Madeline Williams

Wilderness Steward

Hitch #7 | August 30-September 7

Salmon-Challis National Forest | Frank Church Wilderness

*A plume of smoke rises in the distance, an unfavorable fall trait.*

The amount of light gradually dwindles each day like the amber leaves of an aspen tree. Mornings become colder and damper, making it rather tempting to stay bundled up in my sleeping bag. The geese say their farewell as they head towards warmer climates. The rivers and streams flow with less velocity as the high-mountain snow no longer has anything to give. The chipmunks, squirrels, and pikas are in a race to collect and store as much food as possible. This is fall. This is change.

*As the winter equinox draws closer, the sunrise peaks later in the day.*

Each year, when the season transitions from summer into fall, I am humbled by nature’s ability to react and respond for the sake of survival. There is an innate impulse to move, to change. It’s as if an internal clock has alarmed. What causes this phenomenon to happen? Even humans don’t fully understand. However, we can embrace the fact that something is beyond us, that change will happen regardless of our comprehension.

Madeline Williams, Salmon-Challis National Forest Wilderness Steward

Madeline grew up in a small community in Southeastern Idaho called Soda Springs. She has been engaged in environmental-related work from a very young age. She has experience in outdoor education, water sampling, rangeland management, and more. Her passion for the outdoors stems from a combination of personal and academic experiences. Madeline is committed to doing everything in her power to protect and preserve natural areas and those that inhabit them.