The Idaho Trails Association just recognized one of their youngest volunteers. She just happens to be from Pocatello. Meet Samantha Waldron.
We welcome folks of all ages and abilities to volunteer on a trail crew or behind the scenes to make our trails better for all! Thank you to everyone, from the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between, who makes up ITA’s incredible collection of volunteers!
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Samantha Waldron is a new ITA trail crew member. While she is certainly not the youngest member to come on an ITA project (babies are welcome on some projects!), she is the youngest to come on her own. She turned 14 just in time to volunteer for our weeklong East Fork Wood River project in the Pioneer Mountains this summer. As part of an ITA Youth Crew trip for people 14-18 years old, Samantha was doing it all: Silky saw, crosscut, Pulaski, McLeod, shovel, loppers, and clippers.
“This work is so important because there are people who want to use these trails and sometimes the trails just aren’t in good enough condition. Since we’re the ones using them, it’s up to us to keep them accessible.” So she and her team cleared brush, removed logs, and moved big rocks so everyone can enjoy these beautiful places. What she likes about the youth trips is getting to meet so many new people. “You work hard, then come back to camp and sit around and get to know people. You get a chance to relax, and then you do it all again the next day. It’s so calm out here, and you can listen to the sound of the birds and the trees and the streams. It’s just so different from the hustle and bustle of city life.” The biggest payoff of all, she says, it that once people get a chance to come out and see the wilderness, they want to do their best to preserve these beautiful places. |
Trails are Common Ground, Spread Good Trail Vibes, Be Trail Kind
Trails are Common Ground was originated and continues to be facilitated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) However there as been input from more than 20 organizations, as well as outdoor industry brands, land managers, representatives with BIPOC communities, and adaptive trail users
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Coalition members represent all manner of activities that take place on natural surface trails, including hiking, equestrian, trail running, mountain biking and motorcycle single-track.
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Here is a local group with a balanced view of outdoor recreation.
The Advocates for Multi-Use of Public Lands are interested in protecting the Teton and Palisades Backcountry. This video was copied from their website https://www.teamampl.org/ Their philosophy is one of a cooperation between recreational users needs and environmental concerns.
DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC LANDS AND NATIONAL FORESTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF, AND THE MULTI-USE BY, OUR REGION'S DIVERSE RECREATIONAL COMMUNITIES. Advocates for Multi-Use of Public Lands (AMPL) is an organization made up of passionate recreationists. Our focus includes the organization of public support and the creation of a unified voice to maintain and protect broad access to our public lands for motorized as well as non-motorized recreational uses in a cooperative and cohabitant manner. We believe in the co-existence of recreation and conservation for all.
Congratulations to Bill Lewis for receiving a 2021 Scout Honor Award for service in the Scout Mountain District of the Grand Teton Council.
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Contributor receives a sticker, showing their support for Idaho trails
The Trails Supporter funds will be managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) and used for priority projects identified by the department, partner groups and the public IDPR will work with partners to ensure needed projects are completed, with an emphasis on signage and trail clearing Annual Minimum Donation $10 |
Idaho is blessed with thousands of square miles of open public land. However, access to the back country is by a network of fragile trails. Just as our roads need constant repair so do back country trails. When trails become washed out or blocked by natural downfall and overgrowth, people stop using them. Under use of a trail is as bad as over use. Horse back riders, hikers, back packers, mountain bikers, and trail runners, all share the same trail. PRBCH would like to promote cooperation among these trail users through planning, volunteer service, public education, and negotiation with government agencies.
The Federal government owns 61.6% of Idaho, only exceeded a little bit by Utah 64.9%, and a lot by Alaska 84.9%. Idaho has the greatest percent of its land in national forests 38.2%. And, while only 2.58% of the lower continental United States is designated as wilderness, Idaho contains 4.8 million acres of wilderness, 3rd largest in the U.S..
