Wake Up Call A #CUWILD Story

It’s good to embellish on your resume, or so they say. But after my first day on a trail crew in middle-of-nowhere New Mexico, I regretted every word I had written about “sleeping in the backcountry for extended periods of time,” or “comfortable with manual labor,” or “able to hike in all weather conditions.”

I was absolutely terrified Day 1 of AmeriCorps. Nearly 80 fresh-faced and eager Southwest Conservation Corps Members met at the headquarters office in Durango, Colo. On paper, it had all sounded perfect: joining a trail crew for a season of work to restore trails and repair native ecosystems. How hard can it be? I loved s’mores and trees and really wanted to disconnect with the real world – so here was my chance. But after groups of eight were counted off, a safety speech was given, and then we loaded our camping gear into a van and quietly vanished into the wilderness – I realized I was dead wrong.

For starters, I am not a morning person. And when my alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. to gear up, divvy out tools, and hit the trail, I thought I was going to cry (or fall asleep while hiking). After a few hours of huffing, puffing, and re-adjusting my backpack a million times, we made it to our first trail stop where repair and restoration needed to begin. I was already exhausted and had no idea what I was doing. Check steps? Drainage ditches? And what was I supposed to do with a pick axe? I didn’t know the first thing about the anatomy of trails, and it seemed like everyone else knew exactly what to do. After the first few days of this manual labor, I was stiff, stinky, tired, and doubted I was going to make it through the season. I contemplated quitting, but didn’t have cell service to call anyone to come pick me up.

And, thank God I didn’t.



After our first two 12-day stints – referred to as a “hitch” – I began to know our trail – inside and out. I knew where erosion would naturally take place after rainfall, I became familiar with native plant species in the area, I looked forward to hearing the birds sing their cheerful songs as we climbed the mountain peaks. I enjoyed watching the landscape change as we got higher and higher on the trail. I craved the peace and tranquility of being outdoors. I began to sleep outside of my tent after realizing that there is nothing in the wilderness to be scared of. I was thrilled to return to our outdoor oasis after being in civilization for a weekend.

This lifestyle became an addiction.

I loved every second, from 5 a.m. wake-up calls to late night campfires. I enjoyed making dinner for my crew, spending our lunch break napping in the shade, chatting with local hikers who had been loyal to the same trail for 20 years. Above all, I had the privilege of deeply connecting with my fellow Corps members. From not even knowing their names the first day to making lifelong friendships; they challenged me and pushed me to new limits. The crew I served on made me a better person, and redefined what it really means to connect, to trust, and to work together.

My time living outside changed me. My superficial worries of responding in a timely manner to text messages, posting on social media, maintaining perfect hygiene, and pooping in a porcelain pot slowly dissolved… I made meaningful connections with phenomenal people and grounded myself with love for the natural environment. My priorities were set straight.

AmeriCorps fueled my desire to go to graduate school to study Environmental Management. I became engrossed in sustainability, ecosystem management, restoration, and watershed quality. Fast forward five years and I’m now working for a non-profit land trust helping with trail planning, park planning, and park equity – with the ultimate goal of having every American within a 10 minute walk of a park or open space. It’s not just a printed mission statement – but my biggest belief – that we cannot protect and care for the things we don’t know about. To truly preserve what we have left, we need to know what’s at stake. The only way to ensure that everyone knows what’s out there begins with the simple step of getting outside.

Chrissy Pepino ’09


 

 

 

Chrissy Pepino graduated from Chapman University in 2009 with a bachelor of science in psychobiology. After graduation, Chrissy moved to Belgium for a year to become an au-pair for a family of five, then returned to Colorado after her stint abroad to join Southwest Conservation Corps as a trail crew member. This experience fueled her desire to become more involved in the environmental movement – solidifying the decision to go to graduate school for Environmental Management. Chrissy has three years of experience working at an environmental law organization, and now with her recently completed graduate degree, she is working for The Trust for Public Land on the Conservation Vision team. On the weekends you can find Chrissy on her road bike or camping in the Bay Area.