By Claire Cutler (she/her) | CDTC Community Engagement Coordinator

Katie Hearsum is the Community Engagement Manager for Grand Lake, Colorado and has called the town home for the past five years. Katie’s work as Grand Lake’s Community Engagement Manager dovetails perfectly with her work as a Gateway Community (GC) Ambassador for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC).

Katie responded to CDTC’s call for Ambassadors in 2020 and has since become a valuable part of the program.

In her role as GC Ambassador, Katie works to cultivate a relationship between the town and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). When doing so, Katie is careful to consider what makes Grand Lake unique. She describes the town as “very seasonal,” with a winter population of under 500 people and a summer population of over 3,000. This is due largely to Grand Lake’s remote location, with only one way in and out in the winter.

But, the town also has a unique opportunity – the CDT passes directly through its downtown business district. Katie likes to tell residents and visitors, “If you’ve ever been shopping or getting an ice cream cone in our downtown district, you’ve been on the trail.”

Katie’s first years as an GC Ambassador were spent testing community activities that accounted for the town’s seasonality and the proximity of the CDT. Although limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, the town hosted a successful fundraiser during that first year. The next year, she hosted a hike and a paddle, taking advantage of the town’s affinity for water sports.

In 2022, Katie launched her First Friday Hikes, a series of entry-level hikes throughout the summer on portions of the CDT near Grand Lake. Katie ensures that there are no barriers to entry for these hikes. They’re free, the distance is relatively short, and they stick to mild terrain. By doing so, Katie reaches community members who may not otherwise spend time on the CDT. In 2022, three to five people attended each hike. This summer, the hikes had up to twenty attendees, with a mix of regulars, drop-ins, and visitors to Grand Lake.

Nearly all of the participants had not heard of the CDT before joining the First Friday Hikes. But, by the end of each hike, most participants join Katie’s list of CDT volunteers. These volunteers help create a rich trail community and have provided places to stay for thru-hikers, shuttle rides, and other support of the CDT. Katie is passionate about building a network of support for thru-hikers, because she knows that the CDT is part of what makes Grand Lake so special.

Removing Stigma & Building Opportunity

When describing Grand Lake’s relationship to the CDT, Katie says, “It brings in all these people – we see a couple of hundred hikers come through – and we don’t know where to put them or what to do with them. There’s a stigma. It’s high tourist season and no one wants to accommodate a hiker over a [Rocky Mountain National Park] or road trip tourist who may be willing to pay higher prices.” She continued, “We don’t have a ton of amenities. We don’t have many camping areas nearby, and the ones we do have book out a year in advance and are completely full year-round.”

Katie hopes that her work as an Ambassador will encourage the town to view the CDT as a cultural and economic asset: “Because we’re so rural and remote, it’s great to have the diversity of those hikers coming through. They’re from all walks of life and all over the world; they have incredible stories.” She also knows that the outdoor recreation industry is booming and that CDT tourism could be a valuable addition to Grand Lake’s economy.

While Grand Lake is still figuring out where the CDT fits into the town’s culture, some businesses have begun to understand its value and cater to hikers. The Otherside Gear & Coffee Shop opened in 2022 and sells new and used outdoor gear as well as coffee. They embrace Grand Lake’s proximity to the CDT, with their logo even resembling a CDT Blaze. The owner of Otherside, Zac Heiliger, is even a GC Ambassador.

The Community Ambassador Program

Katie credits the GC Ambassador program with giving her opportunities she may never have had otherwise: “I learned my own town better, including the trail system. I’ve been pulled into amazing meetings with thoughtful leaders. I’ve met people and learned about my own geography.”

She continued, “A couple of weeks ago I was asked to sit in on a Bureau of Land Management meeting with [Colorado] Representative Neguse about the CDT Completion Act. I never thought that being a community volunteer would make me feel as valuable as I now do to this larger game, which is this 3,100 mile National Scenic Trail.”

Katie concluded by saying, “I can’t drive home enough how unique and special it is to have this trail. This is a huge thing and it really can bring a community together, even in towns that maybe aren’t known for their recreational assets.”

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition aims to increase local access to the Continental Divide Trail through our Gateway Community Ambassador Program. By introducing folks living along the CDT to the trail, Ambassadors help grow the community of stewards of this incredible resource. Interested in becoming an Ambassador? Learn more here or email [email protected].