WHAT IS A GOOD WILL RIDER?
 

• What Is It?  A volunteer trail patrol organization, based out of the Kamas Ranger District.
• What Do They Do?  Their objectives are to increase visitor safety and reduce resource impacts on National Forest System lands. GWR volunteers talk with fellow visitors, hand out maps and remind visitors to ride only in areas open for use.  They encourage Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly principles.  Good Will Riders also promote good trail manners and help visitors in need, hence their name. 
• Who Belongs?  Current members include horse riders, ATV users and snowmobilers.  Some volunteers belong to organized user clubs and some do not. Clubs currently involved include Back Country Horsemen, Summit Seekers Snowmobile Club, Salt Lake Snowmobile Club, Utah ATV Association and Utah Trail Machine Association. 
• Why Now?  Use of forest trails is steadily increasing, especially among OHV riders.  More novice riders are on the trails and the incidence of search and rescues has risen. Rescues are not just time consuming and costly, they often end tragically. Increased use of OHVs in non-motorized and unauthorized areas has also occurred, causing problems to natural resources, wildlife and other users.
• Why Volunteers?   Hearing safety and land conservation messages from fellow users has a greater impact on visitors than hearing the same message from Forest Service personnel. Visitors understand that resource conservation is important to members within their own peer groups, not just to government employees and “environmentalists”.  Safety messages related from a fellow user, with examples of  “good day gone bad” stories can have a real impact. In addition, with help from volunteers, there is greater coverage on the forest, ensuring that more visitors are contacted. 

• Increase Rider Safety
• Decrease User Damage to Natural Resources
• Provide Feedback To Forest Service
• Promote Good Trail Manners Between All Users

1. Increase Rider Safety
GWRs answer questions and provide maps.  They emphasize safety regulations and the hazards of backcountry travel.  They carry radios and are available to assist in search and rescue or other emergencies.

2. Decrease User Damage to Natural Resources
Most forest visitors want to conserve the environment and obey regulations. Hearing land conservation messages from fellow users has a greater and more lasting impact on the visitor than hearing the same message from Forest Service personnel.  For the few users that don’t seem to care, having the additional presence on the trails will encourage them to comply with rules and recommendations.

3. Promote Good Trail Manners Between All Users
GWRs promote trail etiquette within their user group as well as between various types of users.  By volunteering their time, they also prove to all forest visitors that taking care of the trails is important to them. 
 

4. Provide Feedback To Forest Service
Extra pairs of eyes and ears can inform the agency about trail conditions, problems that might exist, and visitor use patterns and needs. They can also relay feed back from the public to increase the Forest Service’s understanding of visitors’ viewpoints.

The Riders perform a great service for the public and the Forest Service.  They also are great public relations assets for their user group.  But this job is not for everyone. Each of the following points is important for an effective member of Good Will Riders.

Safety Conscious: Volunteers should be good examples of safe and responsible riding. 

Good Communicator: Since public education is the main mission of the Good Will Riders, good communication skills are critical. 

Believe education best promotes change: This is the basic philosophy of the Good Will Rider program.

Respectful:  Volunteer patrollers should respect the environment and other users. 

People Oriented:  They must be comfortable making public contacts and understand that most visitors want to do the right thing. 

Even-tempered:  To be an effective educator, volunteers must communicate in a non-confrontational manner.  People do not learn or change if they are on the defensive. 

In determining if this job is right for you, ask yourself why you want to do it.   Do you want to just make your opinions known? Or, do you really want to make a difference? If you want to make a difference, then this may be the way.

 

The Good Will Riders Volunteer Trail Patrol Organization is committed to maintaining an unquestionable reputation and serving as outstanding examples of trail users.  Therefore, members are asked to commit to the following items. 
Please read the list carefully. 

As a Good Will Rider I agree to the following:

a. Commit to patrol 20 hours during current season.
b. Attend Good Will Rider Training conducted by the Forest Service.
c. Adhere to all regulations and safety rules that apply to my means of travel.
d. Work in groups of two to four people.
e. Wear gear that identifies me as a Good Will Rider.
f. Carry a FS radio and extra batteries.
g. Check in and check out on the radio each day.
h. Be at the trailhead or on trail contacting the public for at least 4 hours each day worked.
i. Be courteous and professional in speech, manner and appearance.
j. Use a soft educational message.  Never have a “know-it- all” attitude.
k. Never drink alcohol while patrolling or on volunteer projects. 
l. Never carry a gun when working as a Good Will Rider.
m. Avoid any situation that is potentially dangerous or confrontational.

n. Report in on the radio twice daily.
o. Remember that when wearing volunteer uniform or gear, I represent the Forest Service and will follow FS Ethics and Conduct Guidelines, safety practices and policy. 
p. Return the radio to the fee booth or office at the end of the shift. 
q. Fill out GWR report form indicating number of encounters, etc.

HOW THE DAY WILL GO

Confirm your schedule with the volunteer coordinator a few days in advance.  Let us know when you’ll be coming in so we can arrange to meet with you.
Stop by the Kamas Office to sign in and coordinate your schedule with weekend patrol employees.  You will also need to pick up the following: 
o Exemption recreation pass for your vehicle
o Maps, handout materials, daily report form and camera
o Radio
• Spend some time at the Trailhead.  It is the best place to make contacts as trail users unload and prepare to travel the trails.  Introduce yourself; give out maps and information and answer questions.   Emphasize safety; trail manners and low impact travel techniques.  (You will be provided maps and handout information to be distributed.) 
• Ride trails, working in groups of two to four.  Do not travel alone. Large groups can be intimidating.  Please spend at least 4 hours each day on patrol, contacting visitors.  Be available to stop and assist as needed.  If you see blatant safety problems, you can flag them down.
• Contact the employee doing weekend patrol if possible.  They will have a radio and can be called with questions or problems. 
• If you see a problem, take a photo if possible and write up a description of the problem. Call it in on the radio if it needs immediate attention.  If you see a violation in process, do not take down names, license numbers or try to be an enforcement officer.
• When your shift is done, return your radio to the FS office or to the patrolling employee. Complete and turn in the daily report. 

Date: 1 / 1/ 2002      Travel Method: Snowmobile

Name: ?Bill Jones????

Time (from Kamas): ?8:30  am -- ?5:00   pm 
Total hours on patrol ?6 1/2 
Drive Time (use Kamas as home base) ?2 hrs???? 

Trailhead(s) Visited: ?Northfork and Soapstone????

# Vehicles @ TH: ??35? Approx. Time:  9:15
# Vehicles @ TH:10   Approx. Time: 4:30

Contacts by number in group--Give location(s), type of use. 
Lakes View TH:   snowmobile—4,7,1,1,6   Skiers—2, 3, 6,1, 2, 
Wind Lake Trail:  Snowmobile—3, 3,1  Skiers-- 2, 4,2, 6
Snowshoers-- 3,1,1, 

Total Encounters for the day:  61

Condition of / need for signs, bull. board, reg. box, bathrooms, etc: 
Sign missing at trail junction—people are confused; map on bulletin board torn and needs to be replaced 

Comments:  Incidents, infractions, suggestions, visitor feedback, how’d the day go, etc: 
Spent a couple of hours at trailhead and handed out lots of maps.?Helped two machines get unstuck;

MAKING CONTACTS SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY

Educate Rather Than Enforce

The visitors that you come into contact with will vary widely in experience, awareness, philosophy and expectations.  Some are unfamiliar with the terrain and over-estimate their abilities.  Some may be unaware of closures and travel management plans.  Others don’t want to let anything get in the way of their own fun.  Your task is to assist visitors in making safe, low impact choices while traveling in the backcountry. 

The most effective way to communicate these messages is with an educational tone rather than with enforcement. Explain the “why” behind regulations.  Give examples from your own experience.  Look the map over with them rather than just handing the map out. 

If you don’t understand the reason for a regulation, then find it out.  Often the reason relates back to wildlife or wildlife habitat in some way.  Since most forest visitors enjoy seeing wildlife, speaking on its behalf is a good way to get a point across.

Avoid Conflict

Volunteers should never allow contacts to become confrontational.  Conflict or confrontation causes people to feel defensive.  When defensive or embarrassed, people rarely will learn anything—they only know they are being criticized.  You will not gain anything from confrontation, but you can lose alot.  Your point will not have been made; you have embarrassed or angered a visitor; and you may have risked your safety. 

IF THINGS SHOULD GO WRONG
 

If someone is in blatant or intentional violation and educational contacts are not effective or do not seem like a good idea, there are several things you can do. 

Fill out a Visitor Contact Slip.
These can be filled out and a copy left with the visitor.  Or you can turn it in to the office as a report of the incident.  If you have access to the vehicle information, write it down.  If not, that’s okay.  DON’T ASK THE VISITOR FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION.

Use Your Radio. 

There are several employees working most Saturdays and they can be radioed for assistance or advice in handling a situation. They will also assist in calling the sheriff in case of an emergency.  When reporting an incident on the radio, be professional and concise.  State what help you need.  You may just want to let them know your exact location and that you will report in again in a few minutes. 

Leave. 

If you sense that a situation is becoming confrontational or unsafe in any way, quickly do what you can to ease the tension, and then get out.  Say, “You might be right” or apologize if necessary but do not stay in a questionable situation. 

Volunteers as well as employees must be courteous, helpful and professional.
Remember – we work for the public.

Radios are an important tool for all backcountry personnel. Practice radio usage so that you are comfortable using it.  It can be save vital time in emergency situations. 

Kamas Ranger District has four repeaters that work in various parts of the forest.  The two repeaters on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest are located on SCOTTS PEAK (channel 4) and BALD MOUNTAIN (channel 2).  We will also be sharing two repeaters with the Uinta NF—CLAYTON PEAK (Channel 7) and SOAPSTONE (Channel 15). 
All repeaters will be available for Good Will Riders to use, however Soapstone Repeater is generally best for winter use.
 

 PARTS OF THE RADIO

OFF/VOL   On/off Volume Control
CG/SQ   Squelch Control
CHANNEL  Channel Selector
SCAN   Multi-channel Scan Switch
PRIORITY  Priority Channel Switch
HI/LO POWER  Transmit Power Level Switch
PTT    Push-to-talk button
KEYBOARD  Tone Guard Selector, Dialing Pad OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Tune the squelch control  (SQ) to just under the static sound and adjust volume.
3. Select the channel. (For Soapstone, turn to Channel 13; Scott’s Peak repeater, turn to Ch. 4;  Bald Man repeater, turn to Ch. 2.)
4. Switch the SCAN and PRIORITY off (forward).  Using these will draw heavily on your battery. 
5. Press the Push To Talk (PTT) button and speak into the mike.  Hold PTT at least 2 seconds before speaking.  Keep the button pushed in the entire time you speak.  The TX indicator light should glow when transmitting.   Now you’re talking……….

TALKING ON THE RADIO

1. Hold PTT button for 2- 3 seconds before speaking. 
2. Begin the transmission by identifying the station that you wish to call (this will usually be Uinta Dispatch in the winter). Then identify yourself and the repeater you are using. 
For example if you are calling the Uinta Dispatch you would say,   “Uinta Dispatch,…. West, Good Will Rider on Soapstone.”
3. Uinta would respond, “ This is Uinta ….go ahead West.”
4. Slowly, clearly and concisely give your message. 
5. Don’t attempt to transmit for more than 30 seconds at one time.  If you have a long message, break it up into several transmissions; end each transmission with “break” to indicate you aren’t finished talking. 
6. Be professional.  When using the radio, be aware that many other people can hear you.  Be brief and to the point.  Use regular English, not 10 codes. 
7. When signing off, both parties identify themselves and then say  “clear.”
Safety Tips

• Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back. Never ride alone. 
• An adult should accompany and supervise young riders.
• Don’t over-estimate your horse or your machine.  Carry spare parts, gear, and tools.
• Don’t over-estimate your own abilities or stamina. The Uintas are at a high altitude and there is a lot of rough terrain. 
• Dress for changing weather conditions. Layered clothing allows riders to adjust as temperature and weather condition change. 
• Carry plenty of water.
• Check weather conditions and avalanche danger forecasts. Avoid potentially dangerous situations. 

• No one under 8 years if age us allowed to operate an OHV on public lands.
• Operators 8-15 must possess an Education Certificate issued by Utah State Parks and recreation.
• All operators under 18 must wear a helmet.
• OHVs must have mufflers and spark arrestors.
• Be sure to register your machine

Horse Riders:

• Travel in small groups to leave less impact.
• Pack lightly and take the minimum number of stock.
• Use certified weed free hay.
• Practice good trail manners. We share the trails.
• Use highlines or electric fences to tether your stock. 

OHV Riders:

• Travel on designated trails.  All open trails on the Kamas District are marked with the allowed uses.
• Evaluate weather conditions.  Trails marked as open can be badly damaged if ridden in wet conditions.
• View wildlife from a respectful distance.
• Ride in the middle of the trail to avoid widening it. 
• Practice good trail manners. We share the trails. (Yield to non-motorized use).

Protect your privilege, stay on trails.