Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, managed by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, on the Snake River and the border of western Idaho and northeastern Oregon
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” – John Muir
Hells Canyon is located on the border of Idaho and the Seven Devils Mountains (I very badly want to backpack) and the Oregon Wallowas (I also want to backpack), with the Snake River dividing the states. It is deeper than the Grand Canyon – it is the deepest canyon in North America, spanning 10 miles wide at its widest point, and no roads cross it.
Hells Canyon Recreation Collaborative (HCRC) is a non-profit that works with interested people and agencies to maintain and improve access and sustainability of the region. Funded through donations and grants and with the labor of multiple volunteer groups, HCRC leads many excursions throughout the year to build and/or rehabilitate facilities, docks, airstrips, and trails for all relevant recreators.
My friend, Trailkat, has done more volunteer trail work than anyone I know, and she does not discriminate – if she is available, she will eagerly sign up for anything from day trips to long backpack trips. She pours sweat, blood, and tears into our trails. She taught me that when “they” say you can walk the same trail twice, but you cannot hike the same hike twice, it is the truth. She connected me with HCRC by inviting me to join her on a trail work project last fall. I felt quite unworthy of participating due to being so sick, but she (as always) was encouraging and supportive.
I had four days in the backcountry surrounded by indescribably beautiful lands and people – what more could you want while doing good in the world? We did not backpack the trail because the wonderful folks at Kryptek Outdoor Group donated one of their jetboats for our use over the long weekend. We were able to set up camp at Sand Creek and then boat to each of our destinations along the trail.
We had 11 people on our crew: two cooks who were also our boat captains and trail mom and dad, and nine hikers volunteering as trail workers.
Day One: Oregon. Big Horn Sheep. Bald Eagles. Trail work. ALL. THE. SPIDERS. Complete horse skeletons. Dutch oven quesadillas.
Day Two: Oregon. Dutch oven cinnamon rolls. We rode *up* a waterfall. Snakes. And thorns. So many thorns. Trail work.
Day Three: Idaho. Good morning, Big Horn Sheep. More snakes. Miles of jetting up and down the river. Dominating waterfalls. Pad Thai. And some trail work.
Day Four: Coffee made with love. I rested while the camp received some TLC from the rest of the crew. A tour of Historic Kirkwood Ranch by the current caretakers. Promises of new adventures with what now feels like old friends. Home-on!
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” -Nelson Henderson
The trails built will last as long as adventurers continue to return, but the relationships built on those trails will last forever. If you’re interested in joining us again, let me know. You don’t have to have specific skills, but you need an eager heart and willing hands (and feet). You will not find many opportunities to make memories like this anywhere else. “People can be divided into three groups: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Showing up is 80% of life.” – Woody Allen
Check out Congressman Fulcher recognizing the work we do: Rep. Russ Fulcher Recognizing the HCRC
And please follow our Facebook page (I will get an Instagram page up soon) and check out this co-ed Facebook group to join our HCRC trip in April!