OVERVIEW:

Rain, rain, rain and snow were what the Yosemite I crew had to endure during the unforgettable month of May. W definitely felt the CCC motto: "Hard Work, Low Pay, Miserable Conditions". The crew did an excellent job keeping their spirits high during the massive rain falls. Working together under these tough conditions only brought Yosemite I closer to each other in Foresta. We kept our integrity by hiking fast and maintaining the Yosemite Valley trails intact. The rain and snow could couldn’t stop the crew from brushing, scaling (removing rock and other debris from the uphill side of the trail), and digging swales (rolling dips for drainage to prevent erosion), on the Mist Trail, the Yosemite Falls Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Valley Loop Trail, the Four-Mile Trail to Glacier Point, and the Wawona Outer Loop Trail. All the views during work were breath taking. Yosemite I has been very fortunate to have excellent sponsors applying their skills to each and every corpsmember on the crew.

May was also a month when the crew responded to two very difficult emergencies in Yosemite. While working on the Mist Trail, Joe Meno (Yosemite, 1995), and three corpsmembers—Steven Bishop (WEB—Eureka, CA), Nathan Harris (CCC—SLO), and Chris Villegas (CCC—Tahoe)—assisted in carrying down David, a 70-year old man from San Fernando, CA down to safety, because he was having difficulties breathing. Good job team! Also, Alex Bryan (WEB—Ann Arbor, MI), carried sponsor Clinton Contreras (Yosemite, 2000), from the Valley Loop trail after suffering a twisted ankle on the flattest trail in Yosemite Valley. The crew learned a valuable lesson in trail safety—injury accidents can happen when you least expect them.

When was the last time Yosemite Valley was under water? In 1997 the New Years flood wreaked havoc. On May 16, 2005 the Valley almost went under again. The heavy rain fall and related snow melt was too much for the Merced River to hold. Every creek, stream and river overflowed their banks. Yosemite I was more than ready to assist in the filling and laying of hundreds of sandbags to save the Valley from flooding. Just when we felt defeated by the overflow of the streams, creeks and rivers, our sisters and brothers from the Yosemite II crew joined us to defeat the massive overflow of water in the Valley with hundreds more sandbags to lay. Thank you Yosemite II for your support.

Flood damage to Yosemite Valley was prevented by the eager, hard-working pace that everybody maintained during this emergency. Overall, Yosemite I continues to strive for excellence—no rain or snow can stop us from achieving our mission in Yosemite.

Despite the harsh conditions we have faced in Yosemite, the crew still continues to explore on the weekends. We have enjoyed off-day visits in Till-Till Valley, City Camp, Poopenaut Valley, Cherry Lake, Lake Eleanor and some of the Valley Trails. The first exciting trek of the summer which turned into an unexpected adventure was a trip by Steven Bishop and Alex Bryan who tried to make their way up to El Capitan in early May, but were stopped short by 10 feet or more of heavy, solid snow!

At last the excitement begins! The crew has been the recipients of a series of truly informative, interactive and inspiring seminars on the unique history and wildlife of Yosemite National Park. The month of May has brought us the gift of four different guest speakers, specializing in four diverse areas of expertise.

Our first class, on May 4^th, was conducted by Laurel Boyers who is a National Park Service (NPS) Ranger and Manager of the vast Wilderness areas of the park—which encompasses 95% of the park area. Throughout the four hour discussion, our crew was informed not only about the creation of Yosemite as a National Park, but also about the extreme importance of it continued protection. Laurel provided her wisdom and long experience to help us grasp the necessity of protecting National Parks worldwide. Shortly after Laurels departure from our camp, we were harmoniously greeted by the somber melodies of Elizy Boman’s hand carved flute (as portrayed by Shelton Johnson of the NPS). To our surprise a tall, stoical African-American came strolling in dressed from head to toe in full Civil War garb and proceeded to widen our eyes with an excellent theatrical presentation of the long-forgotten story of the Buffalo Soldiers. The crew was delightfully impressed with the performance and information gained about the 1906 all African-American battalion of soldiers who came to Yosemite as essentially the first conservationists, trail-keepers and protectors of Congressional Wilderness. It was truly an illuminating reenactment and we thank you Shelton.

Our next visiting speaker was former Backcountry Trails Program Crew Supervisor Andrea Canapary, (Yosemite 1996 & 1997) who is now a successful naturalist. Through four straight days of exhilarating discussion, debate and artistic styles of teaching, Andrea not only led us through the facts and fun of Yosemite’s unique botany, but also allowed us to lead ourselves. We debated the possible, and hopefully impossible, future outcomes of the park. With interesting ideas from us all, we hiked around the bitter-sweet beauty of Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir, learning and teaching the many different wildflowers along the way. We also were allowed to have a little fun and acted out the infamous debate of 1913 between John Muir and the City of San Francisco on whether or not to dam up the valley for water and energy. Finally, we were led on an amazing hike through the splendor of the Tuolumne Grove in search of several species of pines, firs, and of course, the Giant Sequoias, allowing us to teach our "own" tree facts to the rest of the crew. It was an exciting, new and effective way to teach about all the wonderful trees this park has to offer. We were all sorry to see her go. Thanks Andrea.

Our last friendly, informative, and definitely the most physically soothing, was none other than CCC- partner George Hawley. On the last week of May, George brought much needed enlightenment about the body and mind to our Foresta camp. He taught us not only the basic methods of releasing heavy build-ups of tension in our aching muscles, but also the extreme amounts of stress that have, without a doubt, built to a boiling point in our minds. George’s timing was impeccable; his examples pertinent and his wisdom undeniable. I think that all of us here can agree that our bodies will continue to thank you throughout the remainder of the season.

So, this finishes up our classes for the month of May. We look forward to the mysteries awaiting us in June.

Yosemite I lost two good soldiers due to difficult injuries. Francisco Bassoco (CCC—Inland Empire), left the crew due to a back problems he was experiencing on the trail. Jonathon Streshly (Urban Corps of San Diego), left the crew because of an injury. We wish them both good luck in their recovery.

Yosemite I was fortunate to welcome Louie Cedano (CCC—Chico) to our special family as well as Dan Block (WEB—South Bend, IN), originally from Toronto, Canada and recently from the University of Notre Dame. They both are doing an excellent job.

One crew member suffered an ingrown toenail leading to an infection. Take care of your feet.

We would like to thank our excellent National Park Service staff for the great support they all provided. Ben Herbert (Yosemite, 1995), John Zisa (Yosemite, 1999), Joe Meno (Yosemite, 1995), Eamon Schneider, Eduardo Chaidez (Yosemite, 2003), Clinton Contreras (Yosemite, 2000), Laurel Boyers, Shelton Johnson, Andrea Canapary (Crew Supervisor—Yosemite, 1996 & 1997), Ed Canapary (YNP Trails Dept.), and their two daughters Maya and Dawn.

Thanks also to George Hawley. Also, long time backcountry master cook Frank Gado stopped by to help and say hello. A special thanks to our excellent cooks Michelle Mehalopolous (Klamath-Trinity, 1997) and Amanda Atkinson (Yosemite, 2003), for their excellent and awesome cooking. We will miss you both in the Stanislaus. Thanks to Larry Evans for the moral support in Foresta.

Hello to everybody on the Klamath, Humboldt-Trinity, Kings Canyon (I should say beautiful Kings Canyon), Stanislaus and Yosemite II crews!

Happy Birthday to Stacey Matthews—19 years old.

PRODUCTION:  

 Trail Maintenance:  Upper Yosemite Falls  -- 2 miles

     John Muir Trail  -- 2.5 miles

     Mist Trail   -- 2.5 miles

     Valley Loop Trail  -- 2 miles

     Four-Mile Trail  -- 4 miles

    TOTAL:    -- 15 miles  

 Split Rail Fence     --150 linear feet

We

  are the Musical-Mountain-Movers,

and we

 are here for a purpose;

A purpose

 That has been laid out to us long before

 the commencement of our voyage,  

 and will carry us, most certainly, on through

 to its end;

 throughout a wild medley of community,

 we shall discover that purpose;

We shall,

 with honor, triumph over the adversities of frozen hands

We shall,

 with fortitude, endure the pestering of raw, blood-blistered feet; and,

We shall,

 with pride, conquer sobriety—to compose an awakening of unified song.

We

 are here to make a difference;

Not only

 upon the harsh, rugged slopes of insufferable wilderness,

But also

 unto the perpetual labrynth of memories in our minds;

For

 It is within us ALL;

 Within our ever inquiring integrity & historic potency

 of our symphonic family, that our Journey will

 be forever fortified—

We

 are here to Bare-Our-Bones;

To

 pry away the loose, indifferent layers of unstable notes,

 and become whole.

We

 will commit our souls to this mission;

 will devour the unstrung pain, to behold the

 indescribable challenge of becoming One,

 at last to

  LIVE THIS STATEMENT!—and make

 it our own.

We will

 from this day forth, be a band united through

 a beat of creation—and we shall sing out

 in unison; through the granite valleys of Yosemite;

 through the fervent peaks of the Stanislaus;

 a will echoed through the distant realms of the Klamath—

 a penetrating song; with lyrics that, through time

 will fuse, with the minds of many:

  "Words on a page

  are Black ink from a pen,

   but words LIVED,

  are Crimson Stains

   on a trail to The End--