Stewards Volunteers are no longer allowed
Keep trails open https://www.opencampaign.com/petition/forest-service-terminates-award-winning-volunteers/8183 (Moved to the Destinations category.)
Forum Discussion
Stewards of The Sequoia has been in existence for many years. USFS encourages volunteerism to help maintain motorized and non-motorized trails (most in the forest are multi-use). I have supported Stewards financially many times. Met a ranger at Kennedy Meadows two years ago, he was very vocal about getting help but when I brought up Stewards and their upcoming work weekends, he didn't bite, I could tell there was some bad blood somewhere. The Executive Director is Chris Horgan, a VERY passionate trail user with an extensive background in trail maintenance to the point that he's come up with mitigation measures that were ground breaking.
Every winter countless trees and limbs fall and block trails and if not removed new non-authorized trails emerge as users bypass the fallen debris, some of these trees are very tall/long necessitating a long misguided trail that may damage sensitive habitat, Stewards go out every spring and clear these snags to keep the trails open.
Chris has been very vocal about the travel management plans proposed and in particular the "1/2 mile" buffer from the PCT, with the limited amount of non-wilderness land that buffer is just not possible, there are already way too many trails that do not connect, forcing users to double back, adding double the use.
Chris' mention of "freedom of speech" is that Stewards, and he, are being singled out since they stand up to the bullying tactics of the USFS (they'd rather shut ALL trails off to motorized access, reducing use and maintenance.
I too would be interested to hear how the ranger can justify denying trail maintenance access to a qualified group, that should not be allowed.
Every winter countless trees and limbs fall and block trails and if not removed new non-authorized trails emerge as users bypass the fallen debris, some of these trees are very tall/long necessitating a long misguided trail that may damage sensitive habitat, Stewards go out every spring and clear these snags to keep the trails open.
Chris has been very vocal about the travel management plans proposed and in particular the "1/2 mile" buffer from the PCT, with the limited amount of non-wilderness land that buffer is just not possible, there are already way too many trails that do not connect, forcing users to double back, adding double the use.
Chris' mention of "freedom of speech" is that Stewards, and he, are being singled out since they stand up to the bullying tactics of the USFS (they'd rather shut ALL trails off to motorized access, reducing use and maintenance.
I too would be interested to hear how the ranger can justify denying trail maintenance access to a qualified group, that should not be allowed.
