Pulaski Users Group -PUG

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Stanley, ID
Pulaski Users Group -PUG

We are devoted to community stewardship of public lands.

The Pulaski Users Group (PUG) organizes volunteer trips focused on trail maintenance, trail reclamation, and invasive species monitoring.

08/04/2026

🪓Only 2 more hitches left for this season! Don't miss out, register for our Graham #1 Trail Hitch today!

Join us August 19–26 for a week of trail work in the Boise National Forest. This is a car camp hitch, making it a great opportunity for volunteers who want to experience trail work without backpacking into camp.

📍 Meet at: Bayhouse Trailhead
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Things to know:
• Registration is open until the hitch is full.
• Carpooling from Hailey and Stanley is available.
• The access road is very rough—high-clearance, 4x4 low-range vehicles are required.

Whether you're a first-time volunteer or a seasoned trail crew member, you'll help keep Idaho's trails open, safe, and enjoyable for everyone who uses them.

📧 Ready to join the crew or have questions? Contact us at [email protected].

We hope to see you on the trail!

07/31/2026

Someone packed in the tools, ⛏
so you could pack in the memories. 🤳

07/29/2026

🌿 Noxious W**d Wednesday: Musk Thistle

Musk thistle may have pretty purple flowers, but it can quickly take over meadows, roadsides, and trail corridors if it's left to spread.

This invasive plant grows low to the ground during its first year. In its second year, it sends up a tall, spiny stalk with large purple flowers that droop, giving it the nickname "nodding thistle."

How to identify it:
🌿 Spiny leaves with white veins
💜 Large purple flowers that droop downward
📏 Grows 2–6 feet tall
🌵 Spiny stems

Why is it a problem?
• Crowds out native wildflowers and grasses.
• Reduces habitat and food for wildlife and pollinators.
• Spreads easily by seed—one plant can produce thousands.

How you can help:
✔ Learn to recognize musk thistle.
✔ Clean your boots, tools, and vehicles before traveling to another trail or work site.
✔ Report large patches to your local land manager.
✔ Avoid carrying seeds from one area to another.

Protecting our trails isn't just about clearing logs and brushing trails—it's also about helping stop the spread of invasive plants.

Have you seen musk thistle while working or hiking? Let us know where in the comments! 🌿

07/22/2026

Looking for your next trail hitch? Mattingly Creek #3 still has openings!

📅 August 5–9
🎒 Backpacking Hitch – Johnson Creek
📍 Meet at: Alpine Creek Trailhead (just west of Alturas Lake)

What to know:
🥾 Moderate to challenging (3 bootprints)
🚗 Carpooling from Hailey and Stanley is available
🛻 High-clearance vehicles are recommended
⏳ Registration is open until the hitch is full

Whether you're a returning volunteer or joining your first hitch, you'll spend the week clearing trails, learning new skills, and working alongside a great crew in one of Idaho's most beautiful landscapes.

📧 Ready to join us or have questions? Email [email protected].

Tag someone who'd love to trade their office for the backcountry this summer! 🌲⛏️

07/21/2026

Curious what to take on a five-day hitch with us?

Here's our Five-Day Backpacking Hitch Packing List that covers the essential camping gear, trail work equipment, and a few optional items to help you stay safe, comfortable, and prepared while working in the backcountry.

📌 Save this post for your next hitch and share it with anyone joining you on the trail. Make sure you're packed and ready before you hit the trail!

07/17/2026

Why Be A Pulaski User?
Here's what Robyn Says.🥲

" As an avid hiker and backpacker, I have had the privilege and pleasure to spend many hours in the wilderness. A well maintained, accessible and safe trail enhances everyone’s experience in the backcountry. Joining a trail crew team to clear trails has provided me with a profound satisfaction in the midst of wonderful camaraderie, hard work, and fun. PUG provides a wonderful safe opportunity to make a difference as a volunteer. Last summer I joined in a week of pack supported trail work with Pug. We started our mornings with yoga and ended our days with abundant laughter and conversation. Our hard work during the day sharing our tools, knowledge and effort was extremely gratifying and enjoyable! I am looking forward to joining PUG this summer to continue to make our trails accessible. "

07/04/2026

🎇🎆Wishing everyone a Happy & Safe 4th of July!

Cheers to celebrating America's 250th Birthday! 🎉🥳

06/29/2026

SEVEN DAYS.
No traffic. No meetings. No endless notifications.
Just good people, pack stock, mountain trails, and a chance to leave Idaho's backcountry a little better than you found it!

Middle Fork Boise River #4 is coming up July 8–15, and we're looking for volunteers ready for a rewarding week in the Sawtooth backcountry. Camp at Rock Creek and Spangle, work with the our skilled crew, and spend your days helping keep these remote trails open for everyone who follows behind.

📍 Meet at Power Plant Trailhead
🐴 Stock supported project
⛺ Camp at Rock Creek & Spangle
🥾 Moderate difficulty level
🚙 Rides and carpooling available from Hailey and Stanley
🚗 High clearance vehicle recommended

The work is meaningful, the scenery is unforgettable, and the stories you'll bring home are hard to beat!

Registration is open until full.

📧 [email protected] to sign up.

06/24/2026

🌿 Invasive Species Spotlight: Rush Skeletonweed

Don't let the delicate yellow flowers fool you. Rush skeletonweed is an aggressive invasive plant that can quickly spread across grasslands, roadsides, and disturbed areas, crowding out native vegetation and reducing forage for wildlife and livestock.

One way to identify rush skeletonweed is by its wiry stems, sparse leaves, and small yellow dandelion-like flowers. Mature plants often appear almost leafless, giving them their "skeleton" appearance.

Like many invasive species, prevention and early detection are key. Cleaning boots, tools, vehicles, and equipment before moving between project sites can help prevent seeds from spreading to new areas.

Keeping our trails, public lands, and wild places healthy takes all of us. If you spot rush skeletonweed while out exploring, consider reporting it to your local land management agency or invasive species program.

Have you seen rush skeletonweed on the trails or public lands you visit?

06/22/2026

WHAT IF your summer plans included mountain views, pack stock, good people, and leaving a trail better than you found it?

Middle Fork Boise River #4 is coming up July 8–15, and there's still time to grab a spot!

Join Pulaski Users Group for a week in the Sawtooth backcountry helping maintain and restore trails along the Middle Fork Boise River. Camp at Rock Creek and Spangle, work alongside an incredible crew, and experience a part of Idaho that few people ever get to see.

📍 Meet at Power Plant Trailhead
🐴 Stock supported project
⛺ Camp at Rock Creek & Spangle
🥾 Moderate to challenging work
🚙 Rides and carpooling available from Hailey and Stanley
🚗 High clearance vehicles recommended

Projects like this are about more than clearing trail. They're about protecting access to wild places, building friendships, learning new skills, and spending a week immersed in the landscapes we're working to preserve.

Spots are open until full.

📧 [email protected] to sign up.

Address

PO Box 379
Stanley, ID
83278

Website

http://www.pulaskiusers.org/

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