Registration Deadline: July 1, 2025 @11:59pm

THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. Click on the “Register for Event” button to join the waitlist.

Women’s Wilderness is partnering with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC), a national nonprofit, to volunteer and support trail maintenance on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). This volunteer event is designed for women and non-binary people who want to deepen their connection to the CDT, engage with a trail community, and make a lasting impact on the landscape for future generations of adventurers.

Volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining the CDT. This three-day/two-night adventure includes transportation from the Denver area to the trailhead, backpacking into and camping in a backcountry setting, all meals, and all necessary trail work supplies. Participants will need to backpack their personal gear (camping equipment, clothing, toiletries) up a steep, three-mile trail and should be prepared to hike 2-3 miles per day during trail work. No prior experience is required—just a willingness to learn and contribute!

The CDTC collaborates with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management to complete, elevate, and protect the CDT. Established by Congress in 1978, the CDT spans 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada, crossing five states and connecting countless communities along the spine of the Rocky Mountains. This project will take place approximately 50 miles west of Denver, Colorado.

To help volunteers condition themselves physically for this work, all registered volunteers for this project will receive a 25% discount on all Women’s Wilderness’ facilitated hikes prior to this event!

Details:

👥 Who: adult women and non-binary people (ages 18+)
🗓️ When: 8am Friday July 25 through 4pm Sunday July 27, 2025
📍 Where: Herman Gulch Trail (Continental Divide Trail near Loveland Pass off I-70). The carpool meeting location will be shared with participants
🎟️ Price: FREE (This is a volunteer project). And we encourage you to donate to Women’s Wilderness and the CDTC as an extra show up support for the work we do

Please note: the CDTC is holding this registration and most of the communications.

Included in Fee:

• Professional and experienced trail crew guides
• Meals, snacks, and all cooking/eating utensils (stoves, filtration systems, etc)
• Transportation to trailhead from Denver metro area
• Trail maintenance tools
• Gear Rental (including backpacks, trekking poles, hiking boots, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads)

Activity Level:

This event requires participants to be able to backpack a heavy pack up a steep incline (1700’ ascent), at high altitude (up to 12,000’), for 3 miles. Additionally, the event requires participants to feel comfortable using picks and shovels for trail work. This work will require heavy lifting necessitating strong backs and legs. Women’s Wilderness 15-passenger van is not equipped for wheelchair users. This course will be facilitated in English. 

• Intermediate/Hard: Some prior experience is recommended, as well as the ability to exert/push oneself in challenging ways
• Mileage: Approximately 3 miles hike to campsite; additional 2-3 miles of hiking during trail work
• Total Ascent: Approximately 1700’ ascent (Stating Elevation: 10,350’; Camp/Work Elevation: 12,000’)

What to Wear & Bring:

A list of all necessary gear and equipment will be sent out to volunteers a few weeks before the course. Haley, from the CDTC, will also call you to check in about this trip and answer any questions you have.

Your Instructors:

Kinsey “Past Ten(t)se” grew up in the wide open spaces of New Mexico. She earned an Environmental Studies degree from Brandeis University. After graduating during the pandemic she took a job with the Idaho Conservation Corps and hasn’t left the trail world since! She thru-hiked the PCT in 2021 and was hooked. In 2023, she completed the CDT. This trail felt like coming home to her. She loved every minute of it and felt connected to it in a way that she didn’t experience on the PCT. She is excited to spend another year with the CDTC working on the trail she holds close to her heart. Bring on another season of good people, rewarding work and nights under the stars.

Haley “Natty G” (she/her) has worked in conservation in western Montana for the last 7 years. In 2020 she found herself unexpectedly leading a Womens + Gender Expansive Trail Crew in the enormous Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness for Montana Conservation Corps. Her love and connection to wild places while educating herself on intersectionality has only blossomed since then. She went on to work in Glacier National Park and later found the CDTC after her 2022 thru-hike of the PCT. Haley loves how empowering trail work can be and hopes to share it with others who don’t traditionally get to be in the space!

Steph (no trail name yet) (she/her) spent the past 7 years working in the coaching industry and childcare, where she applied person-centered, social justice, and sustainability lenses to her work. Always curious about learning new skills, she first came into contact with Women’s Wilderness in 2017, when she signed up for an outdoor rock climbing class. She joined Women’s Wilderness in 2022 and after working as Gear & Transportation Intern that Summer, transitioned to the full time team as Director of People & Operations.