By Colby Killingsworth, Land Stewards Intern on the Olympic National Forest in Quinault, WA
Have you ever wanted to challenge yourself daily? Have you ever wanted to travel to a new state that you’ve never been to before? Start a new job/career and new way of life that you’re not accustomed to? Having the opportunity to be a Mt. Adams Institute Land Steward was just exactly what I needed. After a series of fortunate and unfortunate events, I had the opportunity to leave Tennessee for the Evergreen State. I packed up all of my belongings and all of my experience, to include my newly acquired screws and plate in my head, into the rig and headed out west. A new chapter. A new beginning. So many new things on the horizon that I didn’t even think I would be able to do this summer, but I knew I would be having a blast doing them.
I reported to my duty station in Quinault, Washington. Right next to the lake that has the same name. A beautiful valley with a lake that is surrounded by rainforest. The Maple-Glade Rainforest on the north side and the Quinault Rainforest on the south side. This valley has been very special to so many folks for generations, but especially for the Quinault Indian Tribe. After familiarizing myself with the area over the weekend, it was time to get to work as a Recreation Technician with the US Forest Service. It didn’t take long to learn how to do the ‘rounds’ and to brush trails. It’s hard to complain about doing yard work in such a beautiful place. There are plenty of trails to maintain in the local Quinault Valley and we have 3 campgrounds to take care of as well.
As someone that has hiked many trails, visited many national and state parks and forests and slept in many campgrounds, I understood the purpose of this job. “Would I call home if I visited this place on one of my many trips around the states?” That is the mindset I tried to keep during my months working on the Olympic National Forest and while I am out visiting other places too. Summer has been a great time to leave it better than you found it.
A great way to leave things better than you found it, is through our partnership organizations. We have many organizations on the peninsula and in Washington that the National Forest partners with each year. I was lucky to be able to work some of them throughout the summer season. The forest is a big place and we need all the friends we can get, to help us take care of it. These organizations are filled with some of the most amazing people that are very passionate about the outdoors. It could be through hiking up 3 miles and joining in on the brushing of the Colonel Bob trail with the Washington Trails Association crew or with our local recreation cabin owner HOA volunteering and brushing trails with us on the Willaby Creek Trail. Being surrounded by such passionate people while doing not so glamorous work, makes it that much more enjoyable. Listening to them share their stories and absorbing all of the advice that they have to give was the best part. I also got to assist with the replacement of a broken tree bridge in the Bogachiel Rainforest. This was a joint partnership with the Pacific Northwest Trail Association and with the NPS. I helped with the placement of the tree across the creek onto its respective sills by using winches and hand tools. Even some roller logs came in handy too. It was a major accomplishment being able to move a 40ft tree into place. Just some of the many examples of creating a safer and more pleasant environment for the public to recreate at for many seasons to come.
After spending plenty of hours working alongside volunteers, enjoying lunches together, and sharing our favorite trail stories, you just might find yourself with the volunteer bug. I’ve volunteered plenty of times growing up and as an adult, but not necessarily in the outdoor field though.
I’ve always had an interest in fire lookouts. Following the vandalism in June, the High Rock Fire Lookout and trail were closed to the public by a National Forest closure order for the safety of visitors and volunteers. I came across a posting from the High Rock Fire Lookout Restoration Project looking for volunteers and signed up for the next available weekend. My first shift was for three days at the trailhead, where I helped inform visitors about the closure while sharing some of the history and the organization’s restoration mission. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the volunteers and make some new connections. On the morning of my third shift, with another volunteer covering the trailhead, I was offered the opportunity to hike up and see the restoration work. The trail is only about 1.5 miles, but climbs more than 1,300 feet to the top. I ended up staying for the rest of the shift, helping wherever I could before carrying a pack full of trash back down the mountain that day.
When the trail reopened to the public, I was invited back to help provide interpretation. This time, instead of talking with the visitors at the trailhead, I was up at the top sharing the history of the lookout and talking with visitors as they explored around the mountain. I spent two nights and three days camping at the lookout, welcoming guests for sunsets and sunrises and getting to share a little of the beauty of the place with them. While I was there, I also got to help with the restoration itself. I assisted with installation of the catwalk around the outside of the structure and the installation of the crown molding along the inside. The trail was thankfully quiet enough during much of the day that the restoration crew could continue making some progress.
The fire lookout sits just under 5,700 feet on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, south of Mount Rainier. On a clear day, you can see Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount St. Helens. Originally built during the summers of 1929 and 1931, it was manned for 17 summers by a local gentleman named Bud Panco. The local history museum in Packwood has more information about Bud and the lookout.
Finding your place. Finding your people. It’s important to be surrounded by people who bring out the best in you, whether that’s in a small group or working alongside a larger crew. I’m glad I made the sacrifice to spend my time with people who are so passionate about the outdoors.
As I made that slow drive back down the long, winding, pothole-filled gravel road, I thought about everything that had happened over those past few days. It gives me hope that generations from now, others will still be able to visit the fire lookout and enjoy those incredible sunrises and sunsets. Or maybe they’ll even safely cross the creek in the Bogachiel Rainforest on a tree bridge that I helped build.
I came to help take care of a fire lookout, but I left with a better understanding of why these places are worth taking care of in the first place. Someone was a land steward one day who gave me this opportunity. I hope that me being a land steward today brings opportunities for others tomorrow.
