Project Name: Taylor Ranch – Youth
Dates: June 8 – 14
ITA’s Youth Trail Crew Program provides opportunities for youth to learn about the outdoors while building and maintaining hiking trails in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment. This project is open to ages 16-20.
This is a fly-in trip into some of the most remote country in the lower 48. ITA invites former youth crew members interested in environmental studies for a week of backpacking and trail work along Big Creek. The crew will fly into the Taylor Ranch backcountry airstrip in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. We’ll camp here for a few nights and tour and speak with students and researchers working at Taylor Wilderness Research Station about their work here and other opportunists in environmental studies. The crew will also work to clear and brush the trail, improving tread, and addressing any slides. The crew should be ready to backpack out to a spike camp for a few nights, carrying all gear, food, and trail tools. This is a main backcountry “highway” for hikers and stock is a very important trail in the Frank!
With guidance from crew leaders, volunteers will be involved in all aspects of camp life. This includes camp set up, water and sanitation, and ensuring tools are accounted for. Volunteers are expected to adhere to Leave No Trace best practices and project safety expectations set by crew leaders. Participants will be expected to read some preparatory material prior to the trip.
ITA’s youth projects are completely free for volunteers to join and all food is provided. Gear can be borrowed from ITA if needed with advanced notice or youth may apply for scholarships to purchase gear they need through the Splattski Outdoor Access Fund. See our Youth Program page for more info.
More information on Taylor Ranch here
Project information is subject to change. Crew leaders will communicate via email. Failure to respond to your crew leader may result in being dropped from the project. See our FAQs, reach out to your crew leader, or contact ITA staff at trails@idahotrailsassociation.org if you have questions.
Trails: Big Creek Trail #196, others from Big Creek TBD.
Itinerary: This is a Sunday to Saturday weeklong project. Meet in McCall Sunday and fly into either Cabin Creek or Taylor Ranch. Backpacking to camp near Taylor Ranch, and working towards the Middle Fork. Hike back to Cabin Creek for an early flight back to McCall Saturday Morning.
Food Provided by ITA: Backpacking dinners available
Crew Leader: Barry Miller and Val Armichardy
Estimated Drive Time from Closest Town: Flying out of McCall
Trail Map: Click for trail map and elevation profile
***New for this year***
Youth trip sign-ups will be open until March 17th. Although early sign-ups will be prioritized, ITA leadership and staff may adjust the final crews to maximize trip experience and provide opportunities for the greatest number of youth participants. To help facilitate trip assignments, please sign-up for your preferred trip and include alternate trips you could participate on, should the preferred trip not be available. You will receive notification of trip assignment via email prior to March 31st.
Difficulty Rating
You should have experience with backpacking and be in good hiking condition with broken-in and tested gear. This is a remote backcountry project so injuries such as sprains and blisters or even extreme fatigue from not being properly conditioned can quickly become a big safety issue. If you are unsure about the proper gear or about preparing for a trip, please reach out to trails@idahotrailsassociation.org.
If having the right gear to be safe and comfortable is a limiting factor, volunteers may apply for scholarships to purchase gear they need through the Splattski Outdoor Access Fund.
