YOSEMITE 1 BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW
MAY 2008 MONTHLY OVERVIEW
RUSSELL GREER, BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS SUPERVISOR

The month of May has held many treasures such as, sore muscles, a flow of cooks, stumbling stones, and many miles of maintenance. Of course that’s not all, we are also getting down to the nitty gritty of the life style. What I mean by that is people are dirty, wet, and tired, but at the end of the day I still see smiling faces. Backcountry is no longer a theory--the reality is here!
During this month we hit Yosemite Valley with attitude, maintaining just about  all the trails that rise from the majestic Merced River.  We began the month repairing the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.  In the spring, when the melting snow swells all waterways, the Yosemite Falls Trail is at its full glory.   While clearing off winter debris, the crew came across  one of the largest pieces of wood a group of twelve has ever moved using only their hands. After finishing our work on Yosemite Falls, we headed east to work on the notorious Tenaya Zigzags. This trail is one of the most strenuous hikes in Yosemite, and most experiencedl trail workers feel exhaustion sweep through them just by hearing the name even if they haven’t set foot on it in years. But we did not shirk from the challenge.  Once we completed our work on the ZigZags, we finished the month on the Four Mile Trail.  This trail connects Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley.  We had the pleasure of working at Glacier Point the day before it was open to the public.  It felt like we were on top of the world.
The Yosemite-I NPS all-stars sponsor staff have now nearly all arrived. Heading it up with Trail Foreman Doug Matheson (Yosemite-II 1997), a man who always said he was married to the Park, but this month said his wedding vows to Marie. Congratulations Doug and Marie! Then there is Chris Lerman (Yosemite-II 2005), a fun loving pirate who is giving nearly all his waking and sleeping hours to keeping it real out here. The most recent addition to the sponsors who are helping train the Yosemite-I ‘08 is Ralph Raya (Yosemite-II 2006).  Last week Ralph took David Kriedel and Simone Kyles to Little Yosemite Valley, to help cut fallen logs out of the trail, and learn how to rebuild collapsed sections of trails with rocks. We are all grateful for the team of NPS workers who are teaching us about Yosemite trails.
Our weekends have been allowed us the opportunity to further explore our magnificent surroundings.  The entire crew  hiked to Illilouette Creek off of Glacier Point Road to check out some not so lucrative fishing holes and try not to burn nose hairs using the new stoves. The following weekends some pushed out twenty miles to El Capitan and Lake Vernon. Others searched for a bit of relaxation around Lake Eleanor and the Poopenaut Valley. All Found that their backyard is vast and enjoyable.

CURRICULUM:
This month of class was packed with knowledge, wisdom, and heart. We started off with Andrea Canapary’s Natural History class. In this class the entire crew went from acting out creatures of our wilderness to visualizing the glaciers flowing down and carving out what we now know as Yosemite Valley. We were blessed by a visit from George Hawley who taught massage and relaxation. We went on to spend an evening with Yosemite Fire Management’s Taro Pusina and Gary Wuckner. They told us a brief history of NPS Fire and how one might start a career with them. Mike Eliott, from Earth Wisdom, came out to teach us everything we will need to know to keep ourselves alive in a wilderness situation with very little on our person. NPS ranger Shelton Johnson gave a Buffalo Soldier presentation that will stay with most throughout their lives. Erin Anders came out to tell us some age old wisdom about trails, awareness and washing machines. Jen Meno helped us to realize that backpacking food doesn’t have to taste like dog food. Samatha Camp shed new light on how to write in our journals. We are also continuing to learn tons from each other in weekly community meetings. Thank you all who spent some of your valuable time sharing your knowledge and expertise with the Yosemite-I Trail Crew this May. It was not time wasted.

PERSONEL CHANGES:
Sadly, crew member Irma Gonzalez from Kalamazoo left the Program this month.  We wish her all the best on whatever next step she might take.

ODDS AND ENDS:
We are so excited to be here right now. Thank you Fortuna people. Also, thanks for the constant continued support from all the families, friends, Centers, and loved ones. ENCORE!