Overview

Join WTA in the far northeast corner of the state on the edge of the beautiful Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

This project will be maintaining a section of the North Fork trail that former WTA crews helped save from becoming lost. This crew will continue that work.

About the Area

The 41,000-acre Salmo-Priest Wilderness is located on the Colville National Forest in the extreme northeast corner of Washington.

Dominated by the Shedroof Divide and Crowell Ridge, this area boasts lonely forests, ridgetop wanders, and international views.

The North Fork Sullivan Creek trail is one of three that offer access to these views from Crowell Ridge. Come see what all the fuss is about.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

WTA completed a reroute on the North Fork trail several seasons ago, allowing the trail to reopen after several years of closure. 

Now we're tackling both deferred and annual maintenance that built up on the trail over the years. This will be an early season work party and we will likely be the first crew to check conditions following winter. Work will include logout, tread repair, drainage and brushing, plus marking some problematic trees for a crew to follow. Help us get the trail in great shape!

Camping and Hiking Information

• Type: Backcountry basecamp
• Location: 1/2 mile west of the North Fork and Slate Creek trail junction
• Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain

• Initial hike to camp: 6.3 miles with 2000 feet of elevation gain at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus WTA-provided tools.
• Expected daily hike to project: between 4 and 6 miles round trip over moderately steep terrain. Up to 2000 feet of gain if the crew makes it all the way to Crowell Ridge.

Schedule

• Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
• Day 2-3: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew. Once we reach the wilderness boundary, we have the additional task of locating the centerline of Slate Creek Trail through the old burn scar. We will flag the centerline so that a subsequent crew can easily find it to complete log-out.
• Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure! This will be an early BCRT, which means there may still be some lingering snow on the trails.

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

• A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
• Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
• Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
• Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
• Day work party experience recommended
• Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
• Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

What to Wear

• Required:
• Sturdy work or hiking boots. Review our Logout Boot Guide for more details.
• Work gloves 
• Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, or mesh “bug eyes.” Glasses should have wrapping side shields. ANSI Z87.1+)
• Long pants
• Long sleeve shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

In addition to items listed above, bring the following backpacking gear:

• WTA hard hat
• Work gloves
• Backpack to carry all of your gear
• Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
• Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
• At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Extra warm clothing
• Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
• Sun and bug protection
• Headlamp and extra batteries
• Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
• ​First aid kit
• A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own.

More Information

• What to Pack for a Backcountry Response Team
• Frequently Asked Questions
• WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
• Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367

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Partners

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