Dear friends,

Last summer I spent a week volunteering in the John Muir Wilderness. We rolled 300lb boulders, hauled hundreds of pounds of soil, and crushed granite into tangerine-sized pieces with double-jack (and single-jack!) sledgehammers. When all was complete, after just four work days, our group of twelve had constructed 65 yards of trail in the Inyo National Forest. It was hard work; but the sense of accomplishment, camaraderie, and spectacular scenery made it one of the highlights of my life. Truly. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I am co-leading a similar trip this summer.

Wilderness Volunteers offers service trips all over the country (including Alaska and Hawaii), and they vary greatly in degree of difficulty and comfort. For instance, in early September, there's a trip to the Limahuli National Garden and Preserve on the north shore of Kauai'i. During this trip, participants will camp near a house with bathroom & kitchen facilities and fill their days planting native plants, clearing overgrown areas, removing non-native plants, and possibly doing some nursery work. A bit different... the trip I'm leading this summer will include a 9 mile backpack from 7K' to our base camp location above 10K', and our work days will entail strenuous rock & trail work. Needless to say, there's something for everyone (and every trip offers a "free day" to explore your surroundings!).

Without going into more detail here, I invite you to checkout Wilderness Volunteers (www.wildernessvolunteers.org) and consider signing up for a trip. It's an awesome way to spend a week, give something back, soak in the outdoors in the company of other good folks from around the country, and enjoy yummy food (really, you'll be amazed!). Feel free let me know if you'd like more information.

Best,
Eileen