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The Tahoe Rim Trail is a world class travel destination that passes through two states (California and Nevada), six counties, one state park, three National Forests, and three Wilderness areas. This spectacular trail is 165 miles of single- track multiuse trail winding peak to peak around Lake Tahoe. Just over 50 miles of the PCT intersects with the TRT, and most of it is in the Desolation Wilderness.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 outdoor recreation organization comprised of dedicated volunteers, board members, and a small paid staff. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association, in partnership with the US Forest Service and Nevada State Parks, built the Tahoe Rim Trail and continues to build new trail as well as maintain and protect this spectacular, valuable public resource in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The mission of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association is to: maintain and enhance the Tahoe Rim Trail System and encourage stewardship through volunteer programs, educational outreach, and community partnerships. To provide healthy environmentally responsible outdoor recreation and access to the beauty of the Lake Tahoe region, now and for future generations.
We do mostly day trips when working on the TRT but we do two back country camps a year, which are 2-3 day overnights. Locations vary depending on the work needed. Crews do anything from tree removal, to lopping, to building rock walls and rock steps, to rolling grade dips, to reroutes if needed and approved. Most of the work on the PCT is tree removal but we have done camps on the PCT (in 2006 we did 2 camps on the PCT) and this year we working with an SCA crew on the PCT/TRT. The amount of work on the PCT/TRT varies each year but outside of the tree removal trips I would say we focus anywhere from at least an overnight camp each year to 5-10 workdays a year.
For our volunteers specifically, we conduct annual training programs to enable crew leaders to effectively and safely supervise other volunteers in trail maintenance and construction. We also work with the US Forest Service to train volunteers in the use of chainsaws and other tools so they can safely take part in tree removal and other maintenance activities. Many of the trail specific courses offered are: Trail Construction and Maintenance, Trail Safety, CPR/First Aid, Trail Design and Layout, and Chainsaw Training. Over the past two years the Tahoe Rim Trail Association has partnered with many surrounding agencies and trails organizations to develop the Trails and Outdoor Leadership Training. We offer this course once a year and it offers training for beginning and advanced trail builders as well as those looking to crew lead. The course curriculum is based on the TRTA Crew Leader Qualifications passed in 2006.
Projects are placed on the TRTA maintenance database and prioritized by the TRTA Trail Operations Committee consisting of Crew Leaders and some Board members. We recruit using press releases, attending events, a volunteer opportunities publication, and public presentations. Our website is also a great tool when recruiting volunteers. Crew Leaders handle most of the logistics with support from staff. The TRTA follow all safety requirements as described in our volunteer agreements and JHA’s. We invite all agency staff to committee meetings and meet with them once a year. |
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Overview
