Trail Crew Member

San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) seeks Crew Members for their Great Outdoors Action Team (GOATs) Professional Trail Crew. The SLV GOATs are a trail crew that perform trail maintenance, new trail construction, and various restoration work on public lands around the San Luis Valley for government land management agencies, local community open space, qualified businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The GOATs operate under the guidance of SLV GO! and their mission:

“….to provide residents and visitors throughout the San Luis Valley with accessible and inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities that balance conservation, connect communities, improve wellness, encourage stewardship, and contribute to the economic vitality of the region.”

The GOATs work a six-month season (May – November), potentially extending into the early Spring and late fall. The GOATs work in a variety of environments, including but not limited to; 

• Remote wilderness
• Alpine tundra
• Arid desert
• Riparian wetlands.

*Due to the remote nature of the majority of this year’s field season, camping in the field is required and an essential skill for the job.*

Desired personal skills and experience;

• Working and living comfortably with others and independently in the field/backcountry for up to 8 days
• Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with a diverse team in potentially high-stress environments
• Willingness to learn from, adapt to, and analyze new situations to effectively manage risk
• Personal accountability and motivation to work productively with minimal supervision in challenging environments
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to work collaboratively with team members toward project goals

Working with Volunteers;

Projects may incorporate volunteers or contracted youth conservation corps requiring support and oversight by Crew Members. Significant independence and interaction with the public while in the field are required. 

Full Job Description:

Crew Members will work on a variety of projects associated with land management and will be trained according to the job by senior crew members, crew leaders, or contracted instructors for projects requiring high-level skills. The GOATS perform routine trail maintenance and construction on various trail types, including hiking, equestrian, mountain biking, and multi-use motorized trails. This maintenance will include cleaning and restoring trail drainage systems, vegetation overgrowth and corridor clearing, repair and fortification of damaged tread surface, and inventory of other maintenance needs identified in the field. The GOATs are often responsible for new trail construction and are taught the process from design and layout, to the construction, as well as the workflow management. 

Other aspects of the job as a GOAT crew member are:

• Installing trail and campground infrastructure such as signage, benches, tables, fire rings, and shade structures
• Wildlife fencing construction and repair
• Construction of erosion control structures
• Repair and construction of integrated compact surface trails and parking lots (i.e. road base, gravel, crusher fines)
• Cliffside rope access rockfall mitigation and retaining wall repair
• Native and imported stone masonry structures (i.e. rock stairs, paving, walls)
• Dimensional lumber/timber trail bridge and boardwalk design and construction
• Tree planting, native plant species revegetation and habitat restoration

Daily physical requirements:

• Lifting of heavy objects as a team or individually (up to 80lbs)
• Ability to hike with a heavy backpack over long distances
• Effective and sustained use of hand tools for excavation and materials transport
• Operation of power equipment in complex terrain (i.e. chainsaws, brush cutters, plate compactors, tracked haulers)
• Exposure to and ability to work in extreme conditions (hot and cold)

This is an entry-level position that requires no prior experience, though it is a competitive hiring process where knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the following will be considered with the application:

• Carpentry skills include knowledge of wooden joinery, timber milling, and repair.
• Knowledge of rockwork and dry stone masonry, including the use of come-along, grip-hoists, and rigging slings.
• Understanding of or background in geology and hydrology
• Skills as an arborist or professional sawyer
• Landscaping or construction work
• Wilderness first aid and CPR certification
• Heavy machine operator or mechanic
• Previous background doing professional trail work