In This Issue:

Volunteering: A Forest Service Perspective

Give Something Back in 2009

WV Seizes Opportunity for Growth Despite Economy

A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir

Visit WV in SLC at REI Presentations

 

Volunteering: A Forest Service Perspective

By Robin Rose

For the past two and a half years, I’ve had the privilege of working on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the third forest I’ve worked on during my Forest Service career. It’s a beautiful forest in southwestern Washington, with seven designated wildernesses, 1200 miles of trails, numerous waterfalls, Mt. Adams, and the incomparable Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Maintaining this forest’s recreational facilities and trails, developed over many years and during better times, is a challenge. However, many creative folks on this forest have worked hard to find solutions to this dilemma. The recreation program now depends on several important resources—appropriated funding from Congress, recreation fee revenues, and outside resources, which include grants and partnerships, and volunteer contributions. When I recently “ran our numbers,” I was astounded to discover volunteer contributions amount to nearly a quarter of our annual budget.

The actual tangible contributions of volunteers became even clearer when I was working on our accomplishment reports last year. All national forests are given targets with their budgets, and each forest reports to Washington, D.C. whether or not targets are met. Last year the Gifford Pinchot was given a reasonable target for miles of trail maintained to standard. The folks in D.C. also wanted to know how much more we could accomplish with outside help. When I queried our district trail managers, I learned that nearly all of our routine maintenance was done by volunteers. One district informed me that volunteers accomplished 100% of its trail maintenance. I was stunned! Hundreds of miles maintained, not by FS trail crews, but by volunteers! What would happen if volunteers lost interest in doing trail work on our forest?

I am sure the situation is similar on other national forests, and for our “sister” agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Volunteers have become increasingly important over the years to these agencies to the point where we would be hard pressed to maintain quality recreation facilities, wildernesses, and trails without the contributions of volunteers.

For me, even more important than the financial contributions and target accomplishments is the validation that recreation, wilderness, and trails on public lands really matter to people, so much so that they will come out and spend their precious free time sawing logs and fixing trail tread, pulling noxious weeds, planting trees, removing fences, and doing a myriad of other tasks too numerous to recount here. The selfless contributions of so many helping hands and hearts is truly an inspiration for me, and is a large part of what fuels my energy and keeps me passionate about my job with the Forest Service. Thank you, Wilderness Volunteers! I am so grateful for all you do for the protection of public lands, for both current and future generations.

Give Something Back in 2009

In a time of crisis, WV's mission seems more important than ever. The work to be done in our national parks and forests is greater than ever but the resources are scarcer than ever. What better way to take an affordable vacation in beautiful surroundings, meet new people, and feel good about "Giving Something Back" than to volunteer for WV! The following is just a sample of the wide range of projects on the schedule this year.

In the week leading up to the summer solstice, June 14-20, a WV crew will visit the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, the largest piece of protected open space in northeastern Illinois. Although prairies once dominated more than 60 percent of the Illinois landscape, less than one-hundredth of one percent of true tallgrass remains in Illinois today. When fully restored, this wetland/prairie landscape will provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and open space for Chicago residents and visitors to enjoy. The work project will be construction of a wooden overlook platform and access trail. On the free day, you can hike and explore the wild sides of Midewin. Camping will be in tents near the cars, so feel free to bring your camp chair to enjoy the long daylight hours.

For a vigorous hike, join WV's July 5-11 project in the Mission Mountain Wilderness, about an hour and a half south of Glacier National Park, in Montana. After a five-mile hike with 1,000 feet in elevation gain we'll be at our campsite by a lake warm enough for an afternoon swim. A wide variety of wildlife, including grizzly and black bear, elusive mountain lion, mountain sheep and goat, moose, elk, deer, eagles and other raptors may be seen. Area streams, rivers, and lakes hold trout and pike. We'll work with a Forest Service crew on trail maintenance and rerouting, using two-man cross cut saws, axes, shovels, Pulaskis, etc. The Forest Service will provide pack support for food and tools. On the day off, we can explore the wilderness, swim in a lake, climb a peak or enjoy the solitude.

Join WV from July 26-Aug. 1 for a trip into the Three Sisters Wilderness, part of the Deschutes National Forest in Oregon. Enjoy the beauty of the Three Sisters Mountains, (all above 10,000ft.), abundant lava fields, waterfalls, glaciers, and glacial lakes. It's a four-mile backpack to a wilderness basecamp, with short daily hikes to work sites along a nine-mile section of the Green Lakes Trail, an important connection to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Come enjoy one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest.

From Aug. 2-8, WV will be in central Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness, known for the rugged beauty of its soaring peaks, flowery mountain meadows, crystal lakes, and abundant wildlife, including elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bears, and wolves. This year the trip is on the beautiful, lesser-used west side of the Wilderness, where we'll work on a pass on the Little Queen's River Trail. Forest Service horse packers will help with food and group gear, lightening our load for the eight-mile hike in which gains 3,200 feet. This is a beautiful area, with wonderful opportunities for fishing and off- trail explorations. If you’re in good shape and ready for an adventure, this could be the trip for you.

Wilderness Volunteers will return this summer to the Jedediah Smith Wilderness The "Jed" adjoins the western boundary of Grand Teton National Park, stretching almost to Yellowstone in the north. From August 16-22, at a 9,000 ft. basecamp in the incredible Alaska Basin, a joint WV and Forest Service crew will do trail repair and enjoy the steep Teton summits, magnificent glacier-carved basins, and abundant wildlife including elk, moose and bears. Free-day options include hiking the Teton Crest Trail, fishing in basin lakes, or just relaxing in the wilderness solitude. Forest Service horse packers will carry in tools and food.

From August 23-29, WV will sponsor a trip to Mt. Hood National Forest, twenty miles east of Portland. At 11,240 feet, Mt. Hood is Oregons's highest peak and is covered by 11 glaciers. WV will spend the week restoring riparian habitat, wetlands and streamside vegetation on sections of the Sandy River and Salmon River, important spawning grounds for coho salmon and steelhead trout. Our camp is a forest service campground and we'll hike to the work sites each day. Two days of spectacular hiking in the Mt. Hood Wilderness are planned. Non-hiking options include exploring historic Timberline Lodge and sections of the historic Oregon Trail, mountain biking, swimming and fishing in Trillium Lake. Or you may relax and listen for the chirping marmots and pikas and enjoy the huckleberries which will be nicely ripened at this time. This trip is suitable for beginners to camping and service work who are in good shape.

The Saddle Mountain Wilderness, part of the North Kaibab National Forest, borders the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The North Kaibab tops a monocline, and has excellent views of the Grand Canyon. The work project, from Sept. 13-19, will be setting steps in a steep section of the North Canyon Trail in the Saddle Mountain Wilderness. Camping will be in a remote backcountry camp at 8,000 feet and we'll hike several miles into the canyon each day. On our free day we can climb Saddle Mountain, with spectacular views into Marble Canyon, or hike the Nankoweap corridor in the Park. Be prepared to see bison, California condors, hawk, and bobcats

This is just a sample of projects that Wilderness Volunteers is offering in 2009. Check out the website for more information. But don’t delay; trips fill fast. Join us in “Giving Something Back” in 2009.

WV Seizes Opportunity for Growth Despite Economy

Bill Sheppard, President, Wilderness Volunteers

Due to the increasing demand for volunteer help from the National Park Service, the Forest Service, and other agencies WV is offering more volunteer opportunities. Our 2009 project list includes over fifty projects, and for the WV program to continue expanding, we need growth in three areas - office staff, project leaders, and volunteers.

We now have two full time staff to handle the increased workload of an expanded schedule.  Program Manager Dave Pacheco came on board in September, just in time to help create our 2009 schedule. With Dave managing our day-to-day operations, Executive Director Debbie Northcutt can focus on other needs of the organization, including administration, registration and day-to-day operations.

Look closely at the project list, and you'll notice that there are two Leader Training Trips.  Each year we dedicate at least one of our work projects to developing new project leaders.  This year our leader training project at Yosemite National Park filled quickly, so we added a second project in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico, which still has some openings.  We welcome newcomers as well as veterans, but all leader candidates must have experience in camping/backpacking and other outdoor activities plus a talent for working with people and a commitment to preserving the wild places in our country. 

WV does, however, need more volunteers who are interested in “Giving Something Back.”  That's where our readers come in.  Please help spread the word about WV and the rewarding work we do.  Tell your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about our trips - not just the hard work, but also the beautiful wilderness, the new friends, the many laughs and smiles, and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment with a job well done.  With your help we can fill our rosters with more people like us who each year enjoy a week of Giving Something Back.

A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir

Book Review

One might not think there are many parallels between the present and the latter part of the nineteenth century as regards environmental issues, the natural world and the roles of government and private citizens in caring for this world, but Donald Worster in his new biography of John Muir (1838-1914), A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir, reveals many, and that is what makes this account of Muir’s life worth reading.

Muir’s life was infused with a “passion for nature” which he developed early in his life, and Muir felt that “wildness” was essential to the psychic health of individuals in an urbanized, industrialized society. Muir shared this belief with his friend Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York, but it was in the West where Muir looked to preserve sanctuaries of wild beauty to help individuals restore themselves psychically. Muir came to believe that paradise existed here on earth, and shortly after reaching this conclusion, he found what for him was the essence of that paradise in the Sierras of California. He referred to Yosemite as a “New Jerusalem,” and for him Yosemite was evidence for the pantheistic beliefs he held. The kinship Muir felt for Yosemite was instrumental in getting this state park declared a national park in 1890, and in that same year three national parks were established in California.

Perhaps Muir’s greatest contribution to the environmental movement was that he awakened the American public to the beauty and grandeur of the western landscape that is so associated with America in the present day public’s consciousness. His passionate beliefs influenced many at a critical time in America’s development when the natural treasures we enjoy today could have been lost forever. The lesson we can take from Muir’s passion for nature is that inspiration is a powerful tool in helping to foster change, and some of that passion is certainly needed to preserve the wild beauty that remains in the country today.

Visit WV in SLC at REI Presentations

Wilderness Volunteers fans in Utah are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming presentations titled "Giving Something Back in 2009." The photo presentation encourages attendees to get involved in upcoming wild land service opportunities. Dave Pacheco will make the presentation on May 14th, 7:00pm at the Sandy REI, 230 W 10600 S, and again July 22nd, 7:00pm at the Salt Lake City REI, 3285 E 3300 S. More information at dave@wildernessvolunteers.org.