Post by isawtman on Jun 16, 2017 4:24:19 GMT -8
Forest Ranger Rich Hatfield asks for Trail Maintenance Volunteers in the Allegheny National Forest
While the Tracy Ridge Project is focused on the 34-mile system at Tracy Ridge, there are several other hiking-only trail systems that I am interested in lining up volunteers to assist with trail maintenance this season.
We have three other trail systems that receive a much higher level of use than Tracy Ridge and we could use assistance this year maintaining these systems.
1. Minister Creek is likely the highest use hiking system on the Forest. The trail system is in decent shape but could use a group of volunteers to help brush and clear the trail tread. More information on the system is here: www.fs.usda.gov/recar…/allegheny/recreation/recarea…
2. The Hickory Creek Trail is in the Hickory Creek Wilderness. This trail gets a relatively high level of use but unfortunately has fallen into disrepair. There are downed trees across the trail tread throughout the system, significant brush encroachment and a number of drainage issues. I would really like to see a hiking group adopt this trail and properly maintain it. Since the trail is in wilderness, there are some special considerations for trail maintenance. Friends of Allegheny Wilderness provide some maintenance assistance; given the miles of trail, a second group here would be helpful. More information on the trail is here: www.fs.usda.gov/…/alleg…/recreation/hiking/recarea/…
3. The Morrison Trail is another high use hiking trail on the Forest. A local mountain bike group assisted on our "log-out" of the trail last year (the first time in years that this trail was logged-out) but there is more work to do. There are some fall-line sections of the trail that are causing resource issues. We could use additional help on this trail with brushing, log-out and, eventually, trail re-routes. More information on the trail is here: www.fs.usda.gov/…/alleg…/recreation/hiking/recarea/…
4. The issues at Tracy Ridge were discussed in the EA that we recently released. This trail gets considerably less traffic than the three trails mentioned above. Regardless of the outcome of the shared use trail proposal, there will be many miles of trails that will remain hiking-only and will need trail stewards to help maintain. Our local North Country Trail Association group provides invaluable volunteer work on the NCNST through the Tracy Ridge area. The remaining 25 or so miles of trail do not have a dedicated volunteer group providing routine maintenance.
If you are interested in helping the Forest maintain your trail systems, please let me know. I'll connect you with our volunteer coordinator who can provide the necessary forms, more info etc...
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Rich Hatfield
District Ranger
Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District
p: 814-363-6098
rhatfield@fs.fed.us
While the Tracy Ridge Project is focused on the 34-mile system at Tracy Ridge, there are several other hiking-only trail systems that I am interested in lining up volunteers to assist with trail maintenance this season.
We have three other trail systems that receive a much higher level of use than Tracy Ridge and we could use assistance this year maintaining these systems.
1. Minister Creek is likely the highest use hiking system on the Forest. The trail system is in decent shape but could use a group of volunteers to help brush and clear the trail tread. More information on the system is here: www.fs.usda.gov/recar…/allegheny/recreation/recarea…
2. The Hickory Creek Trail is in the Hickory Creek Wilderness. This trail gets a relatively high level of use but unfortunately has fallen into disrepair. There are downed trees across the trail tread throughout the system, significant brush encroachment and a number of drainage issues. I would really like to see a hiking group adopt this trail and properly maintain it. Since the trail is in wilderness, there are some special considerations for trail maintenance. Friends of Allegheny Wilderness provide some maintenance assistance; given the miles of trail, a second group here would be helpful. More information on the trail is here: www.fs.usda.gov/…/alleg…/recreation/hiking/recarea/…
3. The Morrison Trail is another high use hiking trail on the Forest. A local mountain bike group assisted on our "log-out" of the trail last year (the first time in years that this trail was logged-out) but there is more work to do. There are some fall-line sections of the trail that are causing resource issues. We could use additional help on this trail with brushing, log-out and, eventually, trail re-routes. More information on the trail is here: www.fs.usda.gov/…/alleg…/recreation/hiking/recarea/…
4. The issues at Tracy Ridge were discussed in the EA that we recently released. This trail gets considerably less traffic than the three trails mentioned above. Regardless of the outcome of the shared use trail proposal, there will be many miles of trails that will remain hiking-only and will need trail stewards to help maintain. Our local North Country Trail Association group provides invaluable volunteer work on the NCNST through the Tracy Ridge area. The remaining 25 or so miles of trail do not have a dedicated volunteer group providing routine maintenance.
If you are interested in helping the Forest maintain your trail systems, please let me know. I'll connect you with our volunteer coordinator who can provide the necessary forms, more info etc...
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Rich Hatfield
District Ranger
Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District
p: 814-363-6098
rhatfield@fs.fed.us