UT-3943
August 16-20, 2010
Must commit to full session
Join us in August for the 7th season of the Carter Military Road project! The Carter Military Road was built between 1882-1883 to supply troops assigned to the new Fort Thornburgh, near Vernal. It was the first road to cross the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah, and saw much traffic in supply and trade goods. Prior to its construction, supply wagons from military installations such as Fort Bridger, Wyoming, had a difficult time crossing the mountains, as the road could only remain open for a short time each year.
Once again, over 120 years later, we are investigating the rich history of this route. In the past six years, PIT volunteers and FS staff have located sections of the road and the camps. We have found a myriad of items including pocket knives, military buttons, files, cartridges, pendants, horse and ox shoes, and, of course, a nail or two. We mapped the majority of the historic road during the 2009 season, but there are still some areas that we need to visit and record. So, this summer we will once again explore the road. Volunteers and staff will walk portions of the route to determine the historical integrity and condition of segments, document and photograph each segment, and map segments using professional grade GPS units. We will need metal detectors to determine the route in many of the remaining areas and, of course, to locate and document any historic artifacts. This year's project will help to finalize data for the Forest's Carter Military Road Management Plan, and will contribute to preservation efforts planned for the historic road.
If you own and are willing to bring a metal-detector, please let us know on your application. It's not necessary to have one to participate, but since we have a limited supply of them, it sure helps to have some extras! See you in August!
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Previous archaeological survey and/or metal detecting experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Volunteers will lodge in Vernal; Vernal is a full-service community with hotels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; camping in the area is also available; faclities vary and fees apply; RV parks in Vernal; full hook-ups, other facilities vary; volunteers responsible for own lodging, meals, and water; FS will provide tranportation from Vernal to work site and back each day from deisgnated meeting point
Nearest town: Project based in Vernal; Roosevelt, 35 miles; Dutch John, 45 miles
Applications due: June 14, 2010
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UT-3907
June 14-18; 21-25, 2010
Must commit to one full session; may participate in more
In 1848, Kit Carson and a group of 30 men returned from California with military dispatches concerning America's war with Mexico. They traveled a well-worn trail on the west shores of the large, high elevation lake now known as Fish Lake. The trail he and his men followed has been dubbed the "Fish Lake Cut-off," a short-cut that broke off from the Old Spanish Trail. In commemoration, this short-cut has recently been designated a National Historic Trail. As such, the Fish Lake National Forest began a PIT project in 2008 to install interpretive panels and signs in an effort to provide visitors information and properly portray the importance of this historic trail. This year, we pick up where we left off. Volunteers will work with a Forest Service team to install interpretive panels and signs along the remaining parts of the trail.
The project area is located on the western shores of Fish Lake, which is a large high-altitude (9,000 ft.) body of water nestled in beautiful section of the mountains. The lake is home to a log lodge (built in 1929), which now houses a store, a restaurant, and a forest service information station. There is much to see and do in this picturesque setting, so join us for Part III of the interpretation project!
Number of openings: 20 (10 per session)
Special skills: Experience with basic hand tools helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Developed tent and RV camping at nearby Forest Service campground; water, flush toilets, limited hookups, nearby dump station; fees waived for volunteers during project; pets allowed in campgrounds only; volunteers may also stay in the fully-equipped CCC Ranger Station; full kitchen and bath, laundry facilities; Richfield and Salina are full-service communities with motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment (or bedding if opting to stay in Ranger Station), food, and transportation to and from work site each day (if opting to stay in regional motels)
Nearest town: Project in Fish Lake Recreation Area; Loa, 22 miles; Richfield, 38 miles; Salina, 40 miles
Applications due: April 12, 2010
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UT-3962
August 23-27, 2010
Must commit to minimum of two days
Seely Creek Guard Station is located in a beautiful setting atop the Wasatch Plateau in central Utah at about 10,000 feet above sea level, and is the oldest Forest Service guard station on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Its cabin was built in 1908, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) added the garage and barn in 1933. After years of use and the pressures of time, it had fallen into disrepair, but thanks to the exceptional restoration work PIT volunteers completed in 2009, the Guard Station has become a successful recreational facility! It is now available for use through the Forest Service's Rental Cabin program.
Last summer we replaced siding, repaired doors, and stained the roofs of the cabin, garage and barn. This year, PIT volunteers and FS staff will continue the restoration efforts. During one phase of the project, we will finish repair work on the barn doors and windows, and then paint both the garage and barn. After that, crews will cover a 'CXT' (concrete toilet building) with siding and give it a fresh coat of paint. Outside of the work day, we'll also explore other, nearby historical sites, including the Great Basin Station (an historic watershed research facility with 12 buildings) and ancient American Indian stone quarries. PIT volunteers can camp right at the Guard Station and enjoy unparalleled views from the top of the Wasatch Plateau - we hope you'll join us at Seely Creek once again!
Applications for this project will be made to the PIT Clearinghouse as usual, but will be forwarded directly to the project leader. We will take applications only until our project slots are filled, so apply today!
Number of openings: 6
Special skills: None required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Tent and RV camping at no charge at Guard Station; water, vault toilet, no hook-ups; additional tent and RV camping at no charge at local (within ~8 miles) FS campground; water, vault toilet, no hook-ups; Ephraim and Manti are full-service communities with motels, restaurants, RV parks, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for lodging/personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest town: Ephraim, 16 miles; Manti, 23 miles; Mt Pleasant, 31 miles
Applications due: Ongoing until filled
UT-3954
September 20-25, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to full session
The BLM Monticello Field Office is hosting an exciting project to find and re-document prehistoric archaeological sites in Beef Basin, and needs your help! Beef Basin is in the middle of a beautiful canyon country in a remote corner of the Field Office's jurisdiction. It is known for dramatic, intact, 700-plus-year-old Puebloan architecture, some of which is two or even three stories high! This area attracted the attention of archaeologists many years ago who described and recorded ruins that may never have been revisited since. These sites need to have their records updated. PIT volunteers and BLM staff will, therefore, survey to find some of those ruins, compare their current conditions with those described in the past, and document our findings, which, in some cases, will need to be in much more detail than was done in the past!
Beef basin is a spectacular area, and participants will be given a day off during the week to explore and have fun. We will be at about 6,500 feet above sea level and the night sky should be beautiful. Nights will be cool and the days warm. The return trip to town is about three hours each way, so participants should bring what they need for the week and not plan to go back to town during the project. We hope to see you in September!
Number of openings: 10-12
Special skills: Previous experience with archaeological survey, drawing, photography, descriptive writing, and/or GPS helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent camping at no charge at Beef Basin Field Station; pit toilets, limited potable water provided by FO; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, extra water, and transportation (low clearance vehicles may be parked 12 miles away and volunteers will shuttle from there; volunteers are encouraged to bring own high clearance vehicles)
Nearest town: Blanding, 40 miles; Monticello, 50 miles
Applications due: July 19, 2010