Necessary happiness...

Working with the the folks of Haines and meeting several Tlingit people, I think I have learned as much from them as they have from me. The community is a small one, and most of their economy comes from fishing. This is quite foreign to my background, but I have found they are accepting of me and what I have to share with them. When you get right down to it, we actually do have a lot in common. Working with them all day long, sweating despite the rain, it occurred to me that we all want the same thing - to be happy. It may take different things for different people, but as long as you have food, a place to live, and the support of your friends and family, you are doing fine. I've done service trips before at home, but nothing quite like this. We are literally right on the edge of the wilderness.
-Katie

Endless energy...

Today we worked with Paul Swift and Annie Boyce up on Mt. Ripinski. Paul is approaching 70 years old but has more energy than anyone I've ever met. They led us up to the 2,500 foot mark and we built a bridge across a marshy meadow to protect the grass and soil in this area. Not only did we carry all of the supplies up to this point, but we did it in only a couple of hours! The carrying and construction was alot of work, but fun. After lunch Annie and Paul took the entire group up to the summit of Mt. Ripinski where we could look down and see the entire town of Haines. It is beautiful here!
-Tonya

Whitewater Rafting

We got picked up and headed for the Candian/Alaskan border so we could get to where we were rafting. When we arrived at the rafting location the group was given guidelines to follow and we were divided among two rafts. Everyone seemed really pumped and excited to go rafting but some people seemed cold and nervous. However, everyone soon was having a lot of fun and splashing eachother. After some rafting we stopped for lunch and got warmed up by the fire. Soon we were rafting again and before we knew it everyone was letting loose and having a blast! Everyone had a smile on their face and were ready for anything or anyone to come their way. Overall, EVERYONE had a great time, no complaints and only smiles and laughs. It was by far one adventure everyone would remember!
-Jessica

Trails of success...

Kim was the only one among us who had ever done trail maintenance, so we had a limited idea of what exactly it would involve. Let me be the first of the group to say (okay, not the first to say but the first to write it down), "I love it." Having done some camping before, I was familiar with trail systems, but I never really paid attention to the details. We carried in hand saws and shovels and other tools to repair all the little things that can happen to where people walk. Fallen trees, loose planks, places where footsteps have cut into the ground cover, all of these are now our personal concerns. It's almost an issue of pride. We each feel a certain amount of ownership, as though this part of the wilderness is "Our Baby," as Adam calls it. And knowing that what we are doing makes it better for other people to come after us and be able to see what we are seeing is really cool. I really feel like what we are doing is something that will last long after we are gone. People may not stop to think, "Hey, somebody put a lot of time into making sure this trail is accessible for me," but we will always know that we took part in the stewardship of a great wilderness area.
-William

The perfect balance...

This past week has been outstanding and challenging to say the least. We spent our time hiking, performing trail work and assisting with campsite restoration. It was great, but I was ready to do something a bit different. Kayaking was just what I needed! We rode the ferry back to Juneau, boarded a bush plane to Gustavus and a hopped a boat shuttle to the put-in for Chicagof Island. AMAZING! There is something wonderful about being self-contained and escaping from town. Kayaking out here is fantastic! One day you are repairing a trail on Mt. Ripinski, and the next you are paddling past a pod of humpback whales. All of it is so beautiful. Still, part of me wants to get back to town, as I know there is more work to be done. I am pretty torn between both worlds. Not a bad place to be, all things considered!
- Shawn