REI To Celebrate 15th Annual National Trails Day With Local Projects

Together with the Mountain Trails Foundation, Sandy Parks & Recreation, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Volunteers of Outdoor Utah and the National Forest Service, REI’s Utah- based stores have chosen the Rocky Mouth and Granite Trails in Sandy and the Historic Union Pacific Trail running from in Park City to Echo Reservoir as the locations for its 2007 service projects. In conjunction with National Trails Day, volunteers are invited to join the trail maintenance effort on June 2nd, 2007. This represents REI’s 15th year coordinating volunteers for National Trails Day projects in Utah. National Trails Day, held the first Saturday of every June, is a nationwide celebration of trails. With close to 1,500 events hosted by trail clubs, conservation organizations, agencies, and businesses, National Trails Day is America's largest celebration of the outdoors.

REI Sandy will be partnering with local non- profit organizations Volunteers of Outdoor Utah, the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service to help restore and prevent erosion in two cherished Wasatch Front Trails. The Granite trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon provides access to the spectacular Bell’s Canyon and the Rocky Mouth trail which offers a short family friendly hike ending at a picturesque waterfall.

REI Salt Lake City will be working with the Mountain Trails Foundation on the Historic Union Pacific Trail, which was recently granted National Recreation Trail status by the US Department of the Interior. The trail traverses areas rich in cultural history; stretching from the Wasatch Mountains near Park City, across several wetland meadows in Silver Canyons through the towns of Wanship and Coalville and along the Weber River to Echo Reservoir.

For more information, contact Eric Spreng at REI in Salt Lake City, phone (801) 486-2100. For directions to the work sites, visit www.rei.com and click on the stores and events link or visit www.americanhiking.org for a complete list of volunteer projects in the area. Please see event details below.

GRANITE & ROCKY MOUTH TRAIL MAINTENANCE
Event Details: Volunteers will meet at 8:00am and will be treated to a light breakfast. Crew leaders will give an orientation and safety instruction talk, and work will commence at 8:30am and continue until noon. Lunch will be provided and every volunteer will receive an REI volunteer tee shirt. All supplies, tools and work gloves will be provided.
Where: The Granite Trailhead in Sandy City at 3470 East Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. To get there, travel east on 9000 S to Wasatch Blvd. Continue East through the traffic light at Wasatch Boulevard. The trailhead is located 100 yards on the right hand side of the road. Ages sixteen or over please.
Time: Saturday, June 2nd, 8:00a.m.
On site coordinator: Kristen Kenley (801) 725-8220
Web site: www.rei.com/trailsday
Advance Registration: Required- please call REI Sandy at (801) 501-0850 for details or email kkenley@rei.com

WORKIN’ ON THE RAIL TRAIL
Event Details: Park City. Join us at 9am for Starbuck’s coffee, bagels, and a special presentation commemorating the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail. Participants are then invited to bike a thirteen- mile stretch of the trail to Wanship, or meet the work party there via driving. Mountain Trails Foundation will provide tools for weeding and fence work at the Wanship trailhead. A full lunch from the Spring Chicken Inn will be served at 12:30. All participants will receive a unique event Tee shirt. All ages welcome!
Where: Meet at the Trailhead at Rail Central White Pine Touring on Bonanza. To get there, take 1-80 to Kimball Junction, 22 to Kearns Blvd, turn right on Bonanza. The Wanship Trailhead can be reached by taking I-80 to the Wanship Exit. Follow the signs from there.
When: Saturday, June 2nd, 9:00am
On site coordinator: Eric Spreng (801) 703-1584
Web site: www.rei.com/trailsday or www.mountaintrails.org
Advance Registration: Not Required