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Every summer and fall there are a variety of opportunities for volunteers to
participate in the restoration and monitoring activities that will take place
in Inyo and Sequoia National Forests and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks
in the southern Sierra. All of the volunteer opportunities involve
significant outdoor activity and some involve rigorous backpacking and/or
hiking in the high country. In all cases volunteers will have to provide
their own transportation to the starting points of the trips and their own
camping, fishing, outdoor gear, and food.|
Little Kern Genetic Sampling in Maggie Lakes and Pecks Canyon June 7-13 (Sunday - Saturday) Subject to delay due to road & trail conditions * * * Trip full * * * Activity: Volunteers will assist CDFG with trout fin collection for genetic analysis using gill nets and flyrods. Volunteers will help to transport and set up equipment, net and catch fish, record data, and assist with camp chores. All crew members will be expected to arrive by Sunday afternoon, June 7th, at the Summit Trailhead (8259' elevation, located east of Porterville) and give their gear to the packer so he can make up the loads Sunday afternoon. We will camp at the trailhead Sunday night. Monday morning we'll hile 9.25 miles to the campsite at Lower Maggie Lake (9025'). Volunteers must be fit, able to hike in rough terrain, carry up to 45 lbs. in a backpack, and work at high altitude. Food and group equipment will be coordinated and purchased for the group by CDFG. Cost per person for food is estimated at $90. What to bring: All of your own backpacking, camping and fishing gear. Also bring your own food for camping at the trailhead and the first day’s hike in. The mules will carry personal gear, the group food and cooking equipment. A detailed list and trip itinerary will be provided to confirmed participants. Volunteers: Two volunteers needed. |
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Monache Meadow Fence Maintenance June 20-21 (Saturday and Sunday) 
Activity: Help maintain the fence at the DFG wildlife area
and the USFS Olivas pasture to keep the cattle out and protect the habitat
along the South Fork of the Kern River and Monache Creek. Pot luck and
barbecue Saturday night (meat and homemade ice cream provided by the
CDFG). Plan on a full work day and potluck dinner on Saturday, and a half
day of work on Sunday. Early morning and afternoon fishing for golden
trout and brown trout on the South Fork of the Kern.What to bring: Volunteers need to bring their own food, including a contribution for the potluck, and your own camping equipment. Be prepared for very cold nights and warm days. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and eye protection (sunglasses). Bring leather work gloves, pliers, and a VHF radio, if you have them. All other tools will be provided. The road into Monache requires four wheel drive with high clearance. We will coordinate car pooling in an effort to minimize the number of vehicles needed. Carpool space is often limited so if you have an appropriate four wheel drive vehicle, please offer to drive. Volunteers: No limit but please register to assist with our planning. |
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Mulkey Meadow Fence Maintenance July 6-10 (Monday - Friday) * * * Trip full * * * Activity: Help the Inyo National Forest build a new electric fence in upper Mulkey Meadow to protect the stream from cattle damage. Volunteers will backpack, bringing all of their own food and gear, 3.5 miles from Horseshoe Meadow at 9942' elevation, over Mulkey Pass at 10380' to the campsite at 9500'. Volunteers may come for a few days or for the entire trip. What to bring: All of your own food, backpacking, camping and fishing gear. Some pack mule support may be available. A detailed list and trip itinerary will be provided to confirmed participants. Volunteers: 6 volunteers needed. |
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Population Estimates in Golden Trout Creek, Little Whitney Area August 16-22 (Sunday - Saturday) * * * Trip full * * * Background: The CDFG has established a number of trout population monitoring locations which are sampled by electrofishing on a regular basis (usually every 5 years). Trends in age, growth and size composition of the fishery can then be evaluated over time in relationship to changes in habitat. This area is in the Big Whitney cattle grazing allotment, which is being rested for 10 years. The monitoring data will be used to assist the Inyo National Forest in making a decision whether to continue to rest the allotment. Activity: Volunteers will assist CDFG with trout population estimates in the Little Whitney Meadow area. All must be fit, able to hike in rough terrain, carry up to 45 lbs. in a backpack, and work long days at high altitude. After a two day, 14.5 mile backpack into the work area, volunteers will help to transport and set up equipment, net and transport fish, record data, and assist with camp chores. All volunteers will be expected to arrive by Saturday evening, August 15th, at Horseshoe Meadow (west of Lone Pine) and camp at the trailhead (9942' elevation) in order to become acclimated to the altitude. Sunday morning we will backpack eight miles from Horseshoe Meadow at 9942' elevation, carrying one night's food and camping gear, over Trail Pass (10,480') and camp at Tunnel Meadow (9050'). Monday we will continue to the campsite in Little Whitney Meadow at 8518', set up camp and have some time for fishing. Food and group equipment will be coordinated and purchased for the group by CDFG. Cost per person for food is estimated at $90. The hike out can be done in one or two days, depending on individual preference. What to bring: All of your own backpacking, camping and fishing gear. Bring your own food for camping at the trailhead and the first day's hike in. The mules will not be carrying any personal gear but they will carry in the group food and cooking equipment. A detailed list and trip itinerary will be provided to confirmed participants. Volunteers: Four volunteers needed. |
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Population Estimates in the South Fork Kern at Tunnel Meadow August 24-28 (Monday - Friday) * * * Trip full * * * Background: The CDFG has established a number of trout population monitoring locations which are sampled by electrofishing on a regular basis (usually every 5 years). Trends in age, growth and size composition of the fishery can then be evaluated over time in relationship to changes in habitat. This site is within the Big Whitney cattle grazing allotment, which is being rested for 10 years. The monitoring data will be used to assist the Inyo National Forest in making a decision whether to continue to rest the allotment. Activity: Volunteers will assist CDFG with trout population estimates at two locations in the Tunnel Meadow area, by helping to transport and set up equipment, net and transport fish, record data, and assist with camp chores. All crew members will be expected to arrive at Horseshoe Meadow Trailhead (west of Lone Pine) by Sunday evening, Aug. 23, and camp at the trailhead in order to become acclimated to the altitude. Monday morning we will meet at the pack station at 7 a.m. then backpack, carrying all of our personal gear, via Trail Pass to the campsite at Tunnel Meadow. Volunteers must be fit, able to hike in rough terrain, carry up to 45 lbs in a backpack, and work long days at high altitude. The first day we will be hiking eight miles from Horseshoe Meadow at 9942' elevation, over Trail Pass at 10,480’ to the campsite at 9050'. Food and group equipment will be coordinated and purchased for the group by CDFG. Cost per person for food is estimated at $90. What to bring: All of your own backpacking, camping and fishing gear. Bring your own food for camping at the trailhead and the first day's hike in. The mules will not be carrying any personal gear but they will carry in the group food and cooking equipment. A detailed list and trip itinerary will be provided to confirmed participants. Volunteers: Four volunteers needed. |
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South Fork Kern River and Strawberry Creek Brown Trout Monitoring September 12-16 (Saturday - Wednesday) * * * Trip full * * * Background: Templeton Barrier, at the lower end of Templeton Meadow, is a critical fish migration barrier, as it has successfully prevented non-native brown trout from moving upstream in the South Fork of the Kern River. Strawberry Creek has been identified as a potential route for brown trout to bypass the barrier under extreme high flow conditions. Surveys and brown trout removal are done here annually to reduce that threat. Activity: This work party will monitor the trout population by electrofishing the South Fork Kern River at the Templeton Barrier. All brown trout caught will be removed. Volunteers will assist CDFG personnel with carrying gear, electrofishing and data collection, and will help with camp chores, work preparations, etc. All crew members will be expected to arrive by Friday evening, September 11th at the Blackrock Saddle Trailhead, and camp at the trailhead. Sunday morning we will gather at 7 a.m., carpool on the Monache Jeep Road to the Bakeoven Trailhead, and then backpack to the camp site at Strawberry Meadow. Volunteers must be fit, able to hike in rough terrain, carry up to 45 lbs in a backpack, and work long days at high altitude. The first day we will be backpacking seven miles from 7950' elevation to Strawberry Meadow (8570'). Food and group equipment will be coordinated and purchased for the group by CDFG and carried in by mules. Volunteers will not be able to send in any personal gear on the mules. Cost per person for food is estimated at $80. What to bring: All of your own backpacking, camping and fishing gear. You must carry all of your own personal gear in your backpack. Bring your own food for camping at the trailhead and the first day's hike in. A detailed list and trip itinerary will be provided to confirmed participants. Volunteers: Four volunteers needed. |
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Monache Meadow Fence Maintenance October 3-4 (Saturday and Sunday) 
Activity: Help take down the fence at the wildlife area and Olivas
Meadow for the winter. Volunteers will also assist with electrofishing the
south fork Kern in the area near the Schaeffer Barrier. Early morning and
afternoon fishing for golden and brown trout in the South Fork of the Kern.
Work full day Saturday, potluck dinner on Saturday night, complete and work to
be done and drive out (fish) on Sunday.What to bring: Volunteers need to bring their own food, including a contribution for the potluck, and your own camping equipment. Be prepared for very cold nights. Bring neoprene waders (if you have some), work gloves and pliers, all other tools will be furnished. The road into Monache requires four wheel drive with high clearance. We will coordinate car pooling in an effort to minimize the number of vehicles needed. Carpool space is often limited so if you have an appropriate four wheel drive vehicle, please offer to drive. Volunteers: 15 - 20 volunteers total |
Volunteers will be contacted and informed of any changes to the trip itinerary.
The specific times and meeting places will be communicated to every volunteer that
has signed up for an activity. The need for flexibility of schedule is important
on some of these trips. We will do everything possible to communicate specific
times and locations to all volunteers in a timely fashion.
 Map |
Printable documents: 2009 Pack Trips (Microsoft Word format) |
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For more information contact: Howard Kern Volunteer Project Coordinator Golden Trout Restoration Project (310) 772-7033 www.tucalifornia.org |
 SDFF maintains Casa Viejas exclusion fence. |
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