Colorado Fourteeners Initiative - Josh D'Souza

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative protects, preserves, enhances and restores the natural integrity of Colorado's 54 peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation--the "Fourteeners"--through active stewardship and public education. CFI accomplishes its mission through volunteer-based trail construction, maintenance and restoration projects and educational programs that actively involve Fourteener enthusiasts in the long-term stewardship of these peaks. 

I fell in love with these awesome mountains since moving to Colorado and they've given me so many great experiences. Now I want to give back and ensure these peaks are protected for future generations. The CFI is an amazing organization run by great, dedicated people.

I will match the first $500 raise through my campaign.

Since 1994, CFI has been working to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education. Today, CFI is the nation's leading high-altitude trail-building, terrain-restoration and visitor-education organization. CFI has built 41 sustainably located, designed, and constructed summit routes on 35 peaks, with its work garnering honors and awards from Congress, the US Forest Service, the Colorado Lottery, the National Forest Foundation and other organizations.

In 2024, CFI accomplished the following:

• Completed the fourth and final season of major trail reconstruction on Mount Elbert’s Northeast Ridge trail. The six-person CFI crew partner with a Rocky Mountain Youth Corps crew to build 2,365 square feet of retaining walls, install 81 rock steps, educate 3,544 hikers about Leave No Trace ethics, and restore 1,465 square feet of eroded alpine tundra.
• Finalized the new trail reroute on Mount Elbert’s lesser-used Black Cloud trail. This season, the crew constructed 1,431 linear feet of new trail, built 2,424 square feet of rip rap walls, installed 40 cribbed rock steps, and restored 3,200 square feet of denuded tundra.
• Returned to Mount Shavano to continue the third of six seasons constructing two new major trail reroutes. The second section of the lower bypass opened to hikers in July. Meanwhile, the upper crew made remarkable progress working above 13,000’ and they are now within sight of the summit.
• CFI’s Adopt-a-Peak crew performed high priority trail maintenance and restoration on 12 summit routes and engaged 526 individuals who contributed more than 1,058 days of volunteer service.
• CFI staff placed 24 infrared trail counters in the field to track 14er hiking use.
• Volunteer Peak Stewards travelled to 14er trailheads and outreach events throughout the state where they contacted more than 8,422 people about Leave No Trace ethics and responsible recreation practices.

To learn more about CFI's accomplishments, head to: https://www.14ers.org/2024-field-season-recap/