Hannah Clark

Colorado’s 14ers Initiative Operations Manager Hannah Clark loves her job taking care of Colorado’s 14ers for the U.S. Forest Service. But as an outdoor professional who knows the importance of hands-on training and experience, she owes her position to joining RMYC to help engage youth in the outdoors through service. We caught up with her for her take on serving as the Forest Service’s 14ers Director, her time at RMYC and the importance of getting youth outside. 

Title: Operations Manager, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

Background: Hannah joined the CFI staff in 2018. Prior to that she served as RMYC’s Peak Apprentice on Mount Elbert in 2017. She also worked on trail building projects and natural-resource management with Northwest Youth Corps in Oregon. Professionally, Hannah has worked as an environmental analyst, natural resource steward, and lab technician for organizations and agencies in California and Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in environmental law and policy from Sturm College of Law at Denver University. She brings a life-long passion for conservation education, hard work, and volunteerism to CFI.

How did you like your time at RMYC? 

It’s been almost eight years since I was involved with RMYC, and I still appreciate my time there. I didn’t realize at the time how much my experience would shape my career in conservation. It gave me experience, built my leadership skills, and connected me with incredible people who shared a passion for the outdoors.

What all did you do? 

As an RMYC Peak Apprentice, I acted as a liaison between the CFI Mount Elbert Trail crew, who lived on the mountain, and the CFI Adopt-a-Peak Crew, who worked with various volunteer groups on weekends. Our focus was on brand-new trail construction—building a sustainable summit route while closing the old, unsustainable route. In less than four months, we engaged over 550 volunteer days, working to open one of several re-routes.

How did you first hear about and get involved with RMYC? I had just completed graduate school in Colorado and felt like I didn’t spend time experiencing Colorado’s mountains. I decided to look for opportunities to work in conservation and trail stewardship when I found RMYC. Their mission aligned with my goals, and the Peak Apprentice position seemed like a great way to gain experience in the field.

Any special memories working with RMYC crews?

 I grew up in Oregon, so Colorado’s alpine was such a wonder to me. I was blown away by how fragile, yet hardy and highly adaptable the alpine environment was. I learned so much about alpine ecology and couldn’t help but share this with others. I loved teaching volunteers about the alpine and watching them turn into environmental stewards in front of my eyes. 

What do you love about RMYC?

 RMYC provides opportunities for young people to develop technical skills, leadership, and an appreciation for public lands. It’s an organization that invests in its members, helping them grow both personally and professionally.

Any advice for future crew members or leaders? 

Stay positive—remember that the hard parts are temporary. What you'll carry with you are the good memories, so look for greatness even in the small moments. Take comfort in knowing you're making a difference. This work matters, and the views make it all worth it. 

Are RMYC’s trail crews helpful for CFI's work on 14ers? 

Absolutely! RMYC crews contribute valuable labor to critical trail projects on 14ers. Their work helps protect fragile alpine ecosystems, maintain sustainable trails, and ensure hikers have safe access to these peaks. RMYC crews also provide managerial experience to CFI’s crew leaders in turn. We become better trail builders by teaching others.

Why is it important to engage youth in the outdoors? 

Getting youth involved in the outdoors fosters a lifelong appreciation for conservation and stewardship. It also builds confidence, resilience, and friendships that remain long after the work ends.

How did your position with RMYC help you prepare for your role at CFI? 

My position with RMYC gave me experience in project coordination, logistics, leadership, environmental education and problem solving, all of which were key in transitioning to my role at CFI. It also helped me build connections in the conservation field, leading to opportunities at CFI.

What all does your current position entail? 

I was hired as CFI’s Volunteer Coordinator in 2018 and was promoted to Operations Manager in 2022. I coordinate about 50 volunteer projects per season on about a dozen 14ers across the state. I also manage the Peak Steward program. These volunteers serve a serve as ambassadors in the field, contacting hikers while climbing Fourteeners to reinforce Leave No Trace practices. In addition to the volunteer aspects, I also manage CFI’s vehicle fleet, insurance policies, some HR duties, office administration, and year-end fundraising tasks.