(Tillamook State Forest)—More than 100 volunteers converged on the Tillamook State Forest to clear brush and branches, fix drainage issues and hack back vegetation on 10 miles of the Wilson River Trail to prepare for the busy summer season.
“Volunteers are critical for maintaining our entire trail system,” said Joe Offer, Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Recreation, Education and Interpretation Program Manager. “We only have four full-time employees to maintain all the campgrounds, day use areas, and nearly 100 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails here in the Tillamook. The special partnership we have with these non-profit trail groups is key to keeping these spaces in great shape for all Oregonians.”
The “Trail Party” on March 29 was organized by the State Forest Trust of Oregon, Northwest Trail Alliance and ODF, along with support from Trailkeepers of Oregon, Westside Trail Federation, and Oregon Equestrian Trails. Typically, the non-profit groups organize their own smaller work parties with 10-20 volunteers at different times throughout the year.
“This event is special because it brings together all the trail groups on one day,” said Kelly Lau, Executive Director State Forests Trust of Oregon. “Collaboration is the key to having an opportunity for all to build a connection with ODF’s Recreation, Education, and Interpretation Program, as well as to our state forests. Events like this not only help with the physical needs of maintaining infrastructure but the social connections between people who truly love to work and play in these forests. It’s amazing how getting your hands dirty with others helps build those relationships.”
Connecting with nature and others who value state forests provides a unique opportunity for those who joined the trail party.
“Many of our volunteers have office jobs in the Portland area, “said Nathan Frechen who coordinates many of the work parties in the Tillamook for Northwest Trail Alliance (NWTA). “This is a different experience for them since most of their work projects are long term and hard to see the end results. Not so out here. We can look back at the end of the day and see immediate results—the overgrown trails are now clear, and we did it together with some hard work in just a few hours.”
Most of the work is done with hand tools, but some of it requires the use of gas-powered brush cutters and hedge clippers. Volunteers use safety gear such as gloves, face shields and hearing protection depending on the equipment they are using. This gear also protects them from some thornier vegetation.
“Salmonberry is an amazing bush,” said Timothy Mathews with Westside Trail Federation. “One plant can send out satellites in a 20-foot diameter, so if you don’t clear the entire trail prism and cut it to the ground, it will grow back in just a few weeks.”
Most hikers do not like the thorny bush growing over the trail.
“On the other hand,” said Mathews, “we try to leave as many ferns and vine maples as close to the trail as possible because we all like looking at them.”
Another volunteer, Suzi Asmus, with NWTA just enjoys the work.
“I just enjoy cleaning and organizing,” said Asmus. “It also brings back good memories of my time with AmeriCorps—that was a long time ago and different work but with kind of the same results, a sense of helping people.”
If you would like the challenge of maintaining trails in state forests, contact one of ODF’s trail partners or the State Forest Trust of Oregon.
“We work directly with our trail partners for many reasons, but two significant benefits are safety and efficiency,” said Offer. “There are many places in our state forest without cell phone coverage so it’s best to work in groups. Also, our partners provide excellent safety training prior to each trail maintenance event. As far as efficiency, these groups are outstanding in their trail work standards. For example, Nathan and other folks were out here a few weeks earlier and used chainsaws to cut up more than 80 trees that fell across just a few miles of trail following a late-season winter storm. That work, and everything else our partners do throughout the year, made it much easier for the crews today to make such good progress.”
If physical work on trails is not your idea of fun, there is also a need for volunteers doing everything from being a campground host to welcoming visitors at the Tillamook Forest Center. For more information on these types of opportunities go to: Oregon Department of Forestry : Volunteer : Recreation, education & interpretation : State of Oregon or the State Forests Trust.
If you want to get involved with trail work, go to one of ODF’s partner organizations: