In early March 2025, twelve RMBL volunteers and staff met at the Snodgrass trailhead, strapped on skinny skis and packs, and ventured three miles to Gothic for an overnight stay at RMBL’s Crystal Hut. We were mostly acquaintances yet bonded by summer volunteerism and public education. The purpose of this winter field trip was to grow community, talk about volunteerism and public education, and simply enjoy the quiet solace of Gothic in winter.

During summer, RMBL is a bustling, vibrant scientific community with up to 200 residents. In winter, RMBL’s townsite and cabins are mostly shuttered, and the number of full-time residents and caretakers drops to six. They maintain the campus, monitor seasonal changes, and record snow amounts, water content, and weather daily.

Our summer volunteers are a dedicated and curious crew. Among them, Citizen Scientists provide public education, assist biologists with research, and support operations with weed pulling, fire mitigation, and other service projects. Our Docents primarily interact with the public at Judd Falls — a popular hike above the Gothic townsite. Volunteers are the eyes, ears, and stewards of the mountains near Gothic. They answer questions and share knowledge about mountain ecology, health and safety, and globally significant research studies conducted by scientists at RMBL.

In appreciation of our volunteers, RMBL hosted the winter field trip. We experienced a bluebird afternoon of skiing up valley from the townsite, shared meals with new friends and winter caretakers, and enjoyed a warm night’s sleep under a star-studded sky. In the morning, billy barr greeted us. Snow was gently falling, the townsite was still, and in this magical moment we strapped on our skis and packs to slowly ski home.

This summer, volunteerism will be more important than ever, since visitors to public lands continue to increase while the number of federal land management personnel dwindles. Volunteerism helps keep us and our ecological communities healthy and safe.

Even without ski and slumber parties in a winter wonderland, the rewards are always piled high.

To learn more about volunteering at RMBL:

Docent Opportunities – rwatsonwhite@gmail.com and richard.davis@cuanschutz.edu

Citizen Science Opportunities – richard.davis@cuanschutz.edu

Article written by RMBL docent, Caroline McLean