The first backcountry hitch of the season was daunting as it was also our first full hitch of just trail work. We were barely in shape for hiking and packing in our gear, food, and tools was daunting. However, after conversing with our project partner we discovered we would be able to camp at the bottom of the trailhead and have more of a "remote" front country hitch with only a 45-minute drive back to town for ice, water, food, etc. This was a big relief for all of us as we could ease our way into hiking and better prepare for our backcountry hitch the next week.

However, we were soon proved wrong by the 6-mile trail up the side of the mountains to Roosevelt Meadows. We had to carry tools and chainsaws to clear trees, bogs, and many creeks along the way. One day we even filled in a massive hole in the trail created by the root-wad of a fallen tree with about 200lbs of rocks (we hiked nearly 1/4 mile uphill). Multiple days we were barely able to walk after all the hiking and work we did. However, in the end we all overcame many goals and tests the trails threw at us (even one crew member broke her glasses the day her contacts weren't working). We even saw some moose just lounging in the swampy areas of the trail. WE all were glad it was over both in relief and satisfaction.