[pct-l] Spring Season PCT Mid- Oregon Intro. & Happenings

[Barry Teschlog]

Forwarding with permission from Bill.  


Contact him directly bcarpenter AT pcta DOT org

TL/DR version:  Get together in Eugene March 28 and in Bend April 4.  Training event dates April, May and June.  Easy access project near Santiam Pass (mid Oregon) in either late June or early-mid July to allow new crew volunteers to try it out without a big commitment.


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William Carpentee
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:22 PM
Subject: Spring Season PCT Mid- Oregon Intro. & Happenings
 

 
Greetings,
 
I have decided that a short note regarding some of this year’s
upcoming activities for the Mid- Oregon 
section of the Trail might be of value.  I hope to meet those of you that
I have not met yet this season. 
 
As noted, I am the volunteer coordinator for the Pacific Crest Trail
Assn. (PCTA, as we are called) for the Mid-Oregon regional
organization.   The mid-Oregon region, as the name suggests, runs
from Windego Pass ,
about 50 miles S. of Highway 58, to Breitenbush  Lake , just North of Mount
Jefferson.  It encompasses a little over 160 miles of the Trail.  As
most of you know, the Trail in this section typically runs at elevations over
5000 ft.  Thus, with the drifting Cascade’s snows that accumulate in
certain north facing, areas, work on the Trail in this region is limited to the
months of July through September, with an occasional June or October work party
available to the volunteers.
 
The 165 miles is divided among about 20 different entities, including a
running group, a few equestrian groups, and individuals, all called
stewards.  Just like a part of a highway is “adopted,” the
stewards/groups are responsible for certain sections of the trail, typically
seven to eight miles long.  The steward’s goal is to have their
section(s) cleared within two weeks after the snow has melted off.  This
usually provides enough time to allow for a clear trail for the thru hikers
that have started in early May from the Mexican border.  This clearing
amounts to moving or cutting trees blocking the trail.  When I say Trail,
stewards often are also responsible for clearing feeder trails that run between
a trailhead and the Trail itself.  To do this, the stewards and volunteers
are trained and certified in the operation of the two person x-cut saws, which
must be used in wilderness areas, or chain saws, for the non-wilderness parts
of the trail.  However, an integral part of this work is also early
scouting the Trail, and, providing feedback to the “clearers” on
some parts of the Trail before they go out.  While I hope to have
everyone, become trained trail workers, if you feel that maybe too much, you
may still contribute by scouting sections of the Trail or its feeder trails for
PCTA.  Besides clearing, many work crews also do tread maintenance to
protect the Trail from erosion.  Some of these work parties will be
multi-day trips, with meals and pack support provided to cure bigger problems. 
 
Listed below are the dates for a couple of presentations, one local
project, and the training programs for having better trained trail volunteers
that we are holding in mid-Oregon.
 
Spring Presentations- (meet some of the stewards/ trainers that run the
work parties- as well as some thru hikers, with their adventures)
REI Eugene- 
Thursday, March 28th , 7 pm;
REI Bend- Thursday, April 4th, 6 pm
(earlier time because of Store closing time)
Trail Colleges (Trainings)-
Cascade Locks- (a slightly greater distance)- April
19-21st
Westfir- May 17-19th 
Allingham FS Fire Camp, Nears Sisters- June 7-9th , &
Big Bend (near Ashland- 
maybe Hyatt Res.)  June 22-23rd
 
Major Volunteer Brushing and Tread Maintenance, near Santiam Pass- 
either the Saturday (or Weekend for those energized enough) before or after the
July 4th weekend (weather- snow conditions depending)(June 29-30th or July 13-14th)- This is great first time work party because of its
nearness to parking areas and generally level ground.  I will be leading
this, and likely will have a couple other stewards helping run crews in one of
the few Mid-Oregon low lying areas of the Trail.
 
I will be at many of the events listed, so if I don’t know you
yet, please come and introduce yourself, and I am looking forward to working
with you to protect the Trail.
Please contact me if you have further questions, and I hope to see you
on the Trail or at one of the classes. 
 
Bill Carpenter
PCTA Mid-Oregon Volunteer Coordinator
c-541-521-1638