We hiked that morning through heat, fog, and constant threat of rain. The crew was in good spirits and typically unstoppable. Seven people in their early twenties came together from all over the country not just to hike the Camel’s Hump of Vermont, but to overcome this obstacle together. To experience and learn something about each other, about themselves and to build something that lasts a lifetime both literally and figuratively.
Early on we had our individual doubts. Doubts about the weather, the amount of time we would spend and how we would deal with each other. By the time we were approaching the summit of the 4081’ mountain things were clearing. The cloud and fog began to part and we sat side by each looking out over the rolling hills of Vermont’s north country. We could just make out the little river reservoir to the northeast, our home for the summer.
We met June 21st at the VYCC Headquarters and after an introduction to power tools and camp life we were off to spend the next seven weeks working and living together at Little River. The first few weeks were spent honing our carpentry skills while refurbishing the park’s Nature Center. Our camp, high up on a logging road away from the campgrounds, was soviet at best. We endured flood and flies, snakes and storms, and an overabundance of fun and good times.
Thursdays we did laundry and visited the Waterbury Farmers Market. It didn’t feel right to have any expectations or demands of the crew on their time off on the weekends. Instead I left it up to them, and lucky for me, they decided mostly on hiking and travelling around Vermont’s beautiful parks. We visited the high cliffs and nude bathers at Lake Willoughby, got as high as we could get on top of the chin of Mount Mansfield, and on an ambitious weekend trucked it over to New Hampshire to hike across the beautifully exposed Lafayette Ridge.
It wasn’t all Mai Tais and Yahtzee as we worked to our fullest potential to construct a 64’ x 20’ firewood storage building of heavy timber. The final three weeks the Summer 12 crew labored to complete as much of the structure as possible before leaving the project in the hands of a future conservation crew to finish.
In the end there is something to be said of living simply. I felt blessed to wake each morning under a tarp to the sound of nothing. And before each work day began I witnessed some of the most glorious and humbling sunrises I’ve ever seen. Every day was filled with intelligent conversation fueled by a diverse and educated crowd of young men and women. Looking back at it all I cannot help but smile.
When I returned home to my friends and family I have been often asked “how was your summer”. To sum it up in words is difficult. Instead of explaining the fun and the struggles and how proud I am of each member of my crew I opt instead for the embrace of a hug and remind myself that I had the opportunity to sleep outside every night for nine weeks and work with some of the funniest and most fascinating people I’ve ever met.
climb with crowley 