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SUSTAINABLE TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION IN PATAGONIA: PERITO MORENO NATIONAL PARK 2018 SUSTAINABLE TRAIL CONFERENCE, STONEWALL RESORT, WV PRESENTED BY JED TALBOT, OBP TRAILWORKS, LLC

SUMMARY OF THE HIDDEN LAKES TRAIL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT To construct a hiking trail system with huts & latrines in a underdeveloped National Park To create educational opportunities for the public To bolster concepts of sustainable trail design throughout the national park system in Argentina To leave a self sustaining system in place

WHERE IS PERITO MORENO NP?

The park is open daily 9am 9pm between October and April, but can be cut off by snow, sometimes for weeks on end; the weather changes moods like a spoilt child. THE ROUGH GUIDE TO ARGENTINA, PAGE 494

Extreme isolation means that, despite being one of Argentina s first national parks to be created, the PARQUE NACIONAL PERITO MORENO is also one of its least visited. Though replete with glorious mountains and beautiful lakes, this is not a sightseeing park THE ROUGH GUIDE TO ARGENTINA, PAGE 493

(ROUGH) TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Early 1990 s: Doug and Kristine Tompkins visit Perito Moreno National Park (PNMP) and buy a 37,500 acre parcel abutting the park to the north 2010-12 The Tompkins Foundation donates the parcel to the Park 2013: The Butler Foundation (BCF) identifies PMNP as a priority for conservation based infrastructure development 2016: BCF hires a local mountain guiding company to build a remote hut and a different local team to layout and construct a long distance hiking trail at the north end of the park February 2017: BCF is impressed with the hut building team and asks them to source crew members for the trail construction

(ROUGH) TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENT PROCESS March 2017: BCF contracts OBP Trailworks, LLC to travel to Perito Moreno and train the new trail crew May 2017: Based on positive feedback about the newly formed local trail crew and US training team, BCF develops an ambitious development plan for the 2017-18 building season May - October 2017: BCF, OBP, and the Patagonian Partners tackle the logistics of achieving the development plan objectives November 5, 2017: The Patagonian and US teams arrive in Perito Moreno to start building trails, huts, latrines, and domes April 15, 2018: The construction season shuts down and future goals are reevaluated

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Construct 12-18 huts and latrines

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Construct 12-18 huts and latrines Layout and construct a 100-150 km system of hand built hiking trails

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Construct 12-18 huts and latrines Layout and construct a 100-150 km system of hand built hiking trails Establish amenities within the park that can house crews and the public

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Construct 12-18 huts and latrines Layout and construct a 100-150 km system of hand built hiking trails Establish amenities within the park that can house crews and the public Train National Park Staff across Argentina in sustainable trail design and construction techniques Train local crews in sustainable trail design, layout, and construction and crew leading techniques

STRATEGIES: PRE SEASON 1. Establish the team: US and Argentinian partners 2. Prioritize short and long term objectives 3. Set the work schedule 4. Establish general trail standards 5. Generate a production timeline 6. Determine crew sizes 7. Create a comprehensive equipment and supplies list 8. Start sourcing equipment and supplies 9. Procure an area for use as a base camp for workers

STRATEGIES: ESTABLISH THE TEAM BUTLER CONSERVATION FUND OBP TRAILWORKS, LLC ADMINISTRACÍON DE PARQUES NACIONALES ARGENTINA BUNKER CONSTRUCTION BANCO DE BOSQUES PERITO MORENO NATIONAL PARK LOCAL AND US CONTRACTORS

STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTATION 1. Divide into 1 hut crew, 2-3 trail construction crews and 1 scouting and layout crew

STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTATION 2. Provide each trail crew with at least one local crew leader and US leader

STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTATION 3. Build infrastructure at a central base camp

S T R AT E G I E S : I M P L E M E N TAT I O N 3. Build infrastructure at a central base camp

S T R AT E G I E S : I M P L E M E N TAT I O N 4. Identify remote base camps and create a mobilization plan

STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTATION 4. Identify remote base camps and create a mobilization plan

STRATEGIES: IMPLEMENTATION 5. Chart and record progress with weekly reports 50 Operations Report from March 16 th to 24 th, 2018. PMNP Projects For the second half of shift #6, Crew One was moved to Azara Falls Camp. Crew Two continued working from Lagoon Camp to the West. Both crews worked towards each other in the final section to Azara Falls, with the intention of meeting at some point close to the middle. All attention is focused on completing this most remote section of trail. Leadership is optimistic that it can be completed by the end of the season despite the technical work it demands. However cold temperatures and increased precipitation typical of the fall months could affect productivity. The other unfinished section of trail, approx. 4.5 km, closer to the trailhead, will be completed in early spring when high winds limit navigation. The trail from Hut #6 to Azara Falls will be approximately 13.5 km with the new trail layout. Trail Status Report The table shows the progress of both crews added together. Hidden Lakes Trail Network Crew One & Two Puesto del 9 trail- approx. 40 km March 14-22 To date Percent completed 7.2 33.8 % New trail 2869 13510 M Reinforced grade dip 10 141 each Rock steps 15 86 each Stepping stones 13 85 each Rock reinforced tread 16 48 M Switchback / Inslope ditch 0 7 each Rock retaining wall 69 273 m2 Sites restored 17 414 M Refills 584 2108.5 m2 Elevated tread 62 160 M Bridges 1 1 each Directional stones 8 136 each 50 Operations Report from March 16 th to 24 th, 2018. PMNP Projects. Tatiana Niveyro. 1

PRIMARY CHALLENGES Wicked remote location Ambitious outcome objectives Coordination between project partners Crew member experience levels Establishing objective trail standards Matching standards with production goals Cultural considerations Budgeting and payments Wind that will blow the freckles off your face

SEASON OUTCOMES 5 new huts and 7 latrines constructed

SEASON OUTCOMES 5 new huts and 7 latrines constructed 40+ km built (so far)

SEASON OUTCOMES 5 new huts and 7 latrines constructed 40+ km built (so far) Approximately 30,000 hours of work conducted

SEASON OUTCOMES 5 new huts and 7 latrines constructed 40+ km built (so far) Approximately 30,000 hours of work conducted Over 100 people involved

SEASON OUTCOMES 5 new huts and 7 latrines constructed 40+ km built (so far) Approximately 30,000 hours of work conducted Over 100 people involved Infrastructure development including trailers, domes, sheep shearing shed, internet, etc. Overwhelming positive feedback from local communities and visitors All cattle and over 20 km of fencing have been removed from the park 20 Park Rangers from 15 National Parks each spent three weeks learning sustainable trail design and construction techniques

LESSONS LEARNED Pull in every possible partner and advocate Prioritize short and long term objectives Set the schedule and orient short term goals to it Double check your lists, then buy double Account for attrition and entropy Know what problems money can and can t fix Small comforts can go a long way Sometimes you have to give in to the wind

GOALS FOR THE 2018-19 SEASON Build 5-6 more huts with latrines Construct tent platform sites near huts for overflow traffic Install latrines at every trailhead and platform site Build 50+ km of hiking trail in more remote terrain Continue building amenities at Estancia Belgrano Increase the US presence, particularly scouting/layout teams Continue the trail training program with as many National Parks as possible

OBP Trailworks, LLC Promoting Sustainable Trails 110 Poplar Hill Road Turner, ME 04282 207.312.1340 Jed@obptrailworks.com www.obptrailworks.com