Field Program

We started each day waking up to the birds chirping and the roar of the river. Some days we woke up slowly, other days we woke up ready for work and excited to spend more time together. We’d talk about our dreams from the night before, what parts of our bodies ached, and how far up the mountain we thought we would get that day, and if we were going to reach the shade. After stretch circle and safety circle, we had an hour hike up the mountain to our worksite. Each day we all agreed that the climb was getting easier, but everyday our hike up became longer and longer. With each step, we said to each other, “this is our conditioning hitch” or “body built by the Nez Perce” or whatever was silly enough to make us laugh to get up the mountain. As we continued up the mountain further and further each day, we continued on our quest of Chasing the Shade. We built a nest in the brush for our breaks and lunch. It became a silly thing to see who could create the best nest for the crew on the mountain.

As the hitch went on, we all got experience with the brush saw or the chainsaw, learning how to work together while being safe. The work was hard, but as a crew we bonded and persevered through the heat. We ended each work day by the river. Hot and sweaty from our hike down the mountain, we were joyfully greeted by the cool, refreshing river. As a crew, we sat on the beach laughing about whatever funny happened that day as we dunked our sore bodies into the cold river.

Once we finished our cold plunges, we headed back to camp to start dinner and hang out with each other. Despite being tired, we always found the time and energy to laugh and be silly together.