The two days of classes on chainsaws weren't that bad! They went by quickly and they were the best training we have recieved so far! I think it's not only due to the fact that the topic is exciting and interesting, but our instructor was also interesting. It turned out to be my teams first project site-supervisor, the Battalion Chief from the BLM Mother Lode Region. After the two days of classes, we got to go out to the forest in El Dorado Hills, CA, and cut some brush and trees down! What more can I ask for!?!? The day was perfect, not too cold, not too hot, and cloudy! We were split into 5 groups of 5 students to 1 teacher. Using our Stihl 26 inch bar chainsaws we began cutting small shrubbery and brush. In the afternoon, we each had a chance to fall a tree (up to 8 inches in diameter), limb it, and buck it up (cut into smaller manuverable pieces). Even though I've fallen trees before, it was still exciting to me, and will always be! My team and I are now certified as Class A sawyers (meaning I can fall trees up to 8 inches in diameter). Here's a link to a photo album of the few pictures I took throughout the day.. They are mostly of the other people in my group, and a few of the Battalion Chief falling a staub that was endangering the roadway and a power line.
Today, we switched roles 180 degrees, and planted shade trees around the city of Sacramento. The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been satisfying the needs of it's "customers" (at no cost to them) with deciduous trees and assisting them plant their new trees for almost 30 years. Today, my team and I planted 16 trees at different peoples houses around the Sacramento area.
As for that application to the US Forest Service Apprenticeship program, I sent it in the other day. I spoke with the Battalion Chief, and he said it is an excellent way to start a career in the wildland firefighting field, but with my lack of experience in the field it may be difficult to get accepted. But definitly worth a shot! Maybe at the end of the project with him, I will ask for a letter of recommendation to boost my probability! We'll see how things go!
And, we start Wildland Firefighter training next week!
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