Lauren Simms
Lead Wilderness Steward
Sleeping Deer Volunteer Project
July 21 - 28
Salmon-Challis National Forest | Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
My time in National Forests and Wilderness areas of Idaho began two years ago when I worked with SBFC as a Wilderness Ranger Fellow. This year I returned as a crew leader, with apprehension at what this job would entail and the hope that I could live up to how I looked up to my crew leader. Now the season is halfway through, and that apprehension has passed. My crew and I have come to count on one another, forging a unique bond through the constantly changing dynamic struggle of trail work. Not only is our work a continuation of a legacy of conservation, but it is also the most visceral way I know to see the growth of people’s passion for our public lands.
Early in the season, we had the pleasure of working right along the banks of the Salmon River, which afforded us all the opportunity for a cool and cleansing dip at the end of a long day. Enjoying the incredibly clear waters of the river allowed us a certain pleasure through which to bond in stark contrast to the rewarding but taxing work of clearing trails. This last hitch, our fourth as a crew, found us camping and working above 8,000 feet, making for breathtaking views of vast expanses of the Frank Church Wilderness. In addition to the great views, the elevation kept us mostly free of the wildfire smoke that lingered in the distance and awaited us upon our descent back to civilization. With the help of two volunteers, we made it up to Martin Mountain and cleared about 11 miles of trail, brushing and retreading for the sake of ourselves and future trail users.
A long day of hiking! The crew on top of Martin Mountain on trail 103 in the Salmon-Challis National Forest in the Frank Church Wilderness. Pictured from left to right are Thomas Foote, Michael Hofmann, Lauren Simms, Meghan Rorick, and Thomas Neidenbach. Photo credit to Antonio Angel and Thomas Neidenbach.
This season has taught me about how my passion for conservation as an individual can stretch widely and affect so many people. From the volunteers and Fellows with whom I work, to people I may never meet who may use a trail my crew and I cleared; this realization drives me to continue this work. Just knowing that the conservation community is made up of such passionate people and that it is constantly growing through the work we do gives me hope that these incredible places I have come to call home will continue to be protected and maintained for public use for generations.
Volunteers and crew at Sleeping Deer Trailhead are about to start their hike into the Frank Church Wilderness on Cache Creek trail 103 in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Pictured from left to right is Michael Hofmann, Meghan Rorick, Lauren Simms, Thomas Neidenbach, Thomas Foote, and Antonio Angel. Photo credit to Antonio Angel.
LAUREN SIMMS
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Lead Wilderness Steward
Lauren grew up outside of Philadelphia. She found her love for trails in Yosemite, where she was a youth corps member. In 2019 Lauren served 14 weeks as a SBFC Wilderness Ranger Fellow in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, her first experience in capital-W Wilderness. We are very happy Lauren has returned and will be working on the SBFC Frank Church Wilderness crew.