Tree Thinning

In 2020, field work resumed in late‐August, 2020, and volunteers continued thinning small diameter trees in the Peak One Campground, with the guidance of U.S. Forest Service personnel. Under COVID‐19 protocol we were able to safely complete 18 small group work events and 1 in‐field training session. New volunteers joined the effort as their schedules allowed. Energy levels were even higher than last session, in part because volunteers were able to be outside doing tangible work during a season when many other volunteer events were cancelled. Almost all volunteers commented that they felt they were making a real difference in the future resiliency of our forests and that they found this experience “therapeutic” or calming during otherwise “uncertain times”. We cut and removed 26 truck‐loads of small diameter trees this fall season, delivering the product to the Summit County compose production facility. In‐field events continued through early‐November when winter weather conditions required we suspend work. Even during cold weather, we had a “hard time” persuading our volunteers to quit for the season.

We are scheduling a full season of tree thinning for Summer, 2021.