The Trail Gorillas trail maintenance group is expanding to include Trail Stewards. The Trail Gorilla Stewards program offers a unique experience for both new and long-time volunteers interested in taking their service to a higher level. Each Steward will be responsible for a two- to 10-mile segment of the Pacific Crest Trail and act as liaison and the “eyes and ears” for that segment.
The program offers flexibility, allowing stewards to work when it is most convenient. Friends, family members and other volunteers assist Stewards with the duties for their segment.
There are 3 levels of Stewardship to choose from:
- Scouting is the act of hiking a segment of trail and recording the annual maintenance and reconstruction needs.
- Annual Maintenance is the work that needs to be done every season to keep the trail safe and useable and to prevent larger problems from forming. Maintenance work includes brushing the trail corridor, removing logs, cleaning drainage structures and replacing signs.
- Reconstruction projects include bridge replacement, turnpike construction, retaining wall construction, repairing a large washed-out section of tread or trail relocations.
A recent Trail Steward training on Cleveland National Forest.
The program began in October 2014 with the goal of getting eyes on every mile of trail in Southern California. PCTA’s ability to see, scout, report and maintain every mile of the PCT is a priority included in our strategic plan. It’s my hope that it will also give PCT enthusiasts who aren’t interested in doing trail maintenance a way to be involved.
PCTA will be hosting informational meetings and steward training in early march in the San Diego area. For more information, contact Anitra Kass at [email protected]
Informational Meetings
March 5, 2015
REI-Encinitas
1590 Leucadia Blvd.
Encinitas, CA 92024
6-8 p.m.
March 6, 2015
Adventure 16
4620 Alvarado Canyon Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
7-9 p.m.