There's jungle in Utah!

Our most recent account of field life comes from corps member Michael Freddy:

This week on hitch, the crew got to experience the beautiful (if rugged) Salina Creek in Fishlake National Forest. We started off from the Duck Creek Bunkhouse on Monday, and settled into the Gooseberry Campground, after discovering that the road to our originally intended campground was a slick-as-snot clay road. Our first day of plots was also some of the most rigorous hiking we have embarked on this season. “There is jungle in Utah, and we found it,” says Project Leader Anna Hendricks, after spending her day fighting through rose and mountain mahogany well above her head. We regrettably had to spend the majority of the hitch in such terrain, combined with some of the longest hikes this season. These adventures, combined with such obstacles as hornets’ nests and cacti, made for a grueling week. Finally, on Saturday, we worked in a different area that was infinitely nicer than other parts of the Salina creek unit. The open spaces and fantastically beautiful views significantly boosted the team’s spirit. Overall, even though the week began with super difficult hiking and plots, the week was a success. We got the Salina Creek plots done, and bonded over our shared experiences. We grew as a team, and had more than a few laughs while doing it.