2008 National Trails Fund Projects

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Location: Hungry Horse, Montana

About:Assists in maintaining and restoring the trail system of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex with national organizations, youth groups, and individual volunteers.

Project and Use of NTF:Clearing Bob Marshall Wilderness trails of trees, brush, and rocks; maintaining trail tread; and constructing and maintaining water diversions to prevent erosion of trails and to protect water quality in the wilderness. One of the primary objectives is to provide an opportunity for volunteers, especially youth, to develop team-building skills and practice Leave No Trace techniques while participating on volunteer projects. The NTF would be used for camping gear, safety equipment, tools and camera equipment.

*Recipient of the Galen Rowell National Trails Fund award for 2008. For more information please visit www.bythom.com/chasing.htm.

Carson Valley Trails Association

Location: Gardnerville, NV

About: Seeks to obtain legal access to existing trails and property owned the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use for all that live, work and play in the Carson Valley.

Project and Use of NTF:The goal of the Faye-Luther Signage Project is to provide valuable information to trail users. Signage provides important trail access and educational information, enhances the safety of trail users, and helps protect environmental and cultural resources. The NTF will be used for large trails maps (2), directional signs, 4 wooden benches, and brochure printing costs.

The Cohos Trail Association

Location: Spofford, NH

About: Dedicated to the upkeep and completion of the 162-mile long Cohos Trail, which stretches from the White Mountains to the Canadian border. The trail cuts across the White Mountain National Forest and state lands that include Nash Stream Forest, Coleman State Park, Dixville Notch State Park, and the Connecticut Lakes State Forest.

Project and Use of NTF: Completion of 25 miles of the Cohos Trail between Coleman State Park and the Canadian border. Trail will eliminate miles of road walking and will connect to the Sentiers Frontaliers trail system in Quebec. Grant funds will be used to pay two on-the-ground staff members and underwrite a week of professional trails crew work. The funds should make it possible to complete the majority of the trail extension in 2008.

Cross Vermont Trail Association

Location:Montpelier, VT

About: Dedicated to making the vision of all Americans being able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities, towns or villages. The majority of Vermont’s population lives a short distance from the trail route (Cross Vermont Trail) and CVTA seeks to link these population centers with each other and state wildlife areas, parks, and the world-famous Long Trail. Currently, 30 of 90 miles of proposed trail have been completed.

Project and Use of NTF:Construction of a trail providing public access to a protected natural area along the banks of the Winooski River in East Montpelier, Vermont. The new trail is .25-mile long and leads from U.S. Route 2 to the river. The grant will enable construction of three bridges on the new trail.

E Mau Na Ala Hele

Location: Kamuela, HI

Mission:To perpetuate our Ancient and Historic Hawaiian trails on the island of Hawaii. Active in trail advocacy for over 30 years and helped establish legislation for the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. This coastal trail is 175 miles long and was designated by the U.S. Congress in 2000.

Project and Use of NTF: Expansion of the existing Ohia Trail System, the signature hiking corridor at Pu’u Wa’awa’a, North Kona District, Island of Hawaii, by approximately 2.1. miles and to construct a trailhead kiosk that will feature trail maps and other information for hikers. The grant will provide 17- horse power brush cutter, materials for kiosk, food and refreshments for volunteers, and t-shirts for volunteers.

Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Location: Salem, VA

About:Founded in 1989, Friends of the BRP started as a membership-based, non-profit organization with a mission to protect, promote, and preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway for today’s visitors as well as for future generations.

Project and Use of NTF:Parkway staff is only able to accomplish 10% of needed trail maintenance and repair. The BRP must rely on ‘Friends’ volunteer groups to adopt many of the more than 350 miles of trail adjacent to the Parkway. The 18 Trails Project seeks to maintain the 18 most critical trails of the Parkway’s 100 trails. The project will increase the number of volunteer groups adopting Parkway trails and includes targeting volunteers in area colleges who have expressed interest in undertaking Parkway projects as a service group. The grant will allow the hiring of part-time marketing director, trails manual and trail maps, various trail tools, website development, and outreach to service clubs and college organizations.

Friends of Van Cortlandt Park

Location:Bronx, NY

Mission: Working in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, FVCP is committed to the conservation and improvement of Van Cortlandt Park. FVCP works to provide ongoing high-quality education and stewardship programs along with identifying communities’ needs and working with residents to improve park conditions. Programs are developed for over 2,400 children and adults each year.

Project and Use of NTF: Restoration of the 2-mile long John Muir Nature Trail, conceived in 1997 to honor one of America’s great original conservationists. Volunteer and school groups will remove non-native invasive plants, install new logs in wooden stairs along the trail, and plant 200 trees and shrubs in areas prone to erosion. The NTF will allow the hiring of an education coordinator and program assistant. Outreach, field equipment, and tools.

Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, Inc.

Location: Madison, WI

About:Dedicated to creating, supporting, and protecting a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin.

Project and Use of NTF:Construction of approximately 2.5 miles of new Ice Age Trail and to conduct concurrent Crew Leadership and Skills training for new recruits, a CL/S refresher training for certified crew leaders, a Project Support training including the care and feeding of volunteers, outreach and volunteer recruitment, and introduction to trail layout and design. The grant will support for volunteer trainings, to provide food and support needs and to assist with tool, equipment maintenance, travel and material costs.

Lookout Mountain Land Trust

Location:Chattanooga, TN

About: Mission of the Lookout Mountain Land Trust is to protect and promote the stewardship of Lookout Mountain’s natural resources of scenic, historical and ecological value.

Project and Use of NTF: Trail upkeep, exotic species removal, and culvert replacement on trail in the Cumberland Plateau region of Alabama and Tennessee, including the Guild-Hardy Trail. The NTF will help in clearing of trails on a consistent basis for the coming year, put the trail back in good condition and post our new trail map in the kiosk to encourage use and make our trails more user-friendly.

McCully Heritage Project

Location:Kampsville, IL

About: The McCully Heritage Project provides facilities and programs for high quality environmental education and research for youth and adults and to provide the opportunity for the public to appreciate the cultural, historical and natural resources of the lower Illinois River valley.

Project and Use of NTF: To improve the accessibility of the trails at the McCully Heritage Project through adequate trail marking, signage and maps. The grant will purchase high-quality trail markers and signs to mark the MHP trails and to print trail maps to promote the use of the trails.

Oregon Natural Desert Association

Location:Bend, OR

About: 1,000-member grassroots organization that successfully uses education, science, litigation, and grassroots advocacy to achieve its mission of protecting, defending, and restoring the health of Oregon’s native deserts.

Project and Use of NTF: Bend Badlands Trail Restoration Project will engage citizen volunteers to participate in hands-on fieldwork to improve hiking opportunities and restore desert habitat in the Badlands Wilderness Study Area. Project involves trail reclamation and route removal (i.e. of old motor vehicle routes through wilderness areas), installation of trail signs and kiosks, and project promotion. The grant will allow the trail work project in 30,000-acre wilderness study area in Oregon’s High Desert region.

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Location:Woodville, VA

About: Established in 1927, PATC is one of the oldest maintaining clubs and has almost 7,000 members. The club manages over 1,100 miles of hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, including 240 miles of the AT.

Project and Use of NTF:Replacement of a bridge across a large stream (Red Run) in the immediate vicinity of Pennsylvania State Route 16. The stream has a history of flooding and the bridge has been displaced on numerous occasions. The NTF will be used for a new bridge that would be above the 25-year mean flood level to satisfy regulatory requirements and to have a structure that is durable, safe and not in need of frequent replacement.

Quiet Use Coalition

Location:Buena Vista, CO

About: Works to promote, create and preserve quiet use areas and opportunities on public lands in Chafee and surrounding counties.

Project and Use of NTF:Repair and maintenance on Hunt’s Lake Trail in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, maintenance of Pass Creek Trail in the Chipeta Roadless Area., and the reconstruction of the Sand Dune Gulch Trail near the town of Salida. The NTF will provide the coordinator/organizer salary, publicity, and work day/volunteer supplies.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition, Inc.

Location:Birmingham, AL

About: Owns and/or manages over 1,000 acres of the last undeveloped portion of Birmingham, Alabama’s unique Red Mountain ridge, called Ruffner Mountain.

Project and Use of NTF:Updated, more accurate, more informative and more attractive printed trail map brochures. The grant will provide brochure layout and graphic design, printing of brochure, distribution, postage and packaging.

Utah Backcountry Volunteers

Location:Salt Lake City, UT

Mission: To improve the natural state of public lands in Utah by recruiting, organizing, and leading volunteers on work service projects.

Project and Use of NTF:Four trail maintenance trips in three national forests (Dixie, Manti-La Sal and Wasatch-Cache NF). Each trip will have 10 volunteers. The grant will help volunteer support for trail trips, including group food, vehicle support (mainly gas), new work tools, and liability insurance for each volunteer.

Washington Trails Association

Location: Seattle, WA

About: Protects Washington State trails through lobbying and grassroots advocacy on issues that impact hikers, like trail funding and wilderness protection.

Project and Use of NTF:Creation of a 7.8-mile loop trail (Cape Horn Loop Trail) in the Columbia River Gorge Natural Area. The trail network will play a key role in building a constituency in favor of preserving this area as open space forever. The grant will be used for the organization of a one-week AHS Volunteer Vacation connecting sections of trail that already exist in the area.