Hitch 2, June 10 – June 19
Crew 1, Grand Teton National Park
Project Type: Vegetation Management
Project Sponsor: Grand Teton National Park and the Corps Network
For their second hitch of the season Crew 1 sprayed for invasive species including Spotted Knapweed Hounds Tongue, Thistle, Mullen, Sweet Clover, Silver Cinquefoil, and Salsify. They sprayed in various places giving them excellent views throughout their workdays. Throughout their hitch they saw bears, moose, and some incredible sunsets over the mountains.
For their day off they spent time in Jackson and ate some delicious Mexican Food and a few of the crew went hiking on Blacktail Butte.
All Said and Done:
- Sprayed 21 walking miles of invasive species
- Sprayed an overall 2 acres of invasive species
Crew 2, Absoroka Fence Initiative
Project Type: Fencing
Project Sponsor: Absoroka Fence Initiative
For their second hitch of the summer, Crew 2 learned how to convert barbed-wire fence into wildlife-friendly fence. They spent time removing old fencing and building new wildlife-friendly sections to help with migration.
For their education day and their day off they got to explore the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum and traveled into Yellowstone National Park.
All Said and Done:
- Felled one tree and bucked and limbed 5 trees
- Built .6 miles of new wildlife-friendly fences
- Converted 2 miles of barbed wire fence to wildlife friendly fence
Crew 3, Trout Unlimited Green River
Project Type: Wet meadow restoration and artificial beaver dam construction
Project Sponsor: Trout Unlimited
For their second hitch, Crew 3 got to spend some time in the water learning how to construct artificial beaver dams in the Green River, and during their education portion of their hitch they participated in a fly fishing workshop.
For their day off they adventured around the area, drove to Utah for dinner, and saw a movie.
All Said and Done:
- Constructed 50 artificial beaver dams
Crew 4, Casper BLM and Devon Energy
Project Type: Zuni Bowl headset stabilization and River Trail construction
Project Sponsor: Devon Energy
For their second hitch, Crew 4 built a trail that will allow access to some great fishing spots, they removed some long sections of silt fencing, replaced signage the Platte River and Muddy Mountain, removed a small section of fencing, and built a staircase at a campsite making it more accessible. They were busy!
For their off day they went downtown for lunch, visited a local art festival, saw a waterfall, and enjoyed some local ramen. The crew was also able to visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in casper.
All Said and Done:
- Cut 500 yards of new trail
- Cleaned up and renovated 100 yards of existing trail
- Built a staircase in a washed out campsite entrance
- Removed 500 yards of wire fencing
- Replaced and improved signage in multiple locations
Veterans Trail Crew, Pole Mountain Connector Trail
Project Type: Trails
Project Sponsor: Wyoming Pathways
For their second hitch the Veterans Trail Crew cleared the way for heavy equipment, prepping the way for the Pole Mountain Connector Trail. They used Chainsaws and sheer strength to clear a rough path through the dense terrain. While working the crew was also educated on trail construction and trail policy.
For their off day the crew went fishing and floated on some rafts at Curt Gowdy State Park with the hopes of catching fish, but even a bad day of fishing is better than a tough day at work. Throughout their hitch the crew was able to fully grasp the difficulty and hard work it takes to clearing trees and vegetation in order for trail construction.
All Said and Done:
- Cleared 1.75 miles of dense trail corridor
Wyoming Conservation Corps 