Trail work brings out the hearty volunteers

PALMER— Hacking through devil's club to stay on the trail makes a steep hike harder than need be. Scrabbling over washouts on the descent makes an injury more likely. Alaska weather is hard on our trails. Help us maintain them, so the trails aren't hard on you.

This spring, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is recruiting help to repair and develop miles of our local trails in anticipation of National Trails Day, June 2.

The trail system in the Matanuska River Park will be brushed and marked; the Morgan Horse Trail will be brushed and widened; and trails in Lake Lucille Park will be repaired. These are just a few of the many trails that need fix-up and consistent care. To accomplish the trail maintenance goals the Borough enlists summer park staff and a small army of volunteers. Volunteers formally adopt trails and sign up to be a MAT-SU Borough Trail Care Crew. They then help throughout the year to control vegetation, correct minor erosion problems and maintain the trail surfaces for safe and enjoyable travel on the trail or trails they have adopted.

The Trail Care Program matches groups with trails. Trail user groups, civic organizations, community groups, and schools are encouraged to "adopt-a-trail" and become a Borough Trail Care Crew. All that is needed is the ability and desire to build, improve, and maintain trails.

The Borough will help the volunteers with trail maintenance and trail building techniques, plus provide tools, equipment and staff assistance whenever possible

Organizations interested in adopting a trail and becoming a Borough Trail Care Crew may call Pat Owens at (907) 745-9572 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.