KINGS BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
APRIL 2008 MONTHLY OVERVIEW
MEGGAN GEHRING, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

Overview:

The promise of growth and change through challenging trailwork and mountain adventure is finally here. The 2008 Kings Canyon Backcountry Crew assembled on April 20th at the Fortuna CCC Center to begin our short serious orientation. On our first day together, we headed a few miles south into the towering redwoods of Founder’s Grove, where many from our crew experienced the grandeur of Northern California’s forest for the first time. After two full days of collaboration, organization, and late night patch sewing, we headed northeast into the Klamath National Forest. With the wind shield wipers slapping through the pouring rain and our packs dog piled high in the back of our trucks, we traveled over and around a maze of creeks and rivers to our new home, deep in the woods of Cecilville. There we paired up with the direction of our Forest Service foreman, Ellen Andrews. Amidst snow showers, we worked together on making our first camp comfortable.
The next day met us with an introduction of trail maintenance. Through blow down and brush, befriended with axes, pilaskis, and the noble cross-cut saw, Ellen led the crew five miles up the McNeil Creek Trail. With our feet wet with the knowledge of trail clearing, we began our first full work week with what we set out here to do…New Trail Construction. The end of April’s days were spent swinging tools, working together as a crew to build a pathway from scratch along the South Fork of Taylor Creek.
In the evenings, we gathered our work weary hearts and bones around the fire and began our community building curriculum. Other classes included the Jack Herr’s map and compass class, weekend safety, and former Backcountry Corpsmember, CDF engineer, Jose Semintal’s class on how to properly communicate via radio.
The 2008 Kings Canyon Backcountry Crew would like to take the time to count our blessings and express our gratitude to the many people who helped get our Backcountry bus pointed in the right direction. Thanks to Peter and Tessa for their winter long planning, Kiva and Karlson for seeking us out and placing us together. Muchas gracias to Roxie and Debbee for rounding up our hire paperwork. A special thanks to the famous former Backcountry supervisor, Diane Brown for her inspiring briefing of what to expect. We owe a lot too for Jack Herr’s goofy, energetic presence at our orientation and around our camp. Thank you all!
We are sad to mention that Tyler Harrison and Jennifer Erickson re-routed their trail away from the Kings and Queens of our crew. They have decided the Backcountry Trails Program was not for them and returned home. We wish you better luck on your next endeavors.