Every drain cleared, every rock placed, every laugh shared on the trail tells a story of stewardship and connection. This year, the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance’s Adopt A Trail (AAT) program once again proved that when our community comes together, the trails — and the people who love them — thrive. Here’s a look into what we’ve accomplished and a highlight of our outstanding community of volunteers!
2025 Impact Snapshot
These numbers represent more than work — they represent weeks of laughter, teamwork, dirty boots, and shared purpose. Each hour on the trail strengthens not just our terrain, but the community behind it.
2025 Volunteer Awards
Most Volunteers
The Cycle Effect – 107 Volunteers
Most Volunteer Hours
Vail Club 50 – 165 Volunteer Hours
Best Post Party Teams
Ladies Trail Crew & The Wolffe Tasting House
Trail Project of the Year
The Club on Abram’s Gulch: Rock Armoring in Deeply Cupped Gypsum
Most Trail Work Days & Team of the Year
Walking Mountains Science Center
Supporter of the Year
Dan Gallagher
Volunteers of the Year
A huge congratulations to our two volunteers of the year, Lindsay and Kevin! They set the bar for what volunteerism looks like, and we’re beyond lucky to have them as a part of our community. Their energy, consistency, and positivity made a huge impact this season. We couldn’t imagine hitting the trails without their incredible passion — thank you for brining the stoke all year long!
Lindsay Brisko
66.5 Hours
21 Events
Kevin Lagace
35.5 Hours
12 Events
Milestone Award Winners
New this year, we’re rolling out our Milestone Volunteer Awards! These honors celebrate the folks who’ve gone the extra mile (literally and figuratively) to support our trails and community year after year.
100 Hours
Jim Yurcak, Cinda Rustad, Tim McCabe, Michael Slusarz, Tim O’Donnell, Michelle Wolffe, Neal Henzler, Lara Carlson, Stacey Robberson, Ellen Miller
250 Hours
Cody Wyse, Hailee Rustad, Mark Luzar
500 Hours
Casey Wyse
Volunteer Feedback 2025
This fall, we received nearly 80 thoughtful responses to our Volunteer Feedback Survey — and your insights mean the world to us.
Volunteers shared that the most rewarding parts of their experience were seeing tangible progress on the trails, connecting with fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and giving back to the places they ride, run, and hike. They also gave huge kudos to our hardworking staff and crew leaders for creating fun, safe, and well-organized events where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Listening and Learning
We’re grateful for the thoughtful feedback that helps us keep growing. Volunteers shared great ideas for the coming season, including more events in the Eagle and Gypsum areas, text reminders in addition to email updates, more educational and skill-building opportunities, and additional ways to connect crews with one another. For 2026, our team is already exploring new leader resources, expanding volunteer opportunities, and easier ways for AAT teams to collaborate and share successes. Your feedback helps us grow stronger, together — just like the trails we care for.
With Gratitude to All our Volunteers
To every volunteer, crew leader, and partner — thank you. Your dedication continues to make the Vail Valley’s trail system one of the best in Colorado. Together, we’re not just maintaining trails — we’re building a legacy of stewardship.
You can help keep the momentum going by:
- Joining an Adopt A Trail team for 2026.
- Donating to support tools, training, and volunteer programs.
- Spreading the word about stewardship in your community.
Here’s to another season of love for our trails. See you out there in 2026!
Natalie Neuwirth, Trails Stewardship Coordinator
How YOU Can Support our AAT Volunteers:
Donate now to support our volunteers with:
- Swag: We want to give our volunteers some swag that they can wear on the trails and showcase their volunteerism throughout our community!
- Tools: Sharper tools, newer tools, and enough tools are needed to support our growing number of teams and volunteers!
- Food & Drink: Social hour after a hard but fun trail work project is (in our opinion) the best way to celebrate a great trail project with your friends and colleagues.
- Training: Our volunteers constantly yearn for more knowledge, training, and growing their trail work skills!
