FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In 2022, CDTC celebrated its 10th anniversary working in service of the communities and enthusiasts of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). The anniversary provided us the time to reflect on all we have accomplished in the past decade, and all the challenges we face and aspirations we hold for the future. And, we are excited about what the future holds! From the rag tag bunch of volunteers that met around dining room tables in 2012 to celebrating a National Monument designation along the CDT at Camp Hale in 2022, we remain true to our humble beginnings and our commitment to show up, roll up our sleeves and get to work on behalf of the CDT!

After 10 years of operation, we have so much to show. We built an organization that started with a “budget” of $4, and in 2022, our income surpassed $1.9 million. In 2012, we were all volunteers and now we have 15 full-time employees, seasonal capacity support, and a 15-person active and engaged Board of Directors. In 2012 with the CDT only 60% complete, we dreamt big about closing gaps and completing the Trail, and in 2022 we finalized the New Mexico State Land Easement that helped permanently protect nearly 60 miles of the CDT and move the Trail to 96% complete. We’ve grown and matured our programming to engage communities and partners along all 3,100 miles of the CDT, and we went from a map-less CDT in 2012 to a free downloadable map-set and planning guide, and multiple platforms and apps with digital mapping. The CDT was officially signed for the first time in its entire 40 years with our Blaze the CDT Campaign in 2018 and we’ve since secured funding for trail signage along the CDT in perpetuity. And most importantly of all, the CDT has over 40 partner organizations and youth corps, over 150 Trail adopters, 21 designated Gateway Communities and a network of advocates that love not just the CDT, but the landscapes it connects. All of these amazing accomplishments, especially those that you helped us achieve in 2022, have enabled us to more fully realize the vision of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail set out by Congress before it was even a reality.

The vision for a trail along the Continental Divide was first imagined in the 1966 Trails for America Report, published just before the passage of the National Trails System Act. Among the details of the significance of a trail along this corridor, the Report describes that the Trail experience would be “an intimate one, for one can walk or ride horseback across vast fields of wildflowers and contemplate a story dating from the dawn of earth’s history. This story began when a portion of the earth was thrust upward, creating the sharp precipitous peaks that were sculptured into rich landforms leaving sparkling lakes, crystal-clear streams, and myriads of cascading waterfalls. Along the way, the tranquility of the alpine meadows, verdant forests and semi-desert landscape overwhelms everyone who passes that way. The trail would provide the traveler their best encounter with the Continental Divide — its serenity and pure air — and would supply for every trail traveler some of the world’s most sublime scenes.”

As we look back on the first decade of our work, I often reflect on these words. Over the past 10 years you have helped us build a strong foundation that will allow us to excel in our next 10, 20, 30 years and beyond, and to continue to meet the vision set out for the CDT before there was a Trail, and way before there was a CDTC. The challenge has been ours to embrace, and this past year we began to fully realize our potential to meet the vision set forth by Congress and the American People in 1978 when the CDT was officially designated. As we look both back and forward and set in our sights a very bright future for the CDT, we hope you will take a look at our annual report and see not just the accomplishment of the past, but how you can help us invest in our future, and the future of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. As always, thank you for all you have done on behalf of the CDT, we look forward to having you by our side as we march toward our second decade of cooperative stewardship along the backbone of America.

Teresa Ana Martinez Executive Director Continental Divide Trail Coalition