Trail Champions at Work: Honoring Jacob Camp and the Spirit of Stewardship in the Sierra Nevada

Each summer, trails in the Sierra Nevada serve as both inspiring wilderness corridors of tranquility and classrooms for stewardship, connection, and service. These iconic landscapes–crisscrossed by ridgelines of granite and threaded with streams and alpine meadows–are all the more accessible and resilient because people care enough to maintain them. At the heart of one such effort this year stands American Hiking Society Board Member Jacob Camp, whose generosity and vision have helped elevate the Eldorado National Forest Volunteer Vacation into a model of trail stewardship and community impact.

From August 2–8, volunteers will join American Hiking Society crews deep in the Mokelumne Wilderness of the Eldorado National Forest for a week of purposeful trail work in one of California’s most dramatic wild places. Participants will base out of a remote mountain camp, hiking daily to work on tree removal and brushing projects that help maintain and restore critical routes around Camp Irene and toward Mokelumne Peak, work that keeps this rugged trail network safe, navigable, and scenic for all visitors. This year marks the 4th consecutive year of our incredible partnership with the USFS Rangers of the Amador Ranger District.

This opportunity embodies everything the Volunteer Vacations program is meant to be: hands-on stewardship, connection to landscape, and shared experiences that ground volunteers in public-land service. And this year, we proudly recognize Jacob Camp as a Trail Champion for his steadfast commitment to making this project possible–ensuring that treasured public lands like the Mokelumne Wilderness in the Eldorado NF remain protected, restored, accessible and enjoyed for generations to come.

The Sierra Nevada is more than a majestic backdrop. It’s the backbone of diverse ecosystems, a sanctuary for wildlife and watersheds, and a living classroom for outdoor lovers. But the ruggedness that makes it stunning also makes trails vulnerable–from winter avalanches to fallen trees and erosion. Projects like the Eldorado Volunteer Vacation don’t just preserve trails; they protect the experience of wild places.

Past trips in its wilderness landscapes–such as trail restoration in the Mokelumne Wilderness –demonstrate the lasting value of this work. Volunteers have cleared miles of trail, removed dozens of fallen trees, and helped reroute and reopen pathways that had been damaged by avalanches, all while forming tight bonds with each other and with the land itself.

Participants on these trips often note that the value of a Volunteer Vacation goes beyond the tangible trail improvements. There’s an intangible payoff in shared meals around campfires, quiet moments beside alpine lakes, laughter echoing across high-country ridges (usually from the “Moke Saw Dogs”), and the sense of accomplishment and purpose that comes from committed service. For many volunteers, the experience deepens their love of hiking and renews their dedication to public-land preservation.

With champions like AHS Board Member and Volunteer Vacation Crew Leader Jacob Camp, the future of our trails is more vibrant than ever. Having grown up in the shadow of these peaks, Jacob’s lifelong love for this land fuels his dedication to its protection and sharing with others. His leadership honors more than just the miles of trail maintained; it celebrates the spirit of service and community at the heart of the American Hiking Society. Join us in preserving these majestic landscapes, sign up for a Volunteer Vacation and support our mission to keep the outdoors wild and accessible for all.