Cle Elum Ranger District Annual Liberty Work Party

The Hurtin’ Units, under the guidance and direction of David McMains, work annually on the Cle Elum Ranger District, logging out trails, patrolling (educating users on TREAD Lightly! Principles) and cleaning up public lands in the Swauk corridor.

Their largest work party begins each year 7–10 days prior to the big Memorial Day Weekend (Cle Elum’s biggest camping and OHV recreation weekend of the season). The club camps in the Liberty area and spends the week preparing the trails for travel, including clearing downed trees, cleaning and improving drainage, fixing tread issues, installing signs, and cleaning dispersed camp areas. They communicate needs daily with the district and work independently as well as with trail crews to maintain, repair, and upgrade our 4x4 trails. Trail safety is their number one concern, along with protecting the environment (blocking user-made trails and posting closed areas). Our ongoing district-club partnership ensures our Swauk trail system is open by the big weekend; without their hard work and dedication, getting trails cleared of winter debris (downed trees, washouts, etc.) would quite literally be impossible due to staff limitations and snow melt. The Swauk area typically holds snow up until the big weekend, leaving just days to log out 20+ miles of 4x4 trails. In addition, each season, Dave and his crew help haul out hulks and abandoned vehicles, along with truckloads of trash.

David and his crew are trusted volunteers, trained in OHV trail maintenance and user education. They maintain user communication (trails logged out, hazards, concerns, and needs) with our district and through social media, making sure trail users know what to expect as they prepare for the Memorial Day Weekend. The crew is professional, wearing official volunteer shirts and coats. They are at ease talking to the public and sharing maps and trail information. In doing so, they promote trail safety, encourage responsible use (conversely, discouraging irresponsible behavior), facilitate multi-trail use, and educate trail users regarding shared trail policies and etiquette.

In addition, Hurtin’ Units 4x4 Club members are engaged in all OHV trail developments in the Swauk corridor and take time to attend district meetings when they involve trail projects. Their expertise in the area and their community connections make their input invaluable. David maintains a close relationship with many of the local Liberty residents, and he and his club work hard to make sure visitors are aware of local speed limits and where public land ends and private land begins. The Liberty/Swauk area is packed with thousands of OHV enthusiasts every Memorial Day weekend, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say David and his crew reach out to all of them, conveying trail and camp rules, distributing maps, and just being that friendly volunteer ranger on the trail! Their decades of land and trail management, along with their dedication to maintaining, protecting, and preserving public land recreational opportunities, should be recognized on a federal level as one of the best volunteer work forces in the nation.

The Hurtin’ Units donated over 3,000 hours of Trail Maintenance and Education hours in 2023, making it one of their biggest volunteer seasons in their club history. That being said, they are consistently donating 2,000-2,500 hours annually.

---

More winners of this award

2021: Bridge Buttress Trail

2020: Sam Houston National Forest - Eastside Multi-use Trail Rehabilitation

2019: Diversified Winter Trail Grooming – Wyoming

2018: Rim Butte OHV Trails - Oregon

2017: Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Trail - Delaware and Maryland