Not even record breaking high temperatures and the smoke of wildfires can keep our incredible volunteers away! Last weekend we had the amazing opportunity to have our first Wilderness Stewardship Project trail work day of the season. Through a continued partnership with the Forest Service Salt Lake Ranger District, we are able to maintain and preserve the intricate trail system of both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Together we are continuing to strengthen the public lands of the Wasatch. If you would like to learn more about the Wilderness Stewardship Project, click here!
The work day started with 11 determined volunteers gathering around at the Butler Fork Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Led by David, Reed, and Thomas from the Salt Lake Ranger District, we gathered our tools and hiked a 1.5 miles to our work site. As seasons have passed, this particular trail has become overgrown with shrubs and wildflowers. Naturally, when a trail is overgrown, hikers will avoid the plants by walking around them. Overtime, this causes the trail to become rerouted which increases our overall impact in our wilderness areas in an unfavorable way. With that being said, our main goals of the day were to remove any plant material in the way of the trail and to widen the path which will naturally reroute the trail in the right direction. It was a great success! Our section of the trail will be much easier to walk on and enjoy.
If you are interested in joining us at our upcoming trail work days, be sure to sign up to volunteer on our website! Thanks to Cassidy Powell, Bob Myers, Kim Rhodes, Fisher Goodwin, Sasha, Sage Boyle, Sam Marks, Kati Bussell, Devon Sanborn, Aaron Mast, and Bryce Ipson for helping improve this trail system and our canyons! We couldn’t have done it without you!
