Cascade Volunteers

05/29/2026

Well, somebody had a rough night.



Salamanders Trail Crew in the Willamette NF a few weeks ago. It takes as long as it takes. Trails are opening up and getting cleared through.

U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

05/29/2026

It's summertime on the wilderness trails! Who is ready to become a Wilderness Trailhead Host? It's a lot of fun, obligation is low, and we provide the training. Say yes! See flyer below for directions on applying.



U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

05/27/2026

Join a Forest Service Wildlife Biologist for a spring birding walk in the Willamette National Forest. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. New to bird watching? No problem! Borrow a pair of binoculars and discover how fun and interesting bird watching can be. Experienced birder? Great! Bring your knowledge and help the group spot, identify, and learn about birds as we walk through forest and wetland habitat.

Know Before You Go: This walk will be 2.5 miles round trip on variable surfaces. Be sure to wear durable shoes and weather appropriate attire and bring plenty of water and snacks.

For more information visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/willamette/events/spring-birding-walk-wildlife-biologist or call the Middle Fork Ranger District Office at 541-782-2283.

U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

05/20/2026

Our first feature magazine article is in print! Thanks to Ridgeline Magazine for sharing this dramatic story about work on Stahlman Point Trail.


Salamander Trail Crew, Beth Dayton
Central Oregon Trail Alliance
Sisters Trails Alliance
U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

By the time I reached my car an hour later I had an outline of a plan that would not only clear the trail but also help to elevate the skills and camaraderie of the area’s most experienced volunteer sawyers.

05/13/2026

Today only—Corvallis/Albany folks… if you would like to purchase one of our new logo all-cotton bandanas for $5 BEFORE Skills College, I will be delivering today! Send me a direct message to get one today.

Melinda C. Martin

05/13/2026

Friday May 8th – Three Scorpions led a crew of 12 employees of Arclin Industries and the Willamette Valley Company to continue post-Emigrant Fire recovery work on the Middle Fork Trail #3609. We entered the trail by Chuckle Springs and hiked to the junction with the Middle Fork trail. The previous week we worked downstream; today we hung a left and headed upstream. The trail was littered with many charcoaled logs, some over 30-in diameter as well as lots of burnt branches, brush, and root holes.

Seven of us split into two saw teams and started bucking up logs. The rest of the crew armed with loppers, hand saws and tread tools started clearing the corridor and restoring the tread. This section of trail climbs several hundred feet above the Middle Fork River. Prior to last year’s fire you could hear the creek roaring below but had only limited views of it. Now it’s totally open with some amazing views of the gorge where the river cascades down a steep narrow grade. It was a beautiful day, no mosquitoes yet but plenty of charcoal around to paint our faces with. By about 2 PM we made it 0.9 miles upstream and started to hike back. The tread on the way back looks great, all the debris has been cleared, a nice wide corridor and the large root holes were filled in with rock and tamped down. We have about 0.3 miles to go further upstream before we exit the burn zone. We will be back here soon.

Arclin Industries has been coming out with us to do trail work twice a year for the last 4-years or so. They are now joined by employees of the Willamette Valley Company. They are always enthusiastic and do great work. It is a pleasure for us to work with them.


U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

The Willamette Valley Company, an Arclin Brand

Contact us if your company would like to schedule a trail work day with Cascade Volunteers!

05/13/2026

This one left an impression!

Somehow the Trout Creek Trail in the Menagerie Wilderness is the gift that keeps on giving! The trip was advertised as high complexity crosscut work, with 18 known logs located 2.5 miles up the trail. As we left the trailhead I thought I heard someone mutter, "That's not a lot of trees for eleven people." Famous last words! These were not ordinary trees. A one-two-three punch of ongoing root rot with a spell of heavy rain and wind in December brought down multiple green trees and tied them into knots. A crew of sawyers and swampers worked through these high complexity projects one by one. At the end of the day half the team opted to continue on for the 10th and 11th innings to get the very last stubborn side-bound stinker removed, and save us the 5-mile round trip hike on a another day. Yes, saws got stuck, but none had to be left behind.


U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest
Salamander Trail Crew

05/13/2026

Please register! This will be a fun evening in Corvallis.


U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

05/11/2026

Skills College starts THIS week. There are various spots still open in some classes. If you’ve been meaning to register, do it now! See you in the woods!

cascadevols.org


U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

Registration is open! Classes are listed and we are excited to share outdoor skills and knowledge; register now for best selection.

https://cascadevols.org/forest-skills-college-2



U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

05/08/2026

Winter trail volunteers Keiko, John, Jan, Rich, David, Mike and Lyndell worked on the diamonds and signage on the PCT from Hwy 58 to Pengra Pass. In addition signs were improved on Bechtel and Marianne Way trails. With the marginal snowpack we were never able to reach the diamonds so 12ft ladders were carried to do the work today. Perfect temperatures, no mosquitoes and a beautiful lunch spot at the Odell Overlook with a souring eagle was the reward along with a feeling of accomplishment.


U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest