Summer is here, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time to hit the trails.
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness has a full summer season of trail work planned. And we need your help to get it done. Volunteering for trail work is a great way to enjoy our wild backyard while taking pride in the fact that you’re making it accessible for everyone. To keep everyone safe this summer, FSPW staff have implemented strong social-distancing and healthy safety procedures. So come on out and enjoy the outdoors without worry!
The following are dates scheduled for trail work this season.
Historic Peak Star Trail #999, July 11. Training Day! Learn to build perfect tread, stellar waterbars and become crosscut saw certified. This training encourages good work ethic and motivates trail stewardship!
Goat Mountain Trail, July 17, 22, 26; Aug. 14; Sept. 11. We plan to spend some time on this trail for the coming season with a focus on tread work to maintain a degraded trail. It’s a nice hike with exposed uphill climbing.
Star Gulch Trail, July 24, 31; Aug. 6. Trail work to help rehab a burned area from 2015 wildfire.
Ross Creek Trail #142, Aug. 22. We will spend a day building tread to a new creek crossing.
Ross Creek Reroute, Aug. 27-28. We will do trail building, tread digging and some brushing to relocate a trail away from the creek.
Morris Creek, Sept. 26. National Trails Day. We will be focusing on heavy brushing along a creek.
There are other ways to help with trail maintenance, too. If you’d prefer to do it as an individual or family project, they can sign up for the Adopt-a-Trail program. We provide the tools, so no need to have your own.
Educating hikers about the trails can be just as important as maintenance. That’s where the Trail Ambassadors come in. They tell other hikers how to keep clear of goats and other wildlife so the wild Scotchmans stay wild.
Finally, leading a hike or outdoor education field trip is one of the best ways to spread the wilderness love. And if you have special knowledge or expertise to share, that’s even better. If you have an idea about a guided hike or field trip for 8 or 12 people, let us know!
