Backpacking- Become Famous -Save Nature

OVERVIEW

This is a backpacking trip but will also involve helping out an American University grad student who is doing a project as an NPS fellow. Pretty sweet stuff.

So we’ll head to SNP Friday night around 6, get there around seven, do some night-hiking which is pretty fun.

I do not know where in the park we’ll be going, I have to work out details with the NPS fellow.

THIS IS NOT AN INTRO TRIP. PLEASE HAVE BACKPACKING OR CAMPING EXPERCIENCE. The reason for this is that we are going in at night and the fellow needs a diverse group of people with outdoors experience.

The club can help you out with any gear that you don’t have. Since this trip is for experienced backpackers I won’t be sending out a gear list of what you need. You know what you need, if you don’t have it, email me and we’ll get it out of the gear room.

You will be provided with breakfast and lunch on Saturday and some snacks. You might want to throw some extra snacks in for yourself. Bring four or five liters of water. Maybe more since we’ll be doing some trail work on Saturday.

ORIGINAL EMAIL BRIEF FROM NPS FELLOW SARAH GULICK

Hello,

I am a graduate student at American University in the Center for
Environmental Filmmaking working on my MFA in Film & Electronic Media. I
have a fellowship with the National Park Service and am developing a series
of short web videos for the Wilderness Stewardship Division. We have
started releasing our first shows on the NPS wilderness youtube channel,
and you can check out our films from Death Valley and Point Reyes National
Seashore: www.youtube/com/NPSWilderness

We are currently getting ready to film in Shenandoah National Park and
looking for people to be involved. One of the things that makes Shenandoah
unique is the incredible volunteer commitment to keeping the trails
maintained. While it may sound paradoxical, maintenance is especially
important in wilderness areas because it help keep people on the trail
which prevents habitat destruction.

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club includes over 7000 volunteers who assist
with maintaining over 1000 miles of trail. In the central region is a group
called the Blue and White Crew (named after the blue and white blazes used to mark the Appalachian trail and other trails in Shenandoah). They have a fantastic and knowledgable leadership team that is dedicated to making trails accessible to help people enjoy the park and wilderness areas. They especially enjoy working with college groups and that is the basis for our next film.

We are casting/looking for a small diverse group of 3-5 students who are
enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn new hands on skills and be
outside. We especially need people who are not camera shy!

What is involved:

There will be one day of filming (this will probably involve a very early
morning) in Shenandoah. (If you group is interested in staying overnight
that is a possibility)

Details will be finalized, but there will be roughly three types of
shooting
1) Learning how and doing trail maintenance: either tread work which
involves improving the trail surface using shovels, picks, rock bars etc,
or tree removal which would include learning to use a two-man cross saw
etc.
2) Enjoying, hiking along wilderness trails
3) Discussion/interviews about the experience