JonLuke Mowell’s speaks to how his MAI Land Stewards internship was his golden ticket to adventure, skill building and career development.
One quiet Colorado morning, I woke to the voice of an old friend at my house. I recognized it as Aaron Lindsey.
He shouted, “I have it!”
As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I asked, “What?”
He replied, “The golden ticket, old son.”
Little did I know that conversation with my friend would turn into the adventure of a lifetime. He explained that there’s an internship program called Mt. Adams Institute (MAI). He told me that they are hiring Land Stewards interns through AmeriCorps. This was the golden ticket opportunity to get experience in any federal job in the outdoor industry, especially with the Forest Service (USFS). Upon learning this, I immediately started calling MAI. Soon after, my resume was sent, and I was on the phone with the Trails Manager at North Fork John Day Ranger District in Umatilla National Forest in Eastern Oregon. Knowing I was born for this work, the interviews went easily, and in no time, I had a start date. This was the moment I knew it was real, and I had to go.
The journey to the Pacific Northwest is a story for another time. But once at my post in Ukiah, OR, I soon realized I was at the edge of the frontier and the beginning of the wilderness. This little timber town of fewer than two hundred people would be my home for the next half year. During my work week, I was clearing dead and down trees from the trails in the national forest. This included brushing, which involves removing brush and limbs blocking the trail. The two types of trails I focused on were wilderness trails and off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails. Keeping these trails open and clear is a great service to our people and communities. I take great pride and honor in knowing that hunters and hikers can access the forest easily, and that horse and dirt bike enthusiasts can come ride and share the splendor of outdoor recreation. This also includes wildland firefighting crews that use trails as fire lines to protect our forest and local homes and communities like Ukiah.
Most days, I hiked with the wilderness crew, carrying hand tools and a giant crosscut saw. While working, we would hear wolves and see elk and bears, often finding morel mushrooms, huckleberries, and elk antlers. Every day was a new adventure, and sometimes we would ride quads to maintain OHV trails. This program was truly the foot in the door I needed; the training and certifications I received are invaluable. I underwent chainsaw training, ROAV (Remote Operated All Terrain Vehicle) training, and wilderness training. My favorite certification I received is my red card, allowing me to participate in the fight against wildfires.
In July 2024, wildfires engulfed the Ukiah area, with the Battle Mountain Complex fires burning 183,026 acres. Surrounded by many more fires, our forest shut down, and everyone working headed to the fire line. I experienced action digging alongside my fellow coworkers in efforts to fight back the flames. I spent days in the watchtower looking for smoke on the horizon over the Blue Mountains. Some days, the smoke was so thick you couldn’t see ten feet in front of you, and the sun would stay red all day. For a month, I worked in fire management, helping with logistics and delivering supplies. When the smoke cleared, we were allowed to continue business as usual and started working on trails again. We would backpack on four-day hitches in the wilderness areas to complete the last of our trails for the season.
My work here in North Fork John Day was well worth my time. I’m glad I could lend a hand to a team of such amazing people—so willing to teach and so ready to help. No job before has given me the promise that this one has. That promise is one of a better career path and a great first step in a journey that can lead me to a good-paying job in public lands, anywhere.
Thank you for reading!