Maintenance Volunteers Blaze Trails in the Woods

When hiking on your favorite trail, do you stop to wonder who arranged those rock slabs into perfect steps? Or who moved those fallen trees off to the side? Or who built the footbridge across that muddy creek?

While many trails were originally built by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration, today’s good deeds are being done by average Joes who participate in one of the American Hiking Society’s many trail maintenance projects. AHS’ programs aren’t free, but what you pay is nominal. One-or two-week working vacations in the woods cost $80 for members and $100 for nonmembers. The fee is used in several ways: It may pay for building materials and tools, accommodations (usually a campsite, and you bring your own tent), food and transportation to the site.

As with all of AHS’ programs, you’ll be in the woods each morning working. After work, you’ll have several hours of daylight at your leisure, although you might also be expected to help out with some of the chores, like cooking, collecting firewood and cleaning dishes at camp.

Although the most popular season for AHS’ programs is summer--and a few of this fall’s more alluring programs (such as at Montana’s amazing Glacier National Park in early September) are already full--there are still plenty of places up for grabs.

For instance, a program is offered in Massachusetts in mid-October, the peak foliage season for this part of New England. Over a week, the crew will repair (in some cases wholly rebuild) footbridges around Buffumville Lake, which is about 50 miles west of Boston.

During off time, the same volunteers can canoe, hike, mountain bike, go fishing or simply hang out in the fresh air. Food is included, and free transportation is available to and from Boston’s Logan Airport.

Some other interesting volunteer opportunities elsewhere in the country:

* Near the stunning White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico, volunteers will build steps, install signs and do general repair work to the 4 1/2-mile-long Pine Tree Trail. Food is provided, as is transportation to and from El Paso Airport. UFO sightings are not guaranteed. Work will be underway from Oct. 6 to 12.

* At South Cumberland State Park in Tennessee, 10 volunteers will remove dead trees, cut back summer growth and do general rehab work to the trail system from Nov. 3 to 9. Food is provided. There are caves, cliffs and waterfalls to explore after the workday is over.

* In the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, a team will construct trail switchbacks and reroute a trail from Sept. 15 to 21. Transportation to and from Buffalo airport is provided, as is food for the week. There’s no need for tents on this program: The group stays in cabins inside the park.

If this fall is out of the question, you might plan ahead for next summer, when hundreds of volunteer vacations all over the country will be offered.

A representative at the American Hiking Society tells us that its Web site, www.americanhiking.org, which lists all the volunteer vacations and whether there are spots still available, is updated regularly. Signing up is as easy as downloading an application form from the Web and mailing it in with your payment. If you have questions or concerns, call (301) 565-6704, Ext. 206.