Blue 1 is now in La Honda, California, working at YMCA Camp Jones Gulch for the month of April. We'll be blazing trails, maintaining the ropes course, and installing water bars and steps on current trails. It's been just four days and I already love it here. On our first day at Jones Gulch our supervisor, Erik, took us on a tour of the camp. Half of camp is currently occupied by a local Outdoor School program for sixth graders, and in two weeks it will be at capacity with over four hundred students and staff.
So far we've leveled and widened a severely washed out and narrow trail and added steps to another. We also moved about 40 huge railroad ties that were lining a path. Each log was probably a hundred pounds, and had to be carried by at least two people. I have bruised hips now from the wood bouncing against me as we walked. Those logs will but cut in to thirds and then reused as steps for other trails.
We went hiking for PT the other day, starting out down the road toward a path that Erik recommended. Dylan and I found another trail and decided to break off from the group to follow it. We climbed up along a ridge and eventually emerged out of the canopy of redwoods and into the afternoon sun. I could see for miles, past hill after rolling hill. Standing up there with the sun bearing down and a breeze cooling my sweaty face was the most incredible I've felt in a while.
This year has certainly had its ups and downs and hard times, but seeing all of it in the light of the approaching summer puts things in perspective. These last four months of AmeriCorps are going to be the best yet. I can feel it.
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