Volunteers work together to move rocks as part of a new switchback build on the Cloverpatch Connection.
LEAVE A LEGACY and be a part of this phenomenal trail build! This new section of trail will is part of the Oakridge Ride Center Signature Trails Designation on the Alpine Trail Network just above Westfir, Oregon in the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The segment will be working on will eventually replace three miles of gravel road climbing with 4.5 miles of rugged, forested singletrack over creek crossings and past a waterfall ~ don’t miss out on your chance to put your own signature on this incredible new trail!
DETAILS:
Where: We will meet up in the parking lot at Trans-Cascadia Excursions located at the corner of North Fork FS19 and Westoak road in Westfir, Oregon and re-organize into carpools to help decrease traffic impact in the work area.
Who: Everyone! Difficulty: Advanced. This is a new construction project located at an active worksite, so the work can be more challenging than our ongoing maintenance efforts. Access to and from the worksite is uphill and downhill +-1-2 miles hiking. We have tasks suitable for people of all skill levels, so don't hesitate to join in even if you're new to trail maintenance!
What: Eager to join our trail crew in the field? Now's your chance! You'll have an opportunity to build brand-new trails and learn trail construction techniques alongside our team. Tasks vary from rock work to hand-building new trails, and more. Participants are expected to show up prepared with a pack including water, lunch and snacks, and personal protective equipment. This project is a partnership of USFS and Oakridge Trails Alliance.
What to Bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather and the work - layers, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots for walking on uneven surfaces. Please also bring personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs, along with water, a bagged lunch, sunscreen, any medical necessities (epi-pen, medications) and a backpack to carry your belongings.
OTA Provides: First aid and CPR qualified leadership, radio, hard hats, tools, rigging, and any other job-related gear and equipment. Refreshments (beverages and snacks) are often provided afterwards - anything else you wish to potluck at the end of the day is also welcome!
IF YOU'RE NEW TO VOLUNTEERING ON THE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST: Please create a volunteer profile and sign into the WNF Cascade Volunteers volunteer tracking system. You can do this by heading over to the CV volunteer page and creating your own account here: https://bit.ly/3ZCqon4 - please add Oakridge Trails Alliance as your primary organization affiliation in the West Cascades volunteer group. This will help us track volunteer matching hours for our grant reporting purposes.
You should be able to register for this work party from a list of public volunteer opportunities once you’re in the system, however… if that isn’t working for you, please email us to let us know you are coming. If for some reason there is already an account registered under your email, we've likely already got you in the system, and you don't need to do anything else - we will manually enter your hours after each work party. Thank you for your time and efforts!