Spent 5 wonderful days out with a WTA volunteer crew working on a reroute started last year to bypass a stretch of the Wonderland that has been washed out by the Carbon River roughly 1 mile from the Ipsut Creek Camp. This was one of the most luxurious "backcountry" camping experiences I've ever had, since the amazing National Park staff not only guided us through a reroute bypassing the closed Fairfax Bridge, but drove us an all our gear up the closed Carbon River Road, saving us the 5 mile hike to camp and giving us more time working on our project!
And what a project it was! Our crew of 12 spent most of our time wrestling boulders and digging through many feet of duff in an attempt to establish a bench for the future trail in some of the roughest terrain I've ever worked in. By the end of each day working on trail, I was ready for an early dinner followed by an early bedtime, but others from the crew with more energy hiked as far as the Carbon River Suspension Bridge one evening. They reported that all log crossings of the Carbon River are in place for the season, and that the Wonderland Trail was snow covered shortly beyond the bridge.
Getting out to volunteer on trail is always a good time, but this trip in particular is one I won't soon forget!
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