2021 CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION ANNUAL REPORT CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION
About the Annual Report
Greg Spencer; Cover: Mike Fuhrmann
As a connector of landscapes, communities, and cultures, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) provides a setting for community members, decision makers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone connected to the lands and waters of the Divide, to come together to discuss how to steward the vital natural, cultural, and historic resources found across its entirety. With this report, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition hopes to highlight the role of the cooperative stewardship model in the management of the CDT, what we accomplished in 2021, and what we are looking forward to in 2022.
As I reflect on the 87,658 hours we have spent in building a community in support of the CDT, I remember the day in April 2014, that we celebrated the life of Sam Hughes, the original Trail Angel of Hachita, NM, who took so many hikers out to start or finish their journeys along the CDT in the Bootheel of New Mexico. It was a wonderful day spent with the community of Hachita, and also marked the first group of veterans we supported along the CDT. It was also the year we launched the CDT Southern Terminus Shuttle to fill in the gap left by Sam. That year we took 90 hikers to the Southern Terminus of the CDT. Since then, we have supported over 1,500
3 people as they begin or end their journey along the spine of the Continent.
As I reflect on the 521 weeks of building an amazing team that works in service of our communities, members, supporters, the landscape and the trail itself, I am in awe of the talent and passion people bring to their work everyday. From our first small, all-woman team of Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, and Valerie Bader, sharing a desk in the Colorado Mountain Club, to our growing team of 16 fulltime employees (still majority women!) Our team is now based out of a small office behind the stage of the American Mountaineering Center, a co-located office with Wild Montana in Helena, MT, and home offices sprinkled all across the Divide, and I couldn’t be more proud of the innovation and creativity we bring to our work to reimagine a model of cooperative trail stewardship for the CDT. And we are just getting started. And, as I reflect on the first decade of our efforts to help build an incredible movement on behalf of the Continental Divide and the wonderful trail along its spine, we are honored, humbled, privileged and grateful that this is a “we” and an “us”. And as we look toward our next decade, we hope you continue to join us as we steward one of (if not the!) most important landscapes of the North American Continent, and continue to ensure that we all are able to build, maintain, and rediscover a relation ship to this place that gives us all dreams, hope, and Manylife!happy trails. We hope to see you somewhere along this landscape in the coming months!
Dear friends, I can’t believe it. CDTC has made it to our first decade of work in service of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Ten years. As I am reflecting on our first decade, it’s hard to fathom how far we have come and that it has only been 10 years. In some ways it feels like we have always been here. I started thinking about what ten years actually is, in a purely mathematical definition. Ten years is the equivalent of 315,569,520 seconds, 5,259,492 minutes, 87,658 hours, 3,652 days or 521 weeks. Now, that feels more like it! As I reflect on the 315,569,520 seconds we have spent in stewardship of the CDT, I can think back on our first volunteer project on the Clear Creek Ranger District on National Public Lands Day 2012. It was myself and one volunteer, Anneliese Ring, working to address drainage issues along the CDT in the Herman Gulch Area. That day we built one rock drainage and cleared out 6 existing structures and talked to hundreds of people about the CDT. Since then, our volunteers have contributed over $10 million in volunteer labor for the completion and maintenance of the CDT, and have helped create one of the most revered and respected shared stewardship models across the entire National Trails System. As I reflect on the 5,259,492 minutes we have spent raising awareness of the CDT, I think back on May 21, 2013, when a few hundred people met us at the American Mountaineering Museum as we launched our Indiegogo Campaign in support of building the CDTC. It was a night full of anticipation, hope, surprise, and awe for everyone who wanted to make sure that the movement to protect the CDT endured. Since then, we have grown to over 2,500 members and supporters, who have helped us become the stable and thriving organization we are today.
Teresa Ana Martinez Executive ContinentalDirectorDivide Trail Coalition
www.continentaldividetrail.org |
As I reflect on the 3,652 days we have worked toward completion of the Trail, I am thrilled that since 2012, not only do we have a completely free and downloadable map set of the current CDT route, we have an annually updated, free down loadable planning guide, and in 2018, we signed the entire CDT from end to end for the first time. We have seen Trail completion move from 60 % to 96% and are beginning to finally make progress on major gaps along the CDT. And we have also garnered enough attention and support that Congressman Joe Neguse introduced the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act!
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
• Environmental Preservation: Bolster Biodiversity, Safeguard Migration Corridors, Preserves Natural Resources
totalProtectionoftheCDT:3100miles 58% 5%Study11%26%ProtectedOtherLandWildernessWildernessAreaUnprotected CDTC enthusiastscommunitiesin10-yearscelebratesofworkingserviceoftheandoftheCDT.2022 Jasmine Star
• Completion & Adaptive Stewardship
2012 Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act secures permanent funding for completion of the CDT through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 2020 The CDT Completion Act is introduced to Congress to prioritize completion of the CDT by 2028. 2021 Congress passes the National Parks and Recreation Act, designating the CDT as the third National Scenic Trail and making the Forest Service its lead administering agency. 1978 History of the CDT
The National Trails System Act creates a system of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreational Trails.
Thewww.continentaldividetrail.orgContinentalDivideNational
• Justice Equity, and Accessibility in the CDT Experience Benefits of the CDT
• Public Health: Clean Air, Land, and Water, Aid Community Health, Provide Access to Outdoor Spaces
• Sustainable Economic Growth: Strengthen Job Creation, Boost the Local Outdoor Recreation Industry, Support Grass roots Stewardship
Scenic Trail climbs and descends along the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, traversing 3,100 miles of the most dramatic and wild lands along the backbone of America. More than just a trail, the Continental Divide is a landscape that connects cultures and communities through the healing properties of the outdoors. Future of the CDT Public lands and waters are experiencing transfor mative changes. While we saw the unprecedented growth in popularity of our parks, trails, and forest over the past decade, at the same time, outdoors space face unprecedented threats from climate change, the disappearance of nature, and inequita ble access. To ensure the cooperative stewardship of the CDT remains sustainable and adaptable, CDTC relies on these tenets:
CDT
4 |
• Community & Connections: Cultural & Historic Site Preserva tion, Bridge Nature Gap, Create Pathways for Future Stewards
• Gateway Communities & Partner Engagement
OVERVIEW
2009 The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is founded to complete, promote, and protect the CDT.
1968 The USFS amends the CDT localprovidingManagementComprehensivePlan,directionformanagement.
CDTC is founded around a living room table with the 4 Founders, Bryan Martin, Josh Shusko, Kerry Shakarjian, and Teresa Martinez. 16 full-time CDTC staff are located along the entirety of the trail, with interns, fellows, and seasonal positions supporting ongoing projects.
CDTC Growth
ManagementCooperative
Return Investmenton
CDTC maintained a memorandum of understanding with just the U.S.Service.Forest CDTC holds a memorandum of understanding with USFS, BLM, and NPS recognizing CDTC as the lead private partner in the completion, protection, and promotion of the CDT.
CDTC’s first field season had 1 project in Colorado. CDTC had 21 field projects in 2021 across all 5 states.Trail Stewardship
CDTC’S FIRST DECADE
ofPopularitytheCDT
25 hikers attempt to thru-hike the CDT annually, with many section hikers and recreationalists enjoying the CDT in their own backyard.
The CDT is 68% complete with many sections unmarked. The CDT is 95% complete. CDTC participates in standing working groups across the trail on the major gap areas.
CDTC’s annual operating income is over $1 million and has launched the first CDT Endowment.
CDT Completion
Silver City, NM becomes the first CDT Gateway Community. Butte, MT becomes the 19th (and largest) CDT Gateway Community.CommunitiesGateway There was no consistent signing across the CDT, leaving travelers to find their own way on a regular basis.
USFS, BLM, CDTC, youth corps, and other stewardship organizations partner to “Blaze the CDT,” marking the trail in its entirety for the first time in 2018.Trail Promotion CDTC started with crowdsourcing fundraiser, raising $40K with 600 donors.
THEN NOW
400-600 hikers attempt the thru-hike the CDT annually, with the growing popularity of public lands brings thousands of new recreationists and international travelers to the CDT.
In 2022, CDTC is celebrating its 10th anniversary working in service of the communities and enthusiasts of the CDT. As we reflect back on the past 10 years of work, here are the success stories that speak to the progress the trail community has made toward completing, protecting, and promoting the CDT.
www.continentaldividetrail.org | 5
CDTC partnered with the Next100 Coalition in Colorado to help create the Outdoor Equity Grant Program. Signed into law by CO. Gov. Jared Polis, this program will “fund and support diverse organizations that provide outdoor education and recreation experiences to underserved youth and Alongfamilies.”with many other organizations and individuals in the coalition, CDTC helped foster the new Grant Program into legislation, by offering staff support, giving state Congressional testimony, and helping spread awareness.
Every year, CDTC responds to dozens of agency plans, ranging from landscape level Forest Plans to prescribed burns planned near the trail. This year, CDTC comments helped to define e-bike usage within the Forest Service, vegetation management in the form of invasive species removal and prescribed burns, the Gila National Forest, Helena-Lewis & Clark, and Custer Gallatin Forest Plans, and many more.
COOPERATIVE STEWARDSHIP
1 2 3
2021 AccomplishmentsStewardship
CDTcoordinationManagementandofTeamCompletioncreateandAgricultureSecretariesDirectsdirectives:theofInteriortoTheTrailTeam.ThewillbemadeupU.S.ForestServiceBureauofLandstaff,inwiththeAdministrator.
“ Just in the past decade, CDTC has seen important milestones, like completion of the trail progressing from 64% to 95%, and in 2018, an event coordinated between USFS, BLM, CDTC, and other stewardship organization partners to ‘Blaze the CDT’ marking the trail in its entirety for the first time. The stewardship of the CDT and the work happening all along the Divide is one of the best examples of a successful public-private partnership.”
Agency Planning 2021
—Executive Director Teresa Martinez, in testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. See the full written and spoken remarks at https://bit.ly/cdtc-testimony Hike the Hill 2021 CDTC participated in the 24th annual Hike the Hill in coordination with partners like American Hiking Society and other members of the Partnership for the Nation al Trail System. CDTC, partners, and members of CDT Gateway Communities met with decisionmakers from each of the CDT states, in addition to agency leadership in the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Top priorities discussed included trail completion, responding to climate change, and the importance of the CDT for local businesses.
Continental Divide Trail Completion Act
Gateway Community Program Manager Andrea Kurth (third left), with supporters of the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program, Gov. Jared Polis (second right) and CO Rep. Leslie Herod (right).
6 | www.continentaldividetrail.org
The CDT Completion Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Interior to prioritize completion of the Continental Divide Na tional Scenic Trail in time for the CDT’s 50th anniversary in 2028, by eliminating gaps between sections of the Trail and relocating exist ing portions of the Trail where necessary to maximize conservation and enjoyment of the Trail corridor. The CDT Completion Act has three main
betweenstewardshipcooperativetheRecognizesvalueof federal land managers, states, Tribes, towns, Indigenous communities, volunteers, and others in building and managing the trail.
notdomainExplicitlystatesthateminentwillbeused to complete the CDT.
Educational benefits help volunteers and partners learn about the environ ment, trail visitors, stewardship, and the geological and cultural history of the CDT. We provide highly professional field instructors that coordinate and oversee the volunteers and work, which is why we have more and more requests every year for more projects across the entire CDT. Our volunteers and partners come from diverse backgrounds and abilities, which enhances our community building and interpersonal relationships. We are immensely grateful and thank our volunteers for all you do on behalf of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
1,374
www.continentaldividetrail.org | 7
Muddy PriorityPassGap
41,585
VOLUNTEER AND FIELD PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In a major achievement for trail completion efforts and thanks to funding from the Conservation Alliance, CDTC has helped secure permanent public access to the CDT throughout the state of New Mexico by formalizing an easement acquisition be tween the State Lands Office and BLM. Celebrations are scheduled for later in 2022! In Cuba, NM, CDTC and the Santa Fe National Forest–Cuba Ranger District rerout ed a small portion of the gap in the trail to avoid a private road and protect public access to the CDT. This may also lead to further reclamation of an old mine site for future community and recreation opportunities. volunteer hours (CDTC & partners) $1.18M value of labor (CDTC & partners) 504 downed removedtreesfeet of new constructedtrail 145 CDTC volunteersprograms miles of trail adopted by Trail Adopter volunteers Field Programs Accomplishments
New Mexico Achievements
2021
Volunteer Stewardship and our field programs remain the lifeblood of CDTC and since our first project in 2012, we have recruited and coordinated more than 1500 volunteers and over 50 partner organizations to complete and maintain the CDT, contributing more than $10M to the stewardship of the CDT. Since our first project with only 2 volunteers to 2022’s robust schedule full of 13 projects, 5 Trail Adopter Trainings and 5 community stewardship events, we continue to showcase shared stewardship in all aspects of our work! While keeping safety our top priority, we have fun and the relationships we have built over the years is the best part of the work. These relationships have grown because while we work and get to know one another, we are also training volunteers in tool safety and use, trail maintenance and construction, rock cribbing, bridge and water diversion construction, environmental hazard mitigation, backcountry survival skills, and Leave No Trace ethics.
3,479
An area near Muddy Pass, CO continues to be a top priority for trail completion efforts by CDTC, as the trail is now 96% complete. In this area, CDT travelers are diverted onto a busy highway to roadwalk localregionengagementandcommunityislands.availablepatchworksbetweenofpublicCDTCprioritizingoutreachstakeholderinthetohelpbuildsupport.
8 | Kevinwww.continentaldividetrail.orgLeague GATEWAY COMMUNITY & OUTREACH EFFORTS CDT Gateway Communities are welcoming destinations along the Continental Divide Trail for visitors from around the world. Towns and counties designated as official CDT Gateway Communities partner with CDT on place-based conservation efforts and are recognized as friendly to trail users and dedicated to the protection of the CDT. Silver City, NM 9,386 Grants, NM 8,968 Cuba, NM 755 Chama, NM 995 Pagosa Springs, CO 2,147 South Fork, CO 349 Lake City, CO 391 Salida, CO 6,373 Leadville/Twin Lakes, CO 10,586 Grand Lake, CO 516 Steamboat Springs, CO 13,764 Encampment & Riverside, WY 462 Rawlins, WY 8,122 Pinedale, WY 1,788 Lemhi County, ID 8,027 Butte, MT 33,964 Anaconda, MT 7,632 Helena, MT 33,124 Lincoln MT 898 CommunitiesGateway Community Population 24 reachedambassadorscommunityover 300 people, many of whom were new to the CDT 50 participants from all along the Divide at CDTC’s 2nd annual inCommunityGatewaySummitOctober2021 200 businesses along the CDT provided valuable information in the bi-annual Small Business Survey 2021 Gateway Communities Accomplishments Read the Small Business https://bit.ly/cdtcsmallbizSurvey!
Connecting Across the Continent The Connecting Across the Continent (CATC) Report was created to provide the CDT as an anchor for bold, innovative landscape conser vation outlined in the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. The CATC Report highlights the natural features like the remoteness and biodiversity along the divide, the need for inclusive consultation in addressing access and representation, and offers the success of the cooperative stewardship on the CDT as a model for future conservation efforts.
Read the report bit.ly/cdtc-catcat:
www.continentaldividetrail.org | 9
In 2021, CDTC participated in and partnered with coali tions that promote equity in the outdoors, including the Monumental Shift, Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E., Next100 Colorado and National chapters. These coalitions are founding new avenues to improve equity, access, and representation for historically benefitscommunitiesdisenfranchisedtoaccesstheoftheoutdoors.
Other Outreach Events
National Trails Day in Leadville, 2021 As one of CDTC’s commu nity outreach programs in 2021, we celebrated National Trails Day in Leadville in June. Participants had the option to access the Get Outdoors Leadville! library of outdoors gear available to the public, and join with CDTC on a local hike complete with prizes, educational information, and family fun.
In a major assset to the CDT community, CDTC has updated its map set of the trail to showcase the most up-to-date information on reroutes and other trail adjustments. This free mapset increases the equity of enjoying the trail by eliminating barriers for access. An early priority of CDTC as an organization, this map set continues to be a highly useful resource for trail visitors. Multilingual State Hike Guides
Latino Conservation Week 2021 CDTC hosted/co-hosted a total of 5 events in Santa Fe, Chama, Cuba, Grants, and Sil ver City, NM. Decision-makers including Martin Heinrich and the staff of State Lands Com missioner Stephanie Garcia Richard attended. In total, the events reached a total of ~150 people to learn about the CDT and the impacts of Latinos/ Hispanics on conservation in New Mexico.
Equity, Justice, and Inclusion coalitions
Publications and Trail Information
In 2021, CDTC compiled day and overnight hiking guides for each Divide state. By offering these new publications to communities both near and far, we will increase accessibiltiy of the trail to short term visitors. View those at: https://bit.ly/cdtc-trip-planning
New Mapset of full CDT
10 | www.continentaldividetrail.org FISCAL SUMMARY Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2021 Total assets $403,351 Liabilities $38,767 Net assets $364,584 Unrestricted Net Assets $314,126 Restricted Net Assets $50,458 Investments $10,471 Total Income $1,043,248 Total Expenses $983,791 Total Expenses by Program Area by Year $400,000$200,000$600,000$800,0000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 $1,000,000 ShattuckSteven
www.continentaldividetrail.org | 11 Revenue in 2022 IN-KIND$33,489REVENUE MERCHANDISE, NET $26,368 SHUTTLE/MISCELLANEOUS$12,898 SPECIAL EVENTS, NET $9,786 Grant $40,000WithGrant$293,615Restrictions:WithoutRevenueRevenueRestrictions: $10,458Restrictions:WithContributions$395,425Restrictions:WithoutContributionsDonorDonor CONTRIBUTIONS$432,092REVENUEGRANT$333,615GOVERNMENTINCOME(BLMandUSFS)$195,000 2018 2019 2020 2021 Strategic Planning $46,122 in 2019, most recent year Geographic information system $34,627 Shuttle $17,469 Trail Management $132,465 Volunteer Stewardship $148,687 Trail Info/Outreach $111,777 Community $110,940 Advocacy $53,511 Membership & Development $121,399 Special Events $16,363 General Administration $180,333
Teresa Martinez Executive 303-996-2759TMartinez@continentaldividetrail.orgDirector Lauren Murray Director of 720-378-0106LMurray@continentaldividetrail.orgDevelopment Steven Shattuck Director of Finance & Human 303-775-4572SShattuck@continentaldividetrail.orgResources CDTC General Information 303-996-2759info@continentaldividetrail.org Thank you to all our supporters! With your help, CDTC’s work to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail has never been stronger. To see a list of all the donors who contributed to our efforts in 2021, please see the link below! Matt Berger photo
