This Saturday, April 27, the Pigeon River Country Association is hosting a volunteer workday to clear winter storm debris from the Shingle Mill Pathway. Yes, I know it’s the trout opener, but we’re working from 9:30 to 2:30, so there’s plenty of time before and after to get your waders wet.

The work will be strenuous, as some fairly large trees were toppled onto the trails over the winter. If you have a chainsaw (and safety equipment!) please bring it along with a backpack to carry the lunches the PRCA is providing for volunteers. We’ll meet at the Pigeon River Country Forest Headquarters at 9:30, have a short safety and orientation session, and spread out to do good work.

If you can make it, please email [email protected] so that the PRCA can get an accurate count for lunches and equipment. Some extra chainsaw safety equipment (hardhat, ear and eye protection, chaps, leather cloves) may be available if needed, depending on demand, but please bring your own if you have it.

If you’re still worried about missing a few hours of fishing, I’ll share a personal story. Last year, I helped out Huron Pines on a volunteer project anchoring large woody debris into eroding streambanks on the Pigeon River. The next day, I went fishing on the Black River and caught my personal best brown trout. So if you help out the PRCA on Saturday and go fishing on Sunday, well, no promises, but sometimes when you give to the Pigeon River Country, it gives back.

Hope to see you there!

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