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Dishing Dirt for Fun and No Profit

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Contributed by: Wendy Langhans on 8/20/2006

Trail Maintenance Volunteers with the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority help keep trails in the Santa Clarita Woodlands in good shape.

They meet every Wednesday and the second and fourth Saturday of every month, gathering behind the Towsley Nature Center in the cool of the morning. There is a small discussion of where they should apply their effort and which tools are going to be needed to accomplish the task. Each volunteer has his or her favorite piece of equipment, as can be seen by the way they sharpen the blade of a McLeod or check the grease on the head of a Weed Whacker. Do we need Loppers or a Rock Bar?

One the equipment issues are settled they head up the trail. The trek to the work site may be as much as two miles, most of it uphill. Along the way they mentally catalogue other areas that will require their future attention.

These are a diverse group of individuals: men and women, young and old, retired or still working. But all are bonded by a common interest - their love of the land and the satisfaction that comes from working with others to keep the trails clear and safe for those wishing to enjoy the great outdoors.

The work is physically hard and the weather is often hot, dry, and dusty. Outsloping trails and adding dips and water barsprovides good drainage. Clearing brush and intruding tree limbs keeps the paths open and inviting. They must always keep a watch for hazards: the ever-present poison oak, loose rock, ticks, rattlers and, of course, the scourge of all trail volunteers - the hikers and bikers who suddenly appear out of nowhere. The sun beats down unceasingly, persperation soaks their clothes, water and a snack are essential.

Because Rangers can't be everywhere, these individuals also act as the eyes and ears of the MRCA. They are the ones who come in direct contact with the trail user. They are the ones who will hear about the bobcat sighting or the tree down on the upper loop. They are the ones who will politely try to explain why a dog should be kept on a leash or why it is imperative that they stay on the trail and not take the proverbial shortcut. They are also the ones to glean an element of satisfaction when those same trail users say, "Hey, great job and thanks."

Submitted by Al Dey, trail volunteer with the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA).

If you are interested in learning more about being a Trail Volunteer, contact Rebecca Farr of the MRCA at 310-858-7272 x 132. To get trail maps and learn about upcoming hikes and activities, go to www.LAMountains.com.

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