I came back to RMYC this season because I love conservation work and living in a tent for the summer. This experience of befriending 9 other people who immediately become housemates and family is unlike any other job I've experienced.
This week we worked with the Walden, CO parks and wildlife land technician to “naturescape” a section of forest where big game live. By naturescaping as we call it we thinned out thick patches of lodgepole pine that were too dense for moose or elk to pass through . By the end of the week we had thind 5 acres of forest, from an impasse of young trees to a traversable forest landscape ready to grow.
The heat and sun were the biggest challenges of the week. Located just on the edge of the desert, afternoon temperatures regularly hit 90°, and that's before accounting for all of our safety we wear while running chainsaws. To beat the heat we would wake up at 4am each day so we could get an early start and then went to bed before dark to be ready for the next day.
All in all, this week was a blast because of our amazing project partner, Louis from Colorado parks and wildlife. Not only did explain how to complete this project, but he also went into great detail on why we were doing this and how it benefited local wildlife. Louis has supported us through week in and out of the field, not only bringing us a water resupply but also sharing life advice, career path choices and options for those of us interested in pursuing a career in the outdoors.
-Thank you Louis for an amazing week!
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