The Trail Companion

Summer 2000

Take a Volunteer Vacation This Summer

Still not sure where to go on vacation this summer? It's not too late to arrange a few days or more in a beautiful location such as the Klamath National Forest, Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest or high above Lake Tahoe…as a volunteer on the trails or helping protect natural resources. The American Hiking Society and the Sierra Club both sponsor week-long or more service trips across the nation and beyond, while organizations such as Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoor, Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail Association typically sponsor one- to three-day projects in their areas.
      Reservations required for longer trips (all organizations) and early signups encouraged as they may fill quickly.

American Hiking Society
      1422 Fenwick Lane
      Silver Spring MD 20910
      Phone (Volunteer Vacations): (301) 565-6704 ext. 206
      E-mail: (Volunteer Vacations): volvac@americanhiking.org

      One- to two-week Volunteer Vacations in various locations across the country - over 75 trips each year. Most focus on trail construction and maintenance. Cost: AHS Members, $60 for first trip; non-members, $75 for first trip (includes one-year membership in AHS); and each additional trip, $40.

New Mexico Volunteers for Outdoor
      P.O. Box 36246
      Albuquerque, New Mexico 87176
      Phone: (505) 884-1991
      E-mail: (NMVO chair Lowell Hioki): lnhioki@aol.com

      One- and two-day weekend and longer service trips in public lands throughout New Mexico. Most trips focus on trail work. Cost: free.

Pacific Crest Trail Association
      5325 Elkhorn Blvd., PMB#256
      Sacramento, CA 95842-2526
      Phone: (916) 349-2109; Fax: (916) 349-1268
      E-mail: info@pcta.org

      One-day to week-long maintenance and construction parties on the PCT at various locations along the PCT's route through California, Oregon and Washington. Cost: free.

Sierra Club
      85 Second Street, Second Floor
      San Francisco CA, 94105-3441
      Phone (415) 977-5500; Fax (415) 977-5799.
      E-mail: information@sierraclub.org
      Web: Service trip info

      The Sierra Club sponsors numerous U.S. and international service trips throughout the year in addition to a wide variety of recreational trips. Service trips range from trail maintenance/construction to exotic weed mapping and meadow restoration in national parks and forests. Costs are less than for recreational trips, but often run $300 and up (cook and meals included).

Tahoe Rim Trail Association
      P.O. Box 4647, 297 Kingsbury Grade Suite C
      Stateline, Nevada 89449
      Phone: (775) 588-0686; Fax: (775) 588-8737
      E-mail: tahoerimtrail@aol.com

      Help complete the Tahoe Rim Trail by 2001! TRTA offers two backcountry camps: Aug. 4-6 and Sept. 2-4. Cost: $45. The TRTA also runs crew leader and trail construction workshops throughout the summer.

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
      600 South Marion Parkway
      Denver, Colorado 80209
      Phone: (303) 715-1010 or (800) 925-2220; Fax (303) 715-1212
      E-mail: voc@voc.org

      Weekend service projects throughout Colorado, in both wild and urban settings. Cost: free.

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
      8511 15th Avenue NE, Room #206
      Seattle, WA 98115-3199
      Phone: (206) 517-4469

      One-day to week-long trail construction and maintenance projects throughout Washington's public lands (including two Volunteer Vacations in association with AHS). Most trips focus on construction of the Iron Goat Trail, a rails-to-trails project in the Cascades north of Seattle. Cost: free-$75, depending on the project.