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Four years ago we had a naming contest for our group (previously un-named). One of the volunteers won a free hike on the PCT with her winning suggestion of Will Work four Krumms. At that time we were working exclusively in the Plumas NF. Co-leader, Dennis Washburn and I have decided to take a new direction and will be taking the WW4K group with us. With Mike Dawson’s and Justin Kooyman’s support we are moving south where we will attempt to be the primary contact for all work done in the Tahoe NF. The WW4K will be a part of the overall maintenance system. We will look at the funds available and work load the FS will be putting into the PCT, measure commitments by Corps groups, prioritize areas with work needed and assign the WW4K to hit the highest priority first. When we first started WW4K (long before it was so named - early 90's) we advertised just about everywhere. Web site, magazines, brochures, newsletters (i.e. Sierra Club) and posters hung in backpacking/ outdoor specialty stores (i.e. REI) and managed to field a crew every year. From those volunteers a few would repeat every year and over the years we grew a core group of workers. Now as soon as our dates, location and type of access are known (usually early Feb) we send out an email to the regulars from which we get 80% of our volunteers each year. The rest usually come from the PCTA web site.
Our trips vary according to our location and work expectations. We have had backpack trips, horse supported trips, most are car camping, last year’s was shuttled in and dropped off. From a base we then work north and south as many miles as possible in the days we have allotted (most often 3 - 4, but the new plan is to go for 4 - 5).
We do not take a cook (thus the inspiration for the group name). We have “chore sign up” for morning cooking and clean up, and evening cooking and clean up. Morning cooks are up about 6ish with coffee heating and breakfast and lunch fixings on the table. Volunteers get breakfast and then make their lunches. Once all have eaten and lunches are made clean-up follows putting everything away. We are usually on the trail about 7. The primary cook (last name Krumm - there’s that group name thing again) returns to camp in time to set up appetizers for the group’s return, get dinner started with serving aimed at 6:30. Volunteer cooks assist as needed with the preparations and serving. The cooks’ last job is to put pots of hot water on for clean-up. After eating the clean-up crew sets up wash stations, everyone washes their own personal dishes and clean-up volunteers follow with the pots and cooking utensils. Digestion is usually accompanied by championship Hearts games or bed or reading.
Each following day runs about the same until the last morning which is usually a big celebratory breakfast followed by packing up camp and a trip home.
Participants bring their own camping equipment, gloves, work shoes, clothes and eating utensils. Some form of sleeping shelter is required (we have had everything from RVs to tube tents). WW4K supplies the cooking utensils and food (reimbursed by PCTA). The Forest Service supplies the tools and safety lecture prior to start of work the first day.WW4K has 3 rules and only 3 rules. Anyone who can’t follow or thinks they can’t follow these rules is asked to leave. We now share our rules in the hope other groups and PCTA will universally adopt our rules. 1) Be safe and don’t get hurt, 2) help improve the PCT and 3) have fun. I think everyone can see our wisdom.
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Overview
