The Land

The Manti-La Sal National Forest covers more than 1.2 million acres (4,900 km²) and is located in the central and southeastern parts of Utah and the extreme western part of Colorado. The La Sal Mountains are located south/southeast of Moab, Utah in Grand and San Juan Counties. The name of the range dates to Spanish times, when the Sierra La Sal (meaning the “Salt Mountains”) were a prominent landmark on the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe and Los Angeles. The range is currently under review for a broad
management plan. Recent decades have seen a sharp uptick in recreational use of the La Sal Mountains throughout four seasons. While winter activities remain limited due to high incident of avalanche, motorized and mechanized travel in the range during the other three seasons (spring, summer, fall) is rapidly increasing.

The Work

We are returning to the La Sal Mountains to complete our two-year cycle of re-routing an existing trail. The trail planned for completion is intended to facilitate travel through the range while limiting impacts on nearby protected wilderness-quality lands.

Work tasks will vary by need, and are slated to include:

• building trail and erosion control features;
• construction of minor creek crossing;

Our Objective: To improve trail conditions such that potential impacts to fragile ecosystems are averted through strategic routing of mechanized travel.

Itinerary
A comprehensive itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers.

• Friday, August 10th: Optional early arrival to camp on Friday evening.
• Saturday, August 11th: Day 1 of Project. We will gather at 8:30am and depart for our worksite at 9:00am. We will work until 4:00pm, then travel back to camp.
• Sunday, August 12th: We will gather at 8:30am after breakfast. We will work until 3:30pm.

Project Rating 

Level 3 – Heavy lifting, high-elevation, remote travel, and extended durations away from common conveniences. Leave No Trace principles are essential during all of our trips but require the most thought and planning at Level 3. These trips may involve on-site training for technical skills and tool use. Excellent physical fitness is a must at this level.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for their own food, water and camping gear as well as transportation to and from the project site(s). Volunteers should plan to be away from camp all day each of the work days. A recommended pack list will be sent along with the project Welcome Letter two weeks prior to the start date.

Registration

A completed 2018 Volunteer Agreement is required for this project. 

When we have received your form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within 5 working days of submission. The confirmation e-mail will indicate whether you have been placed on the “project roster” or a “waiting list.”

Three weeks before the start of the trip, you will receive an RSVP to confirm your participation. Individuals on the Waitlist will be contacted if spaces open due to cancellation.

Two weeks before the project start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive a Welcome Letter, with a comprehensive itinerary, including: driving instructions, a Project Map (for mobile devices), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and additional information in a Pre-Departure email.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please don’t hesitate to contact our program coordinator: volunteer@suwa.org  or  (435) 259-9151.