Participating in the Alaskan Rainforest as a Volunteer
In the heart of America's largest temperate rainforest, the Tongass National Forest, a group of volunteers recently embarked on a unique journey. The week-long event, held on Prince of Wales Island, was more than just a trail restoration project; it was an opportunity for people to come together, care for the land, and create lasting connections.
The trail in question was the Sunnahae Trail, a favorite among locals for its steep grade and stunning views. Volunteers spent their days working tirelessly on trail stewardship, ensuring the trail’s safety and accessibility for future visitors. The workday was based out of the Harris River Campground, a serene location nestled between Craig and Hollis, offering campsites along a salmon-filled river and picturesque mountains in the distance.
Evenings were filled with laughter, shared meals, and quiet moments by the campfire. The shared effort, laughter, and quiet moments in the forest provided volunteers with a renewed sense of purpose. The Sunnahae Trail restoration was not just about the trail, but also the relationships and memories formed.
One of the highlights of the trip was a guided tour of El Capitan Cave, the largest of over 500 caves on the island. Led by Forest Service guides, volunteers hiked through old-growth forest and entered narrow cave passages to learn about the cave’s geology, fossils, and unique underground ecosystem. This experience contrasted profoundly with the above-ground trail work, offering insight into the island’s ancient natural history.
The event served as a testament to the power of shared effort, laughter, and quiet moments in fostering lasting connections and a renewed sense of purpose. Volunteers developed lasting connections during the event, as one put it, feeling like they left with friends. The shared experiences during the event, including meals and quiet moments by the campfire, contributed to the formation of lasting connections.
The week-long event was a unique opportunity for volunteers to create memories that can only be made when people come together to care for the land and each other. It was an experience that went beyond the allure of Alaska's wild, untamed beauty, leaving volunteers with a deeper connection to each other and a renewed sense of purpose.
[1] For more information about the El Capitan Cave tour, please visit the Tongass National Forest website.
- Beyond trail restoration, the Sunnahae Trail event allowed volunteers to deepen their bond with nature and each other, an experience that can only be found through outdoor-living and environmental-science.
- As well as working on the Sunnahae Trail, volunteers were given the chance to explore El Capitan Cave, providing a fascinating scientific insight into the climate-change and geology of the island.
- The week-long trail restoration project not only contributed to the maintenance of the trail for future hiking, but also fostered trail stewardship and a new appreciation for the environment within the volunteers' lifestyles.
- The relationships and memories created during the week-long event went beyond the borders of the Tongass National Forest, influencing the homes and gardens of each volunteer, as one participant mentioned feeling like they left with new friends.
