Utah Backcountry Volunteers opportunities

Friends of Utah Backcountry Volunteers: We hope your summer has been enjoyable and that you can join us soon in service of Utah's public lands. Please consider the following events for participation: Mark Your Calendar August 27, Special Presentation on Escalante River Restoration Please join Utah Backcountry Volunteers and host Ken Sanders Rare Books for an evening presentation on the 9-year effort to eradicate invasive Russian olive trees from the Escalante River. National Park Ranger Bill Wolverton of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will share comparative photos and speak on the ongoing effort to restore the river system by removing its non-native trees. Utah Backcountry Volunteers is a partner providing volunteers to aid the agency and will be recruiting participants for our fall service trip to the Escalante. The event takes place at 7:00pm Wednesday, August 27th at Ken Sanders Rare Books, 268 S 200 E in Salt Lake City. This is a free event for all. We wish to thank Ken Sanders Rare Books for offering their space for this special presentation. Summer Service Opportunities A great opportunity awaits you to spend quality time in Utah wonderful backcountry this summer and fall. Camp out...while giving back! For details and to join one of these fun and fulfilling service trips, go to http://www.utahbackcountry.org. Read Testimonials of thrilled participants, and see what youve been missing in our Photo Gallery. Then Sign Up online...while space still remains! Dixie National Forest, Canaan Peak: August 17-23 You will help re-route a one mile section of non-motorized trail from a sensitive wetland area to a ridgeline location around Canaan Peak, about 13 miles west of Escalante, Utah. Escape the summer heat of redrock country by hiking and camping at 8500 in a high aspen & fir forest. North Stansbury Mountains Wilderness Study Area: August 30-September 1 Spend Labor Day Weekend in Utah quiet and wide open west desert. You will help install an educational bulletin board informing off-road vehicle users about the WSA boundary, and erecting physical barriers to protect Muskrat Canyon. On Monday, well explore the Cedar Mountains Wilderness, checking out the pioneer wagon trail cutoff route. Cedar Mesa/Grand Gulch Primitive Area: September 14-20 To protect ancient ruins and sensitive soils throughout this unique area, volunteers concentrate on closing user-created social trails with fallen trees and rocks, and clearly mark open trails to keep impacts under control. Well also conduct seasonal trail maintenance on high use and frequently flooded entry trails into main Grand Gulch. Two spaces remain open. Glen Canyon NRA, Escalante River: September 28-October 4 You get to spend a week in this spectacular redrock canyon amongst a golden ribbon of Cottonwoods in their fall splendor. Volunteers participate in restoring the river ecosystem by cutting down invasive Russian olive trees. The project is enjoined in its ninth season and is about half way complete. Well backpack down to the river 3 miles through Fence Canyon and camp around Neon Canyon. Four spaces remain open. Capitol Reef National Park: October 12-18 Spend a colorful fall week in the orchard group camp site in Fruita and venture daily to remote areas of this beautiful Park. Volunteers will restore desert waterways throughout the area by cutting out invasive Tamarisk trees, as well as conducting seasonal trail maintenance and fencing projects. Day hike through, and on top of, the famous namesake reef at this perfect time of year in the canyon country. Thanks For Voicing Your Choice A special thanks to all who recently voted for us in Patagonia new Voice Your Choice program. Although we didnt win the contest, we understand our showing and vote total was very respectable. Our deep thank you goes to the Patagonia Outlet in Salt Lake City for including us amongst the group of several worthy local environmental causes. Our congratulations go to Utah Clean Energy and their hardworking staff for winning the contest. _______________________________________________________________________ Utah Backcountry Volunteers, P.O. Box 526197, Salt Lake City, UT 84152