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Orange crew maintained trails in Siuslaw National Forest, covering more than six miles on the Drift Creek Wilderness and Sweet Creek trails. They then shifted gears to work along the Illinois River, completing fence projects and removing invasive plants in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Red crew began the end of their session by working on a 15-mile trail in Mount Hood National Forest and helping maintain the Old Cabin Loop trail. They had the opportunity to work with the Forest Service on logout work (removing fallen trees and debris from trails) before finishing in the Mt. Hood Wilderness on the Timberline #600 trail. Their final week took them to the Steens Mountains, where they put their backcountry skills to the test.
Rainbow crew spent three weeks collaborating with the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group. They focused on beaver dam analogs, riparian zone restoration, and trail maintenance. Wrapping up their session, they worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Celilo State Park, tackling vegetation removal, followed by a visit to The Dalles Dam.
Urban and Community Forestry crews 23 and 24 (UCF) crews partnered with the Tacoma Tree Foundation to prepare nursery trees for future planting, then helped with a creek re-meandering project alongside the Port of Tacoma. Crews also contributed to local community spaces by clearing invasive plants at Lakewood Playhouse and Mary Olson Farm. A highlight was the visit from the AmeriCorps CEO, Michael Smith, and Washington Representative Derek Kilmer to one of the project sites.
The Sound to Summit Tacoma crew got their hands dirty in Fort Steilacoom Park, where they helped with lake clean-up efforts and set up the weekly farmers market.
In partnership with Capitol Land Trust, the Olympia crew focused on invasive species removal and protecting new plantings.
Before graduating at the end of the month, both crews ended their session on a high note at Mount Rainier National Park.
Blue crew spent their summer on a massive trail project in Olympic National Forest. They transitioned old puncheon to turnpike, ensuring a durable and maintenance-free trail for years to come. Converting a puncheon to a turnpike involves removing the elevated wooden planks (puncheon) and replacing them with a raised trail bed (turnpike). The process includes dismantling the puncheon structure, filling the area with rock or gravel to elevate the trail, installing curbs or logs along the edges, and creating proper drainage systems to prevent water from pooling on the trail. Turnpikes are preferred in certain areas because they are more durable and require less maintenance than puncheons, especially in wet environments. The crew got hands-on experience running a sawmill, constructing stakes, and other advanced trail-building skills.
The All-Women Orange crew made a significant impact in the Wenatchee River Ranger District. Their two-week backcountry adventure involved reopening the Snowall Creek Junction Trail with tread and brushing work. They had the opportunity to work with Barb Talbot, a trailblazer in wildland firefighting, and experienced the unique thrill of being packed in and out by mules.
Rainbow crew ended their season with a strong finish near the White River area in Mount Rainier National Park. A weekend meetup with Oregon’s Rainbow Young Adult Crew provided a memorable end to the session.
Red crew traveled to Yakima, WA, for trail maintenance and bridge repair with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Brown crew (Backcountry Leadership Program), supported by Idaho Fish and Game, flew into the Frank Church River-of-No-Return Wilderness Area by bush plane. They hiked eight miles to their campsite and spent two weeks clearing trails for improved access, and they got to experience a mule-packout at the end (Mules are loaded with gear bags and led along trails to deliver or retrieve necessary items to remote areas).
Orange crew worked in the Minidoka and Fairfield Ranger Districts of the Sawtooth National Forest, completing trail maintenance on the Virginia Gulch Trail.
Red crew wrapped up their beaver dam analog projects in Oregon.
Orange crew focused on tree surveys and water bar installations on trails to divert water off the trail to prevent erosion.
Yellow crew maintained corridor on Payette National Forest trails, saving them from being overgrown and unusable.
The All-Women Blue crew worked on corridor maintenance and trail clearing in Payette National Forest.
Both Red and Blue crews got to host a visit from Senator James Risch’s Washington DC staff.
