Horsemen Fix Trails

Sun., Aug. 31, 1997

By Jim Price jimp@spokesman.com

Backcountry horsepacking

The Inland Empire chapter of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington estimates it has put in 2,000 hours of trail work so far this year while saving local and state agencies an estimated $22,000.

Chapter members have cleared 60 miles of trails from 12 areas of the state, including Riverside State Park and Liberty Lake, according to president Craig Volosing. Members have driven 7,000 miles to do their volunteer work, Volosing said.

Backcountry Horsemen of Washington collectively contributed $308,442 in volunteer work hours for trail building, clearing and repairing in 1996.

Volunteer effort takes place in two basic areas, Volosing said.

Volunteers provide labor, tools, equipment and related service for the maintenance and reopening of trails and trailhead facilities and they educate others in the techniques and ethics of responsible, low-impact enjoyment of the backcountry and wilderness environs.

Work takes place in cooperation with various public agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of National Resources, the Bureau of Land Management and state, city and county parks departments.

“We believe that trail maintenance and repair budgets in most public agencies are currently underfunded to inadequate,” Volosing said. “Until some sort of equilibrium is reached in these funding-priority cycles, we will do all we can to help.

“We’re pleased that the results of our volunteer efforts are enjoyed by nearly all quarters of the outdoors recreation community.”

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