Gone Hiking x Meet Up In….Silverthorne x Cornell Cares

Cornellians, lace up! On Sunday, June 28, the Cornell Club of Colorado heads into wilderness alongside the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance (ESWA) — handsaws in hand — to clear winter’s fallen timber from one of Summit County’s most storied trail systems. It’s literally a trailblazing experience for trailblazing Cornellians, built for the service-minded adventurers among us who’d rather earn the view than simply admire it.

WHAT: A day in the field with ESWA Sawyers — the only USFS-authorized Wilderness Sawyer program in Summit County — clearing tree deadfall along trails in the Gore Range. You’ll hike. You’ll work. You’ll learn how a two-person crosscut saw assembles in the field. A certified Sawyer leads the group from the trailhead to the truck.
This is an introductory experience. No prior trail-work background is required. If you can manage the hike, you can help with the clearing.

WHEN: Sunday, June 28, 9:00 AM — Meet, gear check, carpool to trailhead; 3:00 PM — Wrap (earlier if conditions warrant)

WHERE: Meet: Theatre SilCo North Parking Lot (front entrance)
460 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Trailhead: TBD — selected closer to the date based on snowmelt and Forest Service priorities. Drive from meeting point: 10–35 minutes.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.wild4eswa.org/event-details/cornell-club-wilderness-work-day-experience-summit-county

WHO: Cornell alumni, partners, and guests in good hiking condition. Co-hosted by the Cornell Club of Colorado and the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance, a 100% volunteer organization stewarding the Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan, Flat Tops, and Holy Cross Wilderness areas in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

WHY: Because the Wilderness Act of 1964 didn’t draw lines on a map and walk away — it asked something of every generation that came after.

The Day, in Detail:
After a gear check at the Theatre SilCo lot, we’ll carpool to the chosen trailhead. From there, expect a 4–8 mile round-trip hike with 1,000–2,000 feet of elevation gain, working between roughly 9,500 and 11,500 feet of altitude. The pace is set by the group — typically deliberate, never rushed.
As we encounter deadfall, we’ll clear it using one- and two-person hand saws. For larger trees, we’ll break out the crosscut saw, and the lead Sawyer will walk you through assembly and technique. The clearing itself is the easy part. The hike is the work.

Required gear: (no exceptions — ESWA protocols):
— Long pants and long sleeves
— Substantial hiking shoes or boots
— Eye protection (sun, safety, or prescription glasses — any kind works)
— Leather gloves
— ESWA-supplied hard hat (provided on site)
— Lunch, snacks, and a full day’s water
— Rain jacket if the forecast calls for it

A Note on Conditions:
Late June in Summit County is still spring as far as the high country is concerned. Depending on snowmelt, trail access, and the work the Forest Service has already completed, the specific trail and the day’s plan may shift. We may need to drive farther to find the right work. We may end earlier than 3:00 PM. We may pivot to a different stewardship task entirely. Wilderness work asks for adaptability — that’s part of the experience. Thank you for your flexibility!

About ESWA:
The Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance is an all-volunteer organization based in Summit and Eagle Counties, dedicated to protecting the four Wilderness areas in our backyard. ESWA volunteers serve as Wilderness Rangers, Sawyers, Trail Crew, advocates, and leadership — donating thousands of hours each year to keep these places wild, navigable, and worthy of the next generation.
Learn more at wild4eswa.org.