A wonderful place to visit in our fast times.
 

  Home     About the Park      Hours of Operation     Hiking  

Fishing     Picnicking     Camping     Maps, Directions & Tips  

         Weather     Contact     Volunteer     Photo & Art Gallery

Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park

The Palomar Mountain State Park Trail Maintenance Unit (TMU) works to ensure that the trails are clear and safe for hikers.  We provide all the tools. 

To be a TMU volunteer at Palomar Mountain State Park, there are some basic, common sense requirements (details below), but you don't have pay any dues or make a time commitment. You're in the driver's seat when it comes to your level of participation. You can be part of our crew as a "casual" non-member volunteer, or you can become a full-fledged member — it's entirely up to you.

Our #1 priority by far is safety! Our second priority is personal fulfillment, whether it's just having a good time or enjoying a sense of contributing to the community. Productivity is last! Of course we want to get the job done, but you may work at your pace and comfort level, as long as you observe all safety requirements and follow instructions.

NOTE: ALL VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK AT PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARK IS DONE
 EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THIS AUTHORIZED TRAIL MAINTENANCE UNIT.
DO NOT ENGAGE IN ANY TRAIL MAINTENANCE ON YOUR OWN.

What kind of work do TMU volunteers do exactly?

If you like being outdoors on the trail, getting grubby with a great bunch of people, and being able to step back and admire your handiwork, being a Palomar "trail hand" might be for you!

Currently on Palomar, about 95% of our time is spent removing material from trails that impede hikers: overgrowth impinging on the path and downed trees and branches that have fallen on the path. About 5% of our time is spent on tread work (working on the soil) and odd jobs — re-contouring a path to improve watershed, re-installing a trail marker, hammering down an erosion barrier that has lifted up, creating a barrier to a false trail, etc.

The tools we use for most of these tasks are versions of simple hand tools you've probably used around your house: loppers (long-handled nippers), pruning saws, bow rakes and hoes. From time to time we'll use McCleods (a heavy-duty rake & hoe combo) or our 3.5' logging saw, supplemented with an axe. We provide all tools; you don't need to bring tools. However, currently we don't use power tools (e.g., chain saws, gas powered clippers or weed whackers). Using these requires special training and certification.

Some of our work falls into a different category: repair and restoration, such as bridge repair and erosion repair. Our participation in these activities is limited at this time. For structural repair (e.g., bridges), we assist regular park maintenance staff who are skilled in this area. For trail restoration (e.g., erosion, logging damage), we must rely on more experienced TMU people from Cuyamaca as they become available. This also goes for cutting up larger logs that require a chain saw.

We generally try to work the last Sunday of each month. The crew leader will give as much advance notice as possible via an email announcement. In the winter and early spring, there's a chance that we have to make last minute changes due to weather.

At the appointed hour (usually 8:30 a.m.), we meet at the parking lot beside the Silvercrest picnic area, close to the park kiosk (headquarters). YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE DAY USE FEE ON THE DAY YOU WORK. Everyone signs in, and then the crew leader discusses the objectives for the day and reminds everyone about safety. We grab our tools and head out. Throughout the day we'll take rest breaks.

We always work at least 4 hours... sometimes up to 5 if the job requires it and crew members are OK with it. You are free to leave early if you need to. Since the drive for many people is over 2 hours round trip, we try to make every work party count.

Are there any requirements?

All volunteers must be able to work outside in differing weather conditions at altitudes of 5,000+ feet and hike 1-3 miles per day. Trail terrain may be rugged and uneven. Without exception, all volunteers must be able to hike and work safely and volunteers must possess an attitude that all tasks will be performed in a safe manner. Requests for "Reasonable Accommodation" under the Americans with Disabilities Act will be decided on a case by case basis by the Park Superintendent or designee.

In addition to having basic manual dexterity, you must be able to bend, push, pull, lift, carry, stand, grip, walk, squat, drag and climb. You must also be able to speak and hear sufficiently to hear commands and respond, and you must also be able to hear and see sufficiently to perceive danger.

Minors are welcome to join us but they must be accompanied by a parent at all times --- not another relative, a friend of the family or the parent of the minor's friend. A State of California "Parental/Guardian Permission for Juvenile Volunteers" (provided at sign-in) must be completed and signed by the parent. Of course children won't be expected to be as productive as adults — in fact, we understand that they may not be there to work but rather to simply be part of the experience —  but they must be under control at all times and capable of understanding and obeying all instructions. Minors aged 14 and up may become full-fledged members, but they must still be accompanied by a parent at all times until reaching 18. 

Here's how you can give us a test drive...