Volunteer Trail Crew Guide

Whether you’re joining us for your first Volunteer Trail Crew project or you’ve volunteered every season since 2012, we understand that you may have questions. Please review this information before contacting a staff member.

 

FAQs

Volunteer Trail Crew projects are free to join. To sign up, review the project schedule and the details on each project page. You can sign up by following the registration link on the project page.

All projects and tasks are physically demanding. You don’t need to be a world-class athlete, but you do need to keep pace with the crew. To help you select a project that matches your ability level, we categorize our trips according to these difficulty ratings:

  • Moderate: A project requiring fewer than five miles of daily hiking. Work is physically demanding but can be self-paced according to one’s comfort level. Camp is not far from the worksite, and there is access to vehicles at camp.
  • Strenuous: A project requiring some combination of long daily hikes, demanding work tasks, and a hike into a backcountry camp. Opportunities for self-paced tasks exist during the workday but may not always be available. Camp is often established in the backcountry and will require hiking with a full pack.
  • Very strenuous: A project requiring some combination of long daily hikes, a long hike into a backcountry camp, especially demanding work tasks, and a need to keep pace with the rest of the crew at all times. These are our most challenging projects.

If you have questions about a project, how to sign up, or your ability level, contact Stewardship Coordinator Ande Alvarez at aalvarez@wildmontana.org or Stewardship Director Matt Bowser at mbowser@wildmontana.org.

WHAT: Typical project work includes constructing new trail, installing signage, logging out (opening) trails for the season, and maintaining existing trail.

WHERE: Volunteer Trail Crew projects take place on public lands all across the state. We prioritize projects that help address maintenance backlogs.

WHEN: Projects take place throughout the summer and range from single-day to weeklong outings. We typically release our summer schedule (find it here) in early March.

WHY: Volunteers play an essential role in helping land management agencies keep trails accessible to the public. A VTC project is a fun and rewarding experience to explore new places and make memories and friend that will last a lifetime.

WHO: Adults from all backgrounds and experience levels join our trips every summer. Whether you’re a seasoned trail dawg or a first-time backpacker, we’d love to have you on the crew.

HOW: To register, find a trail project compatible with your schedule, desires, and physical fitness. Register using the link on the project webpage.

FOOD: Wild Montana provides all food, cooking gear, and water filters. Once in the field, volunteers are expected to help with food preparation and clean on a rotating basis. Your crew leader will handle primary kitchen responsibilities.

CAMPING: A frontcountry project means we’ll be camping near our cars. A backcountry project means we’ll be hauling our gear in and setting up camp after a multi-mile hike. We’ll set up a kitchen with tarp cover, a bear hang, and a latrine. Volunteers will camp together and share meals throughout the project.

It takes all kinds of help to make Volunteer Trail Crew projects successful. No matter your background or experience level, you can make a difference. Here are the ways you can contribute to trail stewardship efforts:

  • Trail crew: Trail crew volunteers work on the ground carrying out objectives outlined by our agency partners. You’ll dig trail with a pulaski, saw out downed trees with a crosscut, and help build new structures. Every one of our projects requires at least five trail crew volunteers.
  • Volunteer packer: To get gear, tools, and food into our remote backcountry camps, we need the help of volunteer packers. The Back Country Horsemen have been invaluable partners, and we’re always looking for additional packers.

Volunteer Trail Crew project work typically falls into five categories. Some trips will focus solely on one objective, while other projects may have multiple objectives. Each project page will detail the work you can expect on a project.

  1. Trail maintenance: routine maintenance like brushing (cutting branches and small trees from the trail corridor), drainage upkeep (cleaning debris from drainage structures), drainage repair (replacing old water bars and loose rock checks), and retread (digging to re-establish trail surface). 
  2. Clearing: cutting out dead trees that have fallen across the trail. 
  3. New trail construction: digging new trail tread and installing new drainage features. 
  4. Structures: replacing and constructing new structures such as turnpikes, bridges, puncheons, fences, and crib walls. 
  5. Signage: installing signs, trailhead kiosks, and cairns.

Experienced Wild Montana staff coordinate and facilitate each project. Every crew leader has a Wilderness First Responder certification and years of trail project leadership experience. We’ll teach you how to do all these tasks.

Here’s what a typical day in the field looks like:

  • 7:00 a.m.: Breakfast. Sip coffee, chow down, pack a lunch, fill water bottles, and pack for the day.
  • 8:00 a.m.: Hike to the worksite, stretch, and have our tailgate safety talk.
  • 10:15 a.m.: Morning break
  • 12:00 p.m.: Lunchtime
  • 2:30 p.m.: Afternoon break a.k.a. nap time.
  • 4:30 p.m.: Return to camp. Hang out, relax, wash, and enjoy the scenery.
  • 5:30 p.m.: Appetizers and dinner prep
  • 6:30 p.m.: After dinner and dishes, spend the evening taking in a sunset, reading, chatting around the campfire, or catching some ZZZs.

Being well-prepared will make your experience infinitely more enjoyable, but who wants to carry more weight than necessary? Use this list as a supplement to your own experience and common sense for both back- and front-country projects. As always, we’re happy to help if you have any questions.

View and download the full gear list here.

**We do not want to let a lack of gear be a barrier to joining. Let us know if you don’t have something that is needed to join. Our friends at RightOn Trek provide gear rentals which we can coordinate getting to you (let us know first).

Volunteering is FREE, but Wild Montana does requires a refundable deposit to hold your place on a Volunteer Trail Crew project. If you’d like to support the Volunteer Trail Crew, you’re always welcome to make a donation to Wild Montana (or donate your refundable deposit) – even a small gift can make a big difference.


If you’re unable to cover the cost of the deposit for any reason, please let us know and we’ll work with you to find a solution. Email: aalvarez@wildmontana.org for more details. 

We fill projects in the order we receive applications. Final acceptance is dependent on our receipt, review, and approval of your registration forms, and incomplete forms will delay your registration.

Once we’ve received your information, we’ll email you confirmation of your reservation. Please allow one to two weeks for confirmation, as we may be in the hills.

After registering, you’ll receive a link to the project page, which features up-to-date information about your trip. You’ll also get your crew leader’s contact information. Please contact your leader if you have questions.

Occasionally, projects change at the last minute. Your crew leader will keep you informed via email or phone. Please let us know if you’ll be traveling or out of touch leading up to the project.

Some projects have limited space, so signing up early is essential. Most backcountry projects allow five to eight volunteers. Car-camping projects can accommodate eight to 10. If a project fills up, we will still accept waitlist registrations and notify you if a spot becomes available. 

No! Most projects require only a willingness to learn.

However, certain projects are very strenuous and require prior backcountry experience. It’s more fun for everyone if you are prepared for physical labor. Please DO NOT break in new gear or use a VTC project to get in shape. We are relying on you to meet the physical requirements to honor our grant commitments. 

It’s critical that you read the full project details and evaluate your ability level before registering. Generally speaking, the crew will hike, work, and “live” on the same schedule for the project duration. We ask that you are tolerant of the group experience, others’ points of view, and crew decision-making. Wild Montana provides a professional crew leader on every project, so there will be guidance on the trail and in camp.

In Montana, ALL projects are in bear country (black and grizzly). Our staff is very familiar with best practices and will advise the crew on proper procedures, food storage, and what to do in the event of wildlife encounters.

There have never been any negative bear encounters on Volunteer Trail Crew projects. No solo hiking is allowed, and we request that you bring only non-scented toiletries or personal products.

We love dogs too, but the answer is a kind NO. We’re sure your dog is always well-behaved, silent, and obedient, but out of respect for other volunteers and the safety of the crew, we ask that you leave your four-legged friend at home. Thanks for understanding.

Because we ask you to work hard, we want to feed you well. Wild Montana will handle all the food shopping, menu planning, and packing for most projects. We can accommodate both meat-eaters and vegetarians.

If you have any unusual dietary restrictions, we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs. If it’s really out of the ordinary, or you have several restrictions, we might ask for you to supply your own food. Please be sure you note this info on your registration form, or we’ll have no way of knowing. If you want to be doubly sure, call or email us to confirm we understand your needs.

Each volunteer should bring a medium/large backpack for work. This should have room for water (at least three liters), extra layers, rain gear, sunscreen, work gloves, warm hat, sun hat, bug dope, and your lunch/snacks for the day. We’ll also ask you to carry one or two work tools.

Backcountry projects: On trips where we’re camped miles from the trailhead, the answer is NO. Hiking alone increases your risk in bear country, and a wrong turn can be very serious.

Frontcountry projects: We’d prefer you didn’t, but we understand that it’s not always possible to make the posted times/dates. If a project is full or close to it, we’ll give preference to volunteers who can make it for the entire trip. Any late arrivals/early departures must be discussed ahead of time so we can plan accordingly. Email Ande Alvarez at aalvarez@wildmontana.org to discuss.

There’s nothing like a cold one after a long, hot day of trail work. If you want to kick back after work, please drink responsibly and be respectful of your neighbors. Projects are open to adults and minors alike, and only those who are at least 21 may have or drink alcohol on projects.

As of January 1, 2021, it is no longer illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana for recreational use in Montana. However, nearly every VTC project is located on federal lands where federal laws are enforced. Federal law prohibits marijuana use.

You probably already know these things, but it’s a good idea to mention them. These activities are not permitted on Wild Montana trips:

  • possession or use of firearms, except with volunteer packers who’ve been approved by the Forest Service
  • consumption of alcoholic beverages in excess
  • possession or use of any illegal drugs
  • fighting, use of derogatory language, intimidating behavior, discrimination, sexual harassment, or violent or threatening behavior
  • violation of any state game and fish regulation
  • violation of any federal, state, or local law
  • disclosing others’ confidential information.

Violation of any of the above prohibitions may constitute grounds for dismissal from the project.

Being prepared goes a long way; do your part and remember that your choices affect the entire crew. Many projects are at high elevations, in remote settings, and subject to rapid weather changes and possible exposure. Participants are expected to assist with camp chores, adhere to safety requests, and adapt to a shared group environment. Choose your projects wisely, based on your known abilities. No solo hiking is allowed to/from backcountry projects.

Emergency Contact Procedures

Most VTC projects are located in remote areas with no cell phone service. When you join a project you will be out of contact with loved ones, friends, and Instagram. If an emergency arises, here is how we can communicate:

In the field: Every crew is outfitted with a satellite inReach Device. This lets us contact Wild Montana staff, land management partners, and emergency response personnel. This tool is used only in the event of an emergency. It is not a resource for checking in on your family dog or baseball standings.

I need to contact someone who is on a VTC project: If you have a loved one on a trail crew project and you need to reach them, contact the people on the list below. It may take a few days to reach a crew in the field. Please only reach out with life-event emergencies that cannot wait.

Wild Montana HQ (call this number during normal Monday–Thursday business hours): 406-443-7350
Matt Bowser: 406-314-9413
Ande Alvarez: 406-558-4189
Laura Parr: 406-570-4787

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