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Yeah, we have another trail work day on Thur, July 25 to buff up the new trails in the Learning Zone. We had 15 show up last Saturday, and we had fun meeting new people. It was a beautiful morning and we got about a half mile completed, quitting (as promised) by 11. It’s dusty out there, so I suggest you wear long pants and boots. It’s supposed to be a little cooler by Thur. Once again, we can drive to the work site on a slightly rough road. Meet in the Nordic Center parking lot at 8.

Here are a couple photos from Sat, including one to prove that I clean the hardhats and tools.

We’re having another trail work day in the Gateway Learning Zone tomorrow morning, Saturday, July 20 at 8 am. Meet in the Nordic Center parking lot. We can drive a short distance to the work site to rake and smooth out the new trails. We’ll stop working at 11, but you can leave anytime. We had fun last week and people made many new friends. If you don’t show up, Bryson and Brian and I will do all the work and you’ll be left at home sulking. Bring water.

Hey, let’s get another big chunk of tread work done on the new trails in the Learning Zone this Saturday. We got almost ¾ of a mile done last Thursday with our great turnout of 16 people. We should be able to drive right to the start point of the work and plan to quit about 11-11:30 to beat the heat. Just bring gloves and water. Meet in the Nordic Center parking lot at 8 am. See you then!

Just poking y’all to remember that we’re doing finish work on the trails in the Learning Zone tomorrow morning at 8. We’ll quit around 11-11:30, or sooner if it’s getting hot. And, you can always leave whenever you wish and we’ll only say, “Thank you.” Meet in the Nordic Center parking lot. Bring water and gloves. We’ll have rakes, loppers, etc.

Gateway System Learning Zone volunteer trail work days are getting started Thurs, July 11th.

The Learning Zone of the Gateway Trail System offers some fun trails – but first they need finish work. That’s where volunteer work days come in. We had a great series of work days last fall in the Learning Zone, which is located at the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center. Thursday, July 11th we’ll be picking up where we left off with a focus on getting the Huckleberry Loop usable by this fall. It’s going to take a bunch of raking and tree removal. We need your help! Join us Thursday morning at the Nordic Center parking lot at 8am for a few hours of work (before it gets too hot)! Come with your long pants, long sleeves, work boots and gloves. Bring plenty of water for on the trail and we’ll have cold drinks and beverages in the truck when we wrap up (by 11 or 11:30am, depending on the heat). Mt. Shasta Trail Association will provide the tools. Folks are welcome to work for as long or as little as they like.

Five of us made great progress removing many of the downed trees in the Learning Zone as we prepare for Trail Labs to finish trail construction in that area. John Kelly, Bryson Adams, and Ron Bravo acted as swampers extraordinaire, while Bryson Schreder and yours truly wielded the saws. Check out just how much stuff had fallen on and around the trails, and the size of the last one we cut. Many thanks to this group. We have a few more to take out on another day. Photos courtesy of Bryson Adams.

Chainsaw trail work day on Tuesday, June 11th at 8:30am

We’re planning a morning up at the Learning Zone Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30. We’ll meet at the Nordic Center parking lot and spread out from there.

In order to get the rough cut trails in the Learning Zone ready for finish work and volunteer days, we will need to log out all of the downed trees from last winter.  There are numerous trees down across the zone, so it will take a team effort, but with a good crew hopefully we will be able to accomplish this task in one go.  

We will be meeting at 8:30 at the Nordic Center parking lot, then heading to work zones.  For any volunteers with their chainsaw certification from the Forest Service, please bring any related PPE (chaps, eye/ear protection, hardhat, gloves) you have.  There will also be a need for swampers.  Additional volunteers can carry rakes and tools to work on tread around fallen trees.

If you can’t make it this week, keep an eye out for an email or social media post as we’re likely to schedule another chainsaw workday very soon.

If you’re unaware, the National Forest Service requires a chainsaw card in order to operate a chainsaw on volunteer work days. If you don’t have saw card and are interested in getting one, now is the time. See below for the course being offered later this month (it’s likely this will be the only one this year, so take advantage of it).

Below is the invite for the certification training class for those chainsaw fiends who want to be a part of our chainsaw crew. This is a very popular class and is being provided by the USFS free of charge. We hope your participation means you’ll help out with trail clearing, brushing, etc. from time to time.

Remember that your prior certification lasts three years, so check your saw card to make sure yours doesn’t expire soon. Also, you need a CPR/first aid certificate to enroll. Last time we were able to do that online for about $20.

Thanks to Josh McNulty and his crew for offering this class.

Volunteer Trail Builder’s Chainsaw Course

The Shasta Trinity National Forest would like to provide the opportunity for a two day chainsaw course on Friday June 28th & Saturday June 29th. This course is open to all who have interest in receiving professional instruction in saw operations related to trail construction & maintenance. Backcountry Horsemen, mountain bikers, hikers, walkers, birders, all are welcome! This is a full two day NWCG S-212 chainsaw course. Saws and safety equipment will be provided. Plan to spend time outdoors. Instructors have an accumulation of 30+ years of chainsaw experience. See following info for more. 

Where : 204 West Alma Street Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 

When: Friday June 28th & Saturday June 29^th

10am -4 pm Both days

What to Bring : Current CPR and 1^st AID Certification, Boots,  Long   sleeve shirt and pants

Contact: Josh McNulty Captain E-371 McCloud (530) 925-1047

*space is limited, reserve your spot ASAP

* CPR and 1^st AID is mandatory for selection, see ya there!