Day 2: Happy Summer Solstice! Our first day of work…

We awoke to cloudy skies and mist today, but we were told it was too fine to need a rain jacket. I was skeptical, but of course, mine never made it out of my backpack. We had a breakfast of oatmeal and cereal, packed our lunches and headed for our first day of trail building around 10AM.

Outfitted with gloves and briefed about which tools do what, we grabbed an assortment of sharp MacLeods, Pulaskis, pick mattocks, machetes, bull saws, bow saws, rock bars, and pole saws and hiked to where the last trail crew left off a few weeks ago.

Three or four students were posted in an advance team up the trail, downing small trees and limbs as well as prying out large rocks and stumps in preparation for the rest of the team to do what’s called “grubbing.” This is done with a Pulaski, a tool that breaks up roots, rocks, and soil, making it easier to remove this material off the path of the trail. A Pulaski is best described as a tool that you would get if you crossed an axe with a hoe. The axe side breaks up the roots and soil, and the hoe side pulls the clumps of soil out of the way.

Students and staff wielding MacLeods follow the Pulaskis to smooth out the earth and pat it down making a flat wide surface called “the bench.” Hayley and Melanie were really into the MacLeods while Emily swung the pick mattock like a lumberjack. Jasmine and Justin teased each other all day while downing trees, and Ethan sawed and axed his way through a giant tree stump with unreal stamina. Jonathon’s tool of choice was the machete; he hacked through salmon berry bushes and other scrub with much satisfaction. Shane filled in wherever needed and tried to find a reason to use the Japanese pole saw. We took breaks at Ethan’s call—he was leader of the day—and ate our homemade trail mix and lunch sandwiches under the trees at the head of the trail.

The students and crew leaders were simply amazing to watch. We cleared approximately 270 feet of trail in 4 to 5 hours, which according to the returning interns, was quite the accomplishment. It was tiring work. Between trying to stand and swing tools on the uneven ground, uproot and cut down trees, move rocks, soil and brush, we were pretty tuckered out by the time 4:30 came around.

It was with a deep sense of satisfaction that we gathered our tools and personal gear and headed back to the Island C for dinner. We ended the day all feeling a bit sore and tired, but a bit closer to each other as a result of our labors together. All in all, a great way to spend the longest day of the year.