April Eling
Wilderness Trail Crew Leader
Group photo at the trailhead one day 1
As a crew leader for SBFC, I led a variety of hitches this summer. I led some hitches with just our wilderness ranger fellows, some with volunteers from all over the country, and some with only other crew leads. The diversity of experiences was one of the things that drew me to this job and ended up being my favorite part of the experience. Each type of trip has its own set of challenges, rewards and growth opportunities. When I reflect on my season, however, there is one hitch that stands out as the most fun, inspiring and impactful of the year. That hitch was the One Horse Lake Catrock Youth Trip.
On July 17-24th, I set off down a burned trail in the Bitterroot with four teenagers, two SBFC fellows, one teacher, and a pack string. When we came out eight days later, I felt transformed as a person and ready to tackle the rest of the season with a renewed sense of purpose.
Group photo at One Horse Lake. Taken when we completed the trail and right before we went for a celebratory swim!
Catrock Ventures is a Bronx, New York City based nonprofit dedicated to empowering low income youth through outdoor experiences. Their mission is fulfilled through a variety of programs, one of which is an annual trail work hitch with SBFC. When I found out I was leading that hitch, I was a mix of excited and nervous. I love working with youth and I am passionate about the mission statement of Catrock. But at the same time, I’m a 25 year old from Eastern Kentucky, now living in Montana- how much am I going to be able to relate to inner city teenagers? To help alleviate some of this anxiety, I requested one of the Fellows that I knew was from New York City to be on the hitch with me. That ended up being a great call- Jack, along with the other fellows, Caroline and Emma, were an invaluable addition to the crew.
Zamir learning to ride the packer's horse
Zamir and Jazeer crosscutting
What I found from day 1 of hitch, however, was that everyone on that trail had one big thing in common: we were all there because we craved adventure, physical challenge and a desire to work hard in a wild place. While most of these kids had never been backpacking or done trail work before, they learned incredibly quickly and progressed tremendously throughout the week. It was really cool to see the kids go from never using a saw before to reading binds and completing cuts independently. I saw them become empowered by learning that they are capable of cutting trees, setting up camp and carrying heavy packs for long days. When asked at the end what their favorite part of the hitch was, all of them said some version of using tools to clear the trail.
That is the beauty of these youth programs, I think. There are many backpacking and hiking trips across the country for kids to get outside and see wild places. And while those programs are amazing, I think the SBFC trail work trips offer something more: a sense of pride, empowerment and giving back. They also show that you can make a career out of being outside and using your hands. One of the participants, Richie, who started out as a teenager in the Catrock program and now is a leader while in college, had this to say about his experience: “My journey in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness deepened my appreciation for nature and was one of the reasons why I decided to major in Environmental Studies.”
Group photo on the last day of hitch
These SBFC youth hitches are incredibly impactful for everyone who participates. For the participants, they are getting out of their community and learning things about themselves and the world for the first time. For the SBFC Wilderness Ranger Fellows, they are solidifying the knowledge they’ve gained throughout the season by teaching others, all while proving to themselves their capacity to progress into a leader in this field. And for the crew leaders like me, we become reinspired after years of grinding, and remember why we chose this path in the first place.
Jack Boyle, one of the SBFC Fellows, summed it up well with this reflection: “Wilderness has often been referred to as our nation’s most valuable resource. I believe that to an extent. It is only when wilderness is accessed and explored by our nation’s youth that it is our greatest resource, because it must be when the hands of our future hold its treasures in their palms that wilderness truly becomes valuable.”
Thank you to SBFC, Catrock Ventures, Peter Healy, Richie Lara-Rodriguez and everyone who donated to make this incredible experience come to life.
Snowman built on the last day near Carlton Lake
Emma (SBFC) and Jazeer (Catrock) arm wrestling as a part of our SBFC vs Catrock "hitch olympics"
April Eling
Wilderness Trail Crew Leader: Bitterroot National Forest
April grew up in Eastern Kentucky. After graduating high school, she moved to Utah and spent a year with a conservation corps doing trail work, invasive species removal, and more. She then spent four years as a wildland firefighter with the Forest Service in Arizona, California, and Montana. Now, she's wrapping up her college degree in Kentucky, where she also worked as a backcountry ranger. She loves Wilderness because it represents nature in its truest form and provides mental and physical well-being to all who access it. She is passionate about maintaining these places for ecological health as well as optimal access for all people.