- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
From Clif Koontz, Executive Director Ride with Respect
Motorized Trail Lovers- Three great career opportunities have emerged in Moab to do tons of trail work and visitor education, with some applications due in just two days.
Let me preface with an update on the Labyrinth Rims / Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan that stretches from Moab to Green River. It appears likely that the proposed plan will be released next month. In the meantime, Ride with Respect (RwR) is preparing in several ways. Your continued support is essential to RwR, our partners like the Trails Preservation Alliance and Colorado OHV Coalition, as well as allies ranging from BlueRibbon Coalition to the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office.
No matter how the Labyrinth Rims TMP shapes up, trail maintenance and education will be key ingredients to manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. And recruiting quality people are key ingredients of organizations, so please spread the word on these three job announcements. First and foremost, Utah is hiring a foreman for its new trail crew based in Moab, as you can see from the Division of Outdoor Recreation's email below. Note that applications are due by the end of August 15th! The crew will assist state and federal land managers across southeast Utah. (Think desert trails in spring and mountain trails in summer.) RwR greatly appreciates UDOR for establishing regional trail crews, and we can't wait to work with them in the coming years.
Second, the BLM's Moab Field Office is hiring its first-ever park ranger position that's dedicated to maintaining motorized trails:
Note that applications are due by August 17th! In case the USA Jobs site is down temporarily, I'll specify Announcement #UTMP-23-12081249-CH is for a Park Ranger (OHV) GS-0025-05/07 that's a full-time, permanent, career-seasonal position open to all current career/career-conditional or former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility as well as veterans, some youth-corps members, and other special hiring authorities. We feel fortunate that the Moab Field Office stepping up its capacity to manage OHV recreation on the ground and to utilize volunteers.
Third, Grand County is hiring a couple more Motorized Trail Ambassadors:
www.grandcountyutah.net
The job could begin as soon as September 1st if they find a candidate who can foster outdoor ethics in a professional and persuasive manner. Motorized Trail Ambassadors will drive the trails to promote safe and responsible use. When not busy educating fellow trail users, Ambassadors may perform light-duty trail maintenance. Grand County spent years developing the Trail Ambassador program for non-motorized trails. Now it's applying this expertise to motorized trails with the help of the county's Motorized Trails Committee (which I currently chair) and major investment from a Utah OHV Recreation grant.
While these new positions are quite encouraging for the future of diverse recreation opportunities, let's remember a couple of dedicated trail workers who we lost this year, including one who passed away before his time:
Jeff Fink built and maintained trails as a part-time job for RwR from 2007 through 2012. Despite retiring, in 2013 Jeff volunteered several days for RwR to reroute Big Drop (Enduro Loop near Dubinky Well), which included him single-handedly installing a rock retaining wall. From the attached photo of it, you can see the level of quality that Jeff put into his work, which was outdone only by his sense of humor. A decade later, the retaining wall is as good as new, becoming a piece of Jeff's legacy.
Also there was Bob Turri of the Blanding-based ATV group SPEAR:
sjrnews.com
After retiring from the BLM, Bob lead SPEAR to map / mark / maintain trails at Hook & Ladder and in every corner of San Juan County. Well into his nineties, Bob managed to maintain passion and persistence in his advocacy while remaining open to work with other stakeholders in a constructive manner. It was an honor to work with Bob on these trails, and we hope to help conserve them for his great-great-grandchildren and all others of their generation.
Sincerely,
Clif Koontz
Executive Director
Ride with Respect
395 McGill Avenue
Moab, Utah 84532
Motorized Trail Lovers- Three great career opportunities have emerged in Moab to do tons of trail work and visitor education, with some applications due in just two days.
Let me preface with an update on the Labyrinth Rims / Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan that stretches from Moab to Green River. It appears likely that the proposed plan will be released next month. In the meantime, Ride with Respect (RwR) is preparing in several ways. Your continued support is essential to RwR, our partners like the Trails Preservation Alliance and Colorado OHV Coalition, as well as allies ranging from BlueRibbon Coalition to the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office.
No matter how the Labyrinth Rims TMP shapes up, trail maintenance and education will be key ingredients to manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. And recruiting quality people are key ingredients of organizations, so please spread the word on these three job announcements. First and foremost, Utah is hiring a foreman for its new trail crew based in Moab, as you can see from the Division of Outdoor Recreation's email below. Note that applications are due by the end of August 15th! The crew will assist state and federal land managers across southeast Utah. (Think desert trails in spring and mountain trails in summer.) RwR greatly appreciates UDOR for establishing regional trail crews, and we can't wait to work with them in the coming years.
Second, the BLM's Moab Field Office is hiring its first-ever park ranger position that's dedicated to maintaining motorized trails:
Note that applications are due by August 17th! In case the USA Jobs site is down temporarily, I'll specify Announcement #UTMP-23-12081249-CH is for a Park Ranger (OHV) GS-0025-05/07 that's a full-time, permanent, career-seasonal position open to all current career/career-conditional or former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility as well as veterans, some youth-corps members, and other special hiring authorities. We feel fortunate that the Moab Field Office stepping up its capacity to manage OHV recreation on the ground and to utilize volunteers.
Third, Grand County is hiring a couple more Motorized Trail Ambassadors:
MOTORIZED TRAIL AMBASSADOR (PART TIME/ SEASONAL)
*APPLY HERE-- ONLINE APPLICATION** The online application has been updated, you no longer need to fill out the full application if you are submitting a cover letter and...
www.grandcountyutah.net
While these new positions are quite encouraging for the future of diverse recreation opportunities, let's remember a couple of dedicated trail workers who we lost this year, including one who passed away before his time:
Jeff Fink built and maintained trails as a part-time job for RwR from 2007 through 2012. Despite retiring, in 2013 Jeff volunteered several days for RwR to reroute Big Drop (Enduro Loop near Dubinky Well), which included him single-handedly installing a rock retaining wall. From the attached photo of it, you can see the level of quality that Jeff put into his work, which was outdone only by his sense of humor. A decade later, the retaining wall is as good as new, becoming a piece of Jeff's legacy.
Also there was Bob Turri of the Blanding-based ATV group SPEAR:
Robert Edwin Turri May 5, 1928 ~ March 26, 2023
Robert Edwin Turri was born May 5, 1928 in Latuda, UT. He was the son of Valentino and Frances Krajnc Turri.
sjrnews.com
Sincerely,
Clif Koontz
Executive Director
Ride with Respect
395 McGill Avenue
Moab, Utah 84532