Welcome to California

While the exact times shown here may vary between different projects and land management agencies, this is generally representative of the highly structured and rigorously scheduled day of the CCC/AmeriCorps Backcountry Trails Program. Success requires an abundance of humility, flexibility, self-discipline, focus, drive, intensity and the highest level of emotional/social maturity. Performance in all areas of the daily schedule are considered to be important measures of success in the community and on the job.

0500-0600 REPORT to camp common areas, uniform ready-in-hand for work, wash up, prepare lunch, prepare day pack, assist cook & KP, maintain tools, feed the fire, fetch water or wood, then drink coffee, huddle to the fire, etc.

0630-0730 CAMP CHORES-gather wood, filter water, wash dishes, general camp cleanup and organizing.

0730-0800 PT (Physical Training)-stretching, abdominal and lower back strengthening, calisthenics, warm-ups, etc.

0800 CREW CIRCLE-UP-morning reading, general crew briefing and individual assignments, safety discussions, questions, all other morning information.

0800-1630 HIKE to work @ maximum personal speed (3-5 MPH) with up to 25-60 lbs. of day pack and tools over steep rugged terrain at altitudes averaging 4,000 to 10,000 + feet above sea-level. No talking-all your wind is for making speed!

WORK can consist of 2-20 daily miles of roving maintenance consisting of clearing logs, rocks, boulders and brush from the trail way as well as digging drainages. Trail maintenance can fill up to 2-3 months of the crew program of work.

The other main work mode is trail construction/reconstruction. Typical tasks include moving dirt, logs and rocks ranging in weight from 10 to 300 pounds (and up to as much as 2,000 pounds+). These materials are moved via lifting, carrying, dragging, rolling, wheelbarrow, stretcher, high line cable systems, draft stock and by 20 lb. steel pry bar. Other tasks include excavation for construction, and many hours to many days of crushing stone rubble fill using 8-16 pound sledge hammers. Logs and rocks are used to build trail structures such as waterbars for drainage, soil retainer steps/terraces/checks, slope retaining walls, elevated causeways through fragile sites, and trail tread rip-rap stairways for erosion control, drainage and tread protection. Dry-stone masonry (rock construction without mortar) is the preferred building method for its' qualities of durability and longevity. Quality control is rigorous in its' minimum requirement for "100-year work". This ancient craft is difficult to master and taxes even the most patient young trainee/ "apprentice" as the frustration of acquiring the skills of masonry are endured.

The last main work function of these crews is wilderness site restoration /reveg-etation. Typical tasks include seeding &/or transplanting of grass, brush and tree species as well as site stabilization and preparation of damaged areas including installation of soil retainers/check dams in gullies, soil scarification to remove compaction, backfilling of gullies, and application of native mulching materials (sand, thatch, leaf litter, woody debris, etc.) for purposes of camouflage and enhancement of soil fertility, moisture retention, temperature moderation, etc.

1230-1600 WORK-(more, faster, better and with even more intensity than in the morning!!)

1600-1630 HIKE home.

1630-1730 PREPARE for dinner-bathe (in a snow melt creek or occasional solar shower), empty day packs of lunch garbage, fill up water bottles, etc.

1730-1800 DINNER

1800-1830 CAMP CHORES--wood, water, dishes, cleanup, burn garbage, assist Cook/KP in breakfast preparation, organizing camp

1830-2030 CURRICULUM-Approximately one hour (4 nights/week) spent examining a wide variety of subject matter ranging from natural history to Spanish to literacy to crew member-taught-subjects to recreational activities. Other topics for class include community and team building, stress reduction, production of the crew newspaper, designing the crew T-shirt, reading aloud, career development and resume writing, conservation awareness, map and compass use, minimum impact camping techniques, wilderness survival and primitive skills and wherever else the positive intellectual curiosity of the crew takes the curriculum program. Curriculum is held four nights per week with one night of the four devoted to a Community Meeting for dealing with issues of importance to the crew community. Community involvement and personal improvement are the overriding themes that crew members need to commit themselves to.

1930-2300 FREE TIME-most crewmembers are ready for bed by 2100 (9:00pm). Reading, playing music, playing cards or other games, singing and talk are common activities around the campfire.

WEEKENDS: Crew members should expect to be required to participate in weekend explorations of their wilderness home on most weekends. Weekend backpacking trips can begin as early as Friday afternoon, if weekend gear is hauled to work, or as late as Saturday morning after breakfast. Trips are never solo! A minimum of one other crew member are required for trips via trail or two other crew members for off-trail / cross-country trips. A weekend trip may consist of an over-Saturday night trip to the nearest lake or an epic trek across many miles and ascending challenging mountain peaks.