Sometimes you’ll discover a treasure of sorts while on hitch. An unfamiliar fungi glows on the forest floor; animal vertebrae are uncovered while excavating; a grouse feather lies on the trail. Or, an oasis (a mountain lodge with milkshakes) appears down the road after a long day of crushing rock.

But the real treasure (yes, I’m intentionally sounding corny) are the learned skills and the ensuing comradery amongst your crew.

For starters, we’ve been assigned a diverse workload this season. Whether it’s crosscutting, bridge construction, tree thinning, or tread digging, we’ve had something new to look forward to nearly every hitch. On top of that, we’ve worked on all sorts of geography - wetlands, burn scars, subalpine forests and meadows. These newly learned skills combined with the various ecosystems introduced to us are a recipe for an enriching experience.

We’re four months into the season - one month from its conclusion. Delirious? Absolutely. Our crew’s dynamic feeds on banter and flourishes with laughter. Being silly is inherent - unless you feel it’s more natural to count rocks in a wheelbarrow.

A special relationship develops with each of your crewmates after spending so much time together. You closely learn one another’s habits, skills, body odor, and senses of humor.

Although I don’t claim myself to be the smelliest crewmate, the six others I share 12+ hours in a car with weekly would say otherwise.