Personal Reflection - Kat Gimino

I applied for the Montana Conservation Corps. I don't know what possessed me to do it. It was a difficult and frustrating time in my life where everything seemed to go wrong and nothing happened as planned. But often times, we don't plan the experiences of our lives that turn out to be exactly what we need to realize our true potential. The position started in one week, and acceptance seemed like an impossible dream. I was surfing the internet one night, trying desperately to find a way to fix the broken record that had become my life, a constant repetition of the same negative behaviors and attitudes that held my progress in absolute stagnation. Although I had excelled in academics and extra-curricular activities during high school, I encountered some unfortunate and trying times following graduation. After being diagnosed "bipolar" during my senior year, my life had been in a steady downward spiral that resulted in heavy medications, unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits, a codependent relationship, and severe depression. I applied because I had nothing to lose, never anticipating that this single spontaneous act would transform my entire life as I knew it.

When the Bozeman office of Montana Conservation Corps called to set up an interview, it was a complete shock to me. The resulting job offer lead me on an impromptu two thousand mile adventure across the country to face the unknown. Days later, I found myself at Camp Paxon near beautiful Seeley Lake, Montana. Working and living with a small crew was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I had never even camped before, and now I was living outside for ten days at a time doing strenuous trail work with a bunch of strangers in the middle of nowhere. At first, I wasn't sure I could make it, but I wouldn't let myself quit. With quiet determination, I went above and beyond all expectations and persevered in the wildest ways. Not only did I find myself adoring trail work and living outside, but my entire perspective on life and the world in general was beginning to morph. I was encountering people, experiences, books and ideology that were opening my eyes to a different way of living.

Being outside in the remote wilderness brought me to value our natural environment in inconceivable ways I had never even considered plausible. Working hard, developing healthy relationships with my crewmembers, and enjoying quiet time in the pristine wilderness of Montana brought true joy to my existence. Life seemed so miraculous and substantial, and the magnificent beauty of our untouched world took my breath away every single day. Butterflies flying free through pastures of wildflowers in every hue and picturesque snow-capped mountains displayed before a backdrop of seemingly endless vast blue sky are moments forever etched in my mind, each displaying a magic and artistry that could only come from nature.

I no longer lived my life as a means to an end, each day only one step of a ladder that would eventually lead me to happiness. After all, happiness can only be experienced in the present moment. It was so liberating to finally realize that I could do anything with my life, be anyone, and accomplish any goal I set my mind to. I was no longer a slave to the cultural American philosophy of "more is better." Instead, I focused on aligning my actions with my deepest values.

As my months in Montana passed, I began to realize that my greatest aspiration was to help create and design a more sustainable way of life that would not devastate our natural resources and the environment. I was inspired by the sense of community I found in Bozeman, so unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Innovative changes had come about from ordinary people with shared values coming together and initiating positive change within the city. It gave me hope that advancing toward a sustainable future for America was not just a pipe dream, but a real and necessary possibility. I began to educate myself on conscious-consumerism, renewable energy, and "green" lifestyle choices that would help reduce my ecological impact. I incorporated these practices into my daily life: becoming a vegetarian, finding creative ways to reduce my waste, recycling, and buying non-toxic, local, and organic products whenever possible. If not for the Montana Conservation Corps, I never would have discovered this new found passion.

My experience with MCC was so paramount I participated again in 2009, this time as a Youth Crew Leader in Kalispell. Again, the program helped me to expand my repertoire of skill sets, especially in leadership, organization, communication, and creative problem solving. During this time, I became committed to becoming an engaged citizen and staying active within the community. Teaching the members of my youth crews about environmental stewardship helped me recognize the need to spread awareness about sustainability to the general public. I am no longer afraid to voice my opinion and encourage others to participate in their local communities and make small lifestyle changes that yield a significant ecological impact. I am willing to take risks and do whatever it may take to create the future that I envision for myself and the world at large.

It's been less than two years since that pivotal evening of late night net-surfing back in 2008, but somehow I feel like a completely new person. I have created a healthy and holistic lifestyle for myself that is extremely fulfilling, developed exciting new skills, and finally realized my career goals and ambitions. The leadership and communication skills I acquired are helping me to become involved in my local hometown community. Our city is in dire need of bike lanes that will provide safer commute for cyclers, therefore I am rallying to expand awareness about the benefits of bike lanes so that the city may be persuaded to take action on this issue. I’m also hoping to get involved with “Girls on the Run”, a program for middle school aged girls that inspires healthy body image and lifestyle choices by helping young girls train for a 5k race. My experience working with youth crews will be especially helpful in coaching these girls and motivating them to make better decisions regarding health, self-esteem, and self-confidence. In addition, I’ve also decided to further test my own physical limits by training to run a full marathon in 2010. I am looking forward to attending the University of Montana in Missoula beginning in Spring 2010, where I plan on majoring in Environmental Studies with a focus in Sustainability. My ultimate career goal involves working with communities and helping inform people about the ecological and economic benefits of buying and supporting local agriculture, business, and community-based projects that encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Eventually, I would love to get involved with the Peace Corps and continue my service experience helping the world’s poorest people overseas create a better life. My goal is to learn as much as I can so that I may be better equipped to initiate positive change toward a more sustainable future. I attribute and link many of these skills and ambitions to my involvement with the Montana Conservation Corps, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities that have revealed themselves after making that one simple decision to join. Looking back, I never even had to fix the broken record that was my life; I only had to make the decision to play a fresh new one.



-Kat

1st Hitch - Kirsten Vorreyer, Western Wildlands

What did I get myself into!? Oh the rain - no wait snow - this is summer!? I didn't sign up for this! Transformation however necessary is rarely easy and the first hitch was no exception. The first night was so cold, Amanda and I stood under a tarp holding the big dinner pot sucking the last bits of heat out of it in a kind of survival mode desperation. It was a bit dramatic but she is from Florida and I haven't been camping in awhile. After that I ran to my tent and in a fetal like position sandwiched myself into my sleeping bag all the while chanting the mantra, ―what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Looks like there would be chanting after all.

The next day I woke to a damp fog and started rolling barbwire fence with my crew. There we were in the clouds making tight wire wreaths all with surprisingly high spirits. It was beautiful. The sun lifted that afternoon and dried me out so completely the rain seemed like a distant dream. It felt so refreshing to be doing something that mattered. With each wreath I rolled I pictured the animals running free and I felt a relief in myself.

Being surrounded by so much beauty and so much space lets one see beyond the rat race of traffic, shopping, standing in lines. Those daily frustrating parts of city life can‘t touch you out in the sanctuary of the woods. Out here if you forget to pack underwear (hypothetically speaking – well not really) you just deal with it you don‘t have to endure the hell of Reserve Street. Frankly I think I would rather wear dirty underwear then go out there anytime soon. Life is simple out here - you have less cloths and less choices. In the evenings your options are basically reading, stretching, sitting, eating, and sleeping. Oh and of course hanging out with the crew whom I must say I am becoming increasingly fond of.

Scary Start Awesome Finish - Brian Dahme

When October started with our planned planting hitch at the Continental Divide being canceled due to snow (inconceivable!), my hopes, and I am sure that I was not alone, were not high. It was to be the last of our season’s worth of hitches and while it was just planting, we all started out hoping for the best. I think that soon, however, all we were really planting were seeds of discontent.

All of our planting took place in the most unlikely of areas, which included planting shrubs in a landslide area. Three-quarters of the 6400 shrubs were put in the ground over the next two days, but with our efforts came the cold, the same cold that produced record lows for the area.

The cold brought along random tasks such as chopping wood for eight hours at the ranger station (which several of us, including me, enjoyed because it was actual work and kept us warm) and moving a small pile of garbage to a larger pile of garbage. I think that the cold, rain, snow, and time of season all began to wear on us.

The next week, however, brought about a change for the better. We were now tasked with pulling tread at Lone Pine State Park. I think that we all enjoyed this for the most part, although the snow at night would make our jobs a little more difficult in telling where the trail would lead, but in the end, it did not matter. We were outside, in the woods, working, and staying warm – what else did we really need?

The final two weeks of October brought weatherization to the Northern Rockies. I, along with everyone else, was unsure of what to expect at first, but we all realized soon how much fun we were going to have.


We were all welcomed by the Housing Authority with open arms and given a dinner of stew and fry bread. I do not remember the last time that I have felt that full after a meal and that includes having to eat six tacos one night at Piper Creek. This time though, I did not regret my meal.

Staying in Polson on the Flathead Indian Reservation was tremendous. I honestly have to say that the entire two week period of weatherization was awesome and maybe some of the most fun that I have had all year. Getting to spend the end of your year in a resort with a pool, hot tub, and for some of us, cable TV are all pretty great ways to end your season.

Beggining, Patrick Johnson, GY

Friday, November 6th, 2009

The last time I was unemployed I was in Minot, going to high school & running track. Today was my last day of the season with MCC. This time, unemployment is the real deal. I have bills to pay with no dependable income source. It kind of worries me that I don't have a job lined up, but only for a time. Dad called me tonight and reminded me that I didn't have a job. He did this indirectly and in a caring way as only a parent could. My MCC experience was nothing short of amazing as my love for nature has been born a new. I cannot imagine myself working in a building ever again. I spent the better part of 6 months working & camping with 5 other individuals very different from myself & each other. Jess McGinnis, Ian Baldwin, Todd Burret, Anthony Smith and Jacob Mogler made up the group I lived with. I've come to learn that we all had personal struggles but maybe some of those struggles have been made easier by this experience. I found it hard during graduation to have a reflective attitude. I was refusing the fact that this stage in my life was over and that I would probably grow apart from my new found family. I found a friend in everyone on my crew but especially Jacob. Closest in age to myself & having a similar passion for skiing we frequently hung out on our off days. I've been backcountry snowboarding with him on 3 separate occasions & enjoyed each of them. Knowing that someone else is going through some of the same struggles as myself is comforting. The relations between the group as a whole will never be as great as they were this summer. How could they? Hopefully I will not focus on this view but rather strive to maintain my new connections & hope that the others will do the same. Never before have I spent so much time with a group of people outside my family. We definately did not always agree with each other's opinions but we did strive to respect those opinions & hear the reasoning behind them. Ideally, this is how everyone would solve conflict in the world but perhaps it will never be. Complete understanding was a super hero power that I once wished for, but that would make life terribly dull. Thank you MCC for this great life changing opportunity.

Patrick Johnson
Greater Yellowstone
Team FUN

My MCC - Chris Ketchem

Hi All.

Well, the season is coming to a close. Some good times were had, friendships were created, and most importantly, some great work was accomplished. As amazing as our experiences may have been with MCC, it's time to take a step forward toward our futures and continued opened doors. As for this blogger, it's time for a job search as the memory of the beautiful summer he had traveling this gorgeous state lingers in his brain.

I had a fun time putting together a video/slide show for my team to show off at the graduation on Friday. I've also put together a photo scrap book to be kept in the MCC office for future crews and staff to flip through.

If you are AT ALL interested in applying for a season with MCC, I would greatly encourage you to do so. I am grateful to MCC for my experiences and the awesome opportunities I was blessed with this past summer/fall. I'm sad it's over. However, I'm looking forward to what my future has in store for me. It's my hope that my experiences gained with MCC will only help my future endeavors and give me a fresh perspective.

Thank you MCC! and good luck to all those crew members with your plans for the future!! -Chris Ketchem

MCC is wrapping itself up. We spent the last few weeks off the trail and on the road. MCC collaborated with HRDC to help weatherize low income family's homes throughout Montana. It was a lot different than trail work but gratifying in a different way. It felt good to witness first hand how our efforts are helping others. The crews were scattered across the state in Billings, Browning, Missoula and Havre.
Our crew spent the first week around Missoula and then took a road trip to Havre for the second week. Havre is along the high line which is home to some amazing views. Everywhere you look you can see for miles and miles across rolling hills morphing into snow capped mountains along the horizon. We worked on an indian reservation where I met a man who told me about his friend who was cured of diabetes by a medicine man. Many of the homes we visited were trailers with single paned windows and horrible drafts around their doors. It showed us how much some of these families really needed the help and really made the job feel worthwhile. It showed everyone a side of society we had never witnessed before.

We had some free time one of the days and visited the battlefield where Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce were defeated by the American army. The battlefield gave everyone a strange feeling, standing on the grounds that so many died upon. By reading the signs explaining the battle and scanning the landscape I was able to re-create the battle in my mind with vivid description. I felt sadness sweep over me, imagining the Nez Perce so close to freedom, having their lives destroyed.

Everyday working with MCC was a new experience. Whether it was working on trails in beautiful landscapes or traveling to low income family homes to weatherize there was always something to learn. Every member of our crew overcame so much adversity and discovered strengths we
never knew we had. Now that the season is over we are all going our
separate ways and traveling down different tracks of life. We may keep in touch, but we may not. Life is funny like that sometimes. But we will always remember our summer with MCC=

Kevin Bisset
Wes and Keri's Crew
Western Wildlands

East Moose Trail 421

This picture was taken on the East Moose Trail #421. We walked this trail on our way out of the wilderness from Moose Creek Ranger Station. We weren't required to work the trail since it had been cut out three times already this summer but on our walk out there were still 11 trees down. This is a trail that had not received attention in around ten years.

The tree was a dead-fall cedar and was around 36'' in diameter and our saw was dull from the season. Our entire crew took turns sawing and it took all five of us to move it.

The information we were given indicated that there were no trees down on the trail. Despite the crew's disdain for carrying the crosscut, the crew leaders insisted it be brought. After encountering this tree, the crew admitted it was a good idea to bring it.

We ended this hike and our stint in the wilderness by walking to Elk Summit in the snow. A perfect end to a serendipitous summer.

From left to right: Amanda Strick, Kai Thorsgard, Justin Duckworth and Courtney Oyler.


Photo taken by Mack Bohrmann

This season will be one that will stick with all of us for the rest of our lives. Whether we really learned anything is still to be seen but whether we are better people is a guarantee. We all hope the best for everyone and may we find each other later on down the trail. Good luck with all endeavors and may we always keep it wild.

-- Bitterroot Bad Aces
AJ and Andrea's Crew

Working in the Teddy Roosevelt National Park - EW

The Montana Conservation Corps and Gov Schweitzer's Warm Hearts Warm Homes

Eastern Wildlands on "Make a Difference Day"

Warm Homes from Evaro to Polson - Robyn Price, NRock

During the week of October 19 MCC joined the Salish/Kootenai Housing Authority in Pablo to help weatherize homes from Evaro to Polson. We mostly installed fire alarms and sink attachments, handed out shower heads, carbon monoxide alarms, special light bulbs that last five to seven years, insulated electric water heaters and covered windows with plastic. At every home we left pamphlets for energy conservation education.
The week went by fast for me. The Housing authority set us up at the Kwataqnuk hotel on Flathead Lake in Polson. We were very comfortable. We got to see a beautiful double rainbow on Tuesday from the Kwataqnuk and later in the week the Housing Authority hosted a delicious dinner for us; awesome stew and fry bread. They also generously gave our crew free admission to the local Native Musuem in Pablo which was very cool, interesting, and educational. They were very kind to us and I feet grateful to have worked for them and been given the opportunity to help some of the people who greatly contribute to their community.

six months of MCC in one blog post.

Bozeman Purple Crew!
by Michael Atkinson.

29May
Started MCC on Tuesday, but all we've done so far is gone to a place called Camp Paxson, and had some orientation and first aid training...my crew is pretty cool, and everyone on all the other crews too. on Monday we do some more training, and then we finally start actual work...our first project is eradicating houndstongue, which is lame, but most of the next six months will be in the backcountry of Yellowstone, building trail, and I am very excited!

12June

this past week we were pulling an invasive species called Houndstongue, that grows fast and wild and crazy and kills everything! It's a very boring job, but fortunately it's the worst job we'll have this whole five months, so it was good to get it done at the beginning.
we were pretty much crawling through swampy jungle in a rainstorm looking for Houndstongue, for about ten hours minus breaks. I may be masochistic to think so, but being so miserable and getting paid so little for doing a terrible thankless job that really really needs to get done is rather empowering, if you know what I mean.

21June
Last week my crew was supposed to be putting up barbed wire fencing...but we got rained out. We drove for like eight hours on Monday to get to our work site, but then the last ten miles or so was on an old dirt road and there was a huge rainstorm, and our truck got stuck in the mud way way bad...we were literally driving sideways for like a quarter mile, that took about 15 minutes, before we stopped and decided to turn around. So we drove out and spent the night at the Bureau of Land Management HQ...it was pretty fun, I slept in a trailer and caitlyn slept in a boat. We climbed a mountain to watch a beautiful sunset. The sunrise the next morning was equally beautiful...the BLMers start working at like 5:00, so I was up before then.
We're probably going to go back later to do the fencing project.

27July
Finished the Fan Creek Reroute this week! Joe's crew came, it was like a big party. Working with the other crew was really fun. Each day, the walk to work was noticeably longer...so many people working on one trail, we busted out super fast, about 250 paces every day.
There were a few thunderstorms this week, had to stop working for a while one day to let it pass. We finished the trail a day early, and went hiking the last day to Sportsman Lake. It was a beautiful hike, and a wonderful lake, and a great day, even though it started hailing really hard right when we got there....
The day we left, we made pancakes in the morning...and I decided to put hot chili powder in one. It was completely red, totally different from the other pancakes, but Joe didn't notice, and got almost all the way through it before we told him that it had chili in it....
Then we worked for a couple hours, and right as we were getting ready to leave, it started raining, HARD. we had to go down to the bottom of the valley and just stand in soaking grass, getting completely wet, for about half an hour, waiting for it to pass. Once it finally stopped raining, we had to hike out totally soaked...most uncomfortable hike of my life. It was just motivation to get out of there faster.
Some of us are road trippin' to Washington this weekend!


23September
My crew has just finished our last of three spikes in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone, doing a reroute for Miller Creek Trail. We were camped ten miles into the backcountry.
Not much to say about it, other than, Miller Creek is not terribly exciting. We saw a total of three moose during the trip, which was rather exciting...compared to the last three weeks in Miller Creek, when the most interesting thing we saw was like a squirrel maybe. Also Kayla and I almost got trampled by a bison on the hike out.

4October
My crew got back on Friday from the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area. We were told a number of things before this hitch, that subsequently proved to be false, including:
this is a frontcountry project
there's no bears
It's in a Wilderness Area, meaning no vehicles...but we got a special permit to take our rig in to the wilderness area. So we drove like 7 miles down what I guess is technically a road, but felt a lot more like driving down a dry river bed...couldn't go more than about 10 miles per hour without ruining the rig. And then we hiked about a mile to our campsite, which isn't bad. But it felt a lot more backcountry than any other projects we've had so far, including 10 miles in the backcountry of Yellowstone.

Also, there are bears. The other crew we were working with saw one on their way to work, and there was scat right outside of our campsite, and Erin heard one right in camp at night.
But it was a really really fun hitch...my favorite so far, I think? So. We drove to Missoula, met the Missoula MCC crews, and drove out to the Rattlesnake Wilderness.
Our work involved maintaining/repairing some dams that were built in the 20s and 30s by the CCC...it was really really cool, and amazingly beautiful. On Wednesday it started snowing, and didn't stop till the day we left. For some reason I didn't mind...there was too much beauty for me to get discouraged by the cold windy discomfort.
It was a short hitch, but we go back tomorrow to finish it up...wish we could be there longer.

22October
Currently we're weatherizing houses for fifteen days. We've been at it for ten days so far, and we're going back to Bozeman this Monday. Weatherizing isn't really my thing, I like trailwork and living in the woods...but it's interesting work, and I'm glad to get the experience. Most of the people we've weatherized haven't seemed very impoverished, like I thought they would be. A few have been though. I've never really been to an Indian Reservation before.
After we're done on Sunday, we're driving back on Monday. Then we will have five days off, a few days of work I think, and we're done with MCC (well, except for our crewleaders). It has been a crazy six months, and I will miss my crew and Bozeman...but I'm ready to be done.

- Michael Atkinson

MCC Billings YouTube Channel yo!

My unnerving experience with wildfires - Sarah Simmons, NRock

I suppose forest fires are an annual occurrence here in Montana. Being from Georgia, I have never experienced, nor fully understood the sheer power of wildfires and the vast amount of acreage they consume. To tell the truth, I used to know nothing about the characteristics of wildfires; i.e., how fast they spread, how many acres burn per day, the conditions that need to be present for them to ignite. Unfortunately, out of this ignorance was born a fear that nearly ruined my enjoyment on a hitch in beautiful Spotted Bear.
Two days into an eight day hitch, our crew was informed that there was a forest fire nearby, I think approximately 30 miles. Thirty miles sounds fairly close to me, however I suppose in Forest Service lingo it is not, really. On day three, the smell of burning wood began to fill the air, and by day four the sky was grey from all the smoke. I began to wonder when the ranger district was going to radio for us to hike out, and when they did not radio I could only assume that they had forgotten about us. Although plenty of hikers and pack strings passed us on the trail going toward the fire, and my crew members did not seem to be worried in the slightest, I just knew that we were going to burn up in that fire.
Needless to say, we made it out of Spotted Bear alive. I do not know why I let my imagination carry me away so far into thinking that that one fire out of the thousands that have burned in the history of Montana was going to be the one that killed the forgotten MCC trail crew. I learned a lesson, though: as it turns out, ignorance is not bliss. Since the “fire hitch”, as I like to call it, I have made it a point to edify myself on those things that have a tendency to worry me. As Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”... no pun intended.

Ant Flat - Paul Wachur, NRock

Ant Flat is the site of the first ranger station in the Fortine district. The building we painted dates from around 1920 and operated until the 60s. It is located about 2 miles north of Trego and 7 or 8 miles south of Eureka. It was our mission to paint the exterior of this oh so historic building. First, we scraped it in bio hazard suits and respirators. After which, we sanded wearing the same suits. It was great relief to finally take the suits and respirators off to prime and paint. During the final two steps we enjoyed hours of Canadian Radio Programming, which was much more informative and entertaining than its Montana counterpart.

This site was fairly well used and people would occasionally stop. Some would just read the sign from their cars then drive off. Others would walk around the buildings or on the nature trail before leaving. The site also seemed fairly popular with locals as well, perhaps because it seemed to be the only public lands in the area surrounded by farms, ranches and houses. It seemed also to be a refuge for the local deer. Which were very abundant in both the meadow and at nature trail area. Geese flew over regularly at night as well as morning and evening, but not during the middle of the day. There also appeared to be a crow roost nearby on a hillside to the southwest in dense conifers. The crows flew by to the north mostly in the morning at around sunrise. Then back to the south at or after sunset. Turkeys were also a presence, appearing in a field north of us in the mornings.

Leaving the Woods

Looking down at my finger nails, I marvel at how clean they are. This is odd because they have not been clean for the last 5 months.
Leaving the woods and coming back to car-filled streets and crowded supermarket aisles is bittersweet. I am happy to now include showers, toilet paper and pillows in my life, but I am sadden at the realization that my world is no longer made up of simply my tent and the trees around it. There are so many luxuries in our modern day world that we take for granted--hot-water, refrigeration--but I found more things in Montana's woods that I had previously taken for granted than I could have ever imagined. A tree beside my tent was no longer simply a tree, but rather a brother whom I appreciated daily for shading my tent from sun, wind, snow, rain, sleet and hail. A stream was no longer simply a pretty sight and sound, but a reward at the end of the day. Yes, there are modern-day luxuries that we all take for granted, but more than that there is a natural world out there that many people never truly experience. It is a strange discovery to realize that you feel most at home in the woods, in the dirt among a community of living things. It is comforting to know that your home is all around you, always waiting and inviting you in. Working for the Montana Conservation Corps has been an interesting journey. I have learned more about myself than I ever expected or even originally wanted. Montana, thank you for sharing yourself; thank you for teaching me and opening my eyes to your wonders. I am forever indebted to you and will carry a piece of you with me always.

Melissa Chambers
CD CM

Unexpected Journey - David Lahr, GY

My crew's most recent project was building a jack-link fence around a thermal feature in the Old Faithful area. The interesting part was that none of us knew how to build a jack-link fence, and our training consisted of a park ranger showing us a sample section of fence and telling us to copy it as closely as possible. The final result, which was completed in three days instead of the allotted eight, is a testament to how much we've learned and grown as a team. Like the rest of my crew, I could look at the project and see what needed to be done and what my part should be based on my personal set of skills. For example, I probably wouldn't have been the best person to mark where the notches on the posts should go, but AJ was great at marking while Donna used her chainsaw skills to cut the notches and trim the posts to length and Eric, Brittany, Ryan and I shared the tasks of assembling the uprights, putting the railings in place and nailing the whole thing together. If we had done this project at the beginning of the season, I probably would have stood there with my hands in my pockets until someone gave me a job to do. It's not that I was lazy, I just didn't have the mindset of looking for ways to contribute to the group.


After having the opportunity to work in almost every section of the park, the Old Faithful area seems somewhat bizarre. When I sit next to the Lake admiring the Absaroka Mountains in the distance or stare into the mind-boggling depths of Canyon, I feel like I am in a wild place and it is inspiring. At Old Faithful I feel like I'm at the beach: yes, it's natural, but it's also surrounded by boardwalks and gift shops and hotels. After sitting on a bench and watching a giant column of water shoot out of the ground for five minutes, there's not much to see except a big white barren patch of ground. At first I had trouble understanding why people would make it a priority to visit Old Faithful instead of one of the more beautiful parts of the park. When I went on a day-trip through the park with some "tourist" friends, I realized that the geyser is something that everyone can enjoy. Those who don't appreciate the beauty of nature can still be impressed by its sheer power, and the fact that they know exactly when it will erupt eliminates any tedious waiting. Sometimes I feel like Yellowstone would be better off without any tourists, but the fact that it is accessible to everyone from casual tourists to serious backpackers makes it an important resource. More people visiting the park can hopefully translate to more people understanding and appreciating the environment.


Next week we leave for Glendive, MT to weatherize houses. I didn't join MCC to tape plastic over people's windows, and I already miss working on trails. However, I feel really good about having the opportunity to help people in need who otherwise might not be able to stay warm in the winter.


-David Lahr

Crew #8 GY - Chris Ketchem

Hello interested readers! I'm Chris. I'm from crew #8 from the Bozeman, Greater Yellowstone region. The crew I was a part of worked doing maintenance this past summer on sites all over western Montana that the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) uses in the winter to measure snow fall. This sort of work included, clearing fallen trees and brush, and replacing signs that marked the sites.

We just wrapped up our work with the NRCS. Next week, we will begin weatherizing homes in the Butte area. We had some amazing hikes and saw some beautiful scenery on our previous hitches. We saw lots of wildlife and stayed in some gorgeous camping areas along the way. I'll also post just a few pics of our hitches with the NRCS so you can kinda get an idea of what we experienced.

Just last Tuesday, our crew along with others from Bozeman and around the state did some training for the weatherization we're about to start. While we were there, the Governor of Montana stopped by to speak to us and announce that our state was going to receive some stimulus money from the Obama administration to promote renewable energy and sustainable living in Montana. Obviously, the local news was there to capture the moment. As I missed the broadcast that evening, I did not see which MCC'ers made it on tv. So, I looked the story up on the new station's website. Turns out, they posted a pic of my team mates Pat, Reece, and myself on the site next to the story. You can view the story and see our picture at this a here.


Anyway - that's all I have for now. In the meantime, check out the page created for our crew on facebook! You can search it by keywords "MCC Crew #8!" or by following this link.

Talk to ya soon!

Protruding through weather and water: Fish Lake

Sept17th:
clouds split in half across the sky

water laps at the shores

trees a brilliant evergreen as fall colors seep into the shrubbery

birds call and on their wings the wind is gentle but steady

one can hear it rushing through the leaves off at great distances

the sun sinks slowly rays still lighting the peaks

a splash in the water someone or something swimming ?

I lift my hat off my ears hoping to learn more… but nothing

stobs stand proud dotting the lake

protruding through weather and water worn boulders in geometric form

something is indeed across the lake

ducks looking for something to eat

the chill has bitten me through

and so I am to continue to listen from another place



Camp is a buzz with the sounds of zippers

On rain flies, tent doors, and sleeping bags

The rustling of tarps, mummy bags, and leaves

The sky fades off into beautiful hues and I realize my camera is in the bear hang

I listen close to the distance hoping to hear an elk bugle or wolf cry but only the turning of the page meets my ear




Sept19th:
The clouds roll in as the sunsets and a storm threatens to settle in

I batten down the hatches though I hate too it blocks my view

I find thoughts rolling through my mind just like the weather and I don’t know whether or not to give them the time

The season is changing coming to a close and so much of this is just beginning to grab hold

I’m not yet prepared to make the switch over to a life without an outdoors that screams come to me for I will pluck your soul strings


Kaci Worth
Christian Meny's Crew
Western Wildlands

Nostalgia Setting In

October 7, 2009

Nostalgia Setting In

The banjo strumming is sweet melodic notes tickling my ear as we sit in a room and argue about which pictures we think are worthy of being in our scrapbook. Where has this season gone? Too fast is definitely the answer. We are reminiscing on all the amazing adventures we have had together as we agree on how when you are not happy doing things time moves slow, but when you are enjoying life and living it up it moves quicker than you can imagine. This is absolutely true as our season has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

We have been in the Bitterroot National Forest all season and it has been exactly where we are supposed to be. I am a believer in fate and know this is where we were meant to be as we have worked in the most incredible places and with the most amazing people. Just to let you know who you are dealing with in this moment we are the Bitterroot Bad Aces (as to be appropriate and professional). This consists of Andrea Walker (Andreoto), AJ Edwards (HaaaaaCheeeee/Jesus, insert Big Lebowski reference), Carly Fetzer (FetzBags), Jena Bullis (JennnnaaaBulliss/Jenners), Greg Aerni (Gregoryoto/Moose Knuckle), Schuyler Hollingsworth (Sky Bags/Old Schuyler/Sky Pants) and Vincente Garcia (Vinnie/Uncle Vinnie/Vincenzo). Everything has been as it should be from the word go with this crew. Hate to break it to all of ya’ll who have had a storming faze, but we have been fortunate enough to not have one of those and always been accepting, loving and supportive of one another. I never thought I would be fortunate enough to experience another AmeriCorps year as good as last year, but I must admit this season has exceeded all I had hoped for.

Thank you to our crew for their hard work and FLEXIBILITY! No matter the work, the time, the place, the questionability of how we would actually make certain things happen – nothing ever matters! Ya’ll are always game for anything! I love it! And also, thank you for your insanity! Weather it be chalk drawings on our faces, pants up to your chest, cheese, early (4:00 am!) mornings and random things written on the fogged up windows (you know what I mean ), harassment of one another, any and everything that has to do with all of us is what I love and thank you for. Soooooo, at this moment we are now going to inform you on the ways that the Bitterroot Crew is and will continue to be near and dear to my heart. This is our Top 10 memories (this has been very hard!) of our season.

10. Schuyler is narcoleptic and falls asleep any and everywhere in any amount of time. So much that we can actually pile up things; such as sticks, pine cones, crackers and anything and never wake up. Oh, and Sky Bag’s Christmas tree that exposed it’s self during a camp fire dinner,
9. Weinertitsville and the citizens of this city, the Bo-oobians.
8. Dave Lucas and Conan, without which we would have never gotten safely to a hitch location. Oh, and to the mule #99, who always carried our bear boxes full of food. Such a Brute!
7. FUPA. My FUPA shake brings all the boys to the yard. That’s all we got on that.
6. Jena’s Chasm, nuff said
5. Ghost town, USA. Code word for, “I just flatulated in the small enclosed space that is the rig.”
4. Steve Bull and Charlie Mabout, the real Bad Aces of the Bitterroot National Forest.
3. Vincente’s super hero tighty whities during every river crossing we ever had( my favorite was always IronMan).
2, Carly’s water crossings. She always fell in
1. CROSSCUTTING! The most beautiful thing. The sing of the crosscut as you are in sync with your partner. We definitely crosscut the most knarly logs this season and we kicked their butts!!!!!!

Another thank you to all the members in the MCC who make our jobs possible and give us the opportunity to be your “white hats.” Without you and all of your dedication, loyalty and love, this job is not possible. Thank you and we love you! To all the Crew Leaders out there: the wonderful times at all of our joint trainings, the new friendships formed, lessons learned, hardships (without which we wouldn’t have the opportunity to develop) and the all around love we have developed for Shannon Stober…so belt buckles? ,

Bitterroot Bad Aces
Andrea and AJ's Crew
Western Wildlands

An Ode to an MCC Season Quickly Winding Down - Morgan Marks, NRock

I'll remember the times out on the town smiling and chatting with ex MCC folk
Supporting local causes and spending money we all just don't have
Running into Corps Members now turned good friends, not just co-workers
And then purposefully running into them
Sharing good food and conversations at many a pot luck
Busting ass during a 21-day stint in Idaho
Building rafts out of downed logs and actually witnessing the darned thing float
Diverting a stream of water off the trail, and really learning how to 'think' like water... making sure every hikers boots remain dry :-)
Laughing, crying, being sore and tired and still finding something to smile about
It's the sweat, and stink, pulaskis and picmattocks, boots and Carharrts
Fixing and maintaining trails no one has touched in 25 years, and seeing the sponsors face glow when they see the trails' transformation
Meeting incredible, generous people - people who come into your life only for a moment, but who you'll remember for much longer
All the while holding back bittersweet tears
Cause the work's been hard, and we all came out here for our own reasons
In our hearts we will always have this season
But what connects us, all of us, is passion, and appreciation
For the wild places, the far away lakes, the incredibly clear MT night sky
The chance to see a mountain lion, or grizz
It's the grace nature allows, and gives freely
It's the love of being outside, and the 'No, not me' attitude towards cubicles
Here's to every MCCer's adventurous spirit - With Hope + Love.

The Patience of Piper Creek - Brian Dahme, NRock

As we have spent nearly a month this season at Piper Creek, it is only fitting that I devote this article to our crew’s favorite place.

The first excursion started innocently and harm free with a hitch at Piper Lake, a six mile hike in to the Mission Mountain Wilderness. The crew, for the most part, was excited at the prospect of a four day hitch in the backcountry. Monday, however, could not have changed us more if we had asked. Pulling up to the trailhead, it begins to rain. It wasn’t just drizzle. It wasn’t sporadic. It rained constantly for the next twenty-four hours. To top that off, the temperature did not crack forty.

It was cold. It was wet. It was, without saying, miserable. Everyone went to bed that night without dinner, probably the first and only time in the season that anyone purposely skipped a meal. No one could warm up. Phil most likely threw his back out from shivering. I am surprised that no one else did the same. It is safe to say that that Monday at Piper Lake was most likely the coldest that I have ever been.

As ominously as the hitch started, however, the next 2½ days could not have been nicer. There were no clouds in the sky and it was probably in the eighties. All of a sudden working in the sun wasn’t such a bad idea. Of course, our camp looked like a modern-day Hooverville with everyone’s clothes hanging out to dry.

Oh, yeah. Did I mention that our bear spray leaked while we were hiking in? It did and we all got a nice dose of it.

Late August rolled around and with it, the heat of late summer. Back at Piper Creek now after a cold hitch at Many Glacier, no one was too excited. Our task had been laid out. Eight days of brushing with loppers and bow saws. The bow saws were pretty useless.

After about two days of brushing, morale was very low. Luckily for us, we could go to Swan Lake and swim, which always brings our crew morale up, if not for a while. This was the case until we were made to pay a four dollar day use fee for the same organization that for whom we were working. Trips to Swan Lake quickly ended after we managed to gather four dollars in quarters, dimes, nickels, and probably a few pennies.

We soon found another place to swim, this time at Cold Creek, much nicer (in my opinion) than Swan Lake. Being free probably added to my happiness. A diving board also boosted our morale as a daily no-talent show of diving was put on. My “flips” (more jumping barrel rolls) were a highlight.

Leaving brushing behind was not sad. We, despite our best wishes, were back last week. The colors had changed, but the location had not. The weather had also changed, by almost forty degrees in fact. The sunny ninety degree days were gone and fifty degrees was as warm as it would get. While it was cool and not the heat of early August to work in, it made for a couple of very cold mornings.

We did experience one of the coolest things about this year. Wednesday had been overcast and small ice crystals would periodically fall from the sky. These small ice crystals though quickly became snow and it made for one of the prettiest sights of the entire season. The trees quickly became covered and the trail soon followed. Unfortunately, my camera needed to be charged and no one else had theirs, so I guess that will just be a sight for the seven of us.

So what has this month of Piper Lake/Creek taught us? It has taught us that we just need to be patient and to persevere. We could have easily given up when it was cold that day at Piper Creek or thrown down the loppers while working in the heat (and don’t think that these thoughts did not cross our minds). Instead, we did persevere, did not get on each other’s nerves (or tried not to), and remained patient. After all, if we did not stay patient, that month could have been much longer.

The California Conservation Corps visits the MCC - Domenic Santangelo, The CCC

PREPERATION:
On the evening of September3rd, the 2009 Montana exchange crew assembled. Seven Corpsmembers were selected: Slo cm’s, Aaron Smith, Aaron Harvey, and Alejandra Orozco. San Jose cm, Joe Moya, Salinas cm, Noemi Larios, and Santa Maria’s Kyle Robb.

We were scheduled to leave on Saturday September 5th and I was given two valuable days to prepare for our trip. Most of that time was spent packing a small spike camp, food from the kitchen, thorough vehicle inspections, and route planning. I also spent time going through each corpsmembers’ gear in order to assure they were properly geared up for backpacking in foul weather.

I managed to make it over to AAA where extremely patient women shared maps, miles, campground information, and combined info into an organized binder called a trip ticket. I will leave this on file with Mike Anderson to assist with future exchanges.

Phil Lafollette lent out his stash of sleeping bags, light weight tents, mess kits, and individual first aid kits. JT procured equipment such as mole skin and water filters. Robert Mendoza scheduled necessary vehicle services including routine maintenance and new tires for Mike’s Durango.

THE TRIP TO MONTANA:

After a detailed safety meeting and map review with the drivers, we departed from San Luis at 0730. We planned a stop in Las Vegas at REI for last minute purchases and then drove into the Red Rock National Monument for overnight camping.

Labor Day provided an extra travel day. We took advantage of the time and spurred a trip into Zion and Bryce Canyon. The crew spent the day in awe of the dynamic landscape. Zion and the views into the canyons were unforgettable. We camped that night on Forest Service land in Big Rock Candy Mountain, Utah.

THE SPIKE

We started our motors early on the morning of the 7th, anxious to connect with the MCC crew in Moose Wyoming. We drove the windy roads through Utah into Idaho and met with the MCC project coordinator Tim Dwyer in Ashton, Idaho. From there, we followed him through a maze of dusty and dark roads into Coyote Meadow. The MCC crew of five was already there, fire built, waiting for our arrival.

We woke up at 0530. Frost on the meadow, we realized we were no longer on the Central Coast of California. “Wydaho” was chilly and we were all pleased to have packed our hats and mittens. Forest Service Trail Manager, Jarrod Hansen from the Targhee National Forest joined our safety circle and prepared us with all the important details of our temporary home in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. Imperative detail number one: What to do if approached by a Grizzly. This would prove to behoove us to know since we were hiking into one of the largest Grizzly reservations in Wyoming. We were all issued a hefty, new can of bear spray and taught the proper etiquette of what to do if we were unfortunate enough to disturb a bear on our trip. Needless to say, we quickly fashioned our cans to our hip and never went too far without our spray- can armory or each other.

We spent Wednesday on the West side of the Tetons working just a few miles up the Bitch Creek Trail. We kept our base camp at the trail head; we were all grateful to have another day to acclimate to the thinner air of 6500 feet before marching into our spike camp at 9000 feet. Our first work day consisted of repairing what they called a bog bridge. I know these structures as puncheons. None the less, we replaced a few rotten boards and crowned material over the 75ft long structure.

We then returned back to camp to make mule loads of tools and food for our trip into the backcountry. Tim’s assistant Angela Welfley, purchased all of our food for the spike and the plan was to share the MCC kitchen. This worked out perfectly and allowed us to travel light. The food was plentiful and delicious for backpacking meals. We mimicked the MCC crew menu and followed their meal protocol: each person on the crew rotates, picks, plans, and prepares a meal for the crew.

On Thursday morning after stretching with the crew, we said our good byes to Tim, Angela, and Jeff. Forest Service Wilderness Manager, Chad Rosenburg joined our group and we all began our seven mile hike up hill into Conant Basin, aka…. Big Griz Country. Upon arrival into our camp, Chad led us into an explicit conversation of Leave No Trace Ethics, and bear education. I was impressed to learn that the MCC follows Leave No Trace to the T and were all extremely dedicated to not leaving an environmental impact.

With the exceptional leadership provided by the crew leaders, Jess McGuiness, and Eli Schiedermayer, the work couldn’t have gone smoother. Divided into three cross cut teams and one treading group, we hiked North, South and East up to Jackass Pass for maintenance runs. The trail hadn’t been maintained for years and the blow down was excessive. Each team managed to remove an average of twenty trees per day and we were all pleased with our progress. Near the end of the spike, we managed ten mile maintenance days and the California Crew kept up well considering the altitude gap from sea level.

The MCC group was extremely accommodating with training and patience. They were all entering their 5th month hiking and living in the woods. Our evenings were filled with laughter around the fire. We thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company and new friendships were made. I took every opportunity possible to recruit Jess into the CCC and possibly the backcountry program. I believe her experience leading crews for the MCC would greatly serve our program as well.

During that week we had the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful backcountry Wyoming could offer. Summer was giving up her fight; Meadows were turning from a riot of bloomed out foliage to withering colors of orange and gold. Aspens would shake in the cool breeze and the grand Tetons peeked out from the back drop. Extremely different from the Sierra, the Jed. Smith is one continuous meadow, dotted with towering Engelmann Spruce and Aspen groves, roaming rivers and creeks. Remarkable, big country. Every afternoon, clouds formed and it wasn’t until our last evening that the sky opened up into a thunder storm. The next morning, Tuesday, September 15th, we stuffed our soggy gear into our packs, said farewell to our new friends and began our hike back to our vehicles.

TRAVEL HOME:

After our hike out we drove back into Ashton, Idaho to retrieve our food and coolers stored by Jeff at the Ranger Station. We continued on down the road to Driggs, Idaho where we rented a room in a hostile type called the Pine Inn. For less than twenty dollars a person we had access to hot showers, clean sheets, television, and an enormous close line to drape out our wet gear.

On Wednesday we were anxious to return to the road to enter back into Wyoming for our much awaited visit into Yellowstone National Park. We made it to the visitor center just in time to watch Old Faithful blow. While in the park we mingled and photographed giant bison, bull elk, and a teen Grizzly grazing on the side of the road. This somehow satisfied our trip since we managed to make it through the spike without seeing a bear.

We camped that night an hour north of the park in Livingston, Montana. After visiting the MCC office in Bozeman, we headed down the 15 through Idaho and into Lock love Nevada for our last night on the road.

"Hug-A-Tree" in the Beartooths @ Mystic Lake

Instructions: The crew members partner up with one another. One is blind-folded and the other leading. The blind-folded crew member is lead out to a random tree after being spun around 10 times. Their goal is to get to know that tree using all senses but their sight. Once the crew member has spent some quality time with their tree they are lead back to the neutral spot where the pair first set out. The blind-fold is removed, and the crew member is expected to find the exact tree they just got up close and personal with.

Breanna Truelove

Eastern Wildlands

Measure of Success

The success of a hitch can be measured by the miles of trail cleared, the number of water bars installed, or the acres of weeds sprayed. This hitch, however, was measured by the amount of dirt brought home. Cutting new trail is dirty work as it is, but cutting new trail in a section of the Beartooths that burned in the 2008 Cascade fire is dirtier than that.

On the Senia trail in the Beartooth-Absaroka wilderness, we began an almost overwhelming task: build a new trail on a steep hillside with nothing but a few red flags marking the way. We had never done anything like that before but jumped in and started digging. Swing after swing of our pick-mattocks and we slowly found ourselves moving further and further away from the trailhead. We also found ourselves being covered in more and more soot and ash left over from the fire. In the hot June sun, layers of sweat and sunscreen further cemented the dirt into our pores and a cold snowmelt river near camp was less than inviting for washing up. After ten days the entire crew looked as if they had been mining coal for a month without a shower.

Once back in Billings the work wasn’t over. Now it was time to remove the dirt caked onto our skin so thick that it even covered those awesome farmer tans we have from our MCC work shirts. When the first shower after a ten day hitch has dirt running down your legs, you know it was pretty bad, but when dirt is being found two days later in knee and elbow creases, you know it was really bad.

A second hitch in the same burn area last week revealed an unusual tolerance for a level of filth that would otherwise be unacceptable. When Ryan, EW Program Coordinator, noted the dirtiness of the hands we were eating with and the response was this isn’t nearly as bad as last time, we knew it was our dirtiest hitch. Don’t mistake this for complaining. That was one of our best hitches, and from how dirty we were when we arrived back in the office, it was the most successful.

Liz Dodson, EWCL

A Poem - NRock

well, well, well here we are again friends, set up in the backcountry of the state,
two hours from the office? someone must have made a mistake,
the rain has stopped or so it seems for the week,
until we get back outside mother nature heard me, to soon i speak,
a colored sunrise to urge us out of that warm, cozy bag,
too much coffee yet my feet sometimes still drag,
a check here, a check there, a bit of brushing then add some drains,
gotta love those great days and try to love ones with the rain,
the break is over only a few months until we are done,
its been so long but the days merge into one memory of fun,
Glacier, Hungry Horse, Swan Lake, and the Missions,
the crew to the family to the times when we'll miss them,
a tool to take from the morning to the dusk,
remember the smiles and jokes you discussed,
an unwanted hitch, undaunted crew conquering the scary,
trail pizzas, taco mix and a stinky talk about chuck berry,
tired at the end of the day or snoring in the dirty tent,
i'm limping my way through without a single regret,
so at the beginning, we live the experience and not for the wealth,
as the end nears remember, just be safe and always enjoy yourselves...

Congratulations!

What happens when AmeriCorps hosts a photo contest that hundreds of people across the nation enter? I’ll tell you…MCCers drop a few submissions and take 2nd and 3rd place overall! Check it out: http://www.americorpscontest.org/PublicContent/Photo/Contestants.aspx

My Experience in the MCC - Kelly Manos CDCM

In the summer of 2003, I had my first experience with the MCC as a Helena youth crew member in the Youth Engaged in Service program. The five weeks of service would forever change my life and view of my natural surroundings. I have since become a field crew member and and excited that I have the opportunity to work not only with MCC "freshmen," but youth crew members from around Montana as well.

Working with the youth crews as a field crew member is like looking in a mirror six years ago. I see the excitement, thrill and eagerness to learn that must have been in my eyes as a youth crew member. I love the feeling of being able to give back while encouraging youth to continue with what they learn here. I learned outdoor and life skills in the youth program. I now get to apply and improve upon those skills as a field crew member in the wilderness, with community involvement and life experiences.

The Bitterroot...?

TINCUP, Friday July 24th. This is Carly reporting for Andrea and AJ's crew in the western wildlands- the Bitterroot...? (We have yet to decide our team name.) At the present moment I am watching four of our seven members debark logs for waterbars while two members are out on personal business and I am sitting on a log with a swollen, mosquito-bitten eye. I'd like to report at this point that Jena, Schuyler, Vince, and our leader Andrea are doing an awesome job working with three people down.

And now, please enjoy some highlights of our second hitch in Tincup:

HIGHLIGHT #1: Makeshift tent adventures. Schuyler lent his tent to a friend over the break who returned it without the poles. This meant, first, that Schuyler spent a night in the open air- or air infested with mosquitoes and was thus forced to stuff his head in his sleeping bag. Suffocating was apparently preferable to being eaten alive. Having no poles, next, lead Schuyler to use other means to erect his tent being: hemp, knots, and trees. Although his tent looked more like a crumpled sack, it did succeed in keeping the mosquitoes out.

Have I mentioned mosquitoes yet? HIGHLIGHT (or low-light) #2: MOSQUITOES SUCK. Besides my swollen eyelid and Schy's open-night air of terror, mosquitoes have taken over our world. When once only a few mosquito bites decorated our arms, now angry red spots have shown up on our faces, butts, EYELIDS!, anywhere the monsters can get at the blood. But, really! How much blood can be coursing through an eyelid?! My second favorite mosquito wound after mine, of course, came from our MCC staff visitor and fellow worker Joe who sported a streak of blood running from above his left eye-brow to below his left eye. I would like to dub this past version of Joe SCAR after the evil lion brother in The LION KING. Let's suffice it to say that mosquitoes were on a death campaign. Lucky for AJ and Greg that they missed the carnage.

CARNAGE- like CARNE meaning meat, which brings me to HIGHLIGHT #3: Eating steak in the wilderness. How nice it is to have mules to pack in our food and how nice of crew members to pack in delicious stuff like Greg's thin beef steaks, marinated overnight in soy sauce, honey, jerk steak sauce, and who knows what other wonderful items. And how nice it is when a day's work intensifies our hunger and shuts our speech as our teeth sink into medium-well done morsels, releasing the bloody, sweet juices. So good.

And so good for HIGHLIGHT #4: was Joe's presence bringing with it help at work, an awesome home-sewn sweater made from an old army blanket, and homemade crumble bread filled with fruit pulp and topped with brown sugar and butter that tingled the tongue. Thank you, Joe!

And thank you for reading through these Tincup highlights. Clearly I care mostly about food when I'm on hitch, but it's not to say that the work wasn't great! We made us some beautiful waterbars and check-steps that week- including Jena's waterbar that our sponsor Steve Bull called "textbook worthy." Good work, everyone!

Boom goes the dynamite

BOOM! That was the noise that the Earth Crew had to constantly hear for the past nine days. The sound of intense explosion of large boulders and hard to get out stumps. The explosions could be heard throughout the valley, the shockwave penetrating our shoes while making our ears ring. the past nine days were intense, almost everyday we climbed as a crew up some very steep trails, for some of us it was a painful wake up call every morning, but each time we got to the top we bettered ourselves individually and as a crew. Most of the days we spent clearing the trail of rocks and stumps but on the occaional morning when the forest service decided to show up, we would have to carry explosives in our day packs all the way to the top which made the already diffcult trek to the top even harder, but we still made it and performed our jobs equally well. Some days would be sweltering hot while other days it would be cool with the occasional rain shower. At the end of everyday when we had time to ourselves, we would all take the time to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area that we called home for nine days. Some of us went fly fishing, others went for a hike, or just marveled at the beauty that mother nature provided before our eyes. The vast skyrising rising mountains, the creek filled with lots of fish, and the forest with its cast diversity of wildlife. Two mornings in the row while we were doing stretch circle, a large female moose decided to occupy our camp, its grace and beauty captured our attention as we watched it stroll through camp eating bit by bit. The Beartooth mountains clearly have some of the most enjoyable sights we as a crew have ever seen and we are extremely happy to be making such a difference at this beautiful place.

Matt Gorman, CD CM

What can I do?

This week's PLACE lesson really got me thinking. More than most this time, mostly about earth, environment, everything surrounding me, society, everything in general. The question I ask myself is "What can I do?" to save this place I so dearly love. I try to promote peace, tolerance, and save the environment by being non-confrontational for the most part, accepting others, and most things the "societal green revolution" promotes (ride shares, energy saving light bulbs, bricks in the toilet, not letting the faucet drip, turning lights off, eating organic vegetarian) but that's all shit compared to what I really want to do and also see happen, which brings me back to my question of what else can I do? I am constantly searching for answers and I have yet to find most of them, but I'm still quite young at the old age of 23. Do I start a revolution? Join Greenpeace? Earth First? Monkey-Wrenchers? All seems too radical to me, but maybe that's what needs to happen to conquer all this apathy I see happening. Sometimes I feel like maybe I care too much and everybody doesn't care enough, with words like, "you're such a hippie" and "hippies died in the 60s." I don't think it's a hippie thing. I think it's a human thing.

-Clayton Meyers, Wind Crew, Central Divide

Hitch Number Six - Robert Setters, WWCM

Team Adventure Recon’s third hitch in the West Pioneers vacillated with danger and mediocrity. Recon experienced burning hot weather. Loss of trail, again, and long steep inclines and declines were the usual for Recon. Among the many arduous adventures that befell the members of this brave team were microburst aftermath, rampaging elk and good, weighty dinners. This courageous team of surveyors not only pushed the limit in miles surveyed, but also defied political irresponsibility. Team R. has made the decision to push the limits where ever they are, and have decided to travel even faster for the rest of the season with a new revolutionary four three system. Recon is undoubtedly great.

Community Projects - Jessie Flowers, Green Crew GY

Im just getting back from being with my crew and today wasn’t really something I was used too doing. Today we helped out a woman who was an owner of a thrift store, she needed help cleaning it. That’s where we came in. She was planning to open in a month. The beginning of the afternoon we started building steps for this guy named Gary. We are building these steps because people and their dogs are having a hard time getting to the creek, and their messing up the grass. Hopefully these steps will be a big help to these people when we are done.

Why Don’t You Cry Yourself A River Then Build Yourself A Bridge So You Can Get Over It?

Why Don’t You Cry Yourself A River Then Build Yourself A Bridge So You Can Get Over It?
By Mark Dostal

…which is exactly what we did. Except that it was the heavens that were crying. The rainfall of which was engorging a spring flow creating a lengthy mud pit right across the trail of the beautiful Welcome Creek Wilderness. So it wasn’t exactly a river, but It was certainly a threat to the clean, nice boots of many a would be gatherer of Welcome Creek’s upper huckleberry fields. But building a bridge in the mud is no easy matter (unless you just throw a plank down and call it good, but that wouldn’t allow for the finesse and skill that team Raw Dogs has spent the summer cultivating through chainsawing and rockwork). So before we could begin constructing the bridge we needed to dredge a passable waterway through the mud. Six inches down and many buckets of mud later, gravel was found causing much rejoicing among the muckraker (me). For now the substantial trickle of water could flow steadily downward instead of seeping across the trail. Meanwhile, up on the slippery hills above, the crew was adjusting to the slower but more zen method of felling trees with crosscuts and axes. Not quite as fast as the chainsaw, but all the more satisfaction when the tree comes toppling down.
Now it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a logistical problem moving tree segments downhill. After all, they’re big, heavy, and slippery and gravity is working in your favor. But gravity, it seems, is still the greatest enemy of man. In moving the logs down hill there are some very important considerations one must…consider. If the log gets moving too fast, it’s liable to get away from you and go rocketing past the bridge foundation landing far below its intended destination. This would be followed by much muttering of discontent among the crew as they would now have to haul it back up a hill that is equivalent to a Slip ‘n Slide hung at a 45 degree angle. Not fun. Not easy. Not worth it. There also exists the possibility of the perfect log ending up smashing itself into worthlessness or plummeting off those random little cliffs that seem to come out of nowhere when very important objects (like Kenny’s shoe or Max’s glove) decide to be dropped. So the slow descent is the best option. It sounds easy enough. Three or four people take some rope and a solid stick and rig up a decent harness for the long. Then just nudge it along a little bit at a time and reign it back when it starts to move to quickly. But in reality it plays out like walking a bear. It dictates where it will go and you thank god when it’s over.
After the tree segments are down, it’s time to take the draw knives to them. Then comes flattening of the tops and the cutting out of notches of the trees. But not before measuring. And re-measuring. Then telling your crew you messed up both sets of measurements, but it’s ok because we’re going to re-measure, and this time damnit, it’s going to work. But let’s measure that again just to be sure. Then, somehow, as it all starts fitting into place, it actually all fits into place. Not just loosely, but tightly. So tight in fact that the ten inch nails you were given become an afterthought. A satisfying topping on this bridge sundae.

Marc Dostal
Christian's crew
Western Wildlands