TRAIL DESIGNATION WORK UPDATE

By Shawnee Trail Conservancy

Since April through the current time, the Forest Service’s focus continues to be on trail relocation and construction, inventory and monitoring, permit administration, and natural areas oversight.  Equestrian use of the Forest is reported to be lower than at this time last year.  The cause is generally believed to be the increased cost of motor fuel. 

The trail crew has been working to reconstruct Trail 481B inside Lusk Creek Wilderness.  Once again the Forest is being assisted in this work by mules and packers from the Bridger-Teton and Hoosier National Forests.  Reconstruction of the Lusk Creek crossing near Saltpeter Cave is also underway.  Outside of the wilderness, Trail 487 is being mechanically reconstructed and surfaced with gravel by Forest personnel.  Additionally, a contract is underway to mechanically construct or reconstruct seven miles of trail tread in the High Knob area.

While the Hidden Springs District trail crew is working on trail construction and reconstruction, two two-person saw-teams continued working to clear trees that had fallen across trails during the February ice storm.  To date, approximately 25 percent of the trails planned in Lusk Creek Wilderness have been completed.  The Forest Service has requested—and anticipates receiving—sufficient funding over the next two years to achieve significant progress on the trails in Lusk Creek Wilderness as well as trail segments located elsewhere.  

Funding for trail work was recently augmented by a $20,000 grant that was acquired through the efforts of an equestrian camp special-use permit holder, Ms. Patricia Laubscher of the Shawnee Trail Conservancy, working with Forest staff.  The amount of this grant has been combined with $60,000 provided by the Forest in order to seek a much larger grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  If the IDNR grant is approved, the total funding could support improvements of up to ten miles of trail. 

The specialized training and skills of the trail crew has been recognized not only by Forest Service Region 9, but also by the Forest Service nationally.  The Forest Service is proud that not only did the trail crew win the Forest Service Region 9 Traditional Skills and Minimum Tools Leadership Award, but the crew has also been honored with the Forest Service’s National Award for Traditional Skills and Minimum Tools Leadership.  This award gives national recognition to the crew’s challenging and complex trail work in Lusk Creek Wilderness using only primitive tools and traditional methods of construction, in accordance with Forest Service national wilderness policy.

Shawnee Trail Conservancy (STC) is an affiliate member of Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources (IFOR). Shawnee Trail Conservancy is a grassroots nonprofit corporation that advocates multi-use of the Shawnee National Forest for recreational and sporting interests. STC is dedicated to preserving and protecting it's natural resources through proper trail maintenance, good trail signing, education of trail, camping and hunting users to achieve a low environmental impact and wise use management practices.  STC represent equestrians, hunters, ATV riders, bikers, hikers, campers, rock climbers, business people, professionals, retirees and others who desire to recreate and enjoy the beauty of the Shawnee.  STC’s mission is to keep the Shawnee open to the public for it's use and enjoyment.  To learn more about STC visit their website at www.shawneetrailconservancy.com.