Photo courtesy Adam Reichert
The Continental Divide Trail depends on the hard work and dedication of volunteers and trail adopters. This month, we shine a spotlight on adopter Adam Reichert!
Q: How did you get started in trail work?
In 2019, I hiked the Wind River Range on the CDT, which sparked an interest in the CDT that has continued to grow. I first got started with trail work with Wild Montana in 2020. I was fortunate enough to do 2 trips with them that summer; one was a backcountry trip and the other a front country partnering with the CDTC! Both trips were on the CDT on some remarkable sections of trail. Shortly after, I moved to Colorado and began volunteering with Headwaters Trail Alliance in Fraser.
What do you enjoy most about being a CDTC Adopter?
The PEOPLE! Whether it’s other volunteers, day hikers, section hikers or thru hikers, being on the trail and meeting new people is amazing. I particularly enjoy working on the trail when the thruhikers are passing by. I love hearing about their hike, favorite sections, and their story.
A little bit about yourself; your professional background, hobbies, or what you like to do for fun?
I love being outside, spending time in the mountains in any form or fashion! In my free time I find myself hiking, camping or floating down a river. I love finding new outdoor adventures to learn about and explore.
What is unique about the CDT that keeps you motivated to do trail maintenance year after year?
I enjoy doing trail maintenance on all trails but the CDT is extra appealing to me because of all the long-distance hikers. In order for them to meet their goals, whether a thruhike or section hike, they need or at least like the trail to be in good condition; it’s rewarding and motivating to be a part of that process. It’s also cool to visualize a continuous hiking trail that goes from Mexico to Canada, along Continental Divide.
What was your favorite part of volunteering on one of our projects?
Favorite part… that’s tough, it’s all memorable. Probably the volunteers and the group leaders. It’s great seeing new volunteers and their enthusiasm to learn more, not just about how to do trail maintenance but why it’s important and different ways to get involved. I also love seeing repeat volunteers; it’s cool to see a familiar face from a past project. And the leaders… I have volunteered for the CDTC for 2 seasons now and had two separate groups of leads, they were all super energetic to be around, very helpful and encouraging. On many projects we would group camp at the trailhead or a nearby camping area which was a ton of fun after a day on the trail!
What advice do you have for someone who’s never done trail work before?
The best way to start is reaching out to any volunteer group near where you would like to work and see about joining a project. They are always looking for people and are very helpful. From there, you will meet other volunteers and trail workers and begin to discover all the different volunteer opportunities that are out there (trust me, there are more than you would ever imagine and they do not all involve physical work on the trail). My local organization just started a Trail Ambassador Program stationing volunteers at trailheads educating hikers and answering questions. So many options!
What’s your must-have tools or gear when you’re working on your adopted segment?
Recently due to some crazy wind events my must have tool has been a Silky handsaw. I think a saw would always be my one go-to tool to have on the trail. There is always dirt work, trimming, and other work to be done but I feel the most critical need for the trail is to get it open and passable for hikers, after that you can come in and do some tread work and fine tune the trail.
Thanks again to Adam! Want to get involved? Check out our trail work volunteer opportunities here, no prior experience required!
