Working on a WTA professional seasonal trail crew — frequently asked questions
What are WTA professional crews?
The professional crews are WTA’s professional trail maintenance and construction teams. Made up of 6 professional trail workers: an experienced Crew Leader, an Assistant Crew Leader, and four Crew Members. These seasonal employees are paid for their work. They work 8-day hitches, during which they camp out near the work site on public lands, in both backcountry and frontcountry settings.
The professional crews (formally Lost Trails Found Crews) began in 2021 with a focus on supporting trails that haven’t seen maintenance in many years and were at risk of disappearing. While those types of projects are still possible, we now function as general professional trail crews and do not work exclusively within the boundaries of “backcountry” trails.
What is a professional trail crew?
Our crews focus on production output and project quality. They complete a variety of projects that tap into a broad range of skills. Additionally, we also focus on the development and individual experiences of all our staff. Above all, we prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved.
We expect our crews to understand sustainable trail philosophy and build to the highest possible standard for our partners while maintaining consistent work outputs.
Lastly, these crews are expected to be self-sufficient in remote backcountry environments with minimal support, uphold Leave No Trace Principles, and maintain the highest level of safety possible.
What types of projects do crews work on?
Crews work on a wide array of projects, including, but not limited to:
- General trail maintenance (tread, drainage and brushing)
- New trail construction or reroutes
- Wilderness log out (crosscut)
- Timber and rock structures (retaining walls, stairs, puncheons, etc.)
- Many more
Currently our crews do very minimal work with chainsaws
What is the schedule?
All our crews typically work a 8-day hitch schedule. Hitches start on Wednesdays and end on the following Wednesday with a possibility of some 4-day (Tuesday-Friday) hitches each season. All work days are 10-hour days.
During work week (generally referred to as hitches), crews camp near their worksites. Basecamps vary by project and include both frontcountry and backcountry sites. That means that these crews may hike in 5-15 miles to set up a remote basecamp which they live out of while on hitch. Or crews may be residing at a campground, open field, trailhead, etc. for the week.
All hitches start and end at our crew base in North Bend. Employees are responsible for getting themselves to and from North Bend each hitch. Your crew will head out to your worksite in a WTA vehicle from there.
How are professional crews different from other trail crews?
While similar to conservation corps crews in many ways, our program has a stronger emphasis on production outcomes and a greater expectation of readiness of its crew members. Unlike government agency crews, we are able to work with a wide array of partners on various public land units statewide. Our crews tend to work longer and more arduous days than volunteer crews.
Where do WTA’s professional crews work?
Professional crews work on public lands across Washington. We work in National Forests and National Parks, as well as various state, county and city lands.
Washington is a diverse state with a range of climates, and the professional crews work in all of them, from temperate rainforests to high desert as well as wildfire burn scars.
Where do crew members come from, and is there housing?
We have many members who reside in the Seattle area and just as many who travel from out of state or further away. WTA does not provide housing for any employees during their off time.
How long is the professional season?
Professional crews operate from late April to early October. Crew leaders and assistant crew leaders start their season in mid March to accommodate a longer training period.
Is prior experience or training required?
These are not considered entry-level trail crew positions, and the ideal applicant comes in with some experience. With that said, a lack of formal trail work experience should not keep you from applying if you are prepared for the physical and mental demands of the job and have some combination of personal backcountry experience and manual labor experience. Experience in conservation or construction work is particularly helpful.
We are looking for members who have a proven commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, a shared alignment with the guiding principles of WTA mission statement, and a community-first mindset.
What do crew members need to bring with them?
Each crew member is responsible for bringing their own gear including all necessary work clothes and camping and backpacking gear. All tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) are provided by WTA. A $300 gear stipend is included with the job to help outfit crew members with the gear they need. If proper gear is a barrier for you please let us know upon hire and we’ll discuss options.
What are the physical requirements of a crew member?
Trail maintenance involves a lot of physical work, particularly in a backcountry, production-oriented context. Participants must be able to hike long distances on steep trails while carrying a pack and tools, and they must be able to perform manual labor consistently for 10 hours per day, up to 8 days at a time in an outdoor work environment. Crew members must be able to lift and swing a variety of tools, often while standing in a bent posture. Before applying, consider overall fitness, as well as whether or not recent injuries and medical conditions can be properly managed in a remote, outdoor work environment.
What if I cannot work for the entire season?
Participants who can be present for all hitches in the season are prioritized. Applicants are encouraged to let us know about planned absences during the application process. In some situations, we may be able to accommodate limited pre-planned absences.
Additionally, we do not allow staff to leave hitches early or join part-way (with exceptions for medical circumstances and emergencies). If you need to take off a couple days, it will result in missing an entire hitch. We do build in an extra unpaid week off in the month of August.
Does WTA provide transportation to projects?
Yes, from your base location. At the beginning of each workweek, crew members meet with their crew leaders at their assigned base of operations. Together, the trail crew will take WTA work trucks to worksites/campsites. At the end of the workweek, the WTA shuttles crews back to the same base of operations. If the worksite is closer to crew member homes than the base of operations, they are permitted to drive personal vehicles to the worksite, and will be compensated according to federal mileage reimbursement rates.
What is the daily routine like?
No two days on a trail crew are exactly alike. The work performed may vary with each project or work day, but the average routine is as follows:
- Breakfast in camp before 7 a.m.
- 7 a.m. morning stretch and safety meeting (start of paid work day)
- Hike to jobsite
- Work
- 30 minute lunch (unpaid) and two 15 minute breaks
- 5:30 p.m. return to camp (end of paid work day)
- Dinner and personal time after work day
Note: All WTA policies remain in place while in camp, including a drug and alcohol free environment
Does WTA provide food or group meals?
No. Each crew member receives a daily stipend of up to $50 and is expected to arrive on the first day of the work hitch with all of the food and anything else they need for the week of work. At camp, each member has the freedom and responsibility to plan and prepare their own meals.
How does WTA ensure the safety of crew members?
The safety of our trail crews is our top priority at the WTA. Our programs meet or exceed all industry standard risk management protocols. We provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to all crew members and strictly enforce its use. Additionally, we require every Crew Member to maintain a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification, and every Crew Leader to maintain a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification.
All crew staff also receive Mental Health First Aid training at the start of the season.
When are crew members paid?
All WTA staff are paid on the 10th and 25th of the month unless the day falls on a weekend or holiday (in that case staff are paid the closest weekday previous to the usual payday).
The first pay period is from the 1st to the 15th; the second pay period is from the 16th to the 30/31st. Paydays occur 10 days after the end of a pay period. For example, WTA generates paychecks on August 10 for the pay period that ended on July 31.
Can I apply with my partner?
Couples are not discouraged from applying. Please inform us if you are applying alongside your partner. During the hiring, each person will be considered and handled individually. We will likely place you on separate crews in order to reduce the effect exclusive relationships could have on the crew dynamic.
What can I do to prepare for the work season?
Make sure you are prepared both physically and mentally for a rigorous backcountry trail season. Train yourself physically by going for hikes of increasing lengths and elevation profiles with increasing amounts of weight in the backpack. Aim to complete a 3-mile hike with a 45-pound pack in under an hour.
Make sure you are mentally prepared by going on self-sustained backpacking trips. Get your gear, layering, and camping systems dialed in. Pro tip: break your work boots in before the start of the season.
Finally, button up your trail knowledge by taking classes or studying trail manuals. A few recommended places to start are as follows:
- US Forest Service Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
- US Forest Service Standard Trail Plans and Specifications
- California State Parks Trails Handbook
- Lightly on the Land: The SCA Trail-building and Maintenance Manual, by Robert Birkby
- Leave No Trace Seven Principles™