Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt Whitney Volunteer Corps

The Friends of the Inyo and the USFS are launching a pilot stewardship program on Mt Whitney and are looking for a small group of volunteers. A volunteer will commit to the following:

(1) Four hikes during the peak season.
(2) Enjoy hiking up the Main Trail, even up to the Summit, if desired.
(3) On the descent pack out trash (only what is reasonable and safe).
(4) At the end of the hike, give a USFS ranger a conditions update.

Volunteers will be registered as official USFS Volunteers, which means they do not need a hiking permit. Volunteer hikes are pre-planned and scheduled with a USFS ranger.

Refer to The Friends of the Inyo website for more specifics and contact info on the Mt Whitney Volunteer Corps.

Jim

Thanks Jim for posting https://friendsoftheinyo.org/whitneyvolunteer/ this might be the direct link

Looks like it linked to the information. Richard had ask about doing something like this and others so maybe will attract a good solid core , we have a good showing when Inyo S&R sets up at the trail head answers questions and talks about trail conditions .

This program should help with having someone on the trail which then might discourage the leaving of trash , Wag bag topic always comes up , I know some are left but a very high compliance rate also . Many suggestions on enforcement but this all circles back to a limited number of rangers front country and back.

I sent an email...mentioned you and Brian...

The plan I discussed with Brian last summer was: take a Wilderness First Aid Course...fill out a bunch of Gov't Paperwork...wait for Volunteer Status to be Granted...this seems to lift a bunch of the Burden off of Brain and Company...

I want more than 4...the (almost wholly) reason for the request for Volunteer Status is No More Permits Required to go up...and the possiblity of helping/keeping someone out of trouble...I had told Brian I felt my role would be "Sweeper"...helping Stragglers get down safely...he had implied that I would be able to do it any way I felt...within reason...

Oh, and off-topic...the other thing we talked about (Brian)...mules back on the Whitney Trail...any update???

Think of it as a surprise , a little smaller than a mule so you might get 2