Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club

Main Club Volunteer Opportunities

2007 Supervised Volunteer Trail Projects

February 15, 2008 4:57 PM ET

This year the Genesee Valley Chapter will sponsor 3 high school-aged students to participate in one of the five-day projects (paying for the participation fee).
The application deadline has been extended through the end of April 2007. More information here.

To register and receive more information about trail projects please please call Wes Lampman, Director of Field Programs at 518-523-3480 ext. 18 or check ADK's Web site at http://www.adk.org.

OUR GOAL

ADK's goal is to provide you, the volunteer, with the unique opportunity to give something back to trails. Our volunteer projects are inherently educational and include not only trail maintenance and reconstruction techniques, but also low-impact camping and natural history. Ultimately, we will complete a quality trail project that will protect the natural resource for many years. You are guaranteed a fun and rewarding experience participating as an "ADK Trails Volunteer"!

BASE CAMP

The volunteer base camp serves as the staging area for trail projects. It is located at the Adirondak Loj Campground adjacent to Heart Lake. Hot showers are located nearby. At base camp, we conduct a comprehensive orientation that includes introductions, safety, equipment review, camping techniques, and a summary of the project goals and objectives. We also provide experienced leadership, group camping gear, tools, transportation from base camp, and food.

A complete equipment list and project information will be sent to all volunteers

ONE-DAY PROJECTS

Be prepared to hike into the woods while carrying tools, daypack, and lunch. Anticipate project completion by late afternoon. A variety of tasks make projects fun and rewarding for all ages and abilities.

June 16 --- Ruth's Easy Project

Join trip leader Ruth Kufahl for her annual "easy" trail project. Designed for first-time trail workers of all ages.

June 23 --- Arab Mountain

Rock water bars will be installed and repaired on this popular fire tower trail.

July 14 --- Poke-O-Moonshine

Help maintain this fire tower trail by making rock drainage structures and setting rock steps.

August 11 --- Silver Lake Mountain

Existing rock water bars will be repaired improving the drainage on this trail.

August 12 --- Baxter Mountain

Short sections of new trail will be installed to avoid steep or wet areas of trail.

TWO-DAY PROJECTS

Be prepared to hike into the woods while carrying tools, daypack, and lunch. Anticipate project completion by late afternoon of the second day. Participants will have the option of returning to base camp each night.

June 8-10 --- JBL Trail Work Weekend

An annual trail maintenance trip that involves cleaning existing drainage structures and removing blowdown in

the Johns Brook Valley. The volunteer crew will pack into Johns Brook Lodge (3.5 miles) on Friday night.

June 16-17 --- Mountain Bike Trails

Join other mountain bike enthusiasts in repairing and creating mountain bike trails in the Wilmington Wild Forest. An emphasis will be placed on training future mountain bike trail stewards for the area.

FOUR & FIVE-DAY HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS

A weeklong backcountry trail project provides a unique experience for young adults exposing each participant to the rigors of trail maintenance and how to live comfortably in the woods. Every volunteer trail project is centered on education. An ADK Professional Volunteer Trail Crew Leader ensures that participants gain an understanding of what it takes to maintain trails. Student volunteers learn to work as a team by sharing the responsibilities of living in a backcountry campsite. With the guidance of the Crew Leader, students learn how to safely utilize basic hand tools to accomplish tremendous tasks.

This year the Genesee Valley Chapter will sponsor 3 high school-aged students to participate in a project (paying for the participation fee). Teens interested in applying for one of these sponsored trips should download and fill out the application form available here. The application deadline has been extended through the end of April 2007. Selected participants may choose the program they wish to participate in, depending on availability.

July 8-12 --- Ampersand Mountain, 4-day

Work will focus on constructing rock water bars and stepping-stones. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Thursday. There is a $200 participation fee.

July 15-20 --- Pigeon Lake Wilderness, 5-day

Blowdown removal and sidecutting will take place in this rugged wilderness area. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Friday. There is a $250 participation fee.

July 22-27 --- Prospect Mountain, 5-day

Install new sections of trail and drainage on this popular hike in the Lake George region. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Friday. There is a $250 participation fee.

July 29-August 3 --- Wanika Falls, 5-day

Help define this section of the Northville-Placid trail with intensive sidecutting and blowdown removal. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Friday. There is a $250 participation fee.

August 5-9 --- St. Regis Mountain, 4-day

Participants will place rock water bars and steps on this popular hiking trail. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Thursday. There is a $200 participation fee.

FIVE-DAY PROJECT --- Long Lake Canoe Trip

August 15-20 --- Relocating existing pit privies and the removal of litter from campsites will be the main focus of the project. Participants will canoe a substantial distance every day to reach each lean-to. Arrive Wednesday evening at base camp for dinner and orientation. Participants will be out of the woods late afternoon on Monday. There is a $75 participation fee

WORKSHOPS & SPECIAL EVENTS

May 5 --- Trail Steward/Maintainer Workshop

This workshop is intended to give trail maintainers an understanding of basic trail maintenance concepts and standards. Topics that will be demonstrated and discussed are cleaning drainage, blowdown removal, sidecutting, and trail marking. The workshop will be conducted on the main hiking trail that ascends Blue Mountain in the Adirondacks.

June 2 --- National Trails Day

The National Trails day event will be based out of the Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake in the Adirondacks. Sidecutting, drainage clearing and rock water bar construction is just some of the projects that will be available in the tri-lakes area.

October 20 --- Fall Trails Day, High Peaks

This is the last chance to clean drainages of fallen leaves and other debris before the snow arrives. Trails located in the Adirondack High Peak Region will be focused on.