OVERVIEW:
Three weeks we stayed at Kelsey Creek—a frontcountry paradise enchanted with high bluffs, steep hills, calm meadows, elaborate forests and two beautiful blue porta-potties. We dug tread, cut brush and crushed rock under a sky of rain and snow and blue. We jumped into the "crik"—its waters cold and deep—and we jumped right back out, shouting with the shock of the icy waters. We learned about stock from Bill Roberts, Ellen Andrews and Lee Bundy; we learned about erosion from Larry Evans and how to prevent forest fires from Bob. We discovered the names of the plants and trees and we saw bears and mountain lions and those pesky scorpions. And it was in these first few weeks that our feet eventually found their way up these trails we walk, sometimes stumbling, sometimes blistering, but always pressing on. By the time our stay at Kelsey Creek was over, we had sung dozens of songs during dishes, played whiffleball in a wide pasture, and on those weekends past, we had trekked to remote serenities, to high overlooks, to mossy waterfalls, and to soaring, snow blanketed marble cliffs. With some sadness, we said farewell to our first camp, to those first awkward days, and to those sleepless nights in the KP wagon. With much anxiety, our group made way to our next camp. It took a few hours to get to the Clear Creek Trail.
We stopped in the town of Happy Camp to visit the Ranger Station and to raid Perry’s Market for junk food. Soon we were at the trailhead, some of our backpacks loaded to the point of abuse, hiking into the backcountry to a small camp bordering a deep, swift river. It was an awesome sight to see our crew pull together and set up camp under the direction of Noah Robinson, our sponsor.
Life here at clear creek has few dull moments. When we aren’t hiking like crazy people four miles up the trail to work all day under a near-blistering sun, we’re cannon-balling into the crystal green creek, swatting swarms of mosquitoes at the latrine, shrieking at rattlesnakes, and acting out movie scenes at the community meeting-- having a great, exhausting time. We’ve been here only two weeks and already we feel like it is our home. We’ve hiked as long as ten hours and as far as the Devil’s Punchbowl. We’ve had a few unpleasant moments: a couple of twisted ankles, a gum infection and an unknown ailment of the face resulting in minor paralysis. In addition, poison oak is starting to show its ugly face. But we are a coalesced into a group now—a family. We make it through the good times and bad. We’ve learned how to get along, how to cooperate, how to respect each other and ourselves. We’ve become aware of the great Klamath tradition, of its legends and mysteries, and we’ve all felt the forests reverberating call. It is in this connection that our crew has cemented together. We don’t know what June will bring, but we are ready for it!
CURRICULUM:
Classes for the month of May included fire safety, the Wilderness Act, community meetings, whiffle ball, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, crew biographies and readings from "Into the Wild".
PERSONNEL CHANGES:
On May 1st, Jesse Iglesias (CCC—Placer), decided that the backcountry wasn’t for him and back to Placer he went. We wish him well.
Manuel Lagunas (East Bay CC—Oakland, CA), left us due to compelling personal circumstances and we were all sad to see him go. We wish him the best as well.
INJURIES:
Two of our crew members are hobbling around on sore ankles. Another crew member found out he had a gum infection while yet another crew mate had a mysterious ailment on the left side of his face. Finally, one of our mates was stung by a scorpion and suffered a pretty sore finger.
ODDS AND ENDS:
The crew is discovering the joys of weekend backpacking and is looking forward to seeing our next camp. We hope the other crews are enjoying their season. We had to say goodbye to our awesome cook Anne McBroom, and we are welcoming Nena Creasey into the camp. Jen Quick (WEB—Selma, CA), had a birthday and was getting very protective over her chocolate cake while Stephen Garrafo (CCC—Placer), turned twenty at the Kelsey Creek camp.
PRODUCTION:
Trail Maintenance:
Clear Creek Trail -- 4.25 miles
Kelsey Creek Trail – 5.5 miles
TOTAL: — 9.75 miles
Retainer bars: — 1 each
Waterbars: — 4 each
Causeway & Single-tier Wall: — 12 linear yards
( 36 lin. ft.)
