Crew braves rugged conditions to rebuild trail

The Wind River Range in central Wyoming is so rugged some people often call it a rock pile. But a hearty crew has been working to smooth out trails to make access easier for hikers, horseback riders and other recreationists. Matt Walter is the trails technician for the south zone of the Shoshone National Forest. He leads teams who smash, move or blow up rocks and boulders to help widen and clear trails. Walter led a crew through five weeks of work in the mountains in July and August to rebuild switchbacks on seven miles of trail and to improve several miles of other trail. Walter says that he plans to lead a trail crew back to that area for a final 8-day hitch next summer.