August 2010 marks my thirtieth season in the Forest Service. This photo was taken during my first season in 1980. I was hired for the Leavenworth Ranger District trail crew, after two previous summers in the Youth Conservation Corps and a summer in the Young Adult Conservation Corps. At the age of 20, I had already done some trail work and general construction. I was the only woman on this crew, which was pretty much the story of my work life for quite a few years. I didn’t care. I just wanted to be out there.

Here, Rod and I are weighing gear to be flown in by helicopter to Lake Augusta, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. We spent a work week in September removing an old puncheon and installing turnpikes and culverts. It was glorious camping in the high country.

That was the first and last time I’ve ever gotten a helicopter ride to do trail work. There have been many miles hiked since then.

Stay tuned, and I will be posting more photos and memories of the past thirty years.