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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

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Lakewood, CO
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

CFI is the country's leading high-altitude trail-building, terrain-restoration, and hiker-education organization.
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The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado's fourteen thousand foot peaks through active stewardship and public education. To date CFI has constructed 39 sustainable summit hiking routes on 35 Fourteeners to help mitigate impacts associated with 415,000 annual hiking use days on these peaks. CFI also p

rovides on-mountain hiker education in Leave No Trace practices to Fourteener enthusiasts to limit recreational damage to rare and fragile alpine tundra ecosystems found on the peaks.

06/17/2026

We have one open trail crew position for a fixed-site project on upper Mount Shavano this summer—and we need to fill it pronto.

The work schedule is eight days on, six days off. Work days are 10 hours long and require a three-mile, 3,000-foot-elevation-gain hike. The technical nature of this project means applicants should have multiple years of experience in rock work, full bench construction, trail restoration, rigging and grip hoist operation, and familiarity with working in steep, technical terrain. Pay is $20-$24/hour.

👉 Send your résumé to [email protected] ASAP.

06/05/2026

⛏️ Two trail crew spots just opened up for a fixed-site project on Mount Shavano this summer — and we need to fill them fast. Think you have what it takes to build and maintain trails at 14,000 feet?

The mid-mountain crew, known as the Mid Shavano crew, will tackle a daily hike of up to three miles with roughly 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Approximately 25 percent of the crew's time will be focused on finishing the restoration of the old trail at an elevation of around 13,500 feet. The other 75 percent of the season will be spent completing deferred maintenance on the existing trail, including constructing rock structures. This project will require a wide range of different trail construction and restoration techniques; as such, two or more seasons of trail work experience are preferred.

The work schedule is eight days on, six days off. Work days are 10 hours long. The technical nature of this project means applicants should have multiple years of experience in rock work, full bench construction, trail restoration, rigging and grip hoist operation, and familiarity with working in steep, technical terrain.

👉 Send your résumé to [email protected] ASAP.

05/28/2026

Staff orientation hits a little different when your classroom is above the clouds.

Welcome to CFI's 2026 trail crew training, where the commute is straight up, the views are unreal, and the work is really, really hard. 🏔️⛏️

05/22/2026

Your garage has a lawnmower and some holiday decorations. Ours has 40 pick mattocks, dozens of rock bars, a chainsaw named Cheeto, and plenty of wag bags, because what goes up the hill must come back down with you. Field season 2026 starts now. Our gear is ready for the mountains. Are you? 🏔️⛏️

05/15/2026

🏔️ New volunteer projects just dropped!

Ready to get your hands dirty (literally) protecting Colorado's 14ers? We just posted our latest volunteer opportunities.

What we do: We build sustainable trails and protect fragile alpine ecosystems on Colorado's highest peaks. Translation: hard work, incredible views, and the satisfaction of preserving these mountains for future generations with like-minded folks.

Whether you're a first-timer or a trail crew veteran, there's a project with your name on it. 💪⛰️

https://14ers.volunteerhub.com/

04/22/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day 2026 from Capitol Lake!

Nestled beneath Capitol Peak, this stunning alpine jewel reminds us why we do what we do. Protecting fragile ecosystems like this one isn't just our mission—it's our responsibility to future generations.

Every trail we build, every step we take to keep hikers on sustainable paths, helps preserve these irreplaceable wild places. Because Earth Day isn't just one day a year—it's every day we're out here stewarding Colorado's 14ers.

Here's to the peaks, the lakes, the wildflowers, and all the special places worth protecting. 🏔️💙

04/21/2026

🐏 14er Flora & Fauna: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Edition

Please meet Colorado's state mammal and an icon of our alpine peaks. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are masters of the high country, perfectly adapted to life on the cliffs and rocky terrain above tree line.

These beautiful animals are essential grazers in alpine ecosystems. Bighorns feed in meadows, open woodland, and alpine tundra, eating grasses like bluegrass, sedges, wheat grass, bromes and fescues, as well as forbs, including clover, cinquefoil, and phlox. Their grazing helps maintain the health and diversity of alpine plant communities.

What makes them such skilled climbers? Their specialized hooves have a hard outer rim for gripping and a soft, spongy interior for traction—like built-in climbing shoes! They can navigate impossibly steep terrain with ease, using rocky cliffs as escape routes from predators.

Our sustainable trail work protects the alpine meadows and rocky slopes where bighorns graze and raise their young. By keeping hikers on designated trails, we minimize disturbance to these sensitive animals and preserve the fragile alpine vegetation they depend on.

Fun fact: Colorado is home to the largest population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep anywhere.

Have you encountered bighorns on the trail? Share your story below! 👇

04/08/2026

🦊 14er Flora & Fauna: Red Fox Edition

Catch a glimpse of a red fox above treeline and you've spotted something special—Colorado's native Rocky Mountain red fox is a high-elevation specialist perfectly adapted to alpine life.

These resourceful predators play a crucial role in the alpine ecosystem by keeping small mammal populations like pikas, voles, and marmots in check. This helps maintain balance in the fragile tundra, preventing overgrazing of alpine plants and protecting the delicate vegetation communities that take decades to recover from damage.

Red foxes are true mountain athletes—their thick fur, compact bodies, and bushy tails help them survive harsh alpine winters. They're also incredibly opportunistic, adapting their diet seasonally to whatever the mountain provides.

Our trail work protects the alpine habitat these foxes call home. By building sustainable trails and keeping hikers on designated paths, we preserve the ecosystems that support the entire alpine food web—from the smallest wildflower to apex predators like the red fox.

Spotted a red fox on your 14er adventure? Share your story below! 👇

Address

1526 Cole Boulevard, Suite 130
Lakewood, CO
80401

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13032787650

Website

http://www.14ers.org/

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