YOSEMITE-I BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
AUGUST 2005 MONTHLY REPORT
PETER MARTINEZ, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

OVERVIEW:    

The month of August held little change for the Yosemite I crew-- all except finishing our real task for this Backcountry season. The trail we’ve been creating for the Siskiyou Wilderness "is officially completed with what we set out to do, with a lot extra!!" Now we’re adding more trail and brushing the surrounding area.

After settling in our new camp "of our new trail" we prepared for the long haul. Many weekend excursions were attempted to cover the surrounding areas. Some climbed five peaks and bagged three lakes; others got slightly trapped in brush making a four hour hike into an eleven hour trip. This group decided to call off any S.A.R. (Search And Rescue), attempt from a ridge, but got questions like "3 lost hikers? No…we don’t care enough about them to call it in." This about covers the month of August-- almost 3 miles of tread, dry ice-chilled ice cream, and extra work to allow a 4 day Labor day weekend. Unfortunately for you, the reader, that was September and that’s another story.

August has seen the second coming of Civics. No, it was NOT unexpected; and Yes, we loved every minute of it: Our government DOES make it possible to be here, so why not get a little info about ‘The Boss’? Two of them taught. The first by our very own Canadian-American, Dan Block, who inspired us to open our eyes to the superiority of Canada’s System. And he bribed us with the peanut M&M’s, ……mmmmmm….M&M’s. It was a very informative and clever way to keep the class interested and enthused. Tom Wise, our exquisite meal preparer, led our 2^nd Civics class with amazing precision and accuracy, to defend America’s Heroes with an in-depth look behind the Men who have become our Presidents. He too decided, favorably, to prepare a challenge out of it. Sweets again being the prize of choice.

"What! They get chocolate chip cookies and we don’t?" Yep! Sounds like civics to me. –Moving on-. The final corpsmember-taught class for August was taught by Louis Cedano (CCC—Chico). Cedano taught us about the basics of Pionjar operation and maintenance, with hands-on training in our backyard. The trail we have been building unfortunately has a couple of VW size boulders running, or sitting, in the middle of it. So we were graciously granted permission to use the rock hammer/drill, along with plugs and feathers (rock splitting wedges), to remove them. Louis instructed us thoroughly and quite professionally. We also got the privilege of seeing "Militia" Melissa Alvarado (CCC—Inland Empire), pound a huge boulder into submission, with a subtle glare of vengeance in her eye, known only to her.

Our last course for the month was a surprise visit from Max Creasy and Erin Crents. While filling our Nalgenes (water bottles) and "brushing our grills", in strolls two hikers into our isolated home.

"Hey", we asked, "who are you guys?" "We’re the Botanists, let’s go to the Punchbowl." And so we did. We set out for the Bowl. Half on our trail, half on "Satan’s Switchbacks". On our way we were learning about our extremely diverse backyard along the way. This region is the most diverse coniferous forest in the country, and the second most botanically diverse. (The 1^st being the Smokies.) They taught us about names, locations, habitats, characteristics, and uses of practically every plant or tree in the entire area. They were extremely informative and knowledgeable. They seemed to love the work, and so we were inspired to love it also.

We learned to appreciate not only "Our" mountainous home, but the many other wild places all over the world. We also were re-introduced to the necessity of our trail for the protection of the Port Orford cedar, against the root disease that has been driving them into endangerment for decades. It feels good to be reminded that we are preserving our environment. Thanks Max and Erin for your Wisdom.

"Imagine what we’ll be,

So limitless and free,

Desperately in need

For a stranger’s hand, in a

Desperate Land…"

--- J. Morrison

We have learned: We have learned MANY things in the Back Country. Several of them have been taught to us through organized Curriculum, and have been done so with copious information; though, a majority of them have been lessons learned in a classroom, we weren’t quite expecting, or prepared for. I suppose preparation isn’t ALWAYS a necessity when trying to learn something that can not be taught, only experienced. We have all entered these trees and mountains, and have escaped a Desperate Land, as strangers to each other’s separate backwoods plan; and have found here, similarities we never knew we had! The similarities are infinite, like this wilderness, and are just as inescapable.

In this classroom, in OUR classroom, we cannot hide from our peer-instructors, critiques, and students or we would most certainly be lost in the woods, forever. Instead, we must be cognizant of each other at all times. Being both listeners, and speakers; both learning and teaching.

We all have something valuable to teach. A few of us have the amazing ability to do it without the use of words. Some express it with LOUD, random bangs and pops! Others still are more sly and discreet. But all of them are intricate! –All of us beautiful.

Ok, I guess this sounds and smells a little too Cheesy, but hey, how would you describe it? You may have a completely different account of it all together; or maybe exactly the same only with different word choices and hand writing; perhaps, you are someone who can actually write, and will do this experience justice. However it may be for each of us, I believe we have all learned at least one thing that has unified us inseparable; even in utter absence. "What is this priceless lesson learned?" Well, we’ll just have to leave it up to those who have gone through it and survived to decide!

None.

None.

We like to thank the following people for their support. The McKinney’s for their hospitality, Don Pass for two huge buckets of ice cream, Togan Capozza for being supportive to our crew, Max Creasey and Erin Crents for the Botany experience and hike to the Punch Bowl, Tony Vasquez for his support in helping us set up camp, and a special appearance by Jeremy Rodriguez (CCC—Fortuna) friends’ Taylor, Francis, and Joe from Fortuna Center.

PRODUCTION:  

New Trail Construction (Reroute):  —2,800 linear yards (1.6 miles)