Volunteer day in the forest

A Volunteer Day led by a Hanna man with the blessing of the Forest Service is planned for June 6 at 8 a.m. at three locations. This is also National Trails Day.

Larry Olsen attended the Travel Management Plan public meeting in Saratoga last month, and after hearing people make comments that they have never been asked to help, he wanted to do something to help.

Olsen wanted to organize a Volunteer Day in the forest.

“These are our forests and this benefits us,” Olsen said. He added that he is not doing this to benefit the Forest Service, but to benefit those who use the forest.

“Let’s show the Forest Service we do care about these mountains,” Olsen said. “Don’t go in with the mindset that if we do this (District Ranger Melanie Fullman) won’t close the roads. She is going to close the roads, we just won’t know which roads until the final draft is done.”

Fullman said she is waiting for the analysis of the Travel Management Plan to be completed before she makes any decision, alternatives are looked at and compared against the same criteria — social, economic and environmental - to see how the plans provide balance.

In an email sent to Olsen, Fullman said she is looking forward to Olsen’s Volunteer Day. The Forest Service will provide three Forest Service employees to meet with volunteers at three locations – Bow River Work Center, Ryan Park Snowmobile Parking Lot and the Lower Tie Hack Trailhead, which is adjacent to South French Creek Campground. A quick safety briefing and orientation will be held by a Forest Service employee and volunteers will need to sign the Forest Service’s volunteer agreement and safety awareness sheet.

Volunteers should bring their own hardhats, water and lunch. They should also wear boots and gloves. Driving will be restricted to roads currently open on the Motor Vehicle Use Map, which will be provided by the Forest Service. The use of chainsaws is not authorized unless the volunteer holds a current USFS Chainsaw Certifications and a First Aid card, Fullman said.

The Sinclair Refining Company is providing shovels and rakes, Olsen and Fullman said.

Fullman also clarified that a firewood permit does not allow the permittee to cut firewood during the cleanup or in campgrounds.

The Forest Service personnel has identified a list of priority projects in each general work area – which include inspecting and performing light road maintenance, garbage collection, painting picnic tables and restrooms, repairing fences and spreading gravel. Other tasks include removal of logs or other debris from roads without the use of chainsaws and removal of sticks and other debris from culverts less than 24 inches.

At least one volunteer with a dump trailer is needed, Fullman stated in the email to Olsen.

If this is successful, Olsen said he would like to see another clean up at the end of the summer before hunting season and then have it become an annual event.

Olsen said anyone who wants to volunteer can call him at 307-399-8317.