Crew 3, Spike 1

First we established out village in the foothills. Soon we realized we were under attack. We responded to the call to slay the dragons. The southwest white pine and aspen dragons were calling for our help. The white fur dragons where attacking from their base. We knew not the dangers that lie in our path; rain, snow, wind, and the hike of death. One of our comrades almost fell, but we saved him, and slew the white fur dragons HAHAA!!!! The knight training continued. As we got more comfortable with our weapons of destruction and death, we realized that by bathing in their sap and drinking their tears we became invincible. We thus stand victorious, with the dragon heads and wings at our feet.


This was our last week of S212 training; where we started felling trees with our chain saws. We worked on CFRP (collaborative forestry restoration program) in LaJara canyon in Taos, NM. Our main objective was to thin out the forest so that the Aspen’s growth would not be hindered by the White fur, Blue spruce, and Engelmann spruce, among other high latter fuel producing tree types. In doing so we were able to provide much needed fire wood to the elderly. We worked in weather conditions varied from very nice in the day to 5 in. of snow on the ground. We had challenging times and times for great team building. Most important we made it through as a crew together stronger and closer.

Blue Crew Blog Two

Kids with saws
we control the fire
safety laws.

As we move higher
up the trees
making a difference
as we please.

Thinning for safety
with the breeze
we make our entry,
cautious ease.

We will eat and sleep
with the trees
safely removing,
sizing them up,
always improving
as we cut.

Week Two at R.M.Y.C
4/4/11 - 4/8/11

This week we started the Forest Worker Safety Certification Program. The first day was a little rough. A lot of sitting down, but we got through it. Everybody from the crew learned something new. We went over Dynamics of Southwest Forests, Safety Requirements, and Job Hazard Analysis (J.H.A).
On Tuesday we went over Chainsaw Maintenance and Operations, Chainsaw Tasks and Techniques, Hazardous Materials, and Logging Equipment and Transportation Safety. We played games for break to get the blood flowing from all that sitting. This was a lot of information for two days. We finished the handbook for the test on Wednesday.
Test time! I think everybody was a little anxious to start the test. We reviewed before the test, and then got going. I am proud to announce that everybody in our crew passed with a 90% and over. After that we went to the Red River Fish Hatchery to see five guys get Re-certified. Before the day was over we went around to the wild rivers. That pretty much finished our day.
Today was the best day so far. The beginning of S-212 training. We got to assemble our saws today. It was all hands on. We were with crew 3 and it was awesome to see both crews working as one. We got all our P.P.E. to run a saw and then had a race to put them on. We learned how to carry a saw properly that way we won’t over work ourselves. The best part is when we got to start our saws for the first time. Everybody did great on this part and now we’re all ready for next week!
To finish this week we got in house training with our crew. We’re going to be covering our first Spike Training Packet. Stages of Group Development and Crew Code of Ethics will be taught by our crew supervisor. Then Jamie and Rosie will be going over our I.D.P’s. That should take us to the end of our day. Finally the weekend!

-by Andrew Segura

Chainsaw Training

This week we did s-212 training. We learned how to work a chainsaw properly. They taught us how to use a wedge to drop a tree, how to do maintenance, and how to limb the proper way. It's important to look up, down, and all around and to use your PPE. Also this week the crew and I learned more about safety and feeling safe while working together.

by Joshua Curry