06/04/2026
In late April, a team of five trail crew members and a cook embarked on a jet boat journey from Vinegar Creek to Sheep Creek on the Main Salmon River. Over the course of the week, the team worked diligently to clear the first four miles of the Sheep Creek Trail, in preparation for a second team of backpackers who would continue the work further up the trail the following week. The tasks at hand included cutting logs, brushing, moving rocks, and completing necessary tread work.
Amidst our hard work, we were captivated by the beauty of nature surrounding us. The spring flowers were in full bloom, butterflies danced along the shore, and we were delighted to see geese swimming with their goslings. To top it off, we were even greeted by bighorn sheep at our campsite. The sheep arrived wet, giving the impression that they had swum across the river. It was a truly remarkable sight, as we learned that bighorn sheep are capable of swimming. We were in awe!
The true highlight of our trail work experience was the camaraderie amongst the team. As is often the case with volunteers, our crew was incredibly friendly, supportive, and easygoing. We bonded over pre-warmed coffee mugs and delicious Dutch oven desserts prepared by Ken, and enjoyed watching Steve’s morning stretches (yes, just watching). We also shared many laughs over Aaron and Glenn's conspiracy theory conversations, listened to Jenny's wild stories, and marveled at Joan’s impressive abilities - at 72 years old, she can still get the job done!
Thanks everyone for an amazing week!
Glenn & Michelle Florence, Crew Leaders
Photos by Glenn and Michelle
U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
