Bryan Wright joined Placer Land Trust as a Preserve Steward volunteer in 2021, encouraged by his friend Jim Haagen-Smit (long-standing Placer Land Trust Board Member, bike and trail enthusiast and advocate). With deep experience in trail layout, construction, and maintenance, Bryan has helped improve our trail networks at the Big Hill, Harvego, Laursen, and Canyon View Preserves in countless ways.
In 2023, to proactively help us to meet the growing need for trail work, Bryan collaborated with us to develop and kick off a volunteer team focused on trail stewardship, which he leads today. Bryan’s easy-going demeanor, fun sense of humor, and mad trail skills make him an excellent team leader.
A few years ago, Bryan retired after 35 years at HP, where he first started as a high school intern. Over the years he held various roles, ultimately as an IT project manager. Bryan credits his experience at HP for setting a high bar for how a company should be run, which he translates into everything else he does.
He lives in Roseville with the “Very Best Cats” Miso and Natto, who “took him in” almost 8 years ago, and his mother, whom he feels so fortunate to still have in his life.
We asked Bryan about what informs and inspires him and his tireless support of Trail Stewardship — read on to learn more!
How did you learn so much about trail building?
Hiking and trail running stimulated a deeper interest in trail work. When COVID hit, I had recently retired and was fortunate enough to join a small volunteer crew realigning the Pacific Crest Trail near Echo Summit. While I had done trail work previously and been training on trail design and construction, that summer was hundreds of hours of total immersion in trail work, and I got to work with a number of experienced, talented, and passionate trail folks.
Where else do you volunteer?
During COVID most of my volunteer work was done with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and Pacific Crest Trail Association. I also volunteer extensively for the National Park Service at Manzanar National Historic Site. Recently, I’ve added doing docent and guide work at the California Museum in Sacramento. Both Manzanar and the CA Museum allow me to spend time understanding and sharing historical topics that are so important for us to learn from.
Because of that work I was even given the opportunity to do a presentation for Placer Land Trust and the American River Conservancy at Wakamatsu Farm, which was the first Japanese settlement in the US. I was grateful that these organizations recognized the need to discuss historically relevant events since topics about land, resources, and people are inextricably tied together.
What does the Placer Land Trust trail crew do?
A volunteer Trail Steward crew member may help develop a new trail or modification to the course of an existing one. They can help construct those trails using a wide range of hand tools. Over time, items like McLeods, Rogue Hoes, Pulaskis and pick mattocks will become as familiar as saws, shovels, rakes, and loppers.
Most experienced crew members will tell you that when they are out on the trail, they find that they are using their knowledge and experience to evaluate the condition of the trail, subconsciously tagging items for later work. This informal monitoring, along with a planned assessment schedule, feeds the large amount of activity that is needed to maintain the existing trails after construction. Trails require consistent upkeep — weeds and brush encroach, trees fall, and rocks shift. Water, animals and user traffic may cause erosion which may narrow, widen, or even change the course of the trail. Trail Stewards strive to identify these factors early on and address them before small problems become big ones.
Why are trails important to you and to our community?
I think most people would agree that land preservation is very important, and trails make preservation “real” to our community by serving as an “ambassador” to our lands. Trails provide access to some of the best places out there and do this by bearing the brunt of human impact. The amount of use that a popular trail may get is staggering, which in turn places an emphasis on solid design and good construction.
For me, trail stewardship includes a wide range of activities which satisfy both creative and technical interests and provide a great excuse to work outside. It is one of my preferred ways to hopefully contribute to the community as well!
What is your favorite part of leading the trail crew?
While it may sound trite, it is quite simply the people. They are hard-working and dedicated. The work is physically hard, and sometimes it is simply a grind (those miles of trails don’t maintain themselves!) It is also so rewarding to see everyone sharing their various skills and backgrounds and working as a team.
Anything else you would like to add?
Spending so much time learning what goes into a trail (particularly the things that most users will never see), leaves me with a deep appreciation for the work done by a largely volunteer community, and for the magnitude of the effort that goes into building and maintaining each foot of trail a person walks, runs, or rides.
Now, whenever I see someone working on a trail, I realize I am likely looking at another volunteer, choosing to give back to the trails they enjoy by making them better for everyone.
I hope that everyone will be a good trail user (share the trail with others), respect usage categories (not all trails are suited for all types of use), stay off closed trails (they occasionally need repair or rest too), and reach out to your local trail group if you think there are improvements to be made or you just want to give back!
Placer Land Trust always has volunteer work for Trail Stewards — so if you want to learn why a trail does what it does, please consider signing up. I promise that you will get your fill of “trail talk” in no time!
The Placer Land Trust “Trail Stewards” volunteer team contributes to providing recreation access by enabling people to connect with the land and each other. On at least two days every month, this stellar group of volunteers can be seen raking, digging, scraping, moving rocks…whatever it takes to create, maintain, or improve the trails on Placer Land Trust’s preserved lands. Our seasoned crew leaders like Bryan make every workday positive and welcoming for all Trail Stewards, no matter their level of experience. To join this crew, a positive attitude, willingness to get dirty, and ability to follow directions are a must; a love of donuts and good jokes is highly desired!
Interested in joining the Trail Stewards volunteer crew? Visit our volunteer page to learn more and get involved!
