Your Presence Makes a Difference

Become a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with ESWA!

“How far is it to the lake?”  As a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, that’s the most common question we hear on the trail. We also meet people who need guidance about everything from how much water they’ve brought to whether their dog needs to be on a leash.

A fellow Volunteer Wilderness Ranger told me recently about one of their most satisfying moments on patrol. The Ranger had stopped to talk with a visiting family from Ohio about five miles from the trailhead. They had bought their son a brand-new pair of hiking boots for the trip. Somewhere along the way, the sole of one boot had completely fallen off.  The father was carrying the loose sole. The boy was still hiking, but with his bare foot pressing directly against the ground inside the boot.  When they mentioned it, the Ranger pulled out a roll of duct tape from a pack. The sole was wrapped back onto the boot as best it could be. It wasn’t elegant, but it worked.  The boy smiled. His parents kept calling the Ranger their hero. They said the Ranger had saved their trip.  

The Ranger will remember that moment forever and, most likely, so will that family.  Most Volunteer Wilderness Rangers have a story like that. And most of us would agree that you never know when something small — a few minutes of conversation, a bit of wildlife knowledge, or even a roll of tape — might make a real difference for someone.  That’s what being a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger is really about.  More often than not, it’s about being a steady, knowledgeable presence on the trail —  someone who helps protect both visitors and the wilderness itself.

Last year alone, Volunteer Wilderness Rangers with the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance (ESWA) encountered more than 10,000 visitors across the Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan Peak, Holy Cross, and Flat Tops Wilderness Areas. We hiked over 3,100 miles and logged nearly 2,400 volunteer hours patrolling local trails.  We answered questions. We shared Leave No Trace principles. We clarified camping regulations. We reported trail damage and downed trees. And we helped visitors make safer, better-informed decisions.  Many of those interactions are simple. A reminder to leash a dog, along with an explanation of why. A conversation about why campfires aren’t allowed near alpine lakes. A heads-up about afternoon thunderstorms building just over the ridgeline.  Directions to a junction that isn’t clearly marked.  Individually, these moments seem small. Collectively, they protect both the land and the experience of being in Wilderness.

Our local Wilderness Areas are some of the most beautiful and heavily used landscapes

in Colorado. They don’t maintain themselves. Trails erode. Popular lakes show the wear

of increased visitation. Forest Service staff work hard, but the scale of these areas — and the number of visitors — means they can’t do it alone.  That’s where local volunteers step in.  Becoming a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger means committing to a minimum of four hikes

each season, choosing the trails and days that fit your schedule, and completing a one-day training that prepares you for common situations on the trail. Some Rangers hike deep into the backcountry. Others serve as trailhead hosts, welcoming visitors before they set out.

All of us share one thing: a willingness to show up.  There is something quietly meaningful about walking a trail not just as a visitor, but as a steward – becoming someone others can turn to for information and reassurance. We help shape how people experience these special places and contribute to preserving the character of Wilderness for the next group coming up the trail.  It’s an honor to care for land that has been intentionally set aside to remain wild.  

If you already spend time in the Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan Peak, Holy Cross, or Flat Tops Wilderness Areas, consider taking one more step. Consider becoming a Volunteer

Wilderness Ranger.  This year’s Volunteer Wilderness Ranger training will be held on Saturday June 6th in Silverthorne.  Click here for more information and to apply.  

You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need to be the fastest hiker. You simply need to care about the places you love — and be willing to show up.  Because you never know when you might make a difference.

Written by ESWA Board Member Jim Chastain