Riley Sterling
Wilderness & Trails Intern
East Fork Moose Creek
7/1/26 – 7/8/26
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Ultralight backpacking is a school of recreational thought where the weight of the backpack is at the forefront. An ultralight backpacker would focus on bringing the least and lightest gear possible while maintaining what they deem essential. While I don’t subscribe to this personally, I take interest in what people focus on when entering the wilderness and what they want to gain from being there. Survival or enjoyment? A good mix of both? Is the focus achieving a goal or gaining an experience? These are all things that impact what people find essential.
As trail workers, we can minimize our weight as much as possible, but we will still be carrying so many pounds of tools and food that finding the most ultralight gear almost feels pointless. I often hear the saying, “ounces make pounds” in the backpacking community.
However, I would argue that, beyond a certain point, a pound is just a pound. If you are carrying 10 pounds of tools and enough food for eight days, your pack is already so heavy that a few extra ounces aren’t really noticeable. This idea was so thoughtfully put by another intern as, “ultraheavy.”
Not only are our packs heavy, but our purpose for being in the wilderness becomes more than just recreation. It is to create access to wild places and, in doing so, support the communities surrounding them.
It is with an ultraheavy heart that I say, my season as a Wilderness & Trails Intern has come to an end. From the little moments of laughter while filtering water to the big moments, like using a crosscut for the first time, this summer has brought so much joy and growth.
Sometimes, though, the moments are so small they are forgotten amongst the timeline of the summer. One of my favorite things about a film camera is that the memories are almost suspended while you get the photos developed. I recently received my film photos back from my third hitch on Cedar Moose and East Fork Moose Creek Trails in the Selway Bitterroot. It brought back up so many fun moments from over two months ago. As I leave this area behind, I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from this roll of film.
(Editor’s Note: Click each photo for the caption!)
Mountain View, CA
Colorado College: Ecology and Organismal Biology
Riley was introduced to the outdoors through canoeing and backpacking trips in Maine, where she grew up. These experiences sparked her interest in ecology and conservation, which she now studies in college. As she got older, she began to see how time spent outdoors contributed to her personal growth, leading her to guide wilderness trips for youth over the past two summers. Through this work, she learned firsthand how access to wild places can broaden perspectives and support conservation efforts. She is excited to help provide outdoor access in a new way this summer!