Building Bridges...Literally!

Check out the work done by Wilderness Volunteers in the Wind River Mountains, located in Wyoming's Shoshone National Forest.

Nice work!

Spring 2012 Trips Are Up!

Cranberry Wilderness, WV (2011)

From Utah to Oregon to New Hampshire to New Mexico, check 'em out here - all 14 of them!

Summer and fall trips to follow in early December. Stay tuned to the WV homepage and the blog for more details.

Quote of the Day

Cranberry Wilderness, WV (2011)

"Trees give peace to the souls of men." - Nora Waln, best-selling author and journalist

The Solar Decathlon has Begun!

For those of you interested in exploring some of the brightest ideas in clean energy living, check out the 2011 Solar Decathlon taking place this week in Washington, DC. Featuring 19 energy-efficient homes designed and built by teams of university students from across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium, and China, the solar decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

Houses are ranked across ten categories (hence, the decathlon) ranging from affordability and energy balance to architecture and engineering. And you don't have to live near the nation's capital to see what it's all about: take a virtual tour of each of the homes here.

The event runs all week through October 2, and photos, video, and live updates are posted on the homepage daily. Here's a quick video describing what it's all about:

Wondering what you can do in your own home? Click here to learn more about creative ways to make your daily life more energy efficient.

Guy Walks into a Bar, Moose Walks into an Apple Tree...

Haven't heard the one about the drunken moose? Well, here it is. Apparently fermenting apples are as irresistible as they are intoxicating. Read on.

The Results Are In...

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 3rd Annual Wilderness Volunteers Photo Contest! Here are your winning photos:

1st Place: Peter Hoffman

"Ten Gals and a Geezer"
Escalante Grand Staircase, UT (2009)

2nd Place: WV's very own, Program Manager Dave Pacheco

"WV!"
Glen Canyon Nat'l Recreation Area, UT (2011)

3rd place: Eric Mak (last year's winner)

"Collage"
Maroon Bells, CO (2010)

Congratulations! 1st place wins a WV hooded sweatshirt, 2nd place a WV Klean Kanteen, and 3rd place a WV baseball cap. Please email your mailing address to Mike and we'll get your prize in the mail.

Thanks again to all our participants!

Quote of the Day

Courtesy of John Muir and the US Forest Service, Monongahela National Forest. (Thanks!)

Stay tuned for a full report on our adventure in "Wild and Wonderful" West Virginia.