INYO/TRINITY BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
JUNE 2008 MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Karlson Hubbard, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

We spent the first week of June finishing up our project on the Coastal Trail in the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park.  After six weeks , the crew was ready to bid adieu to the ticks and poison oak, and see different country.   Hello Trinity Alps, land of the bear, the mountain lion, the downed trees, the heat and the oh so glorious alpine lakes and cold snowmelt creeks. Not to mention, goodbye Old Faithful (truck 337) and Old Yeller (van 800).
In early June we left the coast and front country and went over the mountains to a land the Sinity Alps Crew had ever seen before – Backcountry.  We were glad to finally traded our vehicles for picks,  Pulaskies, and a cross-cut saw.
Due to drastic Forest Service  budget cutback, we are the only crew the Shasta Trinity National Forest has to repair their trails, and cut through the hundreds of fallen logs that have blocked all the routes heading into the high country.
Armed with sharp saws, sharper wits, and a childlike wonderment for the mountains we began to open up the Trinity Alps Wilderness to the world. We are moving happily and hungrily along in our season content with the simplest state of mind one can have – A Backcountry State of Mind.
My, my, hello July.

Curriculum:
“Crosscut your soul if you have to, but by golly cut that tree!!” Long Arm Louie the logger.
We learned about the crosscut, the double-bit, and the Pulaski and wedges. We learned that all you need to start a fire are some cuss words and that some people’s life stories should be made into movies. Lastly we learned that things are a lot more chill when the boss isn’t around.
Odds and Ends:
“I’ve cut down egos larger than this here Doug Fir in one swing son, so don’t ever interrupt me again when I’m talking!” Double-bit Dan from Russia who flew in to show us how to sharpen tools.
“That creek will marry you with its looks and divorce you for your life. My god, do not go swimming in there!” Karlson Hubbard Sinity Alps Supervisor.
Thanks to the Trinity Alps USFS Trail Crew all three of you. Thanks to our packer Matt Carson (Klamath ‘00) for your efforts. Thanks to our cook Amanda  Atkinson (Yosemite-II ’03) for the food. Thanks Larry McLean for your support. Thanks Kenny Graves for your support. Lastly, thanks crew for being unwavering and undaunted in who you are.