Brittany Webber speaks with Gary Butterworth about volunteering with the Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA).
Weber explains that LPFA is a massive piece of real estate, covering roughly 40% of Ventura County and spanning across multiple counties, including Santa Barbara.
Getting Into Volunteer Trail Work
Weber shares how she transitioned from starting to hike heavily around 2023–2024 to becoming a volunteer. For safety, she highlights the importance of essential gear like hiking poles, sturdy shoes, and a bright orange hat to remain easily visible to emergency services if needed.
Tools and Tasks on the Trail
Volunteers use specialized tools to clear trails, aiming to maintain clear six-foot pathways for hikers. Weber discusses using small saws to remove intruding branches, but notes her favorite tool is the pulaski (a pickaxe-like tool). She specifically likes using the pulaski to remove sharp and painful yucca plants that crowd the pathways.
Commitment and Experience Requirements
There is no strict minimum time commitment required to volunteer; however, the organization prefers volunteers dedicate at least a few hours per session due to the time it takes to hike out to the work locations. Prior trail experience is not required, but a basic background in hiking and general physical fitness is highly recommended. Volunteers must always wear proper safety gear, including gloves, long sleeves, pants, and a hard hat. A safety orientation is always provided at the beginning of each project.
Wildlife and Major Project Achievements
While Weber hasn’t encountered many rattlesnakes, she notes seeing California condors flying nearby. She highlights the completion of the Potholes Trail in 2026, a decades-long effort that successfully connected a section of the Los Padres Forest to another area.
“Working Vacations” under the Stars
The LPFA organizes “working vacations,” which require a larger time commitment. Volunteers either car-camp or backpack into remote locations to clear trails. The organization occasionally provides hearty meals—like steak or protein dishes—for the volunteers.
Stewardship and “Leave No Trace”
The LPFA operates under the U.S. Forest Service motto: “Caring for the land and serving the people.” Weber emphasizes the “Leave No Trace” principle, which means packing out all trash and erasing signs of human presence aside from the cleared trail. Drawing from her Girl Scout background, she emphasizes trying to leave the wilderness better than she found it to ensure sustainability for future generations.
TV broadcast week beginning 07/19/26
Producer: George Alger
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