Volunteers to help complete Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

Want to do something important, physical, and be out in the wild over your summer vacation? Each year, the Colorado Divide Trail Alliance organizes projects allowing volunteers to help complete the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT).

Each year CDTA coordinates more than 500 volunteers on projects from Mexico to Canada. No previous experience is required and tools and training are provided.

This year, you can enjoy the majesty of the Collegiate Peaks near Leadville, Colorado and work on the Clear Creek and Winfield projects, constructing a new trail as part of a major 50-mile relocation to create a nonmotorized route linking Mount Elbert to Monarch Pass.

You build along with professional crew leaders, have your meals prepared by award-winning volunteer crew chefs, and enjoy the region’s history, hiking, fishing and numerous other outdoor recreation opportunities.
The CDTA is recruiting for the following 2010 volunteer opportunities:

•   Project #9 Clear Creek 1 – June 19 to 20
•   Project #10 Winfield 1 – June 23 to 27
•   Project #13 Clear Creek 2 – July 2 to 4
*   Project #15 Winfield 2 – July 7 to 11
•   Project #16 Winfield 3 – July 14 to 18
•   Project #33 Clear Creek 3 – Sept. 11 to 12
•   Project #37 Clear Creek 4 – Sept. 18 to 19

Volunteers are provided with free camping for our volunteers, and for most projects this is vehicle-accessed camping with no backpacking required. There is no charge any kind of registration fee to volunteer with CDTA (you would be amazed that some volunteer programs actually charge volunteers for the privilege).

Volunteers come from across the country with a few international volunteers mixed in. (More answers to Frequently Asked Questions are at

http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=involve/building/faq).

The Continental Divide Trail was established by Congress as a National Scenic Trail in 1978. When complete, the “King of Trails” will be the most significant trail system in the world. Stretching 3,100 miles along the backbone of America from Canada to Mexico, it accesses some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world while conserving the environment and promoting personal well being.

Since 1995, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance has played a central role toward the completion, management and protection of the Trail and it is the voice for unity in the diverse story of the Trail.

For more information about the Continental Divide Trail, call (303) 278-3177 or toll-free (888) 909-CDTA (2382). Or visit http://www.cdtrail.org.

For more information and to register online, visit http://www.cdtrail.org/getinvolved.

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