December, 2005, Sacramento, California:

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) will soon become a bit more scenic. With the help of a generous grant through the McConnell Foundation's Leadership Grantmaking Program, the Pacific Crest Trail Association(PCTA) will be recruiting and organizing new volunteer groups in the Shasta and Siskiyou county regions to provide ongoing trail maintenance support. 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 will love working on a trail maintenance crew.

Volunteers are needed to form organized trail-maintaining clubs that are committed to the long-term care of an adopted section of trail. Adoptable sections will range from 10 to 50 miles with a minimum of six groups needed to fully maintain all the miles of trail throughout the Shasta and Siskiyou county region. The PCTA will hold a series of meetings to provide more information for interested volunteers and volunteer groups. Ian Nelson, PCTA Regional Representative, is also available for presentations to local community and youth organizations. For information on upcoming recruitment meetings, visit www.pcta.org or contact Ian Nelson.

Shasta and Siskiyou counties are host to 291 of the 2,650-mile PCT. PCTA staff and volunteers work with local, federal, and state land management agencies to care for the trail and to provide ongoing maintenance needs. A well-maintained trail offers an attractive outing for families, scouting groups, and many others. Many sections of the trail are currently served by organized trail groups, but volunteerism in the Northern California region is somewhat limited and can use your additional support.

With the help of local volunteers, the PCT will be maintained optimally as it passes through the region, providing an excellent wilderness experience for local community members and visitors to the region. Shasta and Siskiyou counties host some of the most scenic views along the PCT, coupled with great trail accessibility. They hold the potential to become one of the most popular regions for weekend outings and a draw for more tourism dollars in local trail towns.

The McConnell Foundation's mission is to help build better communities through philanthropy.