Quadratec's '50-for-50' Trail Stewardship Initiative Finishes Successful 2022

by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor

From petroglyphs in Moab, Utah, to Maine’s White Mountain National Forest, Quadratec’s ’50-for-50 Trail Stewardship Program covered a lot of ground throughout 2022.

And saw the construction of one incredible support vehicle.

The project, in partnership with Tread Lightly!, is designed to enhance or improve off-road and public land access in all 50 states during a two-year period. It finished up last year with an impressive 13 states completed, nearly 40 tons of trash removed and almost 450 miles of trail improvements.

The whole thing began on a crystal-clear, sun-splashed Moab April morning during the Easter Jeep Safari on Kane Creek Trail, where dozens of volunteers built fencing and cut a walking trail to protect important petroglyphs that were in danger of destruction.

From there, projects were tackled in Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, New Hampshire, Maine and Arizona.

Besides protecting those important petroglyphs, volunteers pulled out scores and scores of used tires from numerous locations, removed a destroyed camper and all its remnants from an important wildlife area, cleared out televisions, computers and discarded housing debris, brought in fill and dirt to improve trail quality, and loaded bags upon bags of illegally dumped trash.

“We did a lot of great things for the environment with a lot of great people last year,” said Director of Creative Content Eric Ammerman. “It was really awe-inspiring to see so many people get involved and take part in this program. And that’s what it takes. All of us really doing our part and leading by example. Hopefully, all of these trail improvement efforts we are doing will inspire even more people out there to pitch in and help this year.”

Along the way, Ammerman also helped supervise the build of Quadratec’s newest project vehicle — the JT3 truck. Built by nationally-renown automotive fabrication Greg Henderson of Unofficial Use Only, the hybrid electric two-door truck will serve as a project support vehicle for Tread Lightly! during ’50-for-50’ clean-up events throughout 2023.

Additionally, Quadratec took the JTe out to last November’s Specialty Equipment Market Association event in Las Vegas, where it debuted at a trail cleanup at Nellis Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area northeast of the city. The JTe also quickly became one of SEMA’s most talked about project vehicles, garnering all kinds of accolades from national media, a top-40 finish in SEMA’s Battle of the Builders and even praise from Jeep itself.

Besides ’50-for-50’ events this year, the JTe truck is expected to be in Johnson Valley, California early next month for King of the Hammers, Moab for April’s EJS, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania for Bantam’s Jeep Heritage Festival in June, Wildwood, New Jersey’s Jeep Invasion in July, Carlisle, Pennsylvania’s All Breeds Jeep Show in July and August’s Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“Our JTe hybrid Gladiator has an amazing appeal to two-door truck lovers and its hybrid powertrain provides excellent sustainability,” Ammerman said. “Plus, its bed is 10.5-inches longer than a standard Gladiator, which will provide plenty of space for numerous Tread Lightly! trail project cleanups this year.”

Quadratec’s ’50-for-50’ stewardship grant fund helps project managers pay for equipment, fees, volunteer support, food, fuel, signage and other miscellaneous costs.

Quadratec has been a supporting partner of Tread Lightly! for more than 20 years, and a longtime fundraiser for Tread Lightly!’s stewardship programs. The company has also promoted Tread Lightly! and other trail restoration efforts through its Quadratec Cares ‘Energize the Environment’ program.

Clubs and individuals are required to be active, supporting members of Tread Lightly! to be eligible to apply for ’50-for-50’ grant funding. To learn more about the Quadratec ’50-for-50 program, visit Quadratec's 50 for 50 Trails Stewardship Grant Initiative.