BLM-Volunteer Feature of the Month

BLM manages millions of acres of land. Maintaining the land so that people can enjoy their recreational outings safely is a major concern. Volunteers are playing an important role in many areas. And when volunteers can match their own interests with the projects at hand, the results can be impressive. Who better to help with trail building and maintenance, for instance, than members of the American Hiking Society (AHS)? That's why a number of BLM Field Offices have been serving as hosts for the AHS program called Volunteer Vacations.

American Hiking Society volunteers come from all over the country to participate in projects on BLM lands. In California's King Range National Conservation Area, volunteers ranging in age from 22 to 79 constructed over ½ mile of trail reroutes through a rugged canyon. Along the shores of Lake Havasu in Arizona, AHS crew members upgraded narrow, eroding trails to campsites managed by the BLM. The Las Cruces, New Mexico Field Office hosted a volunteer crew of 12, who contributed some 520 hours of work on the Pine Tree Trail in the Organ Mountains. And in Amargosa Canyon, near Barstow, California, an AHS group cleared brush, installed steps in a steep hillside, and constructed protective barriers for historic sites along the trail.

Praise for the program comes from volunteers and field managers alike. Volunteers get to "whip their minds, their bodies, and some trails into shape," according to AHS. Extra perks include a great selection of scenic sites to work on, luxurious accommodations (usually the tent site of your choice!), beautiful sunsets, and the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping to improve a precious natural resource--America's public lands.

Land managers particularly appreciate the skills that AHS crews bring to the job. According to Bob Wick from the Arcata, California Field Office, 'The participants are all avid hikers and backpackers, so...they have a good feel for what a trail should look like....All of the volunteers we have hosted have been very hard workers and in great shape.' And Mark Hakkila in Las Cruces adds that, thanks to the AHS volunteers, "The Pine Tree Trail is in the best shape it's been in for 20 years."

This past year, AHS sponsored more than 70 trips in 25 states, a number of them on BLM lands. Volunteers choose from four, seven or 14-day-long trips and can select their own level of work difficulty as well--from "easy" to "extremely strenuous." They must be able to hike five miles or more in a day and supply their own camping equipment. Volunteers are also responsible for their own transportation to and from the work site, although pickups are often provided from an airport nearest the work site.

To learn more about AHS Volunteer Vacations, check out American Hiking Society's website at www.americanhiking.org.

BLM manages millions of acres of land. Maintaining the land so that people can enjoy their recreational outings safely is a major concern. Volunteers are playing an important role in many areas. And when volunteers can match their own interests with the projects at hand, the results can be impressive. Who better to help with trail building and maintenance, for instance, than members of the American Hiking Society (AHS)? That's why a number of BLM Field Offices have been serving as hosts for the AHS program called Volunteer Vacations. American Hiking Society volunteers come from all over the country to participate in projects on BLM lands. In California's King Range National Conservation Area, volunteers ranging in age from 22 to 79 constructed over ½ mile of trail reroutes through a rugged canyon. Along the shores of Lake Havasu in Arizona, AHS crew members upgraded narrow, eroding trails to campsites managed by the BLM. The Las Cruces, New Mexico Field Office hosted a volunteer crew of 12, who contributed some 520 hours of work on the Pine Tree Trail in the Organ Mountains. And in Amargosa Canyon, near Barstow, California, an AHS group cleared brush, installed steps in a steep hillside, and constructed protective barriers for historic sites along the trail. Praise for the program comes from volunteers and field managers alike. Volunteers get to "whip their minds, their bodies, and some trails into shape," according to AHS. Extra perks include a great selection of scenic sites to work on, luxurious accommodations (usually the tent site of your choice!), beautiful sunsets, and the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping to improve a precious natural resource--America's public lands. Land managers particularly appreciate the skills that AHS crews bring to the job. According to Bob Wick from the Arcata, California Field Office, 'The participants are all avid hikers and backpackers, so...they have a good feel for what a trail should look like....All of the volunteers we have hosted have been very hard workers and in great shape.' And Mark Hakkila in Las Cruces adds that, thanks to the AHS volunteers, "The Pine Tree Trail is in the best shape it's been in for 20 years." This past year, AHS sponsored more than 70 trips in 25 states, a number of them on BLM lands. Volunteers choose from four, seven or 14-day-long trips and can select their own level of work difficulty as well--from "easy" to "extremely strenuous." They must be able to hike five miles or more in a day and supply their own camping equipment. Volunteers are also responsible for their own transportation to and from the work site, although pickups are often provided from an airport nearest the work site. To learn more about AHS Volunteer Vacations, check out American Hiking Society's website at www.americanhiking.org.
	Steep terrain marks the King Range's Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, which climbs from the beach through fern-clad canyons and onto the windswept crest at 3,600 feet--all in about 4 miles. Volunteers built tread in rocky terrain, brushed through thickets, and even chiseled a short stretch of trail into the bedrock of the canyon wall.

Special Note: AHS is now accepting applications for Volunteer Vacations in 2001. Click here to go directly to the application page.	There's nothing like a hearty meal around the campfire to refresh the body and the spirit. AHS crew leaders usually organize details regarding food shopping and menu preparation. This logistical support allows BLM employees to focus on the details of managing the work project itself.

Before and after: Boat-in campers had been blazing their own trails to campsites along Lake Havasu, contributing to erosion along the shore. To correct this, volunteers constructed nine of these block and stone stairways from lake beaches up steep terraces to the campsites. Inset photo shows completed stairways.	Volunteer Vacations are definitely not all work and no play. There's always time to relax...or perhaps the better term would be "recover." After a hard day of trail-building in the King Range, volunteers were able to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine on the beach or take a dip in nearby Big Flat Creek

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Feature

Bureau of Land Management
Volunteer Feature