Spring cleaning: Workers prepare for summer campers
By JOHN CRAMER of the Missoulian
LOLO - It's a rite of spring that gets little attention compared to bears emerging from their dens, birds migrating north and other phenomena of the natural world.
But for people who love the outdoors, there's another tradition that starts when the snow melts - the U.S. Forest Service preparing campgrounds before the blitz of summer recreationists.
Nationwide, national forest workers are busy cleaning toilets, repairing signs and completing other tasks at thousands of developed campgrounds, which offer running water and other amenities, as well as at backcountry campsites, where the only conveniences are the ones carried in a backpack.
It's not a glamorous job - and one that's gotten tougher under the Forest Service's budget constraints - but it's essential for creating a wholesome atmosphere for the millions of Americans who pitch a tent or toast a marshmallow in their national forests, agency officials said.
Al Hilshey, a recreation specialist supervisor: in the Lolo National Forest's Missoula Ranger District, cuts down one of several hazardous trees at the Lolo Creek Campground along U.S. Highway 12 on Wednesday.
Photo by JOHN CRAMER/Missoulian
“I don't think most people realize how much work goes on behind the scenes,” said Al Hilshey, a recreation specialist supervisor in the Lolo National Forest's Missoula Ranger District. “But this is the front line for the Forest Service - dealing with the public - so everything's got to be very professional.”
At the Lolo Creek Campground along U.S. Highway 12 west of Lolo, Hilshey and his crew on Wednesday took down hazardous trees, put up a new bulletin board and started up the water system, including testing the water quality.
The Missoula Ranger District has eight fee campgrounds, one free campground and 15 dispersed campgrounds. All are first come, first served.
From Memorial Day until late September, thousands of visitors descend on the campsites, a number that is growing due to the campgrounds' proximity to the Missoula area, whose growing population includes many that enjoy the outdoors year-round.
Keeping up campgrounds includes not just normal wear and tear on the facilities, but also vandalism and stopping the illegal cutting of standing trees for firewood.
“It's 365 days a year,” said Hilshey, 30, who graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in environmental studies. “We can get overrun with people, which is why we have to stay on top of things.”
Permanent and seasonal workers are responsible for maintaining recreation and picnic areas as well as campgrounds.
Another feature of national forest campgrounds are campsite hosts, including Mary and Earl Jeffords at the Lolo Creek Campground.
The retired Lolo couple, who have been campground hosts for eight years at various locations in western Montana, said their favorite is the Lolo Creek Campground, which is down the road from their house.
At the campground, they will live in their travel trailer all summer, offering visitors a kindly welcome, cleaning up and enforcing the rules.
“It's a lot of hard work, but we love it,” Mary Jeffords said. “It's mostly families that come here, and we enjoy meeting all kinds of people.”
The Jeffords remember one back-to-nature woman who gave birth to her 10th child in a campground tent - intentionally - with her husband and their other nine children right there.
“You never know what's going to happen,” Mary Jeffords said, chuckling.
Reporter John Cramer can be reached at 523-5259 or at johncramer@missoulian.com.
