At the outset of this fledgling season it seems that every week is a new test and a new set of lessons learned. The nine day hitch in the Bob that my crew just returned from felt like the culmination of all of the training weeks and short hitches leading to this point. We cruised down the trail, we sized up binds on the go, and we got real dirty. The hand bucking required patience, and the long days required endurance. Adversity through the hitch just seemed to breed comradery and motivation among the crew. I say this personally and I know my crew mates share the sentiment; we feel like we won the crew lottery. It's still very early in the season, but the spirits are high and the passion for the work is palpable.