Hitch 3, June 26-July 5

Veterans Trail Crew- Platte River Wilderness Area, Medicine-Bow National Forest

Project Type: Trail Corridor Clearing

Sponsored by: U.S. National Forest Service, Medicine-Bow NF

VTC Crew Leader Tommy Furland and Crew Member Jordan Newman doing some crosscut work.
VTC Crew Member Sean Brinkerhoff cutting out tree with an axe.
Veterans Trail Crew Member Kaiden Newman making the finishing cut on a fallen tree in the middle of the trail.
VTC Crew Member Sean Brinkerhoff bucking up a log with a crosscut saw with the direction of FS seasonal Henry.
VTC Crew Member Sean Brinkerhoff bucking up a log with a crosscut saw with the direction of FS seasonal Henry.
VTC Crew Member Kaiden Newman bucking up trees.
VTC Crew Leader Tommy Furland looking over the Platte River in the Platte River Wilderness Area.

For Hitch 3, the Veterans Trail Crew headed up to the Platte River Wilderness Area where they began work on 3 different trails that were affected by the Mullen Fire. During their time in the Wilderness Area, they worked long days hiking and using hand saws and crosscut saws to clear the trail corridor of fallen trees and widow makers.

For their day off, the Veterans Trail Crew went to Turpin Reservoir to enjoy a day of fishing before heading to Saratoga, Wy for a meal out.

Fish count for Hitch 3: 14

All Said and Done:

13 miles of trail corridor cleared
200+ problem trees removed

All-Women’s Crew- Grand Teton National Park

Project Type: Invasive Species Removal

Sponsored by: The National Parks Service

All-Women’s Crew Member Isabelle Van Duren posing in front of the iconic Teton Range.
All-Women’s Crew Leader Lea Blasko setting her sites on the next invasive species while spraying in Grand Teton National Park.

For Hitch 3, the All-Women’s Crew headed back to Grand Teton National Park to continue spraying for invasive species throughout the park. During their time in the park, they sprayed around park staff residential areas, Jenny Lake, Colter Bay, Antelope Flats, and Beaver Creek.

Species Targeted: Various types of Thistles, Spotted Knapweed, Hounds Tongue, Sweet Clover, and Mullen.

For their day off, the All-Women’s Crew spent the day at Jackson Lake Lodge swimming at the pool before heading into Jackson to explore downtown and to see a reenactment of a shoot out on the square. Afterwards, they enjoyed a meal out at The Hatch in Jackson.

All Said and Done:

Approx. 200 acres spot sprayed and cleared of Invasive Species

Crew 1- Curt Gowdy State Park

Project Type: Trails

Sponsored by: Wyoming State Parks Non-Motorized Trails Program

Never enough rock. Crew Leader Alissa Sellars moving rocks for use in the trail.
Crew Member Brooke Neider moving rock with “Frakenbarrell”.
Trail Before
Trail After
Crew 1 post lunch siesta.

For Hitch 3, Crew 1 had the short drive up to Curt Gowdy State Park to do trail remediation on Crow Creek Trail. During their time at curt Gowdy they moved a lot of rocks for future projects and work. Majority of their time was spent remediating trail, building new fence, Hidden Falls trail reroute, and rock work.

For their day off, Crew 1 spent some time at Crystal Reservoir before heading into Laramie to enjoy a meal out.

All Said and Done:

50ft of new fence built
1.75 miles trail remediated

Crew 2- Vedauwoo Turtle Rock Trail, Medicine-Bow National Forest

Project Type: Trail Remediation and Restoration

Sponsored by: U.S. National Forest Service, Medicine-Bow NF

Field Leader Philip Crane(white hat) working with Crew 2 Members Nell Yonkos, Kelby Anderson, and Chris Crawford to move rocks for cairns.
Crew Members Nell Yonkos, Blake Kennedy, and Chris Crawford pulling a rock out of the ground to use in the Turtle Rock Trail.
Crew 3 posing with their newly installed check steps to help with drainage.
Crew member Nell Yonkos smashing rocks for crush.
Crew 2 with their destroyed cook tent after a severe wind storm.

For Hitch 3, Crew 2 headed up to Vedauwoo to continue trail restoration on Turtle Rock Trail. During their time their Crew 2 worked on turnpikes in poor drainage areas to make the trail more sustainable. They also installed check steps, rock cairns, and cleared trail corridor.

For their day off, Crew 2 enjoyed some well needed showers before heading over to Cheyenne to check out the Botanical Gardens before going bowling. Afterwards they enjoyed a meal out at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant.

All Said and Done:

2 Turnpikes built totaling approx. 80ft
15 drainage nicks cut in
2 rock cairns built
30 ft retaining wall constructed

Crew 3- Nash Fork Campground, Medicine-Bow National Forest

Project Type: Campground Restoration

Sponsored by: U.S. National Forest Service, Medicine-Bow NF

Crew Members Steven Burkett and Achilles Hennessy clearing rocks for tent pad construction.
Crew Members Steven Burkett and Cody Tripp moving dirt for tent pads.
Field Leader Philip Crane working with Crew Members Gabi DeVoogd and Elizabeth Sopata to prep tent pads for gravel.
Crew Member Gabi DeVoogd nailing timbers together for tent pads.

For Hitch 3, Crew 3 headed over to Nash Fork Campground up in the Snowy’s to conduct campground restoration. During their time at Nash Fork, they built various sizes of tent pads and living pads, laid weed barrier down and gravel in the tent pads. They also cleared paths between tent and living pads for easier walking around the campground.

For their day off, Crew 3 split up, half the crew went on a hike while the other half had a lazy day hanging around camp. Afterwards they headed into town to enjoy a meal out Chilis.

All Said and Done: