Volunteers help maintain popular hiking trail

Several local hiking trails are still damaged after recent heavy rain and flooding.

Volunteers with the Friends of the Peak organization worked on a service project to repair damage and improve drainage near Barr Trail. Volunteers rode the Cog Railway halfway up Pikes Peak, then walked nearly two miles to the trail.

“We have trails all around Pikes Peak and they’ll deteriorate over time, especially recently with all the rain we’ve had,” said Steve Bremner, a Friends of the Peak board member and volunteer. “We have to get out there and constantly maintain the trails.”

Portions of Barr Trail were impacted by severe weather over the past month. Hikers said it’s important to repair the damage as quickly as possible.

“We are looking for places where there’s been deterioration, where we can get the water off of the trail,” Bremner said. “We’re just trying to maintain Pikes Peak and help out the forest service.”

Volunteers said the hiking community is always looking for extra help.

“If you want to help out, it’s pretty easy to find an opportunity,” volunteer Bill Hilton said. “You don’t need any experience. They’ll tell you what you need to know.”

Click here to find out more about upcoming volunteer opportunities.