STANISLAUS BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
APRIL 2008 MONTHLY OVERVIEW
BRIAN LUSSIER, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

Overview:

A beginning to the 2008 Backcountry Trail season has erupted. After an extensive and lengthy process of sorting through hundreds of applications and interviews – the Stanislaus crew was born…Sixteen talented, outgoing, energetic young men and women were chosen to be a part of what will be a life changing experience. The crew: Renae Perez from Pomona, CA, Zach Lichty – Sacramento, CA, Owen Ridings - Detroit, MI, Rachel Ottem – Weaverville, CA, Kip Valesano – Minneapolis, MN, Bryce Baker – Chico, CA, Ben Brown – Indianapolis, IN, Deveion Hicksonbottom – Compton, CA, Nick Reed – Grand Rapids, MI, Amanda Tracy – Klamath Falls, OR, Nick Withrow – Springfield, OR, Grace Vera – San Diego, CA, Emily Weber – Williamston, MI, Justin Leap – Pomona, CA, Eric Nichols – Eureka, CA, Mike Ice –  Fresno, CA, and me, the fearless team leader, Brian Lussier – Loomis, CA. People from all walks of life coming together for five months to build not only trails but a community based on trust, respect and love.
We all met for the first time on April 21, 2008 in Auburn, CA at the CCC Placer Center. Before I move on, we would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to the Placer staff and corpsmembers for their hospitality. Thank you for hosting the Backcountry Trails Program for two days, four of the six crews met at Placer for an orientation, then on Wednesday 4/23/08 everyone departed for their destinations. We set off for Big Basin State Park, 20 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. Four hours of driving on asphalt paved trails (freeways) in a van and a truck, we soon landed at our new home at the ocean.
Our camp lies at the mouth of Waddell Creek and the Pacific Ocean. Couldn’t of asked for a better place to start off the season, right at the beach below the Santa Cruz Mountains. With a sandy beach, wave washed cliffs and small islands to the west, lush fern filled Redwood Forest to the east and a peaceful creek flowing next to our camp – consider us blessed. Living in a place where the Ohlone Native Americans resided/lived for thousands of years, one can imagine and feel the beauty of this special place we call home for the meanwhile. Just the right place to build relationships with one another before we head off into the Sierra’s to live for four months or so.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by the State Parks personnel and our cook. Kirby Fosgate, longtime sponsor and supporter of the program, we call him the mastermind behind this operation, his lead worker Chris Periera and the sidekicks Jose, Brian, John, and Maggie. Awesome people! Our cook for the season is master chef, Frank Gado –with the best food prepared this side of the Sierra’s. With all this, the crew, the sponsors, our cook, the place we call home, you could say we’ve got a recipe for success.

Weekend Adventures:

With only one weekend before the end of the month, the crew got a chance to get out and explore the park. Saturday, half the crew hiked through the “rainforest” to Berry Creek Falls, Silver Falls, and Golden Cascades. “Kind of a fairytale place” according to them. Incredible waterfalls, wildflowers galore, lush-green ferns and towering Redwood trees, truly a fascinating experience. The other half set out to hike to Chalk Mountain. Which, when on top – views all around of the ocean, and even San Jose on a clear day. They did not quite make it to the top but still had a good time. Sunday the crew went to Ano Nuevo State Reserve to observe elephant seals sun bathing and wrestling on the beach. Cool! Later that day we went on a nature walk with a park interpreter to study the wildflowers. They really enjoyed that. Look at next month’s weekend adventures for more exciting stories of fun journey’s in the wild.

Work Production:

We’ve been all over the place performing maintenance on the trails, installing foot bridges, cutting out fallen trees, building steps, installing safety railings, etc… The crewmembers have been getting a wide variety of opportunities to gain/enhance their job skills.

Odds and Ends:

We’re happy to have Ben Brown back with the crew!
Thank you Peter Lewis and Tesssa d’Usseau for helping get this whole thing going. Your dedication, drive and enthusiasm is much appreciated.
To all the friends and family out there, we love ya.

Curriculum:

Lots and lots of community building going on.

Crewmember Words of Wisdom:

To whom it may concern,
The journey of a lifetime has just begun. I have already experienced some trials and tribulations and we haven’t entered the backcountry yet. What we young adults embark on will mold us for eternity. This crew is a well oiled machine moving a mountain, tink…tink…tink… The bonds have been made and no tension could pull it apart. Hopefully all the backcountry crews enjoy their experience and grow as individuals as well as a unit.
Sincerely,
Stanislaus Crew 2008,
Michael Ice