The High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew will assist the United States Forest Service by providing educational programs designed to educate the general public along with public education institutions of the benefits of preserving our nation’s natural environment. By recruiting and training these individuals, we are able to provide the highest level of service promoting watershed protection, infrastructure maintenance and facilities maintenance all within the objectives and guidelines of the United States Forest Service.



Background:

1995 our store discovered the Forest Service "Adopt-a-Trail" program. This program enables business and special interest groups to adopt and maintain trails within the National Forest. California Outfitters then adopted a 12.2 mile segment of the California Riding and Hiking Trail in the vicinity of Huntington Lake. In the summer of 1996 the US Forest Service approached our store and presented us with a challenge. Due to budget restraints, they needed additional volunteer help maintaining over 400 miles of trail between Yosemite National Park on the north and Sequoia – Kings Canyon National Parks on the south. This included 27 miles of the famous Pacific Crest / John Muir Trail, in some of the most scenic portions of the John Muir Wilderness.



Our response was the formation of the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew in the spring of 1997. During the first season, a small but very dedicated group contributed ten days of trail work which amounted to 800 hours of volunteer time. In summer of 1998 with strong support from the local TV Stations and newsaper, our volunteer group expanded to over 35 participants on each outing. This resulted in over 1600 hours of trail work performed, with a combined two summer total of over 2400 hours.



The US Forest Service has a national program called the Volunteers in

National Forest. Under this program a person or groups may sign an agreement with the Forest Service to provide Volunteer work Under this agreement Volunteers are considered Federal employees and are covered under our liability. They are not considered an employee for employment purposes, but the time spent volunteering does count toward total federal time SHOULD they become a federal employee.



The High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew currently has an agreement with the agency. The High Sierra Volunteer trail Crew is a 100 % Volunteer Effort consisting of very committed people from around the states of California and Texas. This group consisting of roughly 300 people that is managed by a select group of volunteers that go to great length to organize and plan each event down to the very smallest detail, so here they are and how to contact them.