Category Archives: Conservation

Activities, Adventures, Conservation

Courtright Base Camp – High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Family-friendly camping with multiple projects for people of all ages.

Event Date: 08/13/2015 – 08/16/2015
Cost: FREE

You are encouraged to stay over Thursday night to acclimate. Food will be provided Thursday night through Sunday lunch. Volunteers can work Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you do not have to be at the event for all three days. This event is family friendly, we will have volunteer work available for all ages. There are many attractions in the Sierra National Forest that you can easily visit before or after the event. Experienced crew leaders will train volunteers in general trail maintenance techniques and safe usage of hand tools. We will be removing brush and trees, repairing water bars, and installing water diversion structures on the trails in the Courtright Reservoir area within the John Muir Wilderness. A primitive solar shower setup will be provided. There is no charge for this event, base camp operations usually cost at least $3,000 with 30-50 people participating that equals $60 to $100 per person. Although we receive grant money for these trips it is often not enough to cover operating costs. Please consider making a tax deductible donation online or bringing a donation to the event. More detailed information will be sent to you after you sign up.
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Activities, Adventures, Conservation

Long Meadow Back Packing Trip – High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Back Packing trip, rock work.

Event Date: 07/19/2015 – 07/25/2015
Cost: FREE

This is not any easy trip, high altitude and 5-7 mile long hike into and out of base camp. You are encouraged to stay over Saturday night at the trail head to acclimate. Please provide you own food for Saturday night and Sunday breakfast. Food will be provided Sunday lunch thru Saturday lunch. Crew will hike in the morning and should come out to trail head Saturday afternoon the following Saturday. This event is located in the in the Golden Trout Wilderness. An experienced crew leaders will train volunteers in general trail maintenance techniques and safe usage of hand tools. We will be removing brush and trees, repairing water bars, and installing water diversion structures. This is a beautiful area high in the Sierra, at least 6,000-7,500 ft. The nature of the topography, the distance of the hike into the base camp usually 5-7 miles and the work performed will make this a strenuous trip. There is no charge for this event, week long back packing trips usually cost at least $5,000 with 15 people participating that equals $300 per person. Please consider making a donation online or bringing a donation to the event. More detailed information will be sent to you after you sign up. Continue reading →

Conservation

Big Meadows Base Camp – High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Family-friendly camping with multiple projects for people of all ages.

Event Date: 07/09/2015 – 07/12/2015
Event Type: Vital Trail Maintenance (VTM)
Trip Type: Car Camping Base
Cost: FREE

You are encouraged to stay over Thursday night to acclimate. Food will be provided Thursday night through Sunday lunch. Volunteers can work Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you do not have to be at the event for all three days. This event is family friendly, we will have volunteer work available for all ages. There are many attractions in the Sequoia National Park and Forest that you can easily visit before or after the event. Experienced crew leaders will train volunteers in general trail maintenance techniques and safe usage of hand tools. We will be removing brush and trees, repairing water bars, and installing water diversion structures on the Deer Meadow and Kanawyer Trails, along with The Rowell Meadow, Weaver Lake and Jennie Lake Trails within the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. A primitive solar shower setup will be provided. There is no charge for this event, base camp operations usually cost at least $3,000 with 30-50 people participating that equals $60 to $100 per person. Although we receive grant money for these trips it is often not enough to cover operating costs. Please consider making a tax deductible donation online or bringing a donation to the event. More detailed information will be sent to you after you sign up.
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Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

Sportsmen-Legislators, Conservation Groups Discuss Federal Forest Policy

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Today, members of the sportsmen’s conservation community gathered with Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) at a Breakfast Briefing, titled, “The Resilient Federal Forests Act: Wildlife Habitat and Forest Diversity,” hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).

Speakers addressed issues from funding, increasing litigation, and complicated regulations to wildlife habitat management and public access for outdoor recreation on federal lands, many of which are addressed in H.R. 2647.

CSF President Jeff Crane, CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman (VA), and CSC Vice-Chair Congressman Gene Green (TX) introduced H.R. 2647 and its importance, not only to sportsmen and women, but to all users of public lands.

CSC Member and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Congressman Rob Bishop (UT) addressed the audience. “[Forest management] needs more money to be effective, but that alone is not going to solve the problem. There has to be some substantial changes. The Resilient Federal Forests Act is the first step forward.”

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Conservation, National Parks, Outdoors

Yosemite Nature Notes – Big Trees

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yosemite National Park is home to some of the oldest trees in North America, the Giant Sequoia. These trees thrive in the Northern California atmosphere, wrapped in warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. The park is thick with vast forests, and they are one of the many attractions of Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite Nature Notes No. 11 spotlights these massive trees and great forests of Yosemite National park. It’s certainly worth the time to watch.

According to the Yosemite Conservancy, this year’s donors have an opportunity to have an extraordinary impact on these big trees. “Contributions from our donors are helping to fund the project to restore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. This is an ambitious, multiyear effort to preserve these majestic trees and reverse 150 years of development by balancing visitor needs with ecological protection.”

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