USFS and ESWA team up to repair Holy Cross cairns
In 2011-2012, the USFS and Colorado Fourteeners Initiative built the incredible summit trail to Mount of the Holy Cross with navigational cairns that have safely helped hikers since. This past July, a person spray-painted nine of the cairns bright yellow. This was not in line with Leave No Trace Principles, and Ranger Clayton Burns (Trails Specialist on the Eagle-Holy Cross District) quickly formulated a plan to correct the unsightly damage. Clayton, his team, and two ESWA volunteers hiked into the Wilderness for an overnight trip. They worked at an elevation of 12,400-13,000 feet to remove and hide the affected rocks, and return the cairns to their previous glory! Even with such a packed summer season, the USFS and ESWA made this Wilderness project a priority and we are so grateful!
Prior to the cairn construction, many hikers were getting lost descending the North Ridge and requiring rescues via helicopter and search teams. While we generally want to preserve the primitive character of Wilderness areas, the USFS is allowed to build the “minimum necessary” to safely and effectively manage the land and visitors. This can include trails, signs, cairns, etc. These navigational markers can decrease the rescues required and minimize impacts to the land and wildlife. With annual visitation numbers between 8,000-17,000 on this trail, these markers keep people on the trail and safe.
Want to learn more about trail signage? Read on below the pictures!
For the USFS, trail signs come in two forms:
Trailhead and Junction Signs: may identify trail names, direction, destinations, and distances
Reassurance Markers: these include tree blazes, marker tags, and cairns
Reassurance markers are used to identify the trail corridor in areas that may be difficult to follow; whether due to the trail itself, weather conditions (snow, dense fog, etc), or in areas of multiple trails. Cairns are especially useful in open areas with low visibility, rocky tread, and snow cover. And these need to be proper cairns, not rock ducks! In Wilderness areas, the rules are more strict regarding signage and reassurance markers to help preserve the primitive nature of the land. Info and graphics from this USFS resource.
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