Hi everyone, my name is Nathan Crain. Along with my partner Olivia, I’ll be bucking trees that have fallen across trails in the Badger Creek wilderness near Mt. Hood.

For the uninitiated (as I was a few weeks ago), bucking translates more or less as “cutting a fallen tree into manageable chunks with a crosscut saw.” For the further uninitiated (as I was a few months ago), a crosscut saw is a two person saw, anywhere from six to ten feet long, with handles on either end. My partner and I stand on opposite sides of a fallen tree and alternately pull the saw across the trunk, after which we roll said log from the trail.

When I’m not bucking, I enjoy fishing, hiking, and backpacking. Of course, the great thing about bucking is that it more or less inevitably involves backpacking and hiking, so I’m doing pretty well for myself. I’m from Oklahoma, so it’s a real treat to be near a beautiful mountain and walking steep trails surrounded by huge Douglas firs.

Speaking of Douglas firs, this is an exciting opportunity for me to learn more about the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest, so if you see me out there on the trail, don’t hesitate to quiz me on my surroundings. And when you find yourself not clambering over any logs on the trail, remember to think fondly of your local bucking crew!