![[Image Description: Two MCC members taking a brief break; one is sitting on a rock, the other is standing nearby. They are both in their uniforms, looking out at the expansive, mountain view surrounding them.]](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/c3f85e97-43a9-4810-8081-e8e6338173d0.jpeg)
For our final four-day practice hitch, my crew and I visited Placid Lake to help Mike and The Nature Conservancy restore the forest to a more natural state and set it up for a healthier future.
After visiting our camp spot located on beautiful Placid Lake, we began the week by joining an MCC Helena crew already stationed there and using chainsaws to clear underbrush located near larger, healthier trees in an attempt to reduce ladder fuels and the potential spread of unnecessary fires. We also spent a fair amount of time clearing fire line for a prescribed burn that is planned for a couple of weeks from now. This was physically challenging work and really put into perspective all that goes into a successful prescribed burn.
In addition to working with Mike, Clint from the Northern Rockies branch of MCC drove down to help Kacy and me further our chainsaw education, particularly in tree felling. It was a pleasure to learn from such an experienced sawyer, and by the end of the week, he truly felt like a part of the crew.
We all felt it very rewarding to be able to work towards a worthwhile goal while making tangible progress, and learned a lot about forest and fire ecology in the process.
