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November 21, 2007
American Hiking Society offers Alternative Spring Break projects in 2008
In 2008, American Hiking Society is offering a number of opportunities for college students to get out help build or maintain hiking trails in America's National Parks and Forests. Checkout the following video clip to get an idea what these projects can be like.
Projects for 2008 include;
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Kentucky
5-12 Volunteers Needed
Must be 18
Daypacking, Moderate
3/15/2008-3/21/2008
Project Details:
Crew will perform trail maintenance, repair, and enhancement on the Cumberland Trail inside Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and along the park boundary. Work will include installation of water bars and structures to facilitate drainage, re-grading tread, and clearing and removal of vegetation. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is located in the Southern Appalachians in the states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The park consists of approximately 20,000 acres and 70 miles of trails. Most of the park is mixed deciduous forest with many historic and scenic features. The northern terminus of Tennessee’s Cumberland Trail can be found in the park as well as the southern terminus of Kentucky’s Pine Mountain Trail.
Location:
The trail that will be the focus of this project begins at Tri-state peak, where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee come together. Elevation will range from approximately 2000‚ to 2500‚ and will involve moderate hiking. One of the work days will be devoted to resource work in the field for a behind the scenes look at resource issues in the park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - NPS photo
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
5-10 Volunteers Needed
Must be 18 years of age to participate
Daypacking, Moderate to Difficult
03/09/2008-3/14/2008
Project Details:
Removal of invasive plant species in Deep Creek, which is located near Bryson City, NC. Extensive trail systems are convenient to both locations for hiking in spare time, as well as birding and other natural history explorations.
Location:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest area in the eastern US managed as wilderness and contains old growth forests, interesting historical sites, and opportunities for hiking, photography, birding, canoing, and cycling. Several National Forests and the Cherokee Tribal lands are located nearby. Plant diversity is notable, with over 1700 species of vascular plants and 130 species of trees. Spring wildflowers are abundant. Elevation ranges from 1500 ft to over 6000 ft. This project involves managing exotic plants which threaten native plant communities.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
5-15 Volunteers Needed
Must be 18 years of age to participate
Daypacking, Moderate to Difficult
3/15/2008-3/21/2008
Project Details:
Removing invasive plants in Hazel Creek, a remote backcountry area (no showers or bathrooms) accessible by hiking or boat across Fontana Lake. The exotic shrub privet infests a wetland and trail for several acres.
Location:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest area in the eastern US managed as wilderness and contains old growth forests, interesting historical sites, and opportunities for hiking, photography, birding, canoing, and cycling. Several National Forests and the Cherokee Tribal lands are located nearby. Plant diversity is notable, with over 1700 species of vascular plants and 130 species of trees. Spring wildflowers are abundant. Elevation ranges from 1500 ft to over 6000 ft. This project involves managing exotic plants which threaten native plant communities.
Green Heron Feeding in Big Cypress - NPS photo
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
6-12 Volunteers Needed
Must be 18
Daypacking, Difficult
3/8/2008-3/14/2008
Project Details:
Big Cypress National Preserve is one of the few remaining "wild" places left in southern Florida. It is part of the Everglades ecosystem which is basically a wide and shallow river that drains all of south Florida into the Gulf. The Florida National Scenic Trail has its southern terminus in the Preserve. There are no other ecosystems like it in the US. The crew will performing trail maintenance in the hard-to-reach sections of the deep swamp. The work will include painting blazes, trimming back brush, and clearing the corridor.
Location:
The Big Cypress National Preserve is home to many mammals, birds, and reptiles unique to Florida’s climate. It is easy to view and appreciate Florida’s largest reptile, the American alligator, living here in its natural environment. Anhingas, egrets, and herons are found in plentiful numbers feeding, displaying courtship feathers, and nesting in and among the Cypress trees. Occasionally, one can witness river otter, bobcats, black bear, and the endangered Florida panther on the Preserve’s back roads and trails. Culturally, the Big Cypress Swamp has served as home and refuge to many people throughout time including the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and early settlers.
Coronado National Forest, Arizona
5-8 Volunteers Needed
Must be 18 years of age to participate
Backpacking, Moderate to Difficult
*Dates are negotiable
Project Details:
This is a new ten mile segment of the Arizona Trail known as Las Colinas. The route has been designed to accommodate hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians,and will provide broad vistas of the surrounding terrain to include the Rincon and Whetstone Mountains. We will be working at the 4500 to 5000 foot levels in the Santa Rita Mountains. The approximately mile that we will construct will be cleared of brush and minimal trees (generally small mesquites) to a width of six feet and a height of ten feet. The tread will be constructed of native on-site material with average grades of 5 to 10%.
Location:
The Santa Rita Mountain area is one of the many "sky islands" that dot the Arizona terrain. The highest peak is Mt. Wrightson at 9453 with most peaks at the 6000+ elevation. The terrain is rocky and although we are in the Coronado NF, the area is very desert like in nature. The late winter/early spring is an exciting time in southeastern Arizona as it is warm with minimal humidity during the day and cool at night. Rain is very infrequent and the skies are quite clear. Mountains are visible in all directions. Recreational activities include hiking and we can visit the closer communities such as Sonoita and Elgin after the work day.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area - NPS photo
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California
6-10 Volunteers Needed
Must be 21 years of age to participate
Daypacking, Difficult
*Dates are Negotiable
Project Details:
Trail maintenance, repair, and enhancement projects along the coastal trails within the Golden Gate National Park located in San Francisco. Projects will include reconstructing sand ladders and regrading tread, box-step staircase repair and regrading steps, reconstructing post and cable fencing, cutting back encroaching vegetation, berm removal and regrading, creating and restoring water bars, and clearing drainage systems.
Location:
The Golden Gate National Park, otherwise known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), is our largest urban national park. It contains many scenic and unique places located north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge. The dormitory is located within the Presidio of San Francisco. The trails that we will be focusing on are along the San Francisco coastline, overlooking the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean.
For more information about how your school can get a group together and participate in these great projects, please contact Andrea Ketchmark at 301-565-6704 ext. 206.
Volunteerism | By Jeffrey Hunter | 02:39 PM
