Missoula, Montana

Hello from Missoula,

I arrived in Missoula Montana just over two weeks ago, following a three day drive from Rochester New York. The driving portion of the trip took just over 34 hours in total and I passed through many states and saw many landscapes that were unfamiliar to me. Upon arrival I rushed to get set up before starting work just three days later at the Missoula BLM field office.

I met many of the permanent and seasonal employees of the office on my first day, and I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and youthfulness of everyone that I met. After a full day of training and preparatory paperwork, I was excited to begin field work. By 7:30 a.m. on my second day of work we were on the road to a field site near Garnet, MT to conduct a series of habitat typing surveys. Through analysis of information regarding tree species types, sizes, and prevalences, understory species types and prevalences, and several other factors, the habitat typing surveys frequently conducted by the Missoula BLM make it possible to predict the future conditions of a site as well as create plans for the proper management of such sites. For the next week and a half I participated in habitat typing surveys, rare plant searches, and preparation of a field site for prescribed burning.

I have found my first two weeks with the Missoula BLM field office to be more interesting and fun than I ever thought possible. I have met many great people, had the opportunity to explore the wilderness of the rocky mountains, and had time to explore the city of Missoula. I look forward to spending the next five months here in Missoula working with the BLM

– Vince Fasanello, BLM Missoula Montana