Join the BMLT Blues Crew for a trail work party on Grouse Mountain #3081 & Lick Creek Trails #3070 from ZigZag Springs up on the Umatilla Rim!

Celebrate National Trails Day by working on one of our favorite trails! The BMLT Blues Crew annually partners with the Umatilla National Forest to open up and maintain the upper Lick Creek Trail #3070 to Grouse Mountain Trail #3081. We expect there will be some trees down on the trail, so sawyers and helpers are definitely needed. Most of the other work will be tread repair and brushing.

Volunteers commuting to the work site from Walla Walla will meet at the USFS Walla Walla Ranger District office at 1415 West Rose Street at 07:30 AM to carpool or caravan. Work will be completed by 3:30 pm to allow for return to Walla Walla by 5:30 pm. Volunteers traveling from other communities should contact the project leader to arrange to meet at the trailhead.

Be a part of this exciting volunteer opportunity! We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference. No experience is necessary.

Please note: Cell service is spotty in the North Fork Umatilla River Canyon.

Trip Details:

• Volunteer work to accomplish:

  🌲 Repairing and updating the trail conditions after a winter season.

  🌲 Brushing and trail tread repair
  
  🌲 Certified sawyers are needed to guide volunteers in removing any obstructing logs and trees.

  🌲BMLT Blues Crew will be using power brushers, hand saws, pruners and other hand tools to clear trail of brush, limbs, and windfall. Minor tread work will require digging and shaping trail.

• What it takes to do this work party:

  • Tolerance for hard work and backcountry conditions.

  • No specific trail work experience is necessary—bring a great attitude for working with a team!

  • BMLT Blues Crew leaders and USFS partners will provide training and tools as needed

  • Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours

  • Recommended for ages 18 and older

• Trip schedule:

  Volunteers from outside Walla Walla should meet directly at the trailhead.

  Volunteers commuting to the work site from Walla Walla will meet at the USFS Walla Walla Ranger District office at 1415 West Rose Street at 07:30 AM to carpool or caravan. Work will be completed by 3:30 pm to allow for return to Walla Walla by 5:30 pm. Volunteers traveling from other communities should contact the project leader to arrange to meet at the trailhead.

  
  Walla Walla Region Volunteers:
  Saturday, June 1st:

  7:30 a.m. Meet at USFS Umatilla Walla Walla Ranger District office on Rose Street, Walla Walla. We will carpool/caravan from there.

  7:45 a.m. Depart for ZigZag Springs Trailhead

  9:30 am - Arrive at the trailhead. Orientation, equipment distribution, safety briefing.

  10:00 a.m. Begin trail work.

  12:00 p.m. Lunch (Bring your own)

  3:30 p.m. - Debrief, beverages
  
  4:30 p.m. - Return home

• Meeting location:

  Volunteers commuting to the work site from Walla Walla will meet at the USFS Walla Walla Ranger District office at 1415 West Rose Street at 07:30 AM to carpool or caravan. Work will be completed by 3:30 pm to allow for return to Walla Walla by 5:30 pm. Volunteers traveling from other communities should contact the project leader to arrange to meet at the trailhead.
  
  Volunteers from outside Walla Walla: Meet directly at the Zig Zag Springs trailhead

  Walla Walla area volunteers: Meet at USFS Umatilla Walla Walla Ranger District office on Rose Street in Walla Walla at 7:30 am. We will carpool/caravan from there.

  If you’re willing to drive, please arrive with a full gas tank. Also, please be prepared to share gas costs with your volunteer driver on the return trip (bring cash.)
  
  Directions
  From Weston, Oregon: Take Highway 204 east for about 15 miles. Turn right (south) onto Forest Service Road 3715 (McDougall Camp Road) and continue for about 2.5 miles to ZigZag Springs Trailhead where the road ends.

• What to wear:

  ✅ Boots – no sneakers or sandals during work hours

  ✅ Long pants and long-sleeved shirt

  ✅ Rain gear /layers for warmth

  ✅ Work gloves and eye protection (glasses, sunglasses)

  ✅ Ticks can be present: bring DEET for self, Permethrin for clothes

  ✅ Gaiters can be very useful

  *** BMLT Blues Crew Supplied: Safety gear, first aid kit, hard hat, tools

• What to bring:

  ✅ Lightweight day pack

  ✅ Water bottle - suggest 64 ounces of water

  ✅ Warm clothing for wet/cold weather

  ✅ Lunch & snacks

  ✅ Medications / Personal care items / sunscreens

• Trip notes:

  ⚠️ This is a moderately strenuous work party.
  
  ⚠️ Pets are not to accompany volunteers due to work safety concerns.
  
  ⚠️ We’re currently following CDC guidelines for all BMLT sponsored events. Please stay home if you are feeling unwell.
  
  ⚠️ BMLT Blues Crew practices Leave No Trace™ principles.

  ⚠️ Is this your first volunteer trail work party? Check out this short video on ‘What to Expect and How to Stay Safe’

• Contact information:

  For more information, contact us at blues-crew@bmlt.org or Barbara Hetrick at 509-301-1372.
  
  Experienced trail leadersProject Leads: Holly Howard (509) 301-1859 Sue Wickham (707) 590-0307 will be wearing the orange helmets as our project leader on this work party.
  

  Project Leads:
  Project Leads: Holly Howard (509) 301-1859 Sue Wickham (707) 590-0307
  

Presented in partnership with the Umatilla National Forest, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture