Rig N’ Dig Day

Written by Kevan Boone, Field Conservation Leader with the Rio Grande National Forest:

Kevan Boone practicing on a crosscut saw

Today is May 29, 2010, the day before our much anticipated crew members arrive.  The day before we put our 6 weeks of pure hardcore crew leader training to work.  The last night we rest our heads in anticipation for the rewarding weeks to come.  For tomorrow is the day we wave our handkerchiefs goodbye to the friendly town of Salida and head off into our respective quadrants of the great state of Colorado, as official crew leaders for the Southwest Conservation Corps.  These handkerchiefs we wave will not be white, signifying surrender, but black and white like that of pirates that sail into seas travelled by few, with a common goal, a set of specs and coordinates, a crew, and the knowledge that has been passed down to us through Captains of Wilderness Conservation before us.

The successful completion of our previous project, the re-route of a section of the Salida Mountain Trails has given us a boost of confidence, and set a momentous pace for the summer to come working as Crew Leaders with the SCC.  The praise for the re-route of Upper Sand Dunes has been sung by many locals in the town of Salida, and I feel a great sense of pride and connection with the bikers and hikers that will enjoy the trails on a daily basis in Salida’s backyard.  The towns’ people are super appreciative of the work that we have done and after the weeks of hard work were finished, the gratitude was expressed with open arms as we celebrated the opening of the trails over a pint of local “taste” and fish tacos at Benson’s Tavern with the locals.  We are extremely proud of our work and very appreciative of the work provided by Absolute Bikes , the Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Field Office and the Salida Mountain Trails.

Team building during leader training

In continuation of our training, our well molded group of 11 coleaders were split into two separate groups, with the addition of 3 new crew leaders, to set out to divide and achieve our objectives in different parts of the state working for agencies such as the Department of Wilderness, Bureau of Land Management, and the Parks Service.  Our group’s objectives entailed working at Eleven Mile State Park building and reconstructing a section of backcountry campsite trails that allow visitors to travel with ease within the beautiful surroundings of the park that include a compilation of massive rocks that border the southeast side of the mind blowing blue lake within the park.  We spent 4 days analyzing trail structures for sustainability, moving massive rocks into strategically placed locations, reworking water drainages, planting native plants, implanting French Drains to stabilize steps, and working together as a team to solve a series of problems with the trails existing structure.  After days of smashing, bending, pushing, sledging, wedging (just kidding), laughing, sweating, eating, and occasionally fishing at the day’s end, we unveiled our masterpiece to our sponsor.  And with the only words that can accurately portray how impressed he was with our work, he excitedly opened his arms and exclaimed “IT’S BEAUTIFUL!”

Project partner, Bill Stalker with Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve visits crew leaders during training

The next day we packed up camp and headed back through Salida to grab additional gear and food and proceeded to our next project, at Hot Creek Wilderness Area, controlled under the memorandum of understanding of the Department of Wilderness.  Our sponsor was amazing as he provided us with a wide range of knowledge about the area and the work, and of course, the delivery of donuts and soda on the last day to show his appreciation.  (Brian, you’re the man!!) Our team of leaders really became dialed in over the next several days of work and began to embrace a self confidence that was much needed for the months that lied ahead.  We spent the hot days repairing barbed wire fence, and running into rattle snakes (no rattlesnakes were hurt in the writing of this blog).  The work was hard, yet rewarding, and at the day’s end we settled down to bathe in the tributary creeks that snaked and braided themselves throughout the valley floor of Hot Creek.  By the end of the 9 day hitch we were worn out, psyched about the months to come, and felt as if we made a tremendous impact for the good of the environment and for the spirit of our minds and bodies.  The consensus within the group was filled with great anticipation for the summer working with SCC, and will be an unforgettable experience filled with growth, laughter, and soar muscles.

Becoming trail masters!

The past five days were a much needed breather that came in the form of 5 days off before we got ready for the next 3 months of summer projects with our members.  During the break, a crew leader named Matt Gray, who is a Veterans Green Corps  leader, and I set out with a trunk full of food and a couple of fishing license to test our luck in some of the most renowned fishing areas in North America.  Our 4 day expedition started out heading towards Gunnison to fish the Blue Mesa Reservoir  in search for Rainbow Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike.  The next day we spent fishing the Southern and Northern ends of Spring Creek that flow from the Spring Creek Reservior.  The following day, we fished the surrounding creeks moving South from the Taylor Reservoir, followed by a pass over the mountains that divide the Collegiate Peaks, passing a section of the Continental Divide and heading back into Bueno Vista.  From there we continued to Rainbow Lake to dip our lines one more time, followed by a relaxing soak in Mt. Princeton Hot Springs  in Nathrop.  We set up camp every night in a different location and broke down camp every morning with the intentions of setting our eyes on as much of Colorado’s diverse terrain as we could within the area.  Our expectations were naturally exceeded.

Leaders last circle-up before meeting crews

Back in town for the last 2 days of our break, we gathered our wits and began to prepare for the upcoming hitches in the field.  Meeting with co leaders, touching base with our promising members over the phone, arranging last minute details of how we expect to combine our super powers as co leaders to divide and conquer our objectives as respective crews, and getting a good night’s rest for the  early morning filled with an introduction to SCC members/coworkers, paperwork, food prep, vehicle prep, tool prep, gear prep, and a preparation of our minds and bodies with hopes to work as a well oiled machine over the next several weeks.  We have butterflies in our stomachs, hopes in our hearts, and optimistic objectives in our minds.  We anticipate the season to be a bumpy off-road trail in need of much maintenance and hard work, but with the knowledge and support of the SCC staff, the dedication of our members, a balance of super powers from our respective co leaders, and the helpful hands of the federal agencies that allow us to employ our work as professionals on the lands within their memorandum of understanding, we look forward to a successful season in the outdoors, influencing the minds of young outdoor enthusiasts, and a great deal of healthy impact on our environment and its surrounding areas.