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TABLE OF CONTENTS of this chain:
See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge 10/ Volunteer work <* THIS PANEL *> 11/ Snake bite 12/ Netiquette 13/ Questions on conditions and travel 14/ Dedication to Aldo Leopold 15/ Leopold's lot. 16/ Morbid backcountry/memorial 17/ Information about bears 18/ Poison ivy, frequently ask, under question 19/ Lyme disease, frequently ask, under question 20/ "Telling questions" backcountry Turing test (under construction) 21/ AMS 22/ Babies and Kids 23/ A bit of song (like camp songs) 24/ What is natural? 25/ A romantic notion of high-tech employment 26/ Other news groups of related interest, networking 27/ Films/cinema references 28/ References (written) 1/ DISCLAIMER 2/ Ethics 3/ Learning I 4/ learning II (lists, "Ten Essentials," Chouinard comments) 5/ Summary of past topics 6/ Non-wisdom: fire-arms topic circular discussion 7/ Phone / address lists 8/ Fletcher's Law of Inverse Appreciation / Rachel Carson / Foreman and Hayduke 9/ Water Filter wisdom Panel 10 Volunteer Work 08/05/02 This panel is primarily intended for backpackers or campers interested in volunteering to work on backcountry projects such as new trail construction, trail relocation, erosion control, brush trimming or perhaps just want to do something different on the next trip. By contributing your weekend or vacation time to a backcountry volunteer project you can make a solid contribution to backcountry preservation, restoration, and recreation. Backcountry volunteer projects cover a variety of topics including biological research expeditions in Central America, archaeology digs as well as trail maintenance The new volunteer backcountry trail work home page is http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3p9dg/ Most URL's have been deleted from the panel because they are subject to frequent change and the latest are available at the web site. Sections: Trail work introduction Volunteer coordinating agencies End note Trail work There are a lot of opportunities ranging from physically demanding trips into remote areas to a day hike with a paintbrush: creating new trails, relocating bad trails, repairing erosion damage to overused trails, or just trimming brush in spring. Work with established land use officials and organizations. Keep in mind that the people who oversee the trails need help but they also have to answer to higher ups, which includes the public, for what you do to the trail. If you haven't done trail maintenance work join a 2 or 3 day work crew and get introduced. Some clubs have specific introductory courses in trail maintenance. Most people do not have the slightest idea of what they are in for when the flyer says be prepared for hard work under adverse conditions. Notes on etiquette: 1) If you sign up for a trip, show up or notify the agency that you will not be there. 2) If you have a medical condition, don't lie about it. 3) Keep in mind that the group is diverse and open to anyone who is interested in trail maintenance; this includes horse riders and ATV owners. CAUTIONS ON PHYSICALLY DEMANDING TRIPS AT ALTITUDE. Do not apply for these unless you are experienced in working at high elevations. The backcountry is not the place to get into shape; you must be physically fit before you get there. Not all land management agencies will use volunteers. The cost savings of volunteer labor may be far outweighed by the cost of supporting them in the field, especially in remote settings. Consider that most crew laborers get little more that minimum wage. Then take into account the cost of a pack train to haul supplies, per diem benefit costs, the fact that most volunteers are available for only 1 or 2 weeks and the amount of time it takes a raw crew to become productive. It then makes economic sense in a tight budget to hire a crew that already knows what to do and will be available for an entire season. In spite of this, many agencies will use volunteer backcountry crews in tight times for PR purposes with legislative and administrative superiors who set the budgets. If you intend to do volunteer work on a regular basis or work on scientific backcountry projects take note that the best volunteer jobs go to those with the best all around skills. You should gain experience with basic and complex tools and even basic outdoor skills so that researchers and nominal bosses don't have to watch out for volunteers. The experienced volunteer needs to be capable of independent life with minimal coaching from outsiders (can camp, cook, travel (walking to skiing), route finding, etc.). Get your skills down then work on specialties. Having your skill set down improves the talent book and encourages volunteer coordinators to utilize more volunteers. An urban or suburban life makes getting some of these skills harder than in the past. Once you have basic transportation and camping down, these include skills like using power tools (e.g. chain saw), explosives (really), non urban vehicles (from ATVs to helicopters to snow cats and bulldozers), fire arms (both lethal and non-lethal), instruments (surveying), and simpler tools like levers and Pulaskis, and other research technology. Categories: 1) extended trips in the United States and Canada 2) one or two day trips with or without overnight camping in the United States and Canada 3) United States government agencies 4) expeditions 5) adopt-a-hut/trail 6) backcountry work outside the United States and Canada 7) trips for teens 8) text resources. The following listing is of groups organizing backcountry volunteer trail crews. Keep in mind that not all organizations screen applicants to match skills and experience to the work. If you have any doubts about the job, do not hesitate to ask for more details. If the advice on trip preparation seems vague or disorganized it may indicate the organizer is not familiar with trail work. Dante had imagination, but he never went on a work trip that went sour due to mismatched participants. If he had, there would have been an additional circle in Hell. Be aware that nationwide area codes are being added rapidly. The numbers listed are subject to change as area codes change. There are 2 national organizations with local chapters too numerous to enumerate and often have local trail maintenance projects: The Sierra Club and The Audubon Society. (1) =================================================== Extended trips: United States and Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations 1422 Fenwick Lane Silver Spring MD 20910 Tel: 301-565-6704 FAX: 301-565-6714 Locations: US including Alaska and Hawaii. Remote areas, some at altitude. Trip duration: 5 to 10 day work hikes. Cost: $80 administrative costs plus transportation to and from work place. May be tax deductible - check with tax professional. Wilderness Volunteers PO Box 22292 Flagstaff, AZ 86002-2292 (928) 556-0038 phone (928) 556-9664 fax Trips are one week long and are limited to 12 or fewer participants. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regional The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) 31 Albury Stone Circle Nashua, N.H. 03063 email: aldha@connix.com ALHDA-West HCR 58 Box 10 Long Creek, Oregon 97856 (541) 421-3119 (Telephone) (541) 421-3128 (Fax) American Long Distance Hikers Association-West sponsors trail maintenance projects on the long trails. -------------------------- Appalachian Trail Conference PO Box 807 Harpers Ferry, W.Va. 25425 304-535-6331 Oversight of the Appalachian trail. Organizes trail work crews late spring through early fall. Commitment is from 1 week to several months. Konnarock (Southern) Crew, based in southwest Virginia The Great Smokies Crew. The Mid-Atlantic Crew, based in south-central Pennsylvania The Maine FORCE (Footpath Recovery Crew works on the northernmost 200 miles of the Trail. Most of the projects are located in the "100-mile wilderness" and involve heavy reconstruction, especially rock work. Minimum two-week commitment. Projects are supervised by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. The Long Trail Patrol, based at Mt. Tabor, near Danby, VT, works in the Green Mountain National Forest. -------------------------- The Pacific Crest Trail Association 5325 Elkhorn Blvd, Suite 256 Sacramento, CA 95842 800-817-2243 There are 5 maintenance districts, this number can be used to report trouble spots on the trail as well as contact the association for information on volunteer maintenance crews in your area. -------------------------- Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Volunteer Trails PO Box 298 Gorham, NH 03581 To Volunteer: New Hampshire (603) 466-2721 Berkshires (413) 443-0011 Boston (617) 523-0636. Offers a variety of wide variety from 2 day weekenders to multi-day intensive trips to remote areas. Many weekend opportunities so you can get experience without undue trauma. Also offers single day introductory courses in tail maintenance techniques, hand tools, and chainsaw use certification accepted by USFS. Locations: NE mountains: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. Catskill mountains in NY state. Some trips to the western US. Cost: Varies $40 to $200. -------------------------- Heritage Trails Fund 1350 Castle Rock Road Walnut Creek, CA 94598 Telephone: 510-926-1081 Fax: 510-943-7431 E-Mail: htrails@earthlink.net -------------------------- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club 118 Park Street, SE Vienna, VA 22180-4609. Two seasonal (July to September) work crews as joint operations between government partners and the PATC. Currently: Massarock Crew, George Washington National Forest Shenandoah Crew - Shenandoah National Park Trails Management Coordinator 703-242-0693, #12. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- States Alaska Alaska State Parks Volunteer Coordinator 3601 C Street, Suite 1200 Anchorage, AK 99503-5921 Tel: 907-762-2612 FAX 907-762-2535 Write for current catalog published each December for the next year. Duration: Many positions require 8 weeks or more at a minimum; archaeology assistant is 2 weeks. Except for archaeology, applications must be received by 1 April. Some intern positions can be used for college credit. Positions as assistant to a ranger or data collection for administrative purposes generally require 2 years of undergraduate work in natural resources/environmental studies. Trail crew volunteers should have familiarity with chain saws and hand tools. Some trail crew positions require familiarity with shotgun use and fire arm safety. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) PO Box 867 Lake Placid, NY 12946 518-523-3441 Locations: Adirondack and Catskill mountains NY state. Some trips out of state. Usually former crew members or those with demonstrated skills are preferred for more intensive work sites. Trip duration: Wide variety from 2 day weekenders to 10 day intensive trips to remote areas. Mostly 3-5 days. Cost: Varies $15 to $50 administrative costs, may be higher for extended trips to the west. Comments: An excellent starting place to learn trail maintenance. This is where you find out if you can really tolerate wrestling with 900 lb basalt rocks in knee deep mud, 50 F temps, rain, and hoards of black flies. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colorado The Colorado Mountain Club 710 10th Street, #200 Golden, Colorado 80401 (303) 279-3080 -------------------------- Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado 1410 Grant Street, B-105 Denver, CO 80203 303-830-7792 FAX: 303-832-6056 Contact: Dos Chappell, Executive Director -------------------------- Colorado Trail Foundation 548 Pine Song Trail Golden, CO 80401 303-526-0809 Contact Person: Gudy Gaskill The Colorado Trail Foundation sponsors construction crews for one week trail maintenance during June, July and August on the Colorado Trail. Minimum age without supervision is 16. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nevada The Tahoe Rim Trail P.O. Box 4647 Stateline, Nevada 89449 (702) 588-0686 (702) 588-8737 Fax Volunteer Hotline, (702) 588-8799 for the trailbuilder's schedule ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vermont The Long Trail The Green Mountain Club RR 1, Box 650 Route 100 Waterbury Center, VT 05677 802-244-7037 Volunteer season is from May to October. The coordinators will schedule work to match your available time on individual projects from 1 day to several weeks. Fixed length, scheduled group trips are organized by the Appalachian Trail Conference as the Long Trail Patrol. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) =================================================== United States and Canada: one or two day trips Alabama The Alabama Trails Association P.O. Box 371162 Birmingham, AL 35237-1162 e-mail: hudsojt@mail.auburn.edu TRIP COORDINATORS Pinhoti Trail Construction Carroll Wilson (205) 221-6196. Sipsey Wilderness Trails Maintenance John Gissell -- (205)-734-9637 Oak Mountain State Park Trails Maintenance John Cameron -- (334)-567-3107 or (334)-263-6612 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona Huachuca Hiking Club PO Box 3555 Sierra Vista, AZ 85636-3555 Rod.Crick@309-1.mx1.fidonet.org voice: (520) 458-7680 fax: (520) 459-2412. The club has adopted four segments of the Arizona Trail for construction and maintenance from the Arizona/Mexican border, through the Huachuca Mountains, and the Canelo Hills, then on to Red Rock Canyon and Patagonia - a total of about 55 miles. Arizona Trail Association PO Box 36736 Phoenix, AZ 85067-6736 (602) 252-4794. Work projects involve trail maintenance, placement of Arizona Trail signs, and new trail construction. Saturday projects occasionally a partial work day on Sunday. Volunteer program manager: Larry Snead, (602) 253-2789 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- California Angeles Volunteer Association ,3233 Grand Ave, Suite N-316 Chino Hills, CA 91709-1489 AVA assists the U.S. Forest Service in the care and maintenance of the Angeles National Forest. Wilderness Patrol Rangers, Trail Maintenance, Campground Maintenance, Visitors Center Staffing, Nature Trail Guide, etc -------------------------- Foresthill Trails Alliance, Inc. P. O. Box 468 Foresthill, CA 95631 -------------------------- HEASB Hiking Club, a.k.a. the HACPackers GM Hughes Electronics P.O. Box 92426 Los Angeles, CA 90009-2426 Attn: Kirk Mueller RE / R31 / G520 Hughes Aircraft Company Employees. Trail Maintenance Projects: San Gabriel Mountains Trail Builders -------------------------- The Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Association SCMTA P.O. Box 183 Los Altos, CA 94023 Founded in 1969, builds and maintains trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Maintains the trails at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park and the State Parks Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. The Big Basin Group under Bob Kirsch (408)243-4245 meets on the first Saturday of each month at park headquarters. The Skyline-to-the-Sea group led by Al Lisin (408)252-8106 meets on the second. The third Saturday is used by Tony Beere's group. Call Tony at (408)257-1893. -------------------------- San Gorgonio Volunteer Association 34701 Mill Creek Road Mentone, CA 92359 (909) 794-1123. Comments or questions to Michael Gordon mgordon324@earthlink.net The volunteer program operates May through September, primarily on weekends -------------------------- TRAIL CENTER 3921 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 34303 (415) 968-7065 Trail Information and Trail Volunteers for Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco Counties ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colorado American Mountain Foundation 1520 Alamo Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-471-7736 Colorado Fourteeners projects involve trail construction and maintenance on 14,000-ft peaks in CO ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connecticut Connecticut Section of the Green Mountain Club (CT GMC) Allen F. Freeman UEBT46A@prodigy.com CT GMC Secretary 17 Vale Ave. Meriden, CT 06451-2827 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hawaii HAWAIIAN TRAIL AND MOUNTAIN CLUB, Inc. P.O. Box 2238 Honolulu, HI 96804 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida The Florida Trail Association P.O. Box 13708 Gainesville, FL 32607 1-800-343-1882 (352) 378-8823 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Georgia The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, Inc. P.O. Box 654 Atlanta, GA 30301 404- 634-6495 (Voice Mail) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maine Friends of Acadia Post Office Box 725 Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 For information on volunteer outings, call the Friends of Acadia office at (800)914-4415 or (207)288-3340, or Acadia National Park Headquarters at (207)288-5456. e-mail to: eileen@foa.acadia.net -------------------------- Maine A.T. Club P.O. Box 283 Augusta, ME 04330 E-mail: tlohnes@pivot.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minnesota Kekekabic Trail Club 1627 West County Rd. B Suite B Roseville, Minnesota 55113 1-800-818-HIKE Tom Stephens hens@cray.com The Kekekabic Trail Club, an all volunteer organization, recruits, trains, and organizes trail maintenance trips to maintain the Kekekabic and other trails in the BWCA wilderness of the Superior National Forest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Mexico New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors P.O. Box 36246 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87176 505/884-1991. atm-abq@rt66.com New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Cloudcroft, NM 88317 Tom Springer, 505-682-3040 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New York/New Jersey New York - New Jersey Trail Conference 232 Madison Avenue #401 New York, NY 10016 (212) 685-9699 nynjtc@aol.com 1,200+ miles of hiking trails to maintain and protect. Routine trail maintenance consists of brush clipping, marking and re-marking the trail (paint or plastic markers, depending on the area), removing blowdowns (downed trees across the trail) with hand tools, building rock stepping stones over wet areas, cleaning waterbars, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- New York The Friends of The Genesee Valley Greenway, Inc. A collection of multi-use public trails that will travel from Rochester, NY to Pennsylvania, is being created on the tow path of the long abandoned (since 1878) Genesee Valley Canal. To help clear and maintain the trail contact: Joe Regal at 716-658-3174. for the Mount Morris sections. Joan Schumaker at 716-476-2354 for the Nunda/Portage sections. Russ Reeves at 716-227-3207 or reeves@netacc.net for Monroe County and Caledonia sections. George Briggs at 716-382-3038 or briggs@uno.cc.geneseo.edu for the York/Leceister sections. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- North Carolina Nantahala Hiking Club e-mail: pilgrim@mindspring.com 31 Carl Slagle Road Franklin, NC 28734 Maintain the Appalachian Trail in Western North Carolina from the Georgia state line at Bly Gap approximately 60 miles northward to the Nantahala River. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ohio Buckeye Trail Association P.O. Box 254 Worthington, OH 43085 Founded in 1959 the Buckeye Trail Association is a non-profit group of volunteers, dedicated to the construction and maintenance of a hiking trail approximately 1200 miles long that generally follows the state boundaries. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pennsylvania Keystone Trails Association P.O. Box 251 Cogan Station, PA 17728 9-10 trailcare weekends are scheduled between the months of March and November. Trailcare weekends begin on Friday evening and extend to Sunday afternoon. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club Building 89 Eastman Road Kingsport, TN 37662 TEHCC manages and maintains 126 miles of the Appalachian Trail, between Spivey Gap, North Carolina and Damascus, Virginia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vermont Catamount Trail Association PO Box 1235 Burlington, VT 05402 802-864-5794 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virginia Old Dominion A.T. Club P.O. Box 25283 Richmond, VA 23260 Email Contact: John Reilly...cvkr39a@prodigy.com The Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap (I-64) to Reeds Gap in western Virginia plus the Willis River trail in Virginia. -------------------------- Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers 5113 WOODRUN ON TILLERY MT. GILEAD, NC 27306 Maintains a section of the Appalachian Trail in southwest Virginia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington Washington Trails Association WTA trail maintenance hot line at 517-7032, leave your name, address, phone number, and the date and location of the work party you wish to join. -------------------------- Pacific Northwest Trail Association P. O. Box 1048 Seattle, WA 98111-1048 About 1100 miles, the PNT extends from Brown Pass at the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana to Cape Alava at Olympic National park, Washington. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canada East Coast Trail Association St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (3) =================================================== US Land management agencies These agencies rely extensively upon volunteers to provide services, such as trail clearing and blazing, to backcountry users. Not all locations are open to using volunteer assistance on trails. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Forest Service Fire trail, ski trail, and hiking trail maintenance. Contact regional headquarters or specific forest HQ. Usually there will be an individual responsible for coordinating volunteer efforts. In some cases the coordinator may mix volunteers with paid professional crews. $7 to $15 per diem may be available under some circumstances. Passport in Time Assist the Forest Service in archaeological digs, historical restorations and similar projects. Approx. 120 projects for summer 1996. Volunteers usually camp at project site, meals are sometimes provided. Expect to sweat. 1-800-821-9176 PassportinTime.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Park Service Also contact the park you are interested in. Volunteer park guides, backcountry trash collection, trail work, archaeology site protection. ********* forwarded email unattributed ********* The program is "Volunteers in National Parks" or "VIP" for short. Volunteers can do most anything; some volunteer to work the front information desk or lead hikes or give evening campground programs (probably what you regard as a "volunteer ranger") while others do research, or maintenance, or whatever. Some are college students, looking for good experience, some are retirees who donate some very valued skills. Some areas can offer free or reduced-rate housing, though they usually require a minimum time guarantee (24 hours a week, for example), while others can only provide you with a uniform shirt and possibly some mileage reimbursement for your personal vehicle. Contact the "VIP" Coordinator at whatever park you're interested in, and they'll fill you in on their particular needs. ********** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Bureau of Land Management VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS Contact: Mary Tisdale Room 1275, LS Bureau of Land Management 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 202/452-5078 Fax: 202/452-5199 E-mail: Mtisdale@wo0033wp.wo.blm.gov --------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Fish and Wildlife Service Note that employment and volunteer are synonyms in this directory. Also contact regional headquarters. Generally these projects will involve animal habitat inventory, census, bird banding, etc. Not much trail work but expect to spend most of your time outdoors. For a printed listing of all refugees with address and name of the manager call 703-358-1744 (4) =================================================== Adopt a trail/hut A viable option if you are within a short driving/hiking time of a location. Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) (above) Need to attend workshop on basic maintenance skills including blowdown removal, side cutting, drainage cleaning, and NY state trail specifications. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) (above) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Green Mountain Club (Vermont) (above) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friends of Bagby Hot Springs (located in Mt. Hood NF, near Portland) P. O. Box 1798 Clackamas, OR 97015-1798 Norman.Goetz@reed.edu (5) =================================================== Expeditions Be prepared to shell out big bucks in addition to travel costs. Most of these trips are financed at least partially by the participants. However, they do basic research that otherwise would be difficult to finance. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smithsonian Research Expeditions Washington, DC 202-287-3210 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- University Research Expeditions Program UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720 510-642-6586 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patagonia Research Expeditions "two weeks in the field living among and studying free-living guanacos and pumas in their native environment" mid-Nov to early-Dec each year. Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile William L Franklin, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa (USA) wlf@iastate.edu (6) =================================================== Britain British Trust for Conservation Volunteers 36 St Mary's Street Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 0EU Tel 01491839766 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epping Forest Conservation Volunteers 47 Lechmere Avenue Chigwell IG7 5HA "Work on bogs and ponds is carried out to improve and maintain these special habitats. This involves removal of silt, rubbish, encroaching vegetation and cutting back of overshadowing trees." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Trust "Working Holidays" 33 Sheep Street Cirencester, Glocestershire GL7 1QW Tel 0285651818 Note that the British volunteer trips generally do not involve camping and the hostel is usually within walking distance of a pub. Hours typically 9-5 and well supervised. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7) =================================================== Trips for Teens Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) (Above) High school projects offer a combination of trail work and learning, with one day set aside for an educational hike. Philmont Scout Ranch Cimarron, NM 87714 Student Conservation Association Landmark Volunteers non-profit summer service organization for high school students 14.5 years of age, entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade. The program offers an opportunity to spend two weeks working at one of several important historical, cultural, environmental or social service institutions. Teens-n-Trails Teens-n-Trails is a program of Northwest Youth Corps, a nonprofit job training, employment, and youth development organization established in 1983. The T-n-T serves teens between the ages of 14 and 15 from all ethnic and economic backgrounds. Participants spend four weeks camping out, backpacking, and working on trail maintenance projects in an outdoor setting. (8) =================================================== Text Resources Trail Maintenance Trail Building and Maintenance Proudman and Rajala. $12.95 Appalachian Mountain Club 288 pp ISBN 0-910146-30-6 Trail maintenance problems and procedures for the Appalachian Trail. Most trail systems follow many of their guidelines with variations for local conditions. Does not cover trails for horse packing. Volunteering Volunteer Vacations (4th ed. Periodically revised) McMillon. $11.95 Chicago Review Press 814 N. Franklin Street Chicago, IL 60610 ISBN 1-55652-179-0 Organizing Outdoor Volunteers Moore, LaFarge, and Tracy. $4.95 Appalachian Mountain Club 288 pp ISBN 1-878239-16-3 End Note **************************************************************** Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1993 20:55:38 -0500 (EST) From: "Jerry M. Wright" <jmwright@helix.nih.gov> Subject: Backcountry jobs A couple of comments on backcountry jobs from someone who used to be in wildlife management. I moved on to neurobiology and biophysics. The pay is better, more jobs are available and the work is much easier. Are you independently wealthy? For many professional jobs you are in competition with people who are and are well qualified to boot. There is something noble about dedicating one's life to reestablishing an endangered species, restoring habitat, establishing a park, etc. that attracts this group. Do you have a skill that you can use to support yourself in between jobs? Will your family support you during periods of unemployment? Will your family support you after you get the job? The entry pay scale is low. I know of several rangers collecting food stamps. Realize that many permanent jobs in the backcountry require lots of experience. That means lots of years working seasonal jobs such as waterfowl banding to get the experience. One resource ranger I know in Hawaii worked nine years as a seasonal employee before a permanent position opened. He was a commercial fisherman in the off seasons. The same holds for most wildlife/resource management positions. A good park/forest manager will sometimes manage to open a job at just the right times for someone they know is skilled and works well with the other people already employed. However, this requires the manager knows you exist and can perform which takes us back to several years of seasonal employment. Also, realize that your purpose is not to live in the backcountry and dust the scenery but to deal with humans who impact the resource. Not all people are cooperative about this either. Poachers by definition are usually carrying guns and object to being stopped. You can be mauled by a mining company with a mad dog lawyer - court room battles can be just as deadly as a duel except the dying takes longer. Certification by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife professional requires college level courses in law enforcement and public speaking in addition to fundamental course work in biology/ecology. I strongly recommend that folks interested in backcountry work do some volunteer trail building/maintenance work first to check out what is really involved physically. You get to talk first hand with the rangers and managers who just might remember your name on a seasonal application or even be willing to give you a reference. This can also give you some real insight on the job market. The American Hiking Society has quite a few 10 day trips you can sign up for. Cost is $40 plus transportation to the site. They require good physical condition and extensive backpacking experience. If you can't meet these qualifications, why are you look for a job in the backcountry? The Adirondack Mountain Club also has trail maintenance trips from 1 day to 5 days and sometimes 10 days. Again nominal cost. I guarantee that 5 days in the Adirondacks wrestling with basalt rocks in cold rain, knee deep mud, and black flies will temper noble ideas. ************************************************************ Sometimes it is necessary to grab the bull by the tail and face the situation. ************************************************************ "Hey you with the red shirt, go see what's making that noise." Kirk ************************************************************ Draft of additional comments The best volunteer jobs go to those with the best all around skills. Experience with basic and complex tools and even basic outdoor skills so that researchers and nominal bosses don't have to take time and watch out for volunteers. Volunteering really isn't for novices. Get your skills down, then work on specialities. Having you skill set down improves the talent book and encourages volunteer coordinators to utilize more volunteers. An urban or suburban life makes getting some of these skills harder than in the past. Once you have basic transportation and camping down, these include skills like using power tools (e.g. chain saw), explosives (really), non urban vehicles (from ATVs to helichopters to sno cats and bulldozers), fire arms (both lethal and non-lethal), instruments (surveying), and simpler tools like levers and Pulaskis, and other research technology. But the prospective volunteer needs to be capable of independent life with minimal coaching from outsiders (can camp, cook, travel (walking to skiing), route finding, etc.). Volunteering means working on top of already basic skills: having the time and daylight to do this (or night if nocturnal work). Sheryl Kane "Volunteer Vacations Across America" Immersion Travel USA $20. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms wwoof.org 831-425-3276 voluntourism.org 619-434-6230 volunteerinternational.org 646-505-8209 responsibletravel.org 202-347-9203 globalvolunteers.org 800-487-1074 amizade.org 304-293-6049 habitat.org/getinv 800-422-4828 # Habitat for Humanity -- Looking for an H-912 (container). User Contributions:Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Part5 - Part6 - Part7 - Part8 - Part9 - Part10 - Part11 - Part12 - Part13 - Part14 - Part15 - Part16 - Part17 - Part18 - Part19 - Part20 - Part21 - Part22 - Part23 - Part24 - Part25 - Part26 - Part27 - Part28 [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: wrightjm@erols.com,eugene@engate.com
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[l/m 1/22/2010] Volunteer Work : Distilled Wisdom (10/28) XYZ
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[l/m 1/22/2010] Volunteer Work : Distilled Wisdom (10/28) XYZ
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Putin the actual glitz: gorgeous Russian soldiers take centre stage (moreover selfies) At massive wining Day parade of 13,000 troops, Tanks and rockets as Moscow strongman warns the lessons of WW2 'are relevant once again'Vladimir Putin forced to cancel military flypast over Red Square at the last minute over fears of bad weatherThreat of thunder and cloud over Moscow saw the huge Victory Day display of military powergroundedDespite cancellation Russian president pledged to 'guarantee the high drives of our armed forces'By Chris Dyer For Mailonline and Will Stewart In Russia and Afp and Reuters
issued: 10:14 BST, 9 May 2019 recently: 18:10 BST, 9 probably 2019
Russian lead designer Vladimir Putin took a defiant tone at Moscow's annual military Victory Day parade in Red Square, Declaring that the country continues to strengthen its armed forces.
The Kremlin strongman observed on as 13,000 troops and more than 130 pieces of weaponry were paraded through the capital in a show of Russian military power.
discussing his country's battle with Nazi Germany, Putin then warned 'the lessons of the past war are relevant once again' as he made his case for 'guaranteeing the high faculties of our armed forces'.
Russia's ties with the West soured correct its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, And Moscow has continued to challenge the nation through its staunch support for Syrian President Bashar al Assad and Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.
Among the hundreds of pieces of military hardware paraded in front of veterans and dignitaries was Russia's Yars mobile global nuclear missile launcher and its advanced S 400 air defence missile system, Which Moscow has deployed in Syria guard its forces and Putin's new 120,000 4.4 lite V 8 ragtop limousine.
have been also regiments of glamorous female soldiers on display who were pictured smiling as they filed past Mr Putin.
It also included military equipment, Ranging from a T 34 tank renowned for its toughness in World War II to lumbering Yars ICBM launch units, Ground to air rocket missile parts and Russian Armata tanks.
Russian female military servicemen march during the Victory Day parade on Red square in Moscow on Thursday afternoon
Smiling Russian naval cadets were pictured marching in perfect step as they filed past Putin the actual Victory Day parade
Russian Armata tanks roll down Red Square the particular Victory Day military parade to celebrate 74 years since the victory in WWII in Red Square in Moscow
Russian Ground Forces commander in Chief, Colonel common Oleg Salyukov salutes the troops from Putin's new 120,000 collapsible limousine during the Victory Day military parade today
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech face to face with St. Basil's Cathedral during the Victory Day parade i which he pledged to'guarantee the high performance of our armed forces'
Russian Yars RS 24 intercontinental ballistic missile systems roll through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in downtown Moscow today
Vladimir Putin kisses his class teacher at school Vera Gurevich during a certified reception marking 74 years since the victory in WWII, doing Kremlwearing
Russian military law enforcement stand in formation [url=https://medium.com/@oli.t2017/everything-you-need-to-know-ukrainian-women-956bb3bae17a]single ukraine ladies[/url] during a Victory Day Parade in the city of Grozny, Chechen Republic
Former Soviet chief Mikhail Gorbachev (core) Is in the middle of his assistants as he arrives to attend the Victory Day military parade in Red Square today
Crowds of people carry portraits of their relatives who fought in World War II as they have fun playing the Immortal Regiment march on Tverskaya Street in Moscow
Russian Pacific Fleet leader, Admiral Sergei Avakyants compares the troops in a vintage car during the Vi (...)