Being on the wilderness immersion crew is truly a unique experience. How many people in this country can say they have lived in one of the most remote areas of the country? No lights, no motors, no stores, no radio, no ice cream, no stress. A friend once told me: “Bliss is in abundance in the wilderness and so easily lost on return to the land of the normals.” I never knew what he meant until I came out here. I had bread for the first time in a month yesterday and that was bliss. I pushed my body till every muscle was burning, and I was gasping for breath, just to get a view from the top of a mountain and that was bliss. Lying in my hammock and watching the sun set over the ridge is bliss. I have found more happiness and meaning to my work in one month here than all previous experiences combined. Our work here is worthwhile. We are preserving historic trails and a forgotten way of life. It is so easy to get caught up in modern society and forget that there is a simpler way of life.
“Take the wilderness challenge” we were told when we got here. This is the call to use our own physical resources rather than relying on technology. A cross cut vs. a chain saw. A double-jack vs. a Pionjar. The Wilderness Act calls for land untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor that does not remain. No roads (except for administartive purposes), and no mechanical transport. So here we are taking the wilderness challenge, trying to work in extreme conditions using primitive techniques. At times it can be frustrating and overwhelming. But then I remember that people like me are going to use the trails. We are creating opportunities for solitude seekers. People who need an escape from the overcramped society we live in, a place to go to, to reconnect to our human nature. It’s so comforting to know that these lands we are working are federally protected, that at least a small part of this country is safe from being paved over and turned into a parking lot or housing complex.
Our days of working are spent clearing fallen trees, doing retread, cleaning water bars, and brushing. I’m not going to say that brushing is boring and tedious, but there is a reason that I listed it last. The days are long, but being able to see our progress at the end of the day is motivation.
The days off are spent hiking and lounging. You would never expect there to be a small city in the wilderness, but that is essentially what the ranger station is. It is a hodge-podge of people cramming together from across the country for the common cause of this pristine land. Our bond is that we acknowledge the beauty and worth of this land and our work here. I look forward to the rest of the summer and the rewards in store.
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