Sitting on the edge of America's West Coast is Mount Rainier. But, the snow covered national landmark needs a little help. Last fall, mudslides and torrential rains caused considerable damage to the trails and pathways up the mountain. Trees came crashing down, roadways were washed away and parts of the mountain were left in shambles.
This summer, a group of teenaged volunteers from all over the country is spending their vacation cutting roots, moving rocks, putting in water bars and redefining the trails that were completely lost, through a program called "Save the Trails." Funded by a grant in excess of a quarter million dollars, it allows the students to spend long days in the great outdoors learning new skills and making new friends.
By the end of the summer, they will have restored 120 miles of trail in 14 parks across the country, including the damage that was done at Mount Rainer.
For more information, go to: www.naturevalley.com.
