In addition to their primary mission of working with local communities to ensure that increased wilderness protection is a priority of the stewardship of the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness over the last two decades has also done stewardship work on the 13-mile Hickory Creek Wilderness trail.
Our next trail stewardship event this year-- our 20th season on the Allegheny-- will occur over the weekend of October 10th and 11th.
Precautions due to the ongoing coronavirus situation will be necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include, but are not necessarily limited to:
-- The group size will have to be limited to no more than ten people.
-- Please wear a breathing mask to our meeting point at the Hickory Creek Wi lderness trailhead on Saturday morning.
--We will be taking peoples’ temperature at the trailhead. If it is shown that you are running a temperature of over 100° F, you should not participate.
-- Please do not participate if you know you have COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
-- Social distancing throughout the course of the weekend will be needed.
-- If possible please bring your own tools such as an axe so that we are not continually passing tools back and forth.
-- If you have your own hard hat, please bring that too. Hard hats for those who do not have them will be provided after being sanitized.
-- Please bring your own food, water, and cooking stove so that we are not sharing such items back and forth over the course of the weekend.
-- If you have your own hand sanitizer and/or disinfecting wipes, please pack them.
Participants will meet Saturday morning, October 10th at the Hickory Creek Wilderness trailhead, and hike into the wilderness to clear downed woody debris and live encroaching vegetation from the trail.
Then participants will camp in the wilderness Saturday night, and then hike out on Sunday afternoon, October 11th.
As always, since this is a federally designated wilderness, permanently protected from all forms of development and motorized and mechanized uses, we will be using hand tools only such as axes, pruners, loppers, and hand saws.
No power tools such as chainsaws will be used, so there is no specialized training needed in that regard.
First-timers and beginners welcome!
There is no charge to participate in this program, but volunteers should bring all of their own camping equipment, food and water, and come fully prepared for any weather conditions we may encounter over the course of the weekend.
To participate, contact FAW by emailing info@pawild.org to sign up or for more information.
This is a great, fun way to experience the Hickory Creek Wilderness Area in all its glory, and to give back to America’s National Wilderness Preservation System at the same time!
For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how to get involved, visit the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness website.
Related Articles:
-- Natural Lands Adds Rayenne A. Chen To Board Of Trustees[Posted: Sept. 14, 2020] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment