

After our most competitive hiring season ever, CFI has filled all positions for the 2026 field season!

We had many highly qualified applicants and only a limited number of positions.

We appreciate all those who applied and encourage you to apply again in the future.

See you on the trails!

Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it. 💙 Spend

Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it. 💙

Spending today—and so many other days recently—sending out thank-you notes to the incredible donors who make CFI's work possible. Every signature is a reminder of how many people care deeply about protecting Colorado's tallest peaks.

These stacks represent hikers, climbers, nature lovers, and conservationists from all over the world who believe in preserving these mountains for generations to come. To everyone who's contributed—whether it's your first gift or you've been supporting us for years—thank you for being part of this mission.

Here's to keeping Colorado's fourteeners wild, accessible, and beautiful. 🏔️

🏔️ NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW PEAKS! 🏔️ Ready to make

🏔️ NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, NEW PEAKS! 🏔️

Ready to make 2026 your most epic year yet? Here's a resolution that'll actually stick: Join us for high-elevation fun at Colorado Fourteeners Initiative! 💪

Trade the gym for the trails and make a real impact on Colorado's most iconic mountains. Whether you're building sustainable trails, restoring alpine ecosystems, or educating fellow adventurers, you'll be protecting the peaks we all love while getting the best workout of your life.

✨ Why volunteer with CFI? ✨

Because your 2026 adventures deserve to be both legendary and meaningful. Meet amazing people, get dirt under your nails, breathe that high-elevation air, and know you're preserving Colorado's 14ers for generations to come.

Our volunteer projects will be posted by early April. Mark your calendars to get the project you want so you can keep at least one resolution this year. 👏

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Contact Us

1526 Cole Blvd, Suite 130 Lakewood, Colorado 80401
P: 303.278.7650
E: cfi@14ers.org

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Employment

We have completed hiring for field season 2026. Please check back in November for 2027 positions.

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Tax ID: 84-1354844

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