Despite the government shutdown, the past four weeks have been filled with some interest. During a full week, the entire computer system was down due to the Colorado flooding. No email, no shared drive, no files (a lot less than what a number of people experienced). It was time for the office to get creative. As a group, the four of us interns received some fuels duties from the office fire ecologist which involved split team mapping of soon-to-be-burnt slash piles and assessing previously burnt ones. The assessment of burnt piles was basically supplying photo points and native/invasive regeneration documentation. The soon-to-be-burnt pile mapping was quite literally that… mapping piles of slash. While it may not seem that important, this practice actually helps the fire crews find and burn every pile during the heavy snows in winter so their resources are spent more accurately and wisely. This was somewhat monotonous, but what a wonderful break from the office. I’ll take a paid high elevation woodland hike any day!

Around the same area, we had a small amount of trail maintenance going on. Three of us on that day kicked that trail’s butt. Albeit short for a trail, it held some gorgeous views and perfect weather. Lunch on a shaded rock with some cool people and more high elevation hiking… yes please!

Having the chance to receive saw training (“chainsaw” if you’re a newb like me), I jumped on that as fast as I could. The classroom part of training held at a nearby field office supplied the chance to meet some other BLMers and get some absolutely incredible Mexican fast food for lunch. Did you say, “what the what!?” Me too. Authentic Mexican as fast food? Unbelievable. That stuff was awesome! One plate being enough to feed two, it kept my appetite at bay for quite some time afterwards. My eyes are open to a new world of possibility. It’s probably for the best that this place is a long drive from Buffalo. I’d be broke, heavy, and happy. Then again, maybe that’s the purpose of life. Later on in the week, us trainees went out with our awesome office fire crew for the field part of training. I felt great on how my cuts and felling (dropping) went. The trees landed right where I predicted they would. Limbing (bucking) was a fun chore, but my gosh do those saws get heavy. Assessing rangeland all summer can make one’s arms soft. As a side note for the hyper-concerned about cutting trees, they were near a major road, close to town, and adjoined a larger stretch of forest. The cutting of smaller trees serves as a fire break so the larger trees don’t catch, destroying the whole forest and local buildings causing more harm.

While on furlough, I’ve been looking for other jobs for when this awesome one ends – Harder than it seems. I’ve also been hanging out with my fellow interns – Always a blast. And I’ve been exposing myself to educational documentaries of every kind – The more you know.

Any-who, it’s been an interesting ride lately. What else does the world have to offer?