KLAMATH BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
SEPTEMBER 2007 MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Karlson Hubbard, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

Overview:

There they all are – Honesty, and Integrity, Patience and Understanding, and Tolerance and Diligence. Now that’s a fine looking string of mules if we do say so ourselves. And at the front of the string who do we have? Who do these mules follow? Well, it’s none other than their time-honored leader – Tradition, an animal we the Klamath Crew now ride confidently and forever.
            Of course without a packer or packers these mules and horse are just a bunch of big old, grazing animals chewing up grass and not doing much of anything, not having much of a purpose. Luckily though they’ve had us all as their packers all season. First came old Honesty and Integrity, the wise animals of the bunch. Without them none of us would have had a foot to stand on because without Honesty and Integrity we just wouldn’t be able to trust that our season would be a success. Then came along a couple of younger fellows – Patience and Understanding. They arrived at a time when our crew was searching for a reason to continue. They made us realize that without Patience and Understanding none of us could have worked, let alone also, live with one another for a whole season.
            Next, we were briefly entertained by two raucous animals who caused nothing but trouble for us – Ridicule and Selfishness. They showed us just how fragile a good working crew and well run pack string can be. In the end though they served a greater purpose by providing us with a little food for thought, literally and figuratively.
            Finally, our last two additions were the finest specimens and of the highest of caliber, Tolerance and Diligence. Through their stature alone we learned just how invaluable they were to us for having a good, successful season. Without Tolerance and Diligence we know that everything we had accomplished as a crew, everything we had learned as a community could all too easily fall to the wayside and be lost.
            September is here and our season is over so it’s time to head out to pasture and rest, and reap all the benefits that came from giving it all you’ve got. With the help of our mules and horse, we the Klamath Crew 2007, now can believe we succeeded. We’re a good crew, and we worked hard to be that way.

            All metaphors aside here’s a real summary of how our season went:
            The Klamath 2007 crew showed up in April. We learned very early that the most valuable thing you have in the backcountry (and in the world) is your word. We built trust with one another as we built a close knit community. We did it on our own with no thanks to anyone else. We grew to genuinely care for each other and we worked hard to better our work ethic. We embodied what Backcountry is all about.
            As far as the work goes… We treaded and brushed and cleaned water bars for the entire season. We learned no rock work skills. We learned no wood working skills. We did not learn how to properly use a cross-cut or even a chainsaw. Nope, we learned that if you can tread and brush all season – that alone is one hell of an accomplishment. We learned Backcountry is about more than just getting every ounce of work out of a crew. It’s about Honesty and Integrity, Patience and Understanding, Tolerance and Diligence…It’s about Tradition. I am so proud of this crew!

Curriculum:

            We spent September supporting one another, encouraging one another, rallying one another, and appreciating one another.

Odds and Ends:

            “You didn’t have one swimming hole near camp all season? Man, that’s a raw deal.” Paul Veining – Former Olympic swimmer who passed through camp.

“You treaded and brushed and cleaned water bars all season? Bro, that’s a rough season.” Sarah Tuoleme – Trails Manager at Granite Spires National Park.