Eight CCC Corpsmember graduates join Bigfoot Trail Alliance for an ambitious backcountry trail restoration project.
After months of planning, fundraising, and logistical coordination, our California Conservation Corps (CCC) collaborative wilderness expedition is complete! Eleven dedicated trail workers spent their days deep in the Siskiyou Wilderness, restoring a section of trail between Harrington Mountain and Baldy Peak.
The results were impressive:
- 3.5 miles of trail cleared and restored
- 250 downed trees removed
- 8 CCC Corpsmember graduates gaining valuable backcountry trail work experience
- 3 Bigfoot Trail Alliance crew leaders — Petr, Jacob, and Ashley
Together, this crew made remarkable progress toward reopening an important stretch of trail through one of the most rugged and biologically diverse landscapes in the Klamath Mountains.
Reconnecting the Siskiyou Wilderness
The Siskiyou Wilderness is a remarkable landscape of steep canyons, rugged ridgelines, ancient forests, and exceptional biodiversity. It is also home to sections of trail that have suffered from years of deferred maintenance, winter storms, fallen trees, and rapidly growing vegetation.
The trail between Harrington Mountain and Baldy Peak is part of a larger network of historic routes connecting remote corners of the wilderness. Restoring these trails is essential for maintaining access, supporting recreation, and keeping these public lands connected.
With 250 logs removed across 4.5 miles, this crew made a substantial contribution. But the work is far from finished.
Significant restoration needs remain between Gunbarrel and Baldy Peak, as well as between Harrington Mountain and Clear Creek. These remote sections will require additional crews, resources, and dedicated time in the field.
We hope to return in 2027 to continue this work, building on the momentum of this successful expedition.
Made Possible by Community Support
This project was made possible through collaboration and the generosity of our community.
We extend our sincere thanks to the California Conservation Corps for helping bring together this exceptional group of young trail workers, and to the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests for their partnership and support of wilderness trail restoration.
We are especially grateful to the donors who contributed more than $15,000 to make this expedition possible. With no dedicated project funding, this work depended on individuals who believed in the value of restoring wilderness trails and investing in the next generation of conservation leaders.
We also thank everyone who helped with planning, transportation, food, equipment, and the many logistical details required to support an extended backcountry expedition.
And finally, a tremendous thank-you to Petr, Jacob, Ashley, and all eight CCC Corpsmember graduates. Your hard work, resilience, and commitment transformed a challenging stretch of trail into a route that hikers can once again follow.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The success of this collaborative expedition offers a model for future partnerships. By combining experienced trail leaders, emerging conservation professionals, and community-supported funding, we can make meaningful progress on some of the most challenging trail restoration projects in the Klamath Mountains.
There is still much to accomplish in the Siskiyou Wilderness. But with each log removed and each mile reopened, we are reconnecting people to these extraordinary public lands.
Here’s to the crew of 11, the 3.5 miles they restored, and the next chapter of this work in 2027!
Support future wilderness trail restoration and youth conservation opportunities by getting involved with the Bigfoot Trail Alliance.
Leave a Reply