Volunteer Vacation - Sheep Mountain, WY

Join American Hiking Society for a week of building & maintaining trails in exciting locations across the country. Volunteer Vacations foster public land stewardship and provide volunteers the opportunity to give back to the trails they love, meet new people, and have a great time doing it! Crews consist of 6-15 volunteers accompanied by a crew leader. Volunteer Vacations involve backpacking or day hiking and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. Tools and supervision are provided by the host agency or organization. Experience nature up close. Travel to new destinations. Meet other outdoor enthusiasts. Take a vacation that nourishes your body & your spirit. Get Out. Give Back.

Project Specifics:

Providing access to explore over 25,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands, The Sheep Mountain Trail is a foot and horse trail that winds up an impressive box canyon to the top of Sheep Mountain. This area provides abundant recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, sightseeing and shed hunting. The ample amount of BLM-administered public lands, unique settings and resources, and its location make it an excellent recreation resource for travelers and the surrounding communities

The Sheep Mountain trail is a popular destination due to its desirable settings and its close proximity to Buffalo Bill State Park and along the popular US Highway 14 connecting Cody to Yellowstone National Park. Volunteers will work together to reroute two of the existing trails.The first reroute is located less than ½ mile from the trailhead and will provide a safer option and less grade for hikers and horseback riders then the existing trail. This reroute will be 600 total feet on a side slope with rolling contours to resist erosion. It will be built using full bench cut to create a solid, durable tread and may require grade reversals. The second reroute is 0.8 miles up the trail and will eliminate a steep grade with erosion issues. The reroute will require 1 to 2 switch backs with rock work and vegetation removal. The switchbacks will incorporate a landing or turning platform and have a rock retaining wall or a crib wall. Smaller spot upgrades and maintenance may also be done along the trail to include slough and berm work, water bars, grade reversals and vegetation removal. If time allows, the BLM would like to start construction on a new 1-mile section of proposed trail that would bring recreational users to a scenic overlook of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Volunteers may drive or hike to the project site. The Sheep Mountain Trailhead is located less than 1 mile from the camping location.

During this trip, Sheep Mountain’s average high temperature is 75°, and average low temperature is 50°.

Accommodations: Volunteers will camp at Buffalo Bill State Park located just south of the Sheep Mountain Trailhead (lat. 44.479326, long. -109.329688). There is access to showers, grills, bathrooms, and potable water will be provided. Volunteers will need to bring their personal camping gear, bedding, towels, and toiletries.

Trip Cost: $425 per person

Volunteer Experience: While trips do not require prior trail maintenance experience, all of our projects require participants to be in good physical condition and will involve 30-40 hours of physical labor during the week.

Find More Information & Register Here: https://americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacation-trip/sheep-mountain-wy-volunteer-vacation-2024/