South Willow GS Rehab 2018 - Passport in Time

Go to content

Main menu:

Current Projects > 2018
Utah - Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF
Closed! Deck Replacement at the South Willow Guard Station

Dsc_0021.jpg by Rachelle Handley, US Forest Service
South Willow Guard Station


UT-4391
September 17-22, 2018 (including weekend)

Must commit to entire session

Come on out to the beautiful Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWCNF), and help us put a touch of new life onto an old gem! The South Willow Guard Station is located in the South Fork of the Stansbury Mountain Range in Tooele County. It sits at 6,300 feet (asl), nestled in a narrow canyon, and surrounded by piñon-juniper forest. It commands the view of the small desert mountain range within the Great Basin on the south side of the Great Salt Lake. The site was developed in 1933, and all original buildings still stand! Buildings at the guard station include the main dwelling, garage, barn, and toilet – there is also a horse corral and pasture area.

Although the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many Forest Service guard stations and other buildings during this period, it is unknown if the CCC was involved in the construction of the South Willow Guard Station. However, historical documentation states CCC enrollees stayed at the guard station in 1939 and during their stay, caused damage to the cabin interior; the District Ranger demanded they repair it. So, built (or repaired) by the CCC in the 1930s or not, it has been and continues to be in regular use by Forest Service personnel to administer the Grantsville Division of the Ranger District. However, time and weather have, as they always do, taken their toll, and the main deck is in dire need of some refurbishment. So, we are putting the call out to you, our faithful PIT volunteers!

The South Willow Guard Station is rare in that it has remained unchanged since its construction. Its history is unique because it has been consistently used by Forest Service personnel for over 80 years. With your help, doing in-kind replacement of the deck will allow continued use of the guard station either administratively, or by the public through the cabin rental program, for the next 80 years! We hope to see you this fall!

Number of openings: 8

Special skills: Volunteers must be capable of the physical demands of deck work: this may include, but is not limited to, repetitive lifting, kneeling, bending, etc., and at high altitude in a variety of weather conditions (it is full-on fall here in September, and mornings and evenings can be chilly); all tools and protective equipment necessary to conduct work will be provided (except work boots; those you bring should be broken in, and worn comfortably throughout the day), however, we encourage volunteers to bring their own personal protective equipment (safety glasses, coveralls, knee pads, etc.) if they would like; previous decking, carpentry, framing, and/or general construction experience helpful, but not required

Minimum age: 18 years old

Facilities: Our base camp will be located at the South Willow Guard Station. The guard station site has room for tents and smaller trailers, and has potable water, a toilet and a shower, but no direct RV hook-ups. A secondary location can be arranged at one of the nearby campgrounds if necessary, and there are dumping stations located approximately 20 miles away in the city of Tooele. Grantsville, Tooele, and Salt Lake City are full-service communities with hotel accommodations, RV parks, and a full range of other amenities. Volunteers opting to stay outside of base camp will need to transport themselves to and from the guard station daily; volunteers responsible for own food, camping equipment, work boots, and extra water; the guard station/base camp will have coolers, a refrigerator, and stove available for volunteer use.

Nearest towns: Grantsville, 10 Miles; Tooele, 20 Miles; Salt Lake City, 45 Miles

Applications due: Closed

View South Willow GS Rehab in a full screen map

 
Back to content | Back to main menu