The Continental Divide Trail in the Western US is over 3,100 miles long, and runs from Canada to Mexico. About 70% of the trail is currently usable, but parts are in need of repair or re-routing, and the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, a group of “dedicated conservation-minded outdoor enthusiasts”, works to address those needs. Each year there are a number of volunteer trips; no special skills or experience is required, and work includes rebuilding paths, constructing new parts of the trail, and cleaning and maintaining existing paths.

The projects for 2007 are rated according to difficulty, whether they are family friendly, and what kind of camping (backpacking or vehicle accessible) they offer. Most last three days; some offer the possibility to visit, for example, a historic mining ghost town or an extinct series of cinder cone volcanoes during the project.

The volunteer guide available for download provides information on the programs as well as a FAQ section and details on membership fees. It costs $31 to join for a year (that’s 1c per mile!) or $50 or a family, and after this, participation in any volunteer program is free – but you do have to apply in advance and provide your own gear, which, as far as I can understand, includes camping gear. Meals are frequently, though not always, included; information on this is available upon registration. For non-members, the trips cost $19. Volunteers can also get involved by volunteering for the organization rather than on the trail itself.

Several summer projects still need volunteers, so if the western US is calling your name, have a look around the Continental Divide Trail Alliance site soon.