ismith
Well-known member
I'd imagine Federal tax dollars were getting showered on them too.
New USFWS Director
- Thread starter Schaaf
- Start date
30 years? mtmuley
I can see the soft pink hands wringing and sitting on their asses,confused. They have never used a real tool.
Lasiocarpa
Well-known member
I could care less about the admin. Staffing levels have been flatlined for trails for a long time.
Fire is way different than trails unfortunately and neither division helps each other.
I’d agree. I’ve been involved with trail work in MT since 2003. USFS Ranger districts I worked with then were severely understaffed. 500-1000 miles of trail’s responsible for and 2-6 trail employees.
Nothing is going to happen but cut and run on certain trails.
It’d be like building 3 dozen houses at the same time with 2 people.
Except the public would be breathing down your neck calling you lazy.
Lasiocarpa
Well-known member
I think that we can all agree that a more efficient and less wasteful government is an admirable goal.
If you think that gs 4-6 trail crews are the problem here, I’ve got news for you…
This attack on federal employees isn’t about being more efficient. It’s about picking scapegoats, waging a culture war, and satisfying your supporters with a simple “solution”.
If you think that gs 4-6 trail crews are the problem here, I’ve got news for you…
This attack on federal employees isn’t about being more efficient. It’s about picking scapegoats, waging a culture war, and satisfying your supporters with a simple “solution”.
D
Deleted member 52937
Guest
Thanks to BHA, Meateater and all the private organizations that pushed hard for corner crossing. Thanks @buzz!
WTF. Go to bed already.
Big Sky Guy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2018
- Messages
- 608
In 2009 I was on summer trail crew in the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness out of Gardiner. $25/day stipend. Axes and two man crosscut saws only. Burn areas were insane after a winter of blowing storms. I think a pair of guys did over 150 trees in one day as the record IIRC. Even back then most of the trails were only getting cleared once a year, it was a source of pride if a summer crew got all trails cleared in a season. A lot of the trails aren’t opening up until into June or July with snow pack anyway and then even with our crew of ~20ish? between limited labor and limited season getting all (forget how many total miles) the trails cleared was a pretty tall task. I believe I was paid through some private/donor grant. There were only a few on the crew that were actual USFS employees and even the trail supervisor was a full-time temporary.
Outfitters would just use chain saws (technically illegal but sorta unrealistic to expect trails to be cleared regularly in that country by USFS). Outfitters would also help haul in water bars or other materials for bridges etc. so was an interesting dynamic.
I’m 36 now. Don’t think I’ve had a better summer since. Drank my first beer at the USFS bunkhouse a few months after turning 21 after seeing peers drink and not get drunk (father was an alcoholic so had a skewed view on alcohol between that and DARE
).So what will be different? Not a damn thing. I wish I would have taken pictures. I told the FS about an abandoned camper. It's there for two years. I finally had enough and was going to chop it up and haul it off. Nope illegal. So, the FS really stepped up. I don't anticipate any changes after the purge. mtmuley
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I think you’re right. I was quoting you about the last 30 years. Funding has been an issue since I’ve been an adult and recreating on these lands. Nothing will change without the proper funding.
The statement “defund and decry” isn’t new nor should it be laughed at. It’s been a mission for a long time and will only ramp up.
As far as the abandoned camper, no one will say chit. I’ve chopped one up and put it in a dump trailer. Picked up many lbs of trash that weren’t mine.
Unfortunately people like to villainize(not saying you are) the land management agencies. I don’t think it will get better and I do worry about public lands moving forward.
I always had my kids pick up trash whenever we were on the mountain. My Son one day said Dad, this isn't our garbage. I told him that's the point. mtmuley
El Jason
Well-known member
Didn’t they also get their jobs back with back pay? But I’m sure you already knew that.
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El Jason
Well-known member
How many man hours of labor were provided?
wvhunter304
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2023
- Messages
- 89
T
Thank you for such an insightful post. It's a sad time for sure.
Absolutely not true. Non profits can partner with an agency and obtain an MOU to do maintenance on trails. But most if not all of that funding comes from state and federal grants.
Very very few are funding maintenance strictly from donors. I can think of one in the state of MT that can fund its own maintenance because of an endowment, and it isn’t SW MT mtn bikers.
I was an ED for one and know the ins and outs.
El Jason
Well-known member
A friend used to (don’t know if he still does) run a trail crew in the Bob. He told me they went out one day to open up a trail they hadn’t been able to get to in a couple of years. Spent two days cutting out a 15ish mile section. A thunderstorm/microburst cam through and they spent two days cutting their way back out.
The misdirected anger and vengeance is amazing.
@Hunting Wife was right. We don’t deserve what we are blessed with.
WyoCoalMiner
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2024
- Messages
- 78
Nesvik
Just thought after around 5 pages without a post even mentioning his name it was worth touching on the topic. Now back to trail maintenance bitchin and moaning.
Just thought after around 5 pages without a post even mentioning his name it was worth touching on the topic. Now back to trail maintenance bitchin and moaning.
She didn't actually, military did if you wanted to go back.
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