Crush, Crush, Crush!

The art of making large rocks become small rocks is what we in the trail business refer to as “crush.” Iron vs. rock; man/woman vs. mountain. It all begins at this, the most basic of levels. When a Southwest Conservation Corps crew member ask me what needs...

Gregory: The Eolus Crew Foreman

Each day a family of mountain goats follows us to work. They usually meet us at sunrise by Twin Lakes, though sometimes they are waiting at the tool cache, lying half under a tarp. The largest, a male named Gregory, sees himself as something of a foreman. He walks up...

The X Factor

This year on San Luis Peak our project site is two miles above tree line. That means two miles from safety during a thunderstorm. That means we start hiking at 4:30 a.m. every morning. Part of the job hazard is weather. The majority of our work occurs in monsoon...

The Roving Backcountry Crew Lives up to its Name

Tim here reporting in from the Roving Backcountry Crew. Over the past two weeks the RBC has lived up to its name, hitting three separate 14er trails in nine days. We spent several days last week on Mount Massive with a summer camp group from long-time partners Sanborn...

Porcupines and Pictures

Hello everybody! Miriam here from Maroon Peak. So the season is in full swing. Base camp is up, new tread is dug, and staircases are being built. The trail is lookin’ good and I am very pleased with the progress! The porcupines have invaded our camp! They are...

A Great Crew, Great Work, and Fourth of July in the Wilderness

After two long, eight-day work hitches in the backcountry, I could not be happier with the work our crew has accomplished thus far. We have completed some great staircases, beautiful walls, and cut lots of new tread. The new trail is coming together quickly and I hope...