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