Some Memorable Miles on the Blodgett Trip

Matthew Hutchins – Wilderness Ranger Intern  

Christopher Newport University

Blodgett

July 13-17

Bitterroot National Forest

This Blodgett trip was full of twists and turns in the road and on the trail. I showed up the morning of the first day ready and excited to get back to work after a few days off. The trip started on Thursday the 13th and was scheduled to last until Wednesday the 19th. The six volunteers arrived with all their gear, I introduced myself to each of them and got a feel for the each individual’s level of backcountry experience.  We had some people who had years of trail work experience, and others who had never backpacked before. The varied experience levels made the whole trip so much more exciting.  Each volunteer required different training and instruction which was both the challenge and the opportunity.  I left my stuff for the packers to carry into our camp and hiked in front of the group and packers with Adam Washebek, USFS to make sure that no trees were going to block the stock from making it to camp.

Camp was seven miles out and the hike was a “walk in the park” because the mules were packing the food, and for that I will be forever grateful.  We got to camp on the first day about an hour before the packers and an hour and a half before the rest of the group. We set up camp once everyone was there and did a little bit of clearing trail that day.  Day two was going to be the day we tried clearing to the lake, much to our surprise by the afternoon we were at the lake having cleared only 12 trees total. Adam had taken a group up the pass along the trail and Ethan (the other Intern) and I took the rest of the group to Blodgett Lake. The lake was welcomed sight, plus it was an easy hike in.  Because there was not much work to be done around the lake it meant we had to change our plans for the rest of the trip.  We were scheduled for one more day with volunteers and three more days for just Ethan and myself.

Once we had gotten back to camp we ate a good meal and planned Saturday’s project. Saturday morning Ethan woke up with only one hour of sleep due to migraines and wasn’t going to be able to work that day. One of the volunteers also woke up with severe blisters on his feet, to the point where is feet were almost raw; he was out for the day. Consequently, we were down two men but we decided to clear a bit of the lake trail a mile from our camp off the Blodgett trail. We knew we wouldn’t be hiking much because we knew the trail was a mess from last year’s intense storms. Once we arrived, our predictions were correct.  About .1 miles into the trail there was a pick-up-stick pile of 30 trees all intertwined with one another.  We couldn’t even find the trail so we cut the least number of trees to reconnect the trail.  We made about 50 cuts that day and were nearing the end of our work day when our trajectory abruptly changed.

One of the volunteers tripped and injured both of her ankles to the point she was unable to walk and was in a lot of pain. I knew exactly what to do because of my Wilderness First Responder training at the beginning of the season, and quickly went back to camp to grab a few “medical” supplies.  While back at camp we asked Ethan, who had been catching up on sleep all day, if he could help with the volunteer.  We went back to her location and taped her ankles.  She was unable to put any pressure on her left ankle and could barely put pressure on her right. Adam and I had planned to get her back to camp on our shoulders.  From camp she could ride out on horseback the following day.  We started to help her down the trail and quickly realized that our plan to transport her would take an estimated three very painful hours. Ethan who is 6’6’’, 315 pounds and a college football player offered to carry her on his back. WHAT A HERO! We all were very grateful for Ethan’s brawn and people-pack ability.  He turned a three hour, very painful, trip into only 40 minutes. 

The saga continued……………….

The next morning, a few hours before the horse was to take our patient down the trail, she surmised that putting her feet in stirrups would be too painful for her injured, more tender and now swollen ankles.  The only other option was a helicopter. Adam quickly got on the radio and called in a helicopter from a nearby location to pick her up in the meadow right next to our camp. The patient was relieved. Thirty minutes later a helicopter landed in the meadow picking her up and taking her safely into town.  Our local Forest Service contact then transported her to the ER for treatment and release.   It was a once in a lifetime experience for me to see a backcountry helicopter rescue in action.  The crew was swift and efficient.

Later that day, the pack string arrived and the volunteers hiked out. Ethan and I had to finish up some paper work down the trail looking at campsites. The next day we cut more tree at High Lake only making a small dent in the trail.  We hiked out Monday night, a few days before we had planned, but that’s the way trail work works. You never know what you are going to get, but this trip I will remember.

Teamwork and Dedication - Recipe for Success

Steven Mantini – Wilderness Ranger Intern

Michigan Tech

Marble Creek

July 11-16

Payette National Forest

As a Wilderness Ranger Intern I have adapted to the physical and mental stresses, while enjoying the incredible rewards, which accompany heavy trail maintenance and isolation in the Frank Church. However, this hitch on the Marble Creek Trail presented a host of new challenges and even more rewarding experiences as we worked side by side with a group of volunteers. Instead of being solely responsible for myself; Kelly, Gabe, and I were now responsible for 7 volunteers. The exchange is simple, we take care of the logistics, shared equipment, meals, and work planning, while our volunteers dedicate a week of their free time to help us clear and improve the trail. It is a tremendous commitment on behalf of both parties. Before we even arrived at the trailhead, we spent hours planning meals, food shopping, prepping equipment, and stressing about all the variables that working in the wilderness presents. The volunteers drive themselves hours up dirt roads, commit to the intense, physical work of trail maintenance, and do it all on their days off from work, while they could be laying in a hammock enjoying a cold beverage.

Once we met up with these dedicated volunteers and made the 2-hour drive to the trailhead, I began to feed off of their tremendous positivity and dedication. Throughout the week they dealt with mosquitoes, horseflies, over 30 creek crossings, and countless other challenges. Not only did they handle the challenges in stride, they were able to accomplish a tremendous amount of work as well. I was impressed with their ability to read the complicated binds of fallen logs and help us cross cut saw safely and efficiently. Once we all got into a rhythm, my worries faded away and I was able to enjoy the great company. We were a diverse group with a wide range of ages and backgrounds, yet we bonded quickly over our love of the great outdoors.

Their appreciation for everything wilderness helped me to slow down and remind myself of all the reasons why I love this work. My office includes majestic sunsets, the endless music of songbirds and creeks, epic stargazing, and sometimes more importantly, the opportunity to bond with others in the absence of modern distractions and comforts.

Thank you to all of the volunteers for your amazing work, to Jon Binninger for packing all our food and tools and bringing us a surprise resupply which included his fantastic organic, fair-trade coffee. Purchase it here and support SBFC! http://landgrovecoffee.com/product/organic-cross-trails-blend/), and to Jesse and Josh from the US Forest Service for clearing the road to the trailhead, giving us tips and tricks for efficient trail work, and partnering with us in everything that we do in the field.

Finding Myself on Stanley Butte

Heather Morris – Wilderness Ranger Intern

State University of New York

Seven Lakes Hitch

July 11-16

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest

Coming from New Jersey I had no idea what to expect stepping off the plane in the “new world” that was Montana. I was nervous and excited for our upcoming training, meeting new people, and for the first time ever: backpacking. I honestly considered turning around a few times and going home and even wishing I had turned down this position. Overall, I am incredibly thankful I didn't. This past hitch was one of the most amazing times I've had this summer and probably going to be one of my favorite life experiences. 
This past hitch started out like any other– Silas and Will showing up at Powell to pick us up. We loaded up and headed out to drop some food off to get packed in later at Lochsa Historical Ranger Station. In a move typical of us, we realized we forgot a crosscut and some campsite inventory forms and had to turn around and go back to Powell. We finally arrived at our trailhead and headed up trail 220. This trail could be considered someone's own personal hell. The only words to describe this 4-mile stretch is up, up, and up. We finally arrived at our campsite, aka Cedar camp. Exhausted and thirsty we then proceeded to hand pump water for 30 minutes from a small trickling spring. The dinner pot was classically full to the brim and we were stuffed. Sleeping in our tents that night we got to hear the disturbingly eerie sound of a distressed elk right next to our tent and a few coyotes in the distance. Next day we decided to take a “nice stroll” and clear Huckleberry Butte. Up and up we went to the top and down, down, down we went till we finally cashed tools. Then it was the day to bump camp to the land of water; Lottie Lake. Up and down we went again until we got to Lottie lake campsite or Mosquito camp 2.0. The next few days following this trek was more of up and down hikes on ridges doing campsite monitoring and clearing trails. 
There was one day that really stuck with me this trip ( besides the almost painful 10 mile in 5 hours with heavy packs all the way down 2210 and boulder creek) was the day of water sampling. Forest Ranger Erika VanHavel (Treadnado) and I, started out on an 11 mile day up over one ridge to see a few alpine lakes then up again to Stanley Butte. We were about 7,000 ft up looking out on a 360 degree panorama view that included Shasta lake, the Crags, Rhoda point covered in smoke, and surrounding peaks. It was incredible. The hike up included really nice trail work, scenic views the entire time, and blooming alpine flowers. Standing up there is when I finally realized that even though the up makes you want to throw up and the down feels like your knees are screaming, I love being out here. I love feeling myself getting stronger and getting used to the pack. Since I compete in woodsman sports back in college I am now able to understand how woodsmen really originated and what it used to be. This has given me such a different view on the sport. Everything about backpacking is so rewarding. Some fond memories include laughing with Erika about failed elk bugle sounds, riding a horse around camp, bringing a scientific vessel (Walmart floaty) to do water sampling, Even the not so fond memories are worth it that included getting bitten by clouds of mosquitos and all the other “not shown on tumblr” events which are rewarded by great laughs and memories and beautiful sceneries all around. The fresh air, the beautiful views, and the being able to find yourself through the challenges is worth every minute of pain. This hitch is so hard to put in words but this was one of the best experiences I've ever had and challenged myself to do.

"This hitch is so hard to put in words but this was one of the best experiences I've ever had and challenged myself to do."

Colt-Killed Creek - Best Views, Rough Work

Silas Phillips – Wilderness Ranger Intern

University of Montana

Colt-Killed Creek

June 13-18

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest

Colt-Killed Creek! A drainage whose name reflects a place so inhospitable, Lewis and Clark had to kill a baby horse to survive there. Thankfully our SBFC intern crew found this locale far more nurturing than those who came before us. Last year the 6 mile access road to the trailhead was washed out, effectively preventing admission for trail crews and recreators alike. This situation was compounded by a fire in 2012, leaving us a trail ripe with charred and fallen timber. For 8 days we did what wilderness professionals do best– running crosscuts until we passed out. 

Our cohort of 5 has been paired with a wilderness ranger by the name of Erica. During our tenure at Colt-Killed she blessed us with the presence of her 11 year old golden retriever, Andy. Having a dog on hitch is a constant morale boost. Though every day brought beating sun and hellish swarms of skeets and no-seeums, this creature maintained the disposition of a rainbow gumdrop. Getting some love from Andy at the end of a 10 hour, half mile day of cutting curbed the majority of any ailments we had. 

It was a privilege to experience the landscape that this trail winds through. Fire scarred areas are often considered in a negative light by outdoors people, but we found this vast burnt drainage to be increasingly gorgeous. Vistas once impeded by foliage were completely accessible to the gaze. The river valleys and rocky hillsides characteristic of the Selway revealed themselves openly. The drainage turns east toward the Bitterroot mountains, and their granite peaks grew as we slowly worked our way towards them each day. Sky Pilot Peak was the dominant feature rising above us at the end of the week– our perspective of it always bisected by burnt snags. 

The Powell interns found a sense of fulfillment during this week of hard cutting. It's the most tangible form of trail work in my mind– our contribution to the wilderness immediately recognizable and beneficial. Additionally, our crosscut saw skill set is completely dialed in, and probably was after the third day of heavy cutting. We didn't (and really couldn't) finish clearing the entirety of trail 50 on this hitch, but we paved the way for future pushes up Colt-Killed Creek later this summer.

First Hitch in the Bitterroot proves Bittersweet

Matthew Hutchins – Wilderness Ranger Intern

Christopher Newport University

Rock Creek & Little Rock Creek, Kootenai Creek, Sheafman Creek

June 13-18

Bitterroot National Forest

Our adventure to the Bitterroot Mountains was full of surprises for me and SBFC Intern, Ethan Spoerry. We started our first three days on Little Rock Creek Trail, which was a stunning walk into the woods above Lake Como. It was the beginning of a long summer full of hard and dirty work. I had been well prepared by my training, and I was ready to get to work. The first day came and went having done a few miles of trail clearing. The first night we camped less than a mile from the lake, our spirits were high from our first day on the job. The next day we cleared all the way to the lake and spent most of the day campsite monitoring as well enjoying the stunning lake in the mountains. The final day we spent clearing a few more miles of trail and began to get a better handle on the axe, crosscut, and silky.

After a welcomed night in a warm bed, we set out for another mini trip on Kootenai Creek trail hoping to spend the last five days of this hitch clearing the trail to the lake. That plan quickly changed as the weather got progressively worse as the day when on. What started out as a sprinkle, ended as a deluge. We had only hiked about 5 miles in the rain clearing only 15 trees.   Our spirits were tested due to most of our stuff getting soaked. I began to question the reason I had come out here and how willing I was to deal with the rain and pain. The morning did not bring much hope as we packed our wet gear in the rain and set out for the lakes. The weather started to clear up a bit but we soon encountered a stream with unseasonably high flows, too dangerous to pass. For a couple of tense minutes we debated about attempting to cross the stream, but finally decided to not take the risk.  We turned around and hiked the long 6 miles out, frustrated that we had only cleared a few trees along our way.

Another night in our bed did not seem deserved, but we made a plan for Sheafman trail for the next day. We started in the morning facing a large log not far from the trail head, a foreshadowing of the day ahead. We hiked only about 2 miles the whole day clearing 80 trees. This day was one of the best, we felt great the whole time and felt as though our work was making a dent in the trail. The second day was a bit tougher; we reached the lake but not after many sore muscles and many bumps and scratches on our bodies. My bones were beginning to feel all the work that we had been doing the past week.  That night we camped at what seemed to be the only two spots that weren’t covered in snow. The next morning we woke to beautiful weather and soon learned that we had not camped at the lake, but camped at the Sheafman Lake overflow. We decided to try and find the second lake by hiking 500 feet up in less than ¾ of a mile with much success.  Most of the trail was under snow and impossible to find, we made our way to one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen, Knack Lake, a powerful sight.  We took some pictures but campsite monitoring was impossible due to snow still covering the ground.  We turned around and headed down the trail. After clearing another 30 some trees on the way back, we ended our first hitch in our favorite burrito shop in town just trying to refill our belly with fresh, tasty food.  The feast was well earned after a difficult but wonderful beginning of our summer.

Thank You National Forest Foundation!

We could not do our work without our amazing partners!  We just completed our first Frank project.  Two more are scheduled for July and August.  Check out the projects and register at  http://www.selwaybitterroot.org/2017-volunteer-trail-work.  

July 12-18 Marble Creek     August 23-28 Middle Fork Trail

Respect for the Volunteers

Riley Hunter – Wilderness Ranger Intern

Utah Valley University

Upper Yellowjacket Volunteer Project

June 14-20

Salmon-Challis National Forest

I was told, ever since my early teenage years, that my love for the outdoors was going to lead me to a job with the Forest Service doing trails and backpacking around as a Wilderness Ranger. To be honest, I never truly believed them and I still don’t know that this field is where I will end up. I don’t know what my passions are, or what I can truly dedicate my time to.

But my first hitch taught me a whole new level of passion and working to preserve what you believe in. We worked on the Upper Yellowjacket Trail with three amazing volunteers. I personally have never been one for volunteering, but watching these three individuals with different backgrounds and experiences come together for their love of Wilderness got to me. They all worked so hard and for free. We ended up clearing out fallen trees, creating French drains, cleaning up the the trail with retread, digging some new tread, and brushing up the sides of the trail. The fact that these people would willingly dedicate their free time to digging in the dirt and mud, chopping up roots, hauling heavy buckets loaded with rocks, and cutting down trees -both in the cold rain with heavy, wet boots and when it got hot in the afternoons- allowed me to understand what it is really like to be passionate about something.

At one point, we talked about how friends may think you’re crazy for dedicating your weekend to doing hard labor all for the sake of access to good trails. There are people out there who truly care about our Public Lands and the idea of Wilderness. To maintain access to these areas for all to enjoy, even those who don’t fully appreciate or understand the concept of Wilderness, takes a lot of effort. What is your level of dedication to the trails you use? Are you willing to take the challenge and volunteer your free time to help keep access to your favorite trails open and experience the bliss of solitude of independence of the back country?

Here's a shout out to our volunteers Larry, José, and Miranda! Thanks for all of your hard work this past week!! You have my respect.

Challenges and Rewards in the Backcountry

Avery King—Wilderness Ranger Intern

University of Idaho

Boulder Creek Trail, June 13-20

Nez-Perce Clearwater National Forest

Heading into my very first hitch of trail work ever, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been backpacking plenty of times before, but I’ve always been a fan of packing as light as possible. Carrying all the extra gear (and weight) that comes with trail work—hand tools, helmets, and crosscuts—was a huge change from what I was used to. Plus, I didn’t feel like I really knew how to use the tools I was carrying. The nervousness I felt seemed to add to the weight on my shoulders.

It didn’t take long, though, for the nervousness to ease away as I hiked those first few miles and remembered what I love about backpacking: the challenges your mind and body must overcome. Part of the challenge is facing the unknown, and even though it is scary, it can be pretty fun. After a week of slowly familiarizing myself with the world of trail work, I feel much more comfortable wielding an axe, running a crosscut, and pushing my body through long days of hard work. It makes me pretty excited to keep improving throughout the season!

The fourth day of our hitch was a day filled with both challenges and rewards. We woke up to a steady drizzle, and despite our hope for a dry break, the rain remained consistent for the entire workday. Within the first hour, the rain had soaked through my raingear and I was nearly drenched. But as a group, our spirits remained high throughout the day and we eventually made it to the top of the pass. Despite not being able to see the view we were promised because of the fog descending all around us, it was a beautiful spot that made the difficult hike more than worth it. As challenging as the day had been, I was satisfied to have reached our goal for the day and was extremely proud of my group for overcoming the obstacles we faced together.

PHOTO: Boulder Creek Trail at the Fish Lake Saddle

Fish Lake Guard Station Cabin Hosting - September 16-19, 2016

We headed out from the Wilderness Gateway trailhead along Boulder Creek Trail, just outside of Powell, Idaho, on a cool fall morning in September.  Chance and Sam (7 yrs.) rode Paintbrush and Ella Mae (5 yrs.) was solo on Poco, Bear (our 6-month old Chocolate Lab) at the heels, Kit and Ruby (Mules) stacked high with our backcountry supplies and gear, while mama (Jen) picked up the rear on foot.  I thought I was in for a real challenge with the pace everyone set for the first couple of steep miles of trail, as the animals were raring to go, and I was being left in the dust, literally.  But as I’d anticipated, a few miles in, the livestock and the trail steadied off to a reasonable pace and we maintained a consistent speed and started putting miles under our hooves.  We rode in to Horse Camp, which is about the half way point, shortly after noon for a quick break and to check packs.  The day brought us blue skies and sunshine, couldn’t have asked for nicer weather.  After a quick snack and leg stretch, we gathered back up and headed on, thoughts of a cabin at the end of the trail to greet us enticing us onward.  Late afternoon, when we were close to our limit and still several miles from our destination, we crested the saddle and had a glorious view of Fish Lake, the airstrip and the valley below.  The several mile final downhill climb led us to a quiet, peaceful camp in which to rest our trail weary bones.  Needless to say rest came easy to us all that eve. 

The weather the first week was overcast, cloudy and cool temperatures, with plenty of rain.  The moisture prompted Fish Lake Creek to flow again, as it hadn’t been running since July.  We quickly established a daily routine which included gathering several wheelbarrows of firewood (most of which we burned daily to keep warm), collecting water from the creek, schoolwork, journaling, reading, cooking and cleaning. 

Our main tasks throughout the trip included cabin cleaning, maintenance and inventory; stockpiling wood; some trail maintenance (cutting downed trees); repairing the hitching post; as well as recording and welcoming visitors. 

We explored the trails north and east of Fish Lake, the Wounded Doe Ridge Trail, the Fish Lake Saddle Trail and the rocky crags north of the cabin, as well as the boggy flatlands south of the cabin.  We caught several meals of cut throat trout in the lake.  We saw tracks and scat from Elk as well as white tail deer. 

Anna Bengston, the Wilderness Ranger, came in with her horse and two mules, to resupply us the first Wed in and stayed for a night.  She contributed sausage and morels to our rice and lentil dinner, which was much appreciated.  Sam had worked on his Junior Wilderness Ranger Badge and was sworn in by Anna during her visit.  Before the trip was over Ella Mae would also earn her badge, doing some wilderness study and sketching in lieu of some of the more advanced activities.  They were both proud badge recipients.  We enjoyed visiting and getting to know Anna better during her stay. 

We appreciated reading the cabin record, which mentioned that our retired Forest Service mules, Ruby and Kit, had been in a dozen or so years earlier to mow the air strip.  We were glad to be bringing them back in for a pleasure trip.

Late in the second week when the weather broke and the blue skies returned a group of 6 hunters set up camp on the west end of the runway near the cabin.  We also had a number of people land for brief stays on the strip (206, 185, 182, 180, super cub).  Sam was our official recorder and would head out to collect tail numbers of the airplanes for our records.  Everyone was friendly and we shared good conversations with all visitors, assisting as needed.

A stormy weather system was moving in on our last weekend, so Chance came a couple days early to pick us up in his 182 and we flew out.  He would need to make two trips, one with people and one with gear.  Leland, a commercial pilot for Choice Air out of Hamilton, was bringing in some clients to fish and offered to take our gear to Moose Creek for Chance to come back to pick up so he could avoid any bad weather issues coming into Fish Lake.  We were sad that our time went so quickly and we enjoyed our stay and hope to return again in some volunteer capacity in the future.  

From the top of Big Fog Mountain to the bottom of Three Links Creek

Stephanie Wright - Trail Crew Leader

This hitch (9/6-9/14) we cleared from the top of Big Fog Mtn 693 to the bottom of Three Links creek. We cleared over 200 trees 7 of which were over 25 inches in diameter. We also dug 250 feet of tread in sections of the tread that were unpassable. We also cleared drains from the junction of 405 to the bottom of 693. Total trail maintained: 12.2 miles.

About a mile past the junction of 405 and 693 going towards three links, a tree fell and its root wad, which was under the trail at the time lifted, destroying a 75 ft section of the trail. Its not passable where the trail was, but its fairly easy to walk on the uphill side. See attached photos for details.