Wilderness Trail Crew Assistant Lead

Four Field Crew Members will work under supervision of a Field Crew Leader and an Assistant Field Crew Leader while camping and working on remote projects with limited to no cell service. Crews are expected to backpack and live in physically demanding, remote environments for at least 8 (and sometimes 10) days at a time. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly including freezing temperatures, high humidity, persistent rain, and high elevation. The remote nature of our work may mean delayed access to medical care. Crew Members should have good communication skills and judgment, an ability to be trained in the field, professionalism, initiative, willingness to learn, ability to express needs and concerns, emotional maturity and resilience, resourcefulness, and comfort in the outdoors with minimal contact to others while on hitch.

Assistant Field Crew Leaders work under supervision of the Field Crew Leader to lead crew members on remote, trailwork projects.

A typical work hitch includes meeting at the SAWS office, driving several hours to a trailhead, backpacking into the project site, staying in the field for 8 days at a time, hiking out, traveling back to the office, cleaning gear, tools, vehicles, and preparing for the next hitch.

Position Duration: April 27 to October 7, 2026

Status: Temporary/Seasonal

Compensation: $19.00/hr paid every two weeks

Training Schedule: Training is anticipated to cover three weeks starting April 27.

Week 1: 2-3 days the week of April 27 likely located in Asheville

Week 2: May 4-8 at Wilderness Skills Institute, location – Cradle of Forestry

Week 3: Tentative crosscut training, May 12-15, location TBD

Hitch Schedule: 8 days working, 6 days off (Eight 10-hour days) or 4 days working, 3 days off (Four 10 hour days), with potential at the end of the season to require 10 days working, 4 days off (Ten 8-hour days). Exact schedules will be finalized in the spring.

Anticipated Season Schedule:

Hitch 1 – May 19-22 (4 days)

Hitch 2 – May 27-June 3

Hitch 3 – June 10-17

Hitch 4 – June 24-July 1

Hitch 5 – July 8-15

Hitch 6 – July 22-29

Hitch 7 – August 5-12

Hitch 8 – August 17-20 (4 days)

*Week of August 24 SAWS midseason gathering*

Hitch 9 – September 2-9

Hitch 10 – September 16-23

Hitch 11 – Sept 30 – Oct 7

Location: Crews are based out of Asheville, North Carolina but will be camping and working within various National Forests across the southeast region.

Supervisor: Crew Leader

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members