SOOOO the results are in!!! Came in 2nd in the cooking contest last weekend...so jipped :/ but we did win candy bars. whooopppeeeee.... haha I'm not bitter or anything. AND I passed the employee drug test. We ended up having to get them done because of insurance purposes or something and I guess because the other saw crews had to get tested it had to be fair or something. We all passed though, so no harm done I suppose besides wasting a Friday afternoon.
Rendezvous was fun. Basically just chilled out at the lake..met some cool people from other crews... ate a lot of yummy dutch-oven food from the cook-off...and enjoyed some great talents around the campfire. Then there was the Pube Bomb... You may ask yourself, what exactly is a Pube Bomb?? Well the idea originated on the way back from a sunset hike in Buff Pass. How could we make our mark at the talent show?? What's something that would really grind some gears, but not have to potential to harm?? What's gross that we have a lot of?? Naturally, pubes came to mind (not my mind). Now the smell of burned hair is quite atrocious, but add the sweat and frumundacheese that happens to accumulate in the pubic area and that's a whole other story. The plan was to have the crew shave their pubes and collect them all into a paper bag and then throw it on the fire at Rendezvous, creating a memorable conclusion to an otherwise relatively wholesome campfire.
Although I did not personally contribute, most of my fellow crew members,along with the other Saw Crew, did. Needless to say, there was quite a pile. The delivery was carried out by my delightful 6' 7" dreaded friend Skeeter. Upon the apparent closure of the talent show/campfire, he raised his hand, signalling one final act. As he rose to his feet and approached the fire, he nonchalantly asked the audience if they had ever heard of a Pube Bomb...naturally, no one answered because that's RIDICULOUS!! As they sat in bewilderment, he simply tossed the tiny bag of wonders atop the flame. 10 seconds passed... then the smell. Those downwind were the first to witness the horrifying smell (myself included). People started to clear out of the circle whilst shouts of SAW CREW IS VICTORIOUS and TALENT SHOW WINNER echoed over the lake. It was definitely a success, reinforced by the talk around the water cooler the next morning. We made our mark for sure.
This past week was our last week at Independence Mountain, where we've been living for the past 5 weeks. We finished our thinning project on Monday and felled trees for the rest of the week. I'm definitely feeling more comfortable with a 40 foot tree looming overehead than I was earlier in the season.
Now we move to our new worksite/home for the final 2 weeks of work. It's right near where Rendezvous was at a place called Pearl Lake, which is about an hour outside of Steamboat Springs. We are hopefully going to be felling hazard trees and maybe planting baby trees for our final projects. Then, we are going to breakup the work weeks with a 4 day backpacking trip in Medicine Bow National Forest. I've had a blast this summer, and can't believe the season is practically over. I am ready to return to civilization I think, but I know as soon as I'm driving through 'gansett surrounded by New York and Connecticut license plates, I'm going to wish I was back in the woods...
xo
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Weeks 7 & 8: Whoa...sandals. Right on
OK. So a lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. Let me think... So last week we were working on building a buck and rail fence, which was really fun actually. We utilized the wood we got from cutting down beetle kill trees and cut them into 5 foot long 'bucks'... then, at the work site, we used a jig to notch the bucks so they would fit together into Xs that we could use for the fence. The fence was built at North Sand Dunes Recreation Area...which is really awesome because you're in the middle of the mountains and then there's this big area of just sand. There used to be an inland sea there back in the day and then when the mountains formed the water evaporated and voila...SAND! The fence we built was put there to protect a plant that is suspected to be very endangered and is only found in this area...it's call the Boat Shaped Bug Seed...or something like that. A lot of the ATVers that use the sand dunes have been riding through the area that the plant occupies, so it was imperative that we establish a more distinct boundary with our fence. Now, hopefully the rogue riders will stick to the trails and this plant can be protected and studied securely.
This past week we did some more thinning... this next portion is also going to be posted on the RMYC website as our Saw 3 blog portion...but it explains moreso what we did.
We have spent 4 weeks up on Independence Mountain outside of Walden, CO. Our time has been occupied mostly by swatting away mosquitoes, but in our down time, we like to pick up a chainsaw or two and help out the BLM. One of the projects that we contributed to was tree thinning. The recent invasion of the pine beetle has left a great deal of Colorado forests in dismal condition. In an effort to prevent another influx of the devastating insect, we worked to make the trees more resilient. This new forest (planted back in the 60s& 70s) was pretty dense; therefore, the little trees that were trying to make it were battling it out in order to obtain the most resources. What we did was go in and cut down some of the trees in order to ensure that the dominant trees receive the highest amount of valuable resources and flourish. That way, if the beetles come around again, those dominant trees would be resilient enough to create enough sap to push out any unwanted visitors. We had about 27 acres allotted to us and worked on it for about 2 weeks. About 12 feet was to be left in between trees, give or take. The trees that we did cut down were then put into tipi-shaped slash piles, so they can be burned this coming winter. When you aren’t on the saw, you’re swamping- picking up the trees that didn’t make the cut. As a swamper, we developed some pretty exciting techniques when it came to getting tall trees up into a teepee shape. There’s the pole vautl; the heave ho; and the this is just too damn heavy. Buck it up!
The work site is about 15 minutes up the road from our marvelous campsite, which overlooks the Zirkle range. It also provides an awesome overlook to see storms a brewin. Stu, our resident weatherman, is never lost for words when it comes to predicting the projection of thunderheads or pressure systems. More often than not though, we just tug on Jake's ear and get a reading- it's a 50% chance of precipitation. Besides Lida’s breakfast song, one thing we on Saw 3 we like to remember daily is "Here on Independence Mountain, there aren't always mosquitoes ...sometimes it rains".
This past week we did some more thinning... this next portion is also going to be posted on the RMYC website as our Saw 3 blog portion...but it explains moreso what we did.
Saw 3: The GoodFellers
Tree Thinning: Atkins Ain't Got Nothing on Us
We have spent 4 weeks up on Independence Mountain outside of Walden, CO. Our time has been occupied mostly by swatting away mosquitoes, but in our down time, we like to pick up a chainsaw or two and help out the BLM. One of the projects that we contributed to was tree thinning. The recent invasion of the pine beetle has left a great deal of Colorado forests in dismal condition. In an effort to prevent another influx of the devastating insect, we worked to make the trees more resilient. This new forest (planted back in the 60s& 70s) was pretty dense; therefore, the little trees that were trying to make it were battling it out in order to obtain the most resources. What we did was go in and cut down some of the trees in order to ensure that the dominant trees receive the highest amount of valuable resources and flourish. That way, if the beetles come around again, those dominant trees would be resilient enough to create enough sap to push out any unwanted visitors. We had about 27 acres allotted to us and worked on it for about 2 weeks. About 12 feet was to be left in between trees, give or take. The trees that we did cut down were then put into tipi-shaped slash piles, so they can be burned this coming winter. When you aren’t on the saw, you’re swamping- picking up the trees that didn’t make the cut. As a swamper, we developed some pretty exciting techniques when it came to getting tall trees up into a teepee shape. There’s the pole vautl; the heave ho; and the this is just too damn heavy. Buck it up!
The work site is about 15 minutes up the road from our marvelous campsite, which overlooks the Zirkle range. It also provides an awesome overlook to see storms a brewin. Stu, our resident weatherman, is never lost for words when it comes to predicting the projection of thunderheads or pressure systems. More often than not though, we just tug on Jake's ear and get a reading- it's a 50% chance of precipitation. Besides Lida’s breakfast song, one thing we on Saw 3 we like to remember daily is "Here on Independence Mountain, there aren't always mosquitoes ...sometimes it rains".
______________________________________________________
This weekend is Rendezvous at Steamboat Lake. RMYC puts it together and it's basically a big gathering for all of the crews (11 i think all together) to mingle and participate in FUNTIVITIES and workshops. I'm hoping it's more like chill at the lake and less like Michael Scott's Beach Day (if it is shotty Team Voldemort)... which brings me to my next exciting news. HARRY POTTER 3D SUNDAY!!!! hopefully...unless my leader is a complete muggle about it :/... I'm trying to butter him up by going above and beyond the call of duty this weekend. Trying to rack up what I call Potter Points. So wish me luck!! Also, Stu and I are representing the GoodFellers in the cookoff this weekend. Gonna make Mushroom Risotto and Balsamic Pork Loin... hopefully the Iron Chef Chairman will do a back flip for us!
ooo and i have photos this week from Jake's camera!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Week 6: Half way through... wowzerrrss
Wow already half way through the summer. Some skills I've developed so far: 1) How to properly handle a chainsaw 2) How to hold my own amongst a plethura of male genitalia and bodily function humor 3) Knowing when i can change my underwear and still have a clean pair come laundry day 4) The exact angle my pants must be in vicinity to my ankles to NOT pee on them in the woods 5) How to kill 5 mosquitoes with a single fist 6) How to fall asleep without a TV showing playing on my laptop 7) How to deal with other people selecting the music for the car rides 8) How to avoid not being "it" in fart tag (just act like you don't care if anyone farts on you...then they don't :) ) 9) How to block out the odors that arise from showering but once a week and finally 10) How to deal with a viscious case of trailgoggles when you enter back into town (they're kind of like beergoggles). It helps you from checking out any guy with a pulse
But in all seriousness, I've learned a lot out here so far. I am definitely comfortable with using a chainsaw when before I left, my dad showed my for like 10 minutes on a log in our yard and i was very hesitant...freaked out even. I am able to go without constant sensory stimulation, when before I couldn't even walk to campus without my ipod. I am reading so many interesting books and learning lots just from the people i'm with 24/7. I split wood for our fire for the first time yesterday using only a hatchet. I do miss elements of my primary lifestyle, but I'm not desperately yearning them.
This past week we began cutting down hazard trees (dead trees that could potentially get blown over by wind into roads). These trees that we cut are going to be the material that we use in our buck and rail fence that we will begin building this week. Buck and rail has the x's with the post lying horzontally between them...?... I'll try to post pictures. I was pretty nervous to begin actually cutting down big trees this week because even though we learned the method and everything in our trainings, I was not that confident. Stu, my leader, stuck with Lida and I all week though and we are definitely improving. I went from cutting a tree probably 6 inches in diameter to a much larger one that was like 12 - 14 inches by the end of the week. It's actually really fun once you get over the fact that there's a 40 foot tree looming over your head.
This weekend we are staying local because it was a shorter weekend since we had Monday off for the 4th and had to work Friday. I'm in Steamboat Springs right now. It's a mobscene. There is a hotair balloon rodeo...?? IDK. Lots of vendors and like fleamarket type deal. But I'm going to go to see Evan from Outward Bound play in a Rugby tournament that's up by the ski area. Then it's back to camp tonight. Hopefully swimming in Lake John tomorrow. I definitely miss the beach, but mountain lakes aren't too bad either.
Skeeter and Jake finally shaved their facial hair today. They decided to do "Fu Man Chu" style..?? Fumanchu I think i'm gonna let mine grow out though. When in Rome right??
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer just as much as I am!! I always love hearing from people, so drop me a line or send me a singing telegram.
xo
The buck and rail fence is the second from the left
But in all seriousness, I've learned a lot out here so far. I am definitely comfortable with using a chainsaw when before I left, my dad showed my for like 10 minutes on a log in our yard and i was very hesitant...freaked out even. I am able to go without constant sensory stimulation, when before I couldn't even walk to campus without my ipod. I am reading so many interesting books and learning lots just from the people i'm with 24/7. I split wood for our fire for the first time yesterday using only a hatchet. I do miss elements of my primary lifestyle, but I'm not desperately yearning them.
This past week we began cutting down hazard trees (dead trees that could potentially get blown over by wind into roads). These trees that we cut are going to be the material that we use in our buck and rail fence that we will begin building this week. Buck and rail has the x's with the post lying horzontally between them...?... I'll try to post pictures. I was pretty nervous to begin actually cutting down big trees this week because even though we learned the method and everything in our trainings, I was not that confident. Stu, my leader, stuck with Lida and I all week though and we are definitely improving. I went from cutting a tree probably 6 inches in diameter to a much larger one that was like 12 - 14 inches by the end of the week. It's actually really fun once you get over the fact that there's a 40 foot tree looming over your head.
This weekend we are staying local because it was a shorter weekend since we had Monday off for the 4th and had to work Friday. I'm in Steamboat Springs right now. It's a mobscene. There is a hotair balloon rodeo...?? IDK. Lots of vendors and like fleamarket type deal. But I'm going to go to see Evan from Outward Bound play in a Rugby tournament that's up by the ski area. Then it's back to camp tonight. Hopefully swimming in Lake John tomorrow. I definitely miss the beach, but mountain lakes aren't too bad either.
Skeeter and Jake finally shaved their facial hair today. They decided to do "Fu Man Chu" style..?? Fumanchu I think i'm gonna let mine grow out though. When in Rome right??
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer just as much as I am!! I always love hearing from people, so drop me a line or send me a singing telegram.
xo
The buck and rail fence is the second from the left
Friday, July 1, 2011
Week 5: Starting to feel a little like the Griswolds
So this week, I'm comparing my experience on the "Goodfellers" to that of Clark W. Griswold in Christmas vacation. There's the obvious cutting down of the trees and having the sap remnants linger on my left middle finger, where a hole has been worn in my glove. At night, as I finger through the pages of my latest book (i'm reading more books than a procrastinating English major btw, which rocks) the lone sappy finger often catches the page. Luckily there's no Cousin Eddy equivalent on my crew (although i do wish someone rocked the dickie), however, the phrase "shitter was full" often comes to mind as someone realizes the trench for the poopchair has reached its capacity and has to dig a new one. Now we have a dog too!! My leader's German Shepard is with us for the weekend :) I'm so happy to have a doggy with us. He dribbles a basketball around with his snout...so cute! Makes me want another dog more and more.... oh mommmmm ;)
SO, recap of the week. We are camping outside of Walden, CO..which is like nothingtownville, USA, but our campsite is on a mountain with a view of the Zirkel mountain range (SO SICKKK). We have it all to ourselves, which also rocks. The only drawback are the bugs. I hate using DEET, but it's kind of necessary... eating lots of garlic...hopefully that'll keep them away too. (oh sidenote before i forget: confirmed that i will be able to see HP while i'm out here!! SIGH OF RELIEF!!!)
THis week we started a new project, which is up the mountain from our campsite about 10 minutes or so. The whole tree thinning thing i discussed last week. It wasn't bad at all! The only thing is Monday, I knicked my chaps (yep assless and everything). They are made of Kevlar (sp?) fibers to protect the chainsaw from gnawing into your legs. The saw was on idle and i had it resting on my right leg in order to put the chainbreak on, but the chain still moves kind of... it pivoted just right so that it got my left leg. BUT the chaps did what they were supposed to do and stopped my chain. Didn't even cut through my pants! So all is well. But it's policy that you have to "swamp" (move trees and limbs out of the way for the sawyers) for 3 days if you cut your chaps, so that's what i did for the rest of the week...yea my biceps are kind of a big deal now.
4th of july weekend: We are camping outside of Leadville, CO with another saw crew until Monday (we get the day off). Hopefully, if the weather holds up we are going to be hiking Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massif, which are the 2 tallest peaks in Colorado...(2nd and 3rd in the Continental US). That would be sick!!! We have to leave wicked early to do it though because at that altitude the storms get really bad in the afternoon... it's pretty much like clockwork. So we are waking up at like 430am tomorrow i think so we can summit by like 9 and be down by 11. Got my work cut out for me i think.
My crew keeps asking how much i write about them individually soooooooooo here goes. Jake, Skeeter, Alex, Peter, Stu, Sam, Colin, Lida. How's that for namedropping?!
Half way through the season... crazy thought.
Happy Birthday 'MURICAH
PUnmaster,
reveal yourself... I'm stumped (yea that just happened)
SO, recap of the week. We are camping outside of Walden, CO..which is like nothingtownville, USA, but our campsite is on a mountain with a view of the Zirkel mountain range (SO SICKKK). We have it all to ourselves, which also rocks. The only drawback are the bugs. I hate using DEET, but it's kind of necessary... eating lots of garlic...hopefully that'll keep them away too. (oh sidenote before i forget: confirmed that i will be able to see HP while i'm out here!! SIGH OF RELIEF!!!)
THis week we started a new project, which is up the mountain from our campsite about 10 minutes or so. The whole tree thinning thing i discussed last week. It wasn't bad at all! The only thing is Monday, I knicked my chaps (yep assless and everything). They are made of Kevlar (sp?) fibers to protect the chainsaw from gnawing into your legs. The saw was on idle and i had it resting on my right leg in order to put the chainbreak on, but the chain still moves kind of... it pivoted just right so that it got my left leg. BUT the chaps did what they were supposed to do and stopped my chain. Didn't even cut through my pants! So all is well. But it's policy that you have to "swamp" (move trees and limbs out of the way for the sawyers) for 3 days if you cut your chaps, so that's what i did for the rest of the week...yea my biceps are kind of a big deal now.
4th of july weekend: We are camping outside of Leadville, CO with another saw crew until Monday (we get the day off). Hopefully, if the weather holds up we are going to be hiking Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massif, which are the 2 tallest peaks in Colorado...(2nd and 3rd in the Continental US). That would be sick!!! We have to leave wicked early to do it though because at that altitude the storms get really bad in the afternoon... it's pretty much like clockwork. So we are waking up at like 430am tomorrow i think so we can summit by like 9 and be down by 11. Got my work cut out for me i think.
My crew keeps asking how much i write about them individually soooooooooo here goes. Jake, Skeeter, Alex, Peter, Stu, Sam, Colin, Lida. How's that for namedropping?!
Half way through the season... crazy thought.
Happy Birthday 'MURICAH
PUnmaster,
reveal yourself... I'm stumped (yea that just happened)
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