Southwest Conservation Corps - Fourth Hitch October 16-27, 2010

This was our only "backcountry" hitch, doing maintenance on Major Creek Trail. We saw nobody on the trail until Friday rolled around, 5 days in). Photos start with organizing provisions on Sunday night before hitting the trail the next day. On Monday morning we broke camp, packed provisions, gear, and tools, and made our way to our first trail camp, 2.75 miles in. On Tuesday morning Mike, Paige, and I scouted out the full trail, hiking through last nights snow to treeline. Finding outfitter tents, open to public use, we moved camp at the end of our work day. The use of warm canvas tents with fireplace, lanterns, cookware, easy water access, and even an enclosed latrine was definitely a morale boost. On this trail we cleared about 4.5 miles of corridor, including the removal of about a dozen 8"-14" deadfalls. At the end of our last hitch we made our way to Salida and further on to Mountain Princeton for "graduations." Our final destination was unknown and there was grumbling about having to camp in the snow for no good reason, but we were delighted to discover that a large cabin had been reserved for us when the snow began to gather. Crews indulged in hot tubs, showers, pizza, ping pong, fussball, and movies for the night, gathering back at SCC in the morning for final de-rig.

Clare gets right to work on her rations



"Tools of the trade"





Scouting out the trail, going from the valley, up to snowy heights





Followed wolf tracks briefly


The first dinner in the outfitter tents








Trail-drunk, only a few days in






Where the hell are they taking us?

What?! A Cabin? You mean we're not camping in the snow?

And there is a hot tub and showers?!

A brisk morning


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