Oct 24, 2009 6:30 pm US/Mountain
Volunteers Work On Continental Divide Scenic Trail
BERTHOUD PASS, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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A hiker enjoys a day along the Continental Divide Scenic Trail.
CBS
Officially designated by the United States Congress in 1978, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail follows the backbone of the North American continent through five western states -- New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
"It's the very seam at which we come together as east and west," said Teresa Martinez with the Continental Divide Trail Alliance. "It's where the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds begin."
The Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is one of the many organizations across the West helping to build this 3,100 mile spine slowly but surely.
"We're actually building something that people will use for generations to come," said volunteer Jake Lohwater. "And I think there's a lot of pride of ownership in making the best trail that we can. It's kind of an honor."
"They're out there spiking it for five days, four nights or more, living at altitude, building trail, dealing with all these kind of environments," Martinez said. "Everything from mountain goats marauding their camps to lightning storms."
"This is art. It's sculpture. This is a piece of history," said John Giordana with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. "It's a chance to put something on this earth that's going to be here long after I'm gone."
"We have about 800 miles of the trail that will eventually be completed in Colorado," explained Martinez. "We're currently at 597 miles of that so about 75 percent of the trail is completed in Colorado."
A warming house has been built on the top of Berthoud Pass along the trail to accommodate people getting outdoors in the area.
"Snowboarders and cross country skiers, hikers in the summer, and then the people that are just driving over the pass who want to experience this high elevation adventure of crossing over the Continental Divide," said John Bustos with the U.S. Forest Service.
The Continental Divide Trail Alliance, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Department of Transportation and Great Outdoors Colorado collaborated in building this low maintenance, sustainable structure. It even has restrooms.
"50 or 100 years from now, when this is complete, it's going to be a national treasure," said Matt Sugar with Great Outdoors Colorado."I think many parts of it are already a national treasure."
Even though it's got a long way to go, much of the trail can be hiked today.
"People can come out of a day, a moment, a six month trek to try to finish the whole trail in one season, or a lifetime of chipping away at little sections at a time," said Martinez.
"One of our actually best trips on the divide that we recommend on our Web site, is to start at Berthoud Pass and actually hike about 27 to 30 miles down to Herman Gulch, said Josh Shusko with the Continental Divide Trail Alliance. "And you're going to be in high alpine scenery the whole time right on the divide for much of it."
In the other direction, the James Peak and Indian Peaks wilderness are within striking distance from Berthoud Pass.
Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance Steve Dudley says, "All it takes is for people to get up on the Continental Divide to understand the power of inspiration that this great divide gives our nation."
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