Tips for the Trail

Here are few tips for the next time you're on the trail and in the kitchen.

1. Look at the position of these Dragonfly stoves. The fuel canisters are upright. The leader on this trip called me during the trip to complain that "the stoves don't work." I walked him through the steps of using the stove and he couldn't get them to work. I was baffled until I saw these pictures. It didn't occur to me that they would be used in this position.

Don't do this - lay the fuel bottles down lengthwise so that they'll pressurize properly. I'm also concerned about the stoves & pots being up off the ground on small uneven pedestals. These are too easy to spill when stirring or when someone walks by and brushes against them. Ouch!

2. This tarp is a recipe for disaster, especially if it fills with rainwater at night or while the group is at work and there isn't anyone available to empty the water. It isn't that hard to put up an effective tarp that sheds water.

Don't do this - take the time to locate the kitchen in an area where you can properly hang a tarp. There are little plastic "do-hickeys" that you can buy to add a temporary grommet to the top, middle - anywhere - on the tarp where some lift is needed. Throw a line over a branch and tie it to the grommet and do away with center poles that aren't grounded. In windy or rainy weather, angle the tarp with the low edge facing the wind. The wind will be forced over the kitchen instead of through it, and water can run off the tarp instead of collecting in a pool.

3. Don't do this! This is a health code violation. People cannot lick or use their fingers in the pots on a group trip, I don't care how good that cheesecake filling is! Bring a small scraper and scrape those dregs into a dish. The only things that should be in the pots besides the food is a spoon or sponge. We all have germs in our mouths, and we don't know how effective the dishwashers are going to be. It's best to reduce the bacterial load at the source. Have one person serve the food to reduce the number of germs on the serving spoons. Don't let anyone put their dishes over the food pots, or place their hands in them.

Got any tips to share? Let us know.

The Lost Generation?

Here's a creative video brought to our attention by a volunteer. I'll leave it at that. Watch for yourself.

So, We're Holding An Online Auction

As we eagerly prepare for the very first Wilderness Volunteers Online Auction, here are answers to some good questions we’ve heard. We need your help to make it a successful event!

How does it work, what’s the timing? The auction occurs in three phases: receiving auction items (now through Feb 26th), live bidding (Feb 27th-Mar 14th), and winning something really cool for a great price in support of a great cause…but you gotta bid to have a chance!

What kinds of items are we looking for? Darn near anything related to: outdoor gear and products, guide services of all kinds, home and condo stays, clothing, spa & massage services, lodging, event tickets, art of all kinds, books, restaurant meals, gift certificates of all kinds….We’re looking for new items, preferably still in original packaging.

How do I donate an item to be auctioned? The slick way to donate something is to fill out this donation form. The form asks you for some basic information about the item; its value, how the winner claims it, shipping, and including a function to upload a photo and logo for display on the auction site.

What happens on Feb 27th? Once we’ve got all the items loaded onto the auction site, we’ll send an initial email blast opening the auction, followed by a series of emails as we move into the last days, hours and minutes. We’ll also make announcements and make links available through the WV Facebook page, the WV Blog, and any other means available. And we want you to help us spread the word through all your channels too.

Who can bid, how do I bid, when does it end? Anybody can bid who has a credit card registered on the auction site, although we will still take check payment. We’ll place links to the auction website in all our announcements. Once registered, you’ll be issued instructions and personal ID to enter the secure bid site, and once there while the auction is live (ends throughout the day on Mar 14th) you can monitor and strategically bid on any item right up until the clock stops!

Who’s our audience, who’s doing the bidding? Our audience includes our trip participants, trip leaders, supporters, agency personnel, and all who enjoy the outdoors. We are entering our 13th year of organizing service projects and have a loyal following of fit, active outdoor adventurers who engage in a variety of outdoor pursuits including backpacking, camping, hiking, climbing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, road-tripping and traveling abroad.

Is there an event I have to attend? No. An online auction is much like other auctions, only all the bidding is conducted on a website in real time over a period of two weeks, Feb 27-Mar 14. We chose to do an online auction because the Wilderness Volunteers’ family is so geographically broad-based, our supporters literally live all over the country. We don’t even have a physical office, as our staff work from their homes!

How do I claim the item I won? Most items will be listed with their claim information, so you’ll know before you bid. Depending on the item (mainly size and fragility), you may receive the item by mail, shipped by the donor, or shipped by Wilderness Volunteers.

Where does the money go? Funds raised through the Wilderness Volunteers Online Auction are used in support of our mission to organize and promote volunteer service to America’s wild lands.

Vocation Vacations - WV on the Radio

Tune in Tuesday morning to Takeaway on Public Radio International and WNYC New York to learn about "vocation vacations" - what they are, who they're for, how one goes about going on one, and more...

Contributor Beth Kobliner introduces us to the variety of working vacations out there - from the weekend fantasy job as a Hollywood makeup artist to the seasonal job on a cruise ship to the week-long forestry gig that can lead to permanent work. And a current volunteer who first took a "vocation vacation" with Wilderness Volunteers while in college explains how his experience working in the woods for a week contributed to a new job in the outdoors and, later, to a career in the energy and conservation field.

Skip ahead to 3:34 and listen in:

Calling All Cooks!

Volunteer Leader Gayle Marechal at Work in the Sawtooth Wilderness, ID (2007)

One of the most daunting tasks a new Wilderness Volunteers trip leader faces is menu planning. Among the many questions a new leader faces regarding food and menu planning are how much food to buy, what types of meals to prepare, how to keep food fresh, how to provide variety, should meals be vegetarian friendly, and the list goes on.

To help with this aspect of leadership, WV is launching “The Kitchen Corner," a new monthly blog post led by volunteer leader Gayle Marechal which will provide answers to these questions and more and include tried-and-true recipes for you to use in the backcountry. We hope that you find what is posted here helpful and encourage you to submit comments, questions, and your own favorite recipes and cooking tips in the months to come. (It's worth adding that, among other things, Gayle makes the best blueberry pancakes you'll ever eat in the backcountry!)

The first installment of "The Kitchen Corner" has particular relevance for New Years Day revelers, though it comes a few weeks belated. But anytime is a good time for a party, right?

Here's Gayle:

"I recognize that each leader, whether new or old, approaches menu planning and food issues on WV trips differently. I hope to give you the benefit of my years of experience as a WV trip leader and let you know what has worked for me over time."

"A tradition in the South is to eat black-eyed peas on New Years Day to ensure good luck for the year - a tradition which dates back many centuries. Southern black-eyed peas are typically prepared with some type of meat (salt pork, bacon, ham) and onion for flavor. Originally from Texas, my wife Bunny and I have embraced this tradition but have added a few "Texan touches" to make our own version of this New Years dish. Serve the peas with corn bread for a healthy and filling meal or as a side dish."

Bunny’s Black-Eyed Peas

1 lb. dried black-eyed peas or 2 lbs fresh (often available around New Years)
4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
2 stalks celery cut into ¼ in. slices
1 small bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
2-3 qts. water

Put water and bacon in a large pan and bring to boil. Sort and wash the black-eyed peas (if using dried; not necessary if using fresh) and put in water to begin cooking. Sauté the celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a bit of olive oil until soft, and then put them in the pan with the peas. Sautéing the vegetables is the secret to adding the extra zest to this dish. Add the tomatoes, juices and all. Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer covered over low heat until the peas are soft. Add water as necessary to keep the mixture as soupy as you want. Note: fresh black-eyed peas will cook much quicker than dried, and cornbread recipes are available upon request.

WV Trips - Good for the Mind, Body, and Everyone!

One of my favorite things about Wilderness Volunteers trips – besides the hard work, the great people, the good food, and the spectacular views – is the wildlife. I still remember the first time my brother and I saw elk – which for two teenagers from New Jersey was a big deal. We were building new trail along the Continental Divide Trail in New Mexico's Gila National Forest, and were determined to see some bulls on our day off. We hiked for hours in the 95 degree heat, sun beating down on us as we crested 7500 feet, yet the only signs of elk we saw were the pellets they left behind on the ground. It was getting late. We were getting tired. Our patience was wearing thin. It was the end of the road and we turned to head back to camp. As fisherman say, we were "skunked."

And then we heard him. A massive twelve-pointer, just forty yards away in a hollow beneath us, had his heart set on running over a hearty young aspen with his antlers. We were spellbound, and stood there motionless on the trail above. Dropping to the ground and out of his sight, we army-crawled forty feet to a large rock that overlooked the hollow below, and saw not one but five enormous bulls casually grazing. They were awesome!

We watched them for twenty minutes, awestruck by their size, beauty, and antlers. We had hit the jackpot! Naturally, we snapped a few photos to document our trophy find (though we somehow failed to see the tall blades of grass in front of the camera lens, which, as seen below, are in perfect focus. If you look closely, you can make out the body of one of the bulls. Guess that’s a free photography lesson!)


On every WV trip since this one – my first one – ten years ago, I keep my eyes peeled wherever I go. There’s something magical about being in the wilderness knowing that you just might get lucky and see something – be it an elk, an eagle, a bear, a bobcat, a moose - who knows! It makes me feel alive and keeps me coming back – both to the woods and to WV. You simply can’t beat it.

Read more volunteer reviews of Wilderness Volunteers trips in the Winter 2009 Newsletter. Whether you're new to backpacking or a seasoned mountain climber, we've got a trip for you. And be sure to vote for your favorite WV free day activity in our latest poll!

Summer and Fall Trips Are on the Website!

Sawtooth Wilderness, ID (2007)

In case you missed the news amidst the holiday shuffle, the summer and fall trips are on the website! You'll notice many old favorites as well as several new locations. Check them out here.

Is this your year to finally try canoeing in the Boundary Waters, planting native plants and battling invasive species in Hawaii, or exploring Alaska? How about doing trail work in Colorado's Raggeds Wilderness, surrounded by world-class wildflowers? Or conducting a trail survey in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness, with views of distant (and dormant) volcanoes?

Looking for the trail less traveled? Head for the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, just west of Yellowstone; the Apache Kid Wilderness in the wildlands of New Mexico; or the Mission Mountain Wilderness above Montana's Swan Valley. While many people are drawn to places that boast household names, there is much to be said for the solitude and mystery of these "hidden gems." All possess outstanding beauty without the crowds. And all have lots of work to be done and are grateful for volunteers.

Got questions? Email us at reservations@wildernessvolunteers.org.

See you out there!