Quote of the Day

Occoquan Bay Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, VA (2012)

 "Nature abhors a vacuum, and if I can only walk with sufficient carelessness I am sure to be filled." - Henry David Thoreau

Building the Continental Divide Trail - WV Style!

Volunteer and blogger Rob Wilbourn tells his story in words and photos from his recent service adventure in the Gila National Forest, west-central New Mexico. You can read and see his post here. Special thanks to Rob for letting us cross-post, and thanks to all volunteers spending time out on trails and other service projects in 2012!

Trail Food: Green Chili Enchiladas

In honor of our  Pecos Wilderness project near Santa Fe (July 22 - 28), we're featuring a recipe for Green Chili Enchiladas.This recipe is suitable for cooking over a camp stove, and can be adapted for backpacking (see end).

 This easy, yummy entree features New Mexican-grown green chilies and be warned -- they're addictive.

Start by chopping a sweet yellow onion and sauteing it in a bit of butter or olive oil until the edges start to turn golden; set aside.

Next open a can of green enchilada sauce and add it with two cans of chopped green chilies to your pot. 

While the sauce is heating, use a frying pan to heat up some corn tortillas with a generous topping of cheese. I used a blend of cheddar and jack cheese. Heat over low heat until the cheese is melted.

Assemble the enchiladas by putting one or two of the cheesy tortillas (stack them) in your plate, add some onions, and cover with the green chili sauce.

Add, some salsa and maybe even some sliced avocado if you happen to have one.
Yummy. Dig in.

This recipe will serve five or six.

You can adapt this for breakfast by adding scrambled eggs to the enchiladas.

Recipe: Green Chili Enchiladas


1 yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter or olive oil
1 can green enchilada sauce (15 oz)
2 cans diced green chilies (4 oz)
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
Salsa
Optional: sliced avocados or guacamole, sour cream, cilantro

To adapt this recipe for backpacking:

This recipe is an easy one to take backpacking if you have a dehydrator (you can use an oven on the lowest setting (~200 degrees)). Make the green chilie sauce (above) at home and dry it in a dehydrator until you have green chilie leather. It took about 5 hours in the dehydrator when I did it, but will depend upon your dehydrator or heat source. When done, roll it up and put it in a ziploc bag. My favorite backpacking salsa is 505 Southwestern, especially the Honey Chipotle salsa. You can order it online in single serving packages suitable for backpacking.

In camp, add enough boiling water to make the sauce saucey and follow the directions above.

What Your Survival Kit's Been Missing...

  Flathead River, Bob Marshall Wilderness, MT (2005)

Think emergency bandage, water filter, fire starter, blow dart fletching, fishing bobber...

This does all that and more.  It's available at any local pharmacy.  It weighs mere ounces. And it rhymes with "crampon" but doesn't go on your feet. 

And, according to the guys over at The Art of Manliness, it's worth throwing in that survival kit of yours.  Read on here.

Have other tips on being resourceful in the backcountry?  Share them with us.

Creativity and backpacking

There is a brief review of a study done by Ruth Ann Atchley on nature and creativity in a recent Huffington Post article. The study showed that the backpackers were 50% more creative after four days in the outdoors.

"Atchley discussed the value nature provides to the human mind: 'Nature is a place where our mind can rest, relax and let down those threat responses,' she said."

I love reading about creativity and this article caught my eye. Atchley reconfirms how beneficial being in back-county is. Have you noticed a calming effect on your trips?

Wilderness Volunteers Seeks Development Coordinator

Wilderness Volunteers is hiring!

Position: Development Coordinator. We’re searching for a dynamic, enthusiastic and skilled individual to add to our growing program. The Development Coordinator is responsible for achieving the fundraising goals of Wilderness Volunteers. This is a full-time position, salary pursuant to experience. Location is flexible; must be able to work remotely. Occasional travel required. Outdoor leadership experience a plus. Applicants should have experience in nonprofit fundraising.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and a one page cover letter stating your interest in the position and why you should be selected. Please send both as .pdf files to info@wildernessvolunteers.org with Development Coordinator in the subject line. Deadline June 30, 2012. No calls please.

Primary Responsibilities:

-- Manage membership/partner program
-- Grow donor base, cultivate major gifts, manage annual endowment campaign
-- Manage sponsorship program (corporate and retail)
-- Coordinate online auction: solicit donations and sponsors
-- Work with ED to develop Board fundraising capacity
-- Work with ED to identify and write grant proposals
-- Produce annual report

This list is not comprehensive, but reflects primary aspects of the position. Wilderness Volunteers is an at-will employer.

Russian olive removal in Escalante River gains national attention

Those of you who've followed Wilderness Volunteers for a while know that one of our longest-running service projects is the effort to restore southern Utah's magnificent Escalante River by removing the invasive (and rather thorny) Russian olive tree. Since 1999, we've coordinated volunteer activities with recently retired Park Ranger Bill Wolverton from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (downstream) and since 2003 with Botanist Amber Hughes from the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (upstream). Wilderness Volunteers joined a recently formed coalition called the Escalante River Watershed Project to coordinate efforts throughout the drainage, providing groups of volunteers and scientists to work in remote locations from headwaters to major side canyons downstream. ERWP consists of private landowners, local business alliances, public land agencies and a host of government and nonprofit interests.

Last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recognized the effort and accomplishments of the greater project as part of the President's America's Great Outdoor Rivers. The declaration reads in part "Healthy rivers are a pillar of the President's and Secretary's vision for America's Great Outdoor Rivers because rivers offer 'close to home' recreation (boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking) and rivers provide important habitat and migration corridors for fish and wildlife. River connect communities to natural places like parks and wildlife refuges." You can read the Interior's proclamation here.

Wilderness Volunteers is featuring two Russian olive removal projects this fall in southern Utah. Our project with the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Sept 23-29 begins and ends with a thrilling off-trail backpack 6 miles deep into the Escalante Canyon where we'll  base camp near the mouth of Boulder Creek. Our second Escalante River project, Sept 9-15, just downstream from the Hwy 12 river bridge, only has two spaces remaining. Please join us to be part of a very special effort to restore this great river.