SHARC Trails operates an integrated backcountry management model that combines trail stewardship, wildland fire operations, and rapid emergency response. This approach strengthens public safety, supports rural economies, and builds a year-round skilled workforce. Below are our “Three Pillars” of backcountry management:
Backcountry Management Model
Recreation Infrastructure Management
What We Do
Trail construction and maintenance
Bike-optimized and multi-use systems
Wayfinding and signage
Trailhead and access planning
Why It Matters
Trails drive tourism and local jobs
Trails serve as emergency access corridors
Well-maintained systems reduce risk and impacts
Where
Pocahontas County, WV
Monongahela National Forest
Community-connected trail networks in the Snowshoe Highlands Region
Trails
Wildland Fire
Stewardship, Safety, and Workforce Development
What We Do
Wildland Fire response
Prescribed fire and fuels reduction
GIS Services
Type 6 engine and crew operations
Why It Matters
Reduces wildfire risk
Improves forest health
Provides advanced training and career pathways
Generates national deployment revenue
Where
State of West Virginia - Division of Forestry
Monongahela National Forest
Nationwide - when applicable
REMS
Rapid Backcountry Rescue and Medical Support
What REMS
Specialized emergency response for remote and difficult terrain.
What We Do
Rope rescue
Backcountry response and extraction
Incident coordination
Training and credentialing
Why It Matters
Faster response in remote areas
Supports local EMS and fire departments
Safer recreation for residents and visitors
Where
Pocahontas County, WV
State of West Virginia - Emergency Management Division
Nationwide - when applicable
Project Portfolio
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![A small wooden footbridge crosses a narrow creek in a forested area with green trees and plants. A person is standing in the background near the trees, holding a camera or phone.]()
Gauley Mountain Trail
Gauley Base/Tea Creek Area, Slaty Fork/Marlinton, WV
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![Information board about hiking trails at a forest recreation area, with a map and descriptions, mounted on a wooden stand outdoors, with electrical infrastructure and tools on the ground.]()
SRC Signage Project
Monday Lick Trail System, Marlinton, WV
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![A dirt trail winding through a lush green forest with tall trees, ferns, and moss-covered logs.]()
Whitmeadow Trail
Stonecoal Area, Huttonsville, WV
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![Group of four workers outdoors on a dirt trail in a forest, using shovels to grade the land. Trees surround the scene, with a mini excavator and a small loader in the background.]()
Snowshoe Work Week
Snowshoe Bike Park, Snowshoe, WV
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![Helicopter dropping water to combat a wildfire with thick smoke and blue sky in the background.]()
Wildland Fire
Nationwide Deployments, United States
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![Group of people in safety helmets and outdoor gear gathered around a rocky trail in a dense forest, appearing to discuss or examine the site.]()
OEDC Rock Armor 101
Mower Basin, Huttonsville, WV
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![A dirt trail in a forest with a rocky section. A dog is standing on an elevated part of the trail, surrounded by green trees and plants.]()
Gauley - Tea Creek Connector
Gauley Base Area, Slaty Fork, WV
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![Two men working on a stone pathway in a forest, one kneeling and the other crouching, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.]()
Right Fork Connector
Tea Creek Area, Marlinton, WV
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![Four orange and black trekking poles resting on the ground next to a dirt trail in a wooded forest with tall trees and blue sky.]()
GBO Trail Work
Green Bank Observatory, Green Bank, WV
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![Two individuals in safety harnesses and helmets working at height on climbing equipment near a large white structure, with a backdrop of trees and an overcast sky.]()
High Angle Ropes Rescue
Green Bank/Seneca Rocks, WV
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![Group of people gathered around a map on a table, discussing with notes and pens in an indoor setting.]()
GBO Master Trail Plan
Green Bank Observatory, Green Bank, WV
