Will Stoskopf
Wilderness Ranger Fellow
July 7-14
Bitterroot National Forest/Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Kootenai Creek Trail, Storm Creek Trail
After a tough couple of days clearing trail, diving into the cold, harsh waters of the Middle Fork Kootenai Lake was a welcome reprieve. Although technically not our primary objective, as a group we made sure to make it to the lake for an afternoon soak at all costs. A refreshing swim in the lake was well deserved, as we had just wrapped up cutting a 3-foot-wide tree that had landed right in the middle of the trail. That tree was just the tip of the iceberg of what we accomplished on that hitch. Madi, Phoebe, Isabelle (all Wilderness Ranger Fellows),Tori, and I had seen a lot over the past few days: hummingbirds hovering over us while we stopped for lunch at a clearing, snakes slithering past us as we trudged along the path, and 3 bears were seen clawing trees and trotting parallel to our trail on lunch breaks and at camp. The wildlife and scenery were a constant reminder of the area’s “wildness”. I became more aware of the cycles that moved all around me, of night and day, work and rest, and how disconnected my day-to-day life was from the natural world.
After reaching the lakes, we left Kootenai Creek the next morning for one night back at home before heading to Storm Creek Trailhead for the second half of the hitch. This half was a big change from the first half; instead of a 5-person crew in the Bitterroot, Isabelle and I were reunited with our crew leader Connor in the Selway for a smaller 3-person crew. The landscape had also changed, instead of a narrow, confined valley drawing into multiple drainages with lakes, our trail to Siah Lake was a long, steep descent into a valley floor shielded by trees and overgrowth. The days were hot, the mornings and nights cold, but the work was rewarding and fulfilling. We were assigned to clear the trail loop around Siah Lake, but one end of the trail petered out into a wildfire-induced marsh, the other end was under multiple feet of water. Although these surprises made our job a bit more difficult, I relished it. Moments like those show how unpredictable it can be in the backcountry, and adds to the wonder of the adventure. Once it came time to head back out and rejoin society, I couldn’t help but look forward to the next hitch!
Hike in to Kootenai Lake
Madi, Phoebe, Tori, and Isabelle hiking up to the Middle Fork Kootenai Lake
Kootenai Lake
Madi and Tori looking on at the Middle Fork Kootenai Lake and the surrounding bowl.
Storm Creek Trail
Connor walking down the Storm Creek Trail at the beginning of the work day
Siah Lake
Isabelle looking down the valley towards Siah Lake