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By the joining the PCTA, you're already doing a lot to help
protect and preserve the PCT for future generations; but if
you'd like to help out even more, there are a number of opportunities
available.
Join a trail crew
The construction of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) took years
of work by agency trail crews, contractors and volunteers.
Today, the annual maintenance and reconstruction of the PCT
is also a major undertaking....one that you or your group
can help with!
If you are looking for a fun, challenging and rewarding activity
that gives you the chance to work with some wonderful people
while surrounded by incredible scenery, you've come to the
right place! The PCTA, along with other hiking and equestrian
groups, assists the US Forest Service, National Park Service,
Bureau of Land Management, State Parks, and other agencies
with the care of the PCT.
From removing blow-downs and repairing wash-outs to cutting
back chaparral, PCTA trail crews do it all.
To find a trail crew, check out our Volunteer
Projects Database.
Additionally, if you'd like to volunteer in the Mt. Hood
area of Oregon, visit the PCTA's Mt. Hood chapter at www.longtrails.com/mthood
If you'd like to volunteer in Southern California,
e-mail Pete Fish.
If you'd like to volunteer in Central California,
e-mail Campy Camphausen.
Information about the difference types of projects we do
is listed below.
Day and Weekend Projects (1-4 days)
Each year the PCTA, other groups and agencies offer a number
of great short-term, volunteer projects. Some are strictly
one-day projects, like National Trails Day (first Saturday
in June) and Alice Krueper Day (in November). Other projects
involve 2-4 days while camped at trailheads, roadside campgrounds
or at backcountry sites.
Multi Day Projects (5, 7 and 10 days)
The PCTA and other groups, in cooperation with land managing
agencies, also sponsor a variety of longer projects that
draw volunteers from around the US and beyond. Most are
led by experienced volunteer leaders, while others are led
by seasonal staff and project leaders.
Be a volunteer packer
More information coming soon!
Become a project leader or cook
The PCTA is always in need of volunteer project leaders and
cooks for weekend and longer projects. If you have experience
as a group leader or cook, send us an email by clicking here.
Be sure to let us know where you'd like to work so we can
steer you to the correct PCTA Regional Coordinator.
If you would like to become a group leader but need to expand
your trail or leadership skills, there are a variety of ongoing
skills training opportunities in all regions, offered by the
PCTA, our agency partners and other groups. These are typically
listed on our Web site within "Volunteer Projects."
Help out at conferences and events
Additionally, we often need volunteers to attend local, regional
and even national hiking and equestrian events, meetings and
conferences, to manage the PCTA display and to give out PCT
information. For details on these events, send us an email
by clicking here.
Monitor land use
The PCT passes through 24 National Forests, seven National
Parks, five California State Parks, five Bureau of Land Management
Resource Areas as well as other public and private lands.
Because of the wide range of lands that the PCT crosses there
are a multitude of land development and management plans,
environmental assessments, Wilderness Management Plans and
specific project environmental assessments and lists of proposed
actions that constantly need to be reviewed by PCTA staff
and volunteers. Many environmental assessments or proposed
actions do not specifically include information on whether
or not the timber sale, road or other project is actually
on or near the PCT. Thus we need people who live near or know
particular Forests, Parks and Resource Areas and who can read
the planning materials and "red flag" those that
may affect the PCT.
You can be the "eyes and ears" for a segment of
the trail. PCTA staff and our Public Policy Committee can
then develop formal responses to any proposals that might
affect the PCT.
For information on becoming a Volunteer Land Use Planning
Monitor and signing up for all planning documents for the
Forest, Park or Resource Area of you choice, please send us
an email by clicking here.
PCTA Office Volunteers
Volunteers are always needed to assist with membership mailings,
work on the PCTA archives, do database entry, assist with
other administrative tasks and special projects at our office
in Sacramento. For more information, or to volunteer, send
us an email by clicking here.
Submit articles or photos
to the magazine
Volunteers contribute most of the articles and photos in the
Communicator (the PCTA's bi-monthly magazine), some of which
are then used on our website. For more information on publishing
deadlines for the magazine or how to contribute articles or
photos, contact: Angela Ballard, Editor by clicking here
.
Donate slides or photographs
to the PCTA archives
The PCTA welcomes contributions of slides and photos to expand
our collection. We use images for presentations, articles,
brochures, displays, and on our Web site. Images about any
and all aspects of the PCT, hikers and equestrians and those
who maintain the trail would be of interest. If images are
used in any publication we will give credit to the sources.
To donate copies of your photographs send us an email by clicking
here.
Volunteer with cooperating agencies
and trail organizations
Finally, in addition to the PCTA volunteer programs, some
agencies offer volunteer opportunities, as do many of our
fellow hiking and equestrian organizations. For information,
we suggest that you contact the agencies and organizations
directly. Visit our Links
section for contact information.
If you are already volunteering with the PCTA...thank you!
If you are not and you'd like to support our public service
programs, we hope to hear from you soon.
Happy Trails.
Be an Oregon Trail Angel
The Willamette and Deschutes National Forests in Oregon
have initiated a new response plan to address emergency
closures of the PCT in their area. During the 2006 fire
season, many thru-hikers and thru-riders reached road
crossings to discover a posting simply stating the trail was
closed due to fire, leaving them no obvious place to turn.
These Forests and the PCTA are now working together to develop
a list of volunteer Emergency Responders who might be called
upon in the event of such incidents, to help hikers and
equestrians get to the designated detour route or to the
nearest re-supply point. If you would like to be an Emergency
Responder in mid-Oregon, please contact Regional
Representative Dana
Berthold.
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