Henry Kelso
Trail Crew Member
May 22-26: Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute
Nez-Perce Clearwater National Forests ︳Powell Ranger Station
Powell Ranger Station features an island along the Lochsa River that was once the campsite of Lewis and Clark!
Kicking off this 2023 season at SBFC, there is a lot of novelty in the people and places we visit. This past week, the fellows along with much of the SBFC staff traveled to Powell Ranger Station to participate in the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (NRWSI). This 5 day event brought many groups together including Forest Service, Parks Service, and other partner organizations. Together we spent time learning about wilderness values and stewardship, trail maintenance and of course cross-cut sawing!
The Pack Strings jam out in a barn, playing on a stage made of hay bales and surrounded by horses and foot stompin’ trails people.
This week was also a great opportunity to get to know one another. The staff and fellows have come from around the country to be a part of our mission to protect and enhance wilderness, so some proper introductions were in store. We camped together all week in the notorious Dumpster Alley, cooking up delicious meals and belly aching laughs. Every evening the lovely coordinators of NRWSI had an activity for us to join, such as a potluck, a game night, a talk with the legendary Smoke Elser, and to go out with a bang a performance from the talented Pack Strings, the bassist being our very own Connor Adams!
This week also gave us a chance to meet others outside of SBFC such as Forest Service staff or Montana Conservation Corps members. Being able to interact with so many who shared a common goal of wilderness stewardship was refreshing. It was encouraging to see so many bright faces that were excited to get their hands in the dirt and understood the value of wilderness.
The NRWSI provided me with new relationships and a revived love for wilderness. The 2023 season is upon us and trails are waiting to be blazed! After this week I’m ready and eager to get out in the field, dig some tread and pull some saw!
Our fellows Kieran Wilder and Julian Brastow learning the ways of the cross-cut saw.
Henry Kelso
Trail Crew: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Selway-Bitterroot & Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Henry grew up in Asheville, NC, where he had access to lots of outdoor recreation in the Southern Appalachians. He and his family hiked often. Henry spent five months in 2021 on a trail crew for Montana Conservation Corps, where he gained good trail experience. He is currently a research technician at NC State and has done some field work collecting data. He feels that Wilderness is a unique way to connect people to the outdoors and contribute to conservation.