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Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated crew, the Waldorff Crossing Trail is now in much better shape for hikers to enjoy. From the trailhead to Raymond Flat—about 1.5 miles—crews completed major maintenance, including installing new signage, clearing 16 downed trees, brushing back overgrown sections, and restoring about a mile of trail tread.

The effort was led by 3 staff members, 1 Forest Service representative, and 2 volunteers who together contributed 32 hours of volunteer time. With steep terrain and heavy lifting, this was no easy task, but their work has made the trail safer and more enjoyable for all.

Next time you're out there, keep an eye out for the new signs and enjoy the improved trail!

Ascend Wilderness Experience recently completed a successful trail project deep in the Marble Mountain Wilderness along scenic Wooley Creek—a river-sized tributary nestled near the tri-county border of Siskiyou, Humboldt, and Trinity counties, just outside Somes Bar.

Partnering with the Six Rivers National Forest and Bigfoot Trail Alliance, staff and volunteers put in solid work restoring 6.5 miles of trail. A wild and wet winter left roughly 75 fallen trees—many of them heavy hardwoods like Tan Oak and Madrone—blocking the trail. The team cleared debris, brushed overgrown sections, and retreaded eroded portions to help reopen this beautiful stretch of wilderness.

Next up, Ascend is heading to the Waldorff Crossing Trail system in the Trinity Alps near Helena, CA May 3-4, and the Haypress/Let 'Er Buck trail systems in the stunning Marble Mountains near Somes Bar May 8-11. Both of these upcoming May trips are car camping adventures, offering even more opportunities to get involved, give back, and enjoy time outdoors in some of Northern California’s most ruggedly beautiful backcountry.

Ascend has adventures planned throughout the summer and fall, with free trips available for adults, teens, and potentially youth (pending funding availability for 2025). One trip, the Adult Botany trip will have a fee to join as our first “fundraising trip”. Multiple hikes and volunteer opportunities are scheduled from May through October.

Interested in joining a trip or know someone who would love to get out on the trail? Head to the LINK for all the details or call us at 1-530-739-1177 Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm. And don’t worry if you’re missing gear—Ascend’s fully stocked Gear Library ensures that everyone can access the wilderness, no matter their equipment situation.

Join Ascend for an Overnight Trail Stewardship Adventure on the Waldorff Trail. (LINK BELOW)

Are you passionate about nature and eager to give back to the trails you love? Ascend Wilderness Experience, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is excited to invite volunteers for a special overnight trail stewardship trip with car camping at Pigeon Point near Helena, CA, and hiking from the nearby Waldorff Trail.

This is your chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying breathtaking views, working alongside fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and experiencing the wilderness in a way few get to.

Event Details:

Host: Ascend Wilderness, in partnership with the USFS
Location: Pigeon Point, near Helena, CA and Waldorff Trail
Dates: May 2nd - 3rd
Difficulty: Moderate (2 miles one way, 4 miles round trip)
Volunteers Needed: All skill levels are welcome

What You’ll Be Doing:

We will focus on vital trail maintenance tasks, including:

Improving trail tread – ensuring the path is safe and easy to navigate.
Tree logout – removing fallen trees or branches blocking the trail.
Brushing – clearing overgrowth to keep the trail visible and accessible.

Why Volunteer?

Not only will you contribute to the preservation and upkeep of our beautiful public lands, but you'll also be treated to an unforgettable outdoor experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to:

Take in stunning views: Waldorff Trail offers incredible vistas, making every step worthwhile.
Learn valuable skills: From trail-building techniques to teamwork, you’ll gain hands-on experience.
Meet like-minded adventurers: Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to trail stewardship, this is a great opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for nature.

What’s Provided:

Gear and food: Ascend Wilderness has you covered with all the necessary gear for camping and trail work with delicious meals to keep you fueled and energized.
Car camping: Enjoy a comfortable base camp at Pigeon Point, where you can relax and unwind after a hard day’s work.

Ready to Join Us?

Spaces for this incredible trip are limited, so don’t wait! Sign up with the link below and get involved in an experience that combines outdoor adventure, community service, and environmental stewardship.

We can’t wait to see you there and work together to maintain and protect our local trails.

It is nearly March and Ascend has released our "Save the Dates" flyer for 2025, registration will soon be live for the 2025 season, no later than April 1st. The deadline to sign-up will be May 15th. If you have any questions or concerns about any upcoming trips, please give Ascend a call at 1-530-739-1177, we are open Monday thru Friday 10am to 5pm. We can also be reached at Information.Ascend@Gmail.com and in-person at 420 Main Street in Weaverville, California (We are located directly underneath and behind Kay's Bookstore).

What a remarkable year it has been for Ascend Wilderness Experience! Our final outdoor trip of 2024 has wrapped up, and we’re excited to share just how AWE-inspiring this season has been. Building on the valuable feedback from previous years, we extended our season from spring through fall, and offered an even broader range of free programs, catering to everyone from youth to adults.

Our season kicked off with our second Spring Break Day Camp, hosting over 60 students for five days at the East Weaver Campground. Throughout the summer months—June, July, and August—we conducted 12 engaging youth and teen trips into the stunning Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Russian Wilderness. Participants, aged 9 to 18, enjoyed a variety of experiences, including a collaboration with Shasta-Trinity National Forest on trail stewardship. This project involved retreading trails, brushing back vegetation, and removing over 50 downed logs, with teens receiving stipends and real-life trail work experience.

In total, 158 youths explored the wilderness, hiking, swimming in lakes, and reveling in nature's beauty through our 2024 programs. Some of the breathtaking lakes they visited included Boulder Lakes, Paynes Lake, Lily Pad Lake, Deadfall Lake, and East Boulder Lake. AWEsome.

Our adult programs featured six trips across various locations in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, including the Canyon Creeks and Long Gulch Lake trail systems. We kicked off the year with a trail-clearing trip up the Waldorf Trail, where our volunteers tackled logs and poison oak. The momentum continued as we navigated through Canyon Creeks, expertly dodging bear canister-savvy bears while removing over 50 downed trees. An overnight trip to Lily Pad Lake proved highly successful, clearing trails from the trailhead to the first junction. Another highlight was the Long Gulch Lake trip, which benefited from pack support, enabling us to clear 15 miles of trail, remove 49 logs, and monitor over a dozen miles of wilderness trails. 

This year, 60 volunteers dedicated over 1,300 hours to maintaining our wilderness trails, resulting in hundreds of logs removed and over 50 miles of trail retreaded and brushed. On that note, this incredible season wouldn’t have been possible without the passion and commitment of our volunteers, staff, and collaborators. Their hard work ensures that our trail systems remain open and accessible for future generations to enjoy the wonders of nature. We want to especially thank our Forest Service partners Erik Fleitz, Jotham Barragar, and Monique Rea who put a lot of effort into making these goals achievable. 

None of this would be possible without support from grants and donations. A gracious THANK YOU to the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, National Forest Foundation, Trinity Trust, Rose Foundation, Redding Rancheria Community Fund of Community Foundation of the North State, California State Parks and Rec, Humboldt Area Foundation, USDA Forest Service, and our many many wonderful donors. We also want to thank collaborating organizations like the Backcountry Horsemen, Bigfoot Trail Alliance, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity County schools, and the Trinity County Resource Conservation District and Watershed Research and Training Center.

As we wrap up 2024, we are already excited about what’s to come in 2025. We have many trips in the pipeline and will release a detailed schedule by March 2025. To be the first-to-know about next year's trip dates, sign up to receive our email newsletter by visiting our website ascendwilderness.org. For information or connecting with us in general, you can reach Ascend at 530-739-1177, check out our Facebook page, or email: information.ascend@gmail.com Here’s to another year of adventure and appreciation for the great outdoors!