As you know, since you are reading this, I was blogging about my experiences and life on Mt. Massive in 2009.At some point my pen stopped writing, my keyboard stopped tapping.There was much to be said, there was nothing to be said.
August 19, 2009.It started out as a regular day on the mountain.We decided to get an early start since we’d be working up higher than usual.We left camp at 5 am.We did our usual stretching circle and then hiked, and hiked, and hiked.The crew was far ahead of me. On this particular day we had 7 Rocky Mountain Youth Corp, Joe, myself and Loretta from the Forest Service all at the worksite.We had one person who stayed at camp, sick.
I wasn’t feeling too great. My stomach was hurting and I was hiking slowly.I wasn’t sure if I should turn around and go back to camp but when I got to our tool cache, I figured I’d continue the lasthalf mile to the worksite, drop off my tools and assign myself a project that I could do at a very slow pace.That way I’d at least get something done.
Lunch time came and I couldn’t eat, I had no appetite.I did manage to take a nap and before I knew it, lunch was over.Hannah and I went up higher above the lunch site to work on delineating the trail.We were working on the ridgeline, kind of near where the North Halfmoon Trail and the main route connect.It was 1:45ish when my life changed forever.We were 15 minutes shy of the end of our work day.A military helicopter crashed 100 yards from my group, just on the other side of the ridge.
Many of us had wilderness first aid certifications and immediately ran over to help.We ran over scree and talus at a 40 degree slope.We did a quick safety survey and entered the scene of the accident.We innately split into groups and started caring for our patients and sent a search party out to locate 2 more soldiers and aid them in whatever way we could.
We called in a Flight-For-Life helicopter to help evacuate our patients.We did everything we could do.We were 4 miles from the nearest 4-wheel drive, dirt road and we were at 14,200 feet in elevation.We exhausted our medical supplies, capabilities and ourselves.
I won’t go into the details but I will say that on August 19, 2009 our nation lost 4 great American heroes.We lost four men who were willing to give their lives to protect the unalienable rights that many people, myself included, exercise and possibly take for granted everyday.
I take solace in the fact that I was there with them in their greatest time of need.I am glad that I can offer that to their families.Unbeknownst to them, these four men and their families have made me more appreciative, understanding and empathetic towards those in the military.I can better understand what they go though and the sacrifice both the servicemen and servicewomen and their families make in the name of our country, our safety and our freedom.It doesn’t matter how you feel about war, regardless, you should support the troops.Our troops put their lives on the line for you.So now I am that woman who approaches random uniformed service people in the airport (or other public places) and shakes their hand and says “thank you for your service to our country.”Then I walk away.I encourage you to do the same.My only regret is that I didn’t start doing this sooner.Maybe I would have randomly thanked these men.
My thoughts are constantly with their wives, children, brothers, sisters, parents and friends.I think about everyone in the 160th out of Fort Campbell.I think about the hikers who were out there, trying to summit Mt. Massive and answered the call to action.I think about Nate, the Flight Nurse and about Pete, Laraine, Joe, Rob, Max, Adam, Alex, Hannah, Fred and Loretta.I think about Natalie, Jesse, Brian, Rodney, Mizzou, Mississippi, the guy who gave up his sleeping bag and tent for first aid supplies, Freida and Dustin and the other hikers who were there that day.But mostly I think about Chad, Terry, Rob and PJ.
Jessie, Nigel, Meredith, Hannah, Sarah, Jennie and Hannan
August 2nd found me at the Mt. Massive Overflow trailhead meeting up with a crew from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) and Joe.This crew was comprised of 6 women, Sarah, Jennie, Hannah, Meredith, Jessie and Lauren, and 3 guys, Hannan, Nigel and Pete.10 of us began hiking in (Nigel didn’t join us for a few days as he was at a family reunion).It took us about 2.5 hours to hike into base camp.
We set up, ate and then headed back down to the trailhead.We had to make a second trip because we had a lot of food (we were packing in for 10 days).On the way down, Joe ran into a man who seemed to need help getting down the trail.I caught up with them and walked with them as well.The man seemed tired and wobbly on his feet.We stayed with him and made sure he got to his truck and he was fine (I later saw him in Leadville at a restaurant).
After getting to our truck, Joe and I went to town, ran some errands, I got a calzone from High Mountain Pies and we hiked back in.
August 3rd found us quarrying rock, lots and lots of rock.We also got stormed off the mountain.We managed to get about 8 hours of work in so it was a good day but we like to get a bit more done if possible.This day also found one of our teammates discovering that this job wasn’t for her.It’s a tough situation but we want our crew to have a good experience and this was just a bit much (2.5 mile hike to the worksite each day at 13,500 feet in elevation) for someone right out the gate.
August 4th found us saying goodbye to Lauren and Pete (who hiked her out).We continued to quarry rock at the work site and looked forward to the next day so we could begin building structures.Quarrying rock happens to be one of my least favorite jobs so I was excited to build.
From August 5th through the end of the hitch on the 11th we mostly built structures, we build 3 tier walls, a mono wall, a section of crush fill retained by rock, a 5 step stone staircase and started (and half completed) an 8 step stone staircase.There was also a bit of tread scratched and we started to re-contour the current trail (since we’ll have to restore it in a few weeks).
Over all, we had a good hitch.We met some really nice, fun people, I got to hang out with a bunch of BMW’s (burly mountain women) which is always refreshing and we had some fun at camp playing games, listening to music, playing guitars.We didn’t quite get as much done on the trail as I was hoping but that’s usually the case as I have high aspirations for each group.
The next hitch we’ll get a new group from RMYC (Pete will be their leader) and we’ll also get to work with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC).Hoping to get the entire reroute done before the VOC get’s in for their long weekend.I’d love to have them doing the restoration work as I think they could really get it all done.I think it might be tight to get all of the high priority work done this summer, but I think it’s doable, just have to keep the end goal in mind, keep everyone safe and have some fun.It’s a tall order but someone’s gotta do it.
Becky, David, Todd and Joe littering a rock across the tundra.
July 15th we started up the trail, Joe, Me, Todd, Chris B. and Laraine from RMYC.We had just chatted with Chris from the Forest Service who was out putting up a new sign encouraging people to fill out a permit at the self registration box at the trail head.They are free and are a good way for the Forest Service to get an idea of the amount of usage the Mt. Massive Wilderness is getting.
We made our way up the trail, established camp and made dinner.On the hike in, we noticed some vandalism, writing in blue marker, on one of the new signs that had been put up in the last year or so.It got me pretty steamed to see that vandalism on the sign.There is no excuse for that, none.
On the 16th and 17th we mainly quarried rocks, lots and lots of rocks.This is probably one of my least favorite things to do.It is a necessary evil.It’s so much easier to quarry with 4 people and since Chris was only going to be working with us for 2 days, we needed to take advantage of his strength and quarry.It would make setting the rocks much easier later.
On the 18th, it was just the three of us, Todd, Joe and me.Chris B. had to leave and it was great to have him on the mountain for even just a few days.Thanks Chris!Today we set a bunch of steps.It was very tiring but felt good to build things and create stone steps.
After a few more days of building with Todd and Joe my friends David and Becky (a husband and wife team) hiked in on July 22nd.It was great to see them again as I hadn’t seen them in quite some time.I originally met them while they were hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and kept running into them while I was doing weekend hikes.We ended up keeping in touch and now they are in camp, ready to help us build the new Mt. Massive assent trail.Great people!
The entire hitch was great.We all hiked out on July 24th and even though David and Becky were only there for 2 nights, one work day, it was a great way to end the hitch.They did a great job setting the rest of a two tier wall.Kudos also have to go to Todd.Todd is a teacher who volunteered to work with us for the entire hitch, all 10 days.He did a great job of building stone staircases and monowalls.He was also great to have in camp with us and taught me a thing or two about cooking (as he went to culinary school).We couldn’t have gotten as much work done without the help of everyone so thanks Chris, Todd, David and Becky.I hope to work with you again soon!
On July 9th Joe and I met up with the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) crew.There were 12 people comprising their crew:Randy, Mark, Wiley, Skip, Cooper, Aaron, Time, Clare, Colleen, Elizabeth, Ted and Ben.All seemed very nice and enthusiastic about being there with us.
Having just had such a wonderful time with our last group I was a bit apprehensive, how would the CDTA folks measure up?What would it be like to work with adults again?What about working with people that I just met as opposed to the Overland group who we had gotten to know over a long period of days?
Luckily, the CDTA group was a wonderful, fun group of adults.We had a chef in camp, Tim, so I didn’t have to do any cooking or helping in the kitchen tent (I think I did get a little spoiled).Had to do a few dishes but with so many people, the job sharing was easy.
On the 10th we hiked up to the work site.It’s a long hike up there and my neck hurts.I noticed the pain when I rolled over last night in my sleeping bag and then again pouring milk into my cereal.It should make trail work a ton of fun when I can’t move my neck so much (sarcasm).At the work site we got a few steps put in and finished up a set of stairs that the Overland group started.
On the 11th we decided to do some restoration work at the upper end of the Willow Resto area.It was a bit nicer of a hike (read: shorter) and with my neck still hurting, I was ok with a shorter hike.I also ran in to my friend, trail name Mom, as she had hiked to the summit on the 10th and was camped out not far from our stretching area.She heard us and came out for a quick hello.
We ended up putting in a good number of grass plugs (transplants) and re-contouring 100 or so feet of old trail.We also fixed some tread on the new trail so it’s a bit easier and more sustainable for walking.Unfortunately, we got stormed off early so work got a bit curtailed.Fortunately, that meant that I could relax and chat with our volunteers since we had more time in camp.
We ended up having a great evening full of storytelling and laughter.It was great to be with the group and it was great to have some spirited, strong women around.I always feel fortunate when I have the opportunity to work with strong women in the field, and this was no exception.
Avery, Me and Riley the last night of the Overland Summers Project
On June 25th, another group arrived, the Overland Summers group.I had worked with a group from this camp before and it was a good project last year.But every year brings new kids and new leaders so you are never quite sure what you are going to get.
The group got to base camp around 12:45, lead by Drew and Hilary from the CFI Adopt-a-Peak program.The group consisted of Overland Leaders Liz and Jake and campers Avery, Riley, Matt, Jack, Zach B. (Lumber Zach), Zach H., Ben A., and Ben D.That day we let them set up camp, hiked up to the lower end of the Willow Resto area and showed them the bad weather meeting spot and practiced lightning position.We also found out that Michael Jackson died.
Day 2 with the group we hiked up tools to the higher end of the Willow Restoration (Resto) area.Hilary and I led the group while Joe and Drew went up to the high site to lay out some work.We worked on planning plugs and re-contouring the old trail.The day went well and we ate lunch as the rains came in.I boogied down the hill as I had a plane to catch that evening and left the group in the capable hands of Drew and Hilary.
I flew to Baltimore to visit with my best friend, Maura.We had details to go over for her upcoming wedding.Since this is an outdoor blog I won’t go into more details but I had a nice time and it was great to see her and her parents (my East Coast Parents).
Tuesday June 30th I arrived back in Leadville and by 10:20 I was at the Mt. Massive trailhead getting gear together for the hike in.We were to meet the Overland Summers group at 10:30.Around 11:30, after some chatting, reacquainting ourselves with each other, and listening to Billie Jean we were heading up the trail back into the Mt. Massive Wilderness, back home.The hike was relatively uneventful but warm…I think I even got to wear shorts on the hike in, a rarity since I don’t think it’s been warmer than about 60 degrees yet.But the sun was shining and the conversation was good.
Up until this hike in, I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet a group, work with them, have days off and then meet up with them again.It was nice.It was a good feeling to know what we were going to get in terms of the group.It was also nice to have a group to look forward to meeting up with.
We arrived at camp, did some chores and got ready for the morning.
Stone steps built the the Overland Summers Group.
July 1st-5th went by very quickly and before I knew it our time with Overland Summers had come to an end.We got some great work done.We built stone staircases, moved huge rocks, built retaining walls, rearranged rocks so that they can be walked over more easily.We got some quality structures built and got a good amount of work done.
Joe (my Co-Leader) and I also had time to relax with the group in the evenings, played spoons, Apples to Apples, and chatted.We were invited to participate in their nightly ritual Desser-cle (Dessert Circle but we mash the word together).They all have dessert together and give their “Highs, Lows and Cheers” for the day.It’s a great practice and when someone gives you “Cheers” it really does make you feel good.It’s kind of funny, I didn’t think that getting recognized by someone half my age would have such a positive impact on my mental status but it does feel really good.I think in life, most people want to do something right and be recognized in some sense.So thanks for the “Cheers” guys.Thanks for reminding me, first hand, the importance of praise.I hope our paths cross again, maybe a trail work project in the future.Thanks for everything and congratulations on making the summit on your last day!
Our first group of the season met us on Monday at 10am at the Mt. Massive trailhead.We are working with Sanborn Western Camps (a boy’s and a girl’s camp) who have a leadership program that includes doing trail work with us.
We hiked in the 3.5 miles to camp in 2.5 hours, let them set up camp, went over base camp rules, groover rules (no peeing in the groover) and some other important information. We hiked up to the first restoration area (resto area) so the kids could see where they would be working and there would not be as much nervous anticipation in the morning, no kids worried about how far we had to hike.
There were quite a few firsts going on here.First, it was the first group of the season.Second, it was the first time Joe and I had lead together.Third, it was the first time I was leading a group who I had worked with in a previous year.Fourth, it was this kids’ first time doing trail work.
Kids are interesting, they are hard to read at times, they seem tired, then they seem to have boundless energy, they need to be reassured but they need to be left to work things out on their own.They want to assert their independence but they constantly want your approval.I know I was the same way at 14 or 15 years old.The kids were an interesting juxtaposition on their own.
I do give them credit, for some of them, this was way out of their comfort zone and some of them did very well and worked really hard.One young man, Zach was an incredibly well-natured gentleman who was ready, willing and able to accomplish any task we asked.Others worked hard but offered comic relief like Max.Still others like a young lady named Blayne seemed to redefine how I would come to see them.Blayne brought make-up with her.I didn’t wear make-up at 14 so I think I had a perception of 14 year olds wearing make-up, but when she was digging in the dirt and mud, planting transplants, digging up plugs of grass, she worked hard.The highest compliment that I think I can pay someone is to tell them that they made me rethink or re-perceive a previous perception, thought or view point and she did that.
Now the other kids that I didn’t mention from the group we also good kids, Ben, Jacob, Elliot, Annie, Gracie and Shannon, their counselors:Collette, Kevin and Bea.It’s just that a few things stick out when you are with a group.Annie and Shannon did do a great job getting the plugs going that first day and Elliot was really inquisitive and wanted to gain a working knowledge of everything we were doing and had a great sense of humor, Ben was great at digging holes for planting plugs, Jacob….well, Jacob was surely doing his share of the work because at the end of each day he had the most dirt on his face, and on and on with stories of things the kids did.
Over all, it was good to get a group under our belts and they were a good group to start with.I think I have a bit of a better idea of what I need to do as leader to get the most of our groups, to be that crazy mix of what is needed.
It started out on Friday, after finishing loading my car and giving my room the once over, I said good-bye to my pups (who are really my parents pups but I love them like they are my own) and then drove to my dad’s work and said good-bye to him. My mom is out of town so only a phone good-bye for her.
I decided to break up my drive into two days. I would drive about 7 hours (plus an hour time change) to Salina, UT where I would splurge on a hotel room. Then on Saturday I would drive to Leadville, about 6 hours of driving. Well, my 7 hours of driving turned into 8 since I lost an hour negotiating the traffic in Vegas but other than that it was uneventful.
The drive through Arizona was especially beautiful. The interstate goes through the Virgin River Gorge, weaving around bluffs and bends in the river. I always feel a bit like I am “cheating” when I get to see such beautiful sights from my car instead of having to hike for hours to see such wondrous sights.
I got to my hotel, relaxed and watched the Lakers beat the Nuggets.
Saturday I got up and began the drive to Leadville. The 100 miles east of Salina were just gorgeous. Again that guilty feeling set in. I should have to hike to see this stuff. But now I am wondering, if Utah had that much to offer just from the Highway, imagine what the backcountry must look like.
I got to Leadville around 5pm and then went out to the Yurt. I met Joe and Drew. Joe is my Co-Leader on Mt. Massive this year. Drew is the Adopt-a-Peak Project Leader. Upon first impression, they seem nice, enthusiastic, oozing with culinary genius and Joe reminds me a bit of my cousin Scotty. Should make for a good season.
During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.I was enthralled by the wildflowers.I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.Happy Trails!
Sky Pilot, also known as Sticky Polemonium or Skunkweed, is a member of the Phlox family.
The Sky Pilot’s flowers are fragrant, funnel-shaped, and in tight, terminal clusters.They have 5 blue or lavender (or sometimes white), roundish corolla lobes and a densely hairy calyx.
When hiking in Colorado, look for the Sky Pilot in alpine areas, 11,500 feet to 14,400 feet in elevation.Be sure to inspect tundra slopes and crests, boulder fields and disturbed meadows, and along trails to catch a glimpse of them.
To catch them while flowering, plan a hike to the high country anytime the conditions allow from June to August.I saw this flower while inspecting one of our trail crew’s work on the re-route on Mt. Yale.I wasn’t expecting to see it but when I did, it put a big smile on my face.
During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.I was enthralled by the wildflowers.I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.Happy Trails!
The Arctic Gentian is part of the Gentian Family just like the Mountain Gentian.
There are 3 flowers per stem and they are barrel-shaped and up to 2” long.Their color can be anywhere from a white to greenish color with purplish streaks on the outside and spots inside.Life Zones:Subalpine and Alpine
When trying to catch a glimpse of this flower, check in grassy areas along stream banks, in meadows and near ponds.I found quite a few when I was hiking up Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado in August.The Arctic Gentian is found in the Subalpine and Alpine zones, anywhere between 10,000 and 14,400 feet in elevation in Colorado.The best time of year to spot the Arctic Gentian, August.Happy hiking!
