Cecilia L.
Youth Wilderness Program Participant
June 17-22, 2025
Boulder Creek Trail | Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
The steady sound of the cross-cut sawing through wood stopped, and the dark, grey morning went silent. The clouds hung low and a few raindrops hit my head as I stood up from my seat on the edge of the trail, and went to help my new friends move the freshly cut tree. It was our fourth day in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, and I had started to love it there. On the three mile hike back to our camp, we were spaced out, and so I felt like I was alone walking through the dense foliage of the wilderness, thunder sounding in the distance, and the damp leaves brushing against my pack. The trail finally opened up a little ways before camp, and the peak that towered above us showed itself, covered in low hanging mist. Here, on the trail, with a small weight from the tools strapped to my back, soaking wet jacket and jeans, surrounded by wildflowers and aspen trees and giant rocky peaks, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Four days ago, I was sitting in my hotel room, ready to go meet the people I would be spending the next week with. I knew absolutely no one, and I had little to no idea on how this week was gonna play out. Now, after steep climbs with what felt like a million pounds on our backs, jumping in freezing cold rivers and lakes, card games, clearing trees, late night talks, and adventures around the campsite, the people who had previously been total strangers were now my little group of friends. The last few days had been hard work, but the jokes of my friends, the encouraging words of our two amazing leaders, and the beautiful scenery around me made it impossible to have a negative thought. Being there, standing in front of the mountains and dark storm fronts, surrounded by my friends, and knowing I just helped clear miles of wilderness trail was the best feeling. I never wanted to leave. I’m so glad that I had that experience with SBFC, and I would love to do it again.
Cecilia is 16 years old, from Boise, Idaho.
The SBFC Youth Wilderness program is made possible by donors and sponsors, including: the National Forest Foundation, the Lightfoot Foundation, Boise Cascade , Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund, Weyerhaeuser, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, Lamb Foundation, Blackfoot Communications, Ravalli Electric Co-op, May Hardware, Missoula Electric Cooperative, Missoula Sentinel Kiwainis, the River Network, the Rapp Family Foundation, the Montana Department of Natural Resources, the Connie Saylor Johnson Wilderness Education Grant, and private donors!