2012 was a tumultuous, challenging year for Poudre Wilderness Volunteers due to the devastating Hewlett Gulch Fire (burning 7,700 acres) and the High Park Fire (consuming 87,300 acres).  Both fires severely impacted the U.S. Forests of the Canyon Lakes Ranger District as well as the surrounding areas.  Even though the main highway leading to the trails PWV patrols was closed for a good part of the summer and some of the devastated trails are still closed, PWV rose to the occasion by establishing and leading a Restoration program with many volunteers from the community in addition to PWV members.  In spite of the fires, PWV members set a new record in 2012 by contributing 23,925 volunteer hours valued at $521,326 by the U.S. Forest Service.

Read more: PWV 2012 Highlights

The North Fork trail leads into the back country of Rocky Mountain National Park and is one of the heaviest used trails in the forest, used by hikers, backpackers and stockriders. This heavy use has caused a great deal of wear and tear on the trail which requires a large amount of maintenance to get it back to being a safe and enjoyable trail.

PWV adopted the North Fork Trail in 2009 and has been working to improve the trail for the last three years. Garin VanDeMark has acted as the committee chair and led the work since PWV’s adoption of the trail.

Read more: PWV Adopts North Fork Trail

Twenty-five university students from Iraq joined Poudre Wilderness Volunteers for two days in early August to learn about public lands conservation and the role volunteers play in it. 

Read more: Iraqi Young Leaders Join PWV On Patrol

The PWV Trail Crew was hard at work in 2010 and had many accomplishments

Read more: Another Great Year for the Trail Crew

Four proud PWVs (Jan Creager, Chair; Margaret Shaklee, Treasurer; Don Creager, Secretary; and Jim Shaklee, Chair Elect) recently traveled to Washington, D.C. on behalf of Poudre Wilderness Volunteers to accept the 2010 national Take Pride in America award for a non-profit organization.

Read more: PWV Receives National Award for Service

In April 2010 Chuck Bell was named a University of Phoenix Volunteer Leader Award Honoree, an award given by HandsOn Network and the University of Phoenix to 10 outstanding volunteer leaders in the nation.  These leaders have motivated others and served as catalysts for change in their communities.

Read more: PWV Founder Charles “Chuck” Bell Wins National Volunteer Award