The Land

Utah’s West Desert is a remote, sprawling collection of magnificent landscapes containing a series of distinctive “island” ranges including the Deep Creek Mountains, the House Range, the Wah-Wahs, Notch Peak, and more. Spanning several counties and hundreds of miles of remote roads, many of the regions spectacular features are protected as wilderness study areas (WSAs) and managed by the local BLM. Limited resources and expansive territory combine for a particular need to recruit volunteers to ensure proper monitoring and maintenance of the West Desert’s diverse and unique landscapes.

The Work

Our crew will travel far and wide across the West Desert assessing off-road vehicle travel and camping compliance at a series of sites in select wilderness study areas, remediating where appropriate. We will install needed signage and managing off-road vehicle travel. Work tasks will vary by need, and are slated to include: assembling (with hardware) posts and signs; hoisting and leveling mid-weight to heavy materials; the use of manual tools such as rakes, picks and shovels; team-moving of boulders and other large natural debris.

*Further details and WSA locations to be specified after August 15th

Volunteers Needed: (8)
Project Lead: Talitha McGuire
Contact: talitha@suwa.org

Itinerary
A comprehensive itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers.

• Fri Oct 11 – Mon Oct 14

Project Rating 

Level 2 – Our most common trip incorporates mid- to heavy-lifting, work in remote landscapes at varying elevations, an increased diversity of tool use, and an emphasis on physical fitness and hiking competency.

Camping & Meals

Specific location of camping site(s) will be provided in the Welcome Letter sent to registered volunteers.

SUWA provides select meals, snacks and drinks during the project. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals not specified in the Welcome Letter during their stay.

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  (4) weeks prior to the start date.

Registration & Acceptance Timeline

A 2024 General Volunteer Application is required for this project.

• When we have received your form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within (5) working days of submission.
• In order to ensure participation by the most diverse applicants, we log all applications until (8) weeks prior to the project. At this point, you will first receive a call from our stewardship team to further discuss the project.
• Following this call, you will receive an e-mail confirming whether you have been placed on the “project roster” or a “waiting list.”
• If you are selected for the project roster, you will then complete a Volunteer Agreement.
• Individuals on the Waitlist List will be contacted if space opens due to cancellation within (2) weeks of the project start date.
• At (4) 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 (when applicable), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and any additional information pertinent to the project.
• Within (2) weeks of the project you will receive a direct call from our stewardship coordinator to answer any additional questions you may have.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please do not hesitate to contact us here or by calling  (435) 259-9151.

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