Building a Bridge- Adopt-A-Trail workday

Thirteen summers ago, 10 women and one small dog set out for our first ever trail day. We thought we would be clearing brush, moving rocks or picking up trash. Not the case. We were going to build a bridge.....

That day, so long ago, was amazing and set the course for many workdays ahead. We have built two more bridges on another trail, but for me this bridge was special. Each summer I hiked to our bridge on the Devil’s Thumb trail to check on it. Because of the change in water flow, we have had to extend the bridge. This bridge has been worked on by a few, crossed by many.

Last summer, on my yearly trek to the bridge, I rounded the corner and stopped, shocked. For the first time in 13 years the bridge was not okay. It was completely destroyed. Over the years a fallen tree, mud and branches had caused the river to turn. This washed out the ground around one of the supports, it collapsed and snapped the bridge. The bridge was a total loss. Hikers arriving at the bridge while I was there found their way over the broken mess. I was speechless and sad. This could be a metaphor: A bridge not only helps us cross a river, it is also a connection or bond. My bond with this bridge was about to evolve.

That trail day was a big one. Friends from Winter Park and Denver were eager to rebuild the bridge. We partnered with Boy Scout Pack 999 from Arvada which had been eager to help with the trails. Kymmie Scott of the Forest Service and I spent days planning and preparing. Nature was going to lend materials. Beetles had taken a few large trees at the intersection of trail and river. One of the trees was going to give back and become our new bridge. A special crew from the Forest Service spent several days ahead of our trail day taking down trees and prepping the area.

The day arrived. The weather was perfect and our crew of 60 volunteers, ages 8 to 70, was eager to begin. The list of duties was ambitious: clear the river of the muck and debris and get it back on its natural course, remove the old bridge and supports, remove all signs of slash from the fallen trees, build rock supports for the new bridge and move the new massive bridge into place. We split up, worked in teams and erected a bridge.

We all watched as the Boy Scouts received the honor of taking the first steps over the new bridge. We saw the pride and excitement on their faces. At the end of the day, exhausted and exhilarated with our accomplishment, the first question was, “What trail are we working on next year?” GuestGuide and Pack 999 will again work together this summer on one of our adopted trails.

A new bridge now stands only feet above where the old bridge was. The river was cleared and put back on its original course. All signs of the destruction have been removed. A new bond has been formed with the wilderness and with those who built the new bridge. I was very honored to have such a great group of people work so hard. Everyone took ownership of the job. They understood my attachment to what is now history. Some of the old bridge is part of the new bridge and some is now part of my garden.

What happened that day didn’t only give life to a new bridge but also built bonds with new young stewards of the forest. Someday they will bring their friends, families and children to this bridge. (Trust me, this one is not going anywhere!)